Folks We Love with Alicia Jackson | Marmalade Lion
photo by Kate Dyer | Hello Urban Safari
Alicia Jackson is the woman behind Marmalade Lion. Focusing on detail and quality, Alicia produces bibs, changing pads, and activity mats among other fabulous things for babies. With a background in textiles and drawing from a deep influence from her late Mother, Alicia is producing those timeless, durable things we all love to have in our lives for our little ones.
interview contributed by Kacy Byxbee, editor, Your Zen Mama
Who is in your family?
Bill, Amber, Lottie and Alfie (our Beaglier!)
Where are you from?
Melbourne, Australia
How old are your kiddos?
Lottie 1 and Amber 3
photo by Kate Dyer | Hello Urban Safari
Occupation?
Owner of Marmalade Lion
How did Marmalade Lion come to be?
In 2015 my Mother passed away completely unexpectedly, and quite dramatically, it was the same week Amber was due. To keep my focus during the most emotionally conflicting time of my life, Marmalade Lion became a legacy for my mother. On my motherhood journey I couldn’t find any products that were my cup of tea in terms of detail and quality or that made me happy when making the purchase! I'm quite nostalgic and sentimental so I decided to create products that depicted these ideals and that Mum would absolutely love from a detail perspective. Also, it was important to me to honor her in this way. She was so special, so gifted.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Learning, everyday. Challenging myself and growing as a person. I’ve never thought of myself as an expert in anything but I’m someone who will give it a go and do my best to not let you down.
photo by Kate Dyer | Hello Urban Safari
What is your favorite thing that you make?
I love all the products, and only want to create things that are useful, and making them aesthetically pleasing is the icing on the cake. I have personal attachments with all of the products as I really need all of them!
How have things changed with your partner since you became parents?
A lot! So much actually because our girls are only 17 months apart and we don’t have any unconditional support from grandparents (mine have both passed away and Bill’s are in the UK), so it’s just us!
We are a good team - cogs and wheels but, we really did live it up before our girls came along. I did in particular (I have lived 9 lives!), and we absolutely adore them so we are more than blessed and happy to be around them.
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
Sunday morning Farmers Markets and some beach action at our beach house in Phillip Island. Also in the warmer months we love to sit outside all day with the girls and play, and then whip out the vino and cheese platter late in the afternoon!
photo by Kate Dyer | Hello Urban Safari
Favorite book?
I have a few, but fiction would definitely be Kane and Abel – Jeffery Archer. I cried so much when I finished it. I have a few non fiction favorites, but Scar Tissue by Anthony Keidis was awesome.
What do the day to day operations look like for you?
Unstructured. With young children and both of us working full time, I work around them and sometimes very late at night.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Work so hard while your young and have the energy! You will learn a lot of hard lessons in life as "hardships prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary life." If someone calls you a dreamer it’s the biggest compliment. Allow yourself to be in tune with your own body, follow your gut, and above all, back yourself.
photo by Kate Dyer | Hello Urban Safari
What advice do you have for new mothers?
Go with the flow, follow your intuition. Throw the book out the window, you know best.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I’ve received lots of good advice over the years, but something that has worked for me recently is "don’t just take the bite and swallow, chew your food".
What are 4 things you can't live without?
Water (Wine!)
Bill
Amber
Lottie