Yep, you got that right—I got trolled, and it prompted this blog entry.

A few weeks ago, I heard the familiar ding of a new Instagram comment and casually tapped on it as I strolled through Bunnings. The moment I read it, my stomach dropped, and a flush of heat rushed to my face. It was negative, critical, and a first for me—leaving me confused and, honestly, a little embarrassed. More specifically, it accused me of copying U.S. designers and creating products destined for Australian landfills.

Once I gathered my thoughts, I quickly realised it was the work of a bot—not a disgruntled shopper. But still, the comment lingered in my mind for days. It made me pause, reflect, and, eventually...it made me laugh.

Now that I’ve had time to process it, I actually find a lot of humour in the whole thing. First off, Wovenwood is built on California Casual design—it’s our foundation and ethos. That means we are very intentionally inspired by what designers and brands are doing in the U.S. There’s a gap in the Australian market for this style, which is precisely why Wovenwood was founded. Not only are we not hiding that, but we’re also waving a big, bold flag that says, “All that beautiful design you love on Instagram and Pinterest but can’t find here? Yep, that’s what we’re bringing to you.” So, my little AI troll, while I’d prefer the phrase “inspired by” over “copying,” yes, we are indeed doing that—proudly.

Second, if this bot had been a bit more sophisticated, it would have realised that we are not a mass-market, big-box kind of home store that makes cheap knock offs that eventually land in the bin or the shelves at Salvos. We’re more like the “cushion that took six months to make because the grain was hand-harvested by women in the hills of Thailand, spun into yarn, woven on a wooden loom, and then sewn into a pillow” kind of home store. Even funnier? Many of our Found products are literally unearthed from historical landfills. That vintage pot you bought from us last month? It may have come from a hundred-year-old dump site.  True story.

Over time, I’ve built a network of incredible sources for our Found pieces, and the most fascinating members of this group are the older gentlemen who dig in their spare time. They’re a riot, with the best stories and an uncanny ability to uncover treasures. And, let’s be honest, I think they’re equally amused by the 40-something American girl who gets more excited over an antique soy sauce vessel than a designer handbag. It’s a wonderful, symbiotic relationship and one that perfectly embodies the Wovenwood ethos and values.  

So, why, if I know I've been trolled by just a bot, does it still warrant this blog post? Truthfully, there’s probably a little ego at play—an AI-generated comment managed to sting, and I’m sure a therapist could have a field day with that. But more importantly, this moment of negativity gave me an opportunity to pause and reflect. It forced me to consider what I’m bringing to the market, where my values lie, and why I do this in the first place. And after all that reflection, I can say with confidence: I am deeply proud of what we offer and how we source our pieces.

At Wovenwood, we curate heirloom-quality designs—pieces with stories to tell, character to add to your home, and the kind of soul that makes them worth keeping for a lifetime. If anything, this little digital hiccup only reaffirmed my passion for what we do.

So, to the bot that tried (and failed) to rattle me: thanks for the reminder. I’ll be over here, doing what I love, finding beauty in the details, and ensuring our customers have access to something truly special.