About Lady Smaggle Questions – 11 to 20

How on earth do you get your headscarf to do what it’s doing in this photo?

It’s all about the scarf being thin, soft cotton and tying it very loosely. I fold a square scarf in half (triangle way) then the fold the point in a few times so the scarf is a long, thick rectangle. I place the centre of the scarf on top of my head, flick my whole head/upper body forward while loosely wrapping it around the back of my head. I bring the two points to the front and LOOSELY tie them in a messy bow. Loose, loose, loose.

What would be your dream outcome for your blog? Do you have one? Do you want to start selling merchandise? A book? A cook book? A jewellery line? A reality show? Custom made Smaggle gin? I get the feeling you just started this more as a hobby but it seems to have really taken off for you so are you thinking about a big bright blogging future out of this? Also one of my other blogging faves Gala Darling calls her followers “nonpariels” the shiny adornments on cupcakes. What would followers of Lady Smaggle be?

Blogging is really unpredictable and I don’t think you can plan any outcomes really. I’ve been published in Cleo, Cosmo and Bust last year which was great and I’m hoping to do some more print work this year. I will have jewellery store eventually I just want to take my time and do it right. I’d love to write a book one day. As for a reality show… I’m thinking no. But if Getaway ever needs a new presenter *raises hand enthusiastically*. I’m open to any opportunities that may arise from my blog but I’m not counting on anything. As for a name for my readers… Smagglets?

I myself make jewellery, beaded leather/felt/semi precious wire work/found objects etc…and have been rather enjoying the success of sales at my local community market, and have finally decided to take the plunge and begin listing on Etsy (Etsy = frickin’ drool-inducing awesomeness!!). As I usually make only two or three pieces in a similar style – and each of those being quite different in their own right – I find pricing very hard. From my years managing jewellery shops I know that things – in a retail sense – are usually only worth what people are willing to pay for them…
How can I learn to balance the passion/business acumen ratio and price fairly for the market , whilst remaining true to my craft and effort?

I always think that you should charge what your stuff is worth. Don’t just account for materials and labour. What about design? If you spend three hours designing a product and one hour assembling the product and only charge for the labour you’ve just short changed yourself for three hours of legitimate work. I think that consumers need to be taught to appreciate the design of a product. Sure they might be able to get something similar and cheaper in a chain costume jewellery store in a mall but it won’t have been made with purpose and by the hands of an artist. Package your product beautifully and be fussy about where you sell your stuff. Make your pieces special, give them a history and story. I once bought a single strand of tiny red beads with a charm on it for a ridiculous amount of money because it had a poem attached to the tag. The product was also really thoughtfully put together and the identity of the designer was strong and showed through the marketing. Also ask yourself – would rather sell 50 cheap pieces? Or 5 exceptional pieces? Both answers are fine – you just need to figure out which one you want to do.

Smaggle – so cute! What is the story? Are you a primary or secondary teacher? Why the shift to jewellery making?

Smaggle is a word that Mr Smaggle and I invented. It’s a cross between a smash and a snuggle. It’s really violent love. Like when a kitten is so cute you kind of want to squish it to death. That’s a smaggle. I used to be a secondary drama teacher but now I teach kids with special needs. The shift to jewellery making wasn’t so much a shift it was just me doing something that I always wanted to do. It would be great if I could make a full time career out of it but I love teaching my special kids so I might not ever stop doing that. I just like to do a lot of different things…

I would like to know what Lady Smaggle plans to do when she grows up. Where does she see herself in 5 years? 10 years? And how does she plan to get there?

I want to be everything when I grow up! In five years time I would love to be designing my own jewellery line, writing regularly for a few different magazines, perhaps publishing a book and doing some theatre work too. In ten years time I would love to own my own house somewhere near a rain forrest with a studio where I can work. I would love to be able to work for myself. Plans to get there? Participate in life. You’ve got to be in it to win it right?

Any recommendations on new styles for curly girls?

I had my hair cut at Barbarella on Gertrude Street in Melbourne and it was the best hair I’ve ever had. Get it cut all unevenly so it’s a big tangly mess. Ask girls with awesome curly hair cuts who their hairdressers are. That’s how I found my last two hairdressers. Embrace the messy look – realise that with curly hair you’ll never look polished. I also love wearing fake birds and bugs on clips in my hair. Makes it look like a fairy tale nest.

Can you talk about how your style evolved? You seem to really know what you like and what suits you.

I think style is a rather spiritual thing. I have a serious aversion to pants not because they look bad on me but I feel strange in them. Like I’m wearing someone else’s clothes. My style has always been quite girly with dresses, skirts and lace. I do actually think a lot about what I am wearing before I leave the house. Sometimes, even if something looks okay, if it doesn’t feel right I take it off. Also, when someone catches my attention in the street I try to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes their outfit so special. I also think I owe a lot to Mamma Smaggle. She has a beautiful eye for detail and was very honest as I was growing up about what worked on my body and what didn’t. Like mini-skirts and low cut jeans were bad. Dresses and long skirts were good. I also read a lot. I devour style books and read lots of magazines and blogs. I worked in a newsagency through out high school and developed a serious magazine addiction.

‘how many clothes do you own?’ Numbers please! How many skirts, dresses, cardis, tops, pairs o’ shoes?

Dresses – 40, skirts- 10, tops – 50, jeans – 3, pants – o, shoes – 40, cardigans – 10, jackets – 6. Guess-tamations of course because half my clothes are in Melbourne.

I’m curious about your day job, how you got there & what it consists of? We know bits and pieces from the blog, but I’m nosy, I want to know more.

Well I graduated from a double degree in secondary teaching when I was 21. I went straight to a college to teach drama to 18 year olds. It was great but I didn’t really fit in there, I loved the students but the school was full of teachers who were about to retire and they were cranky, bored and really uninspiring. I then went to work at a university in the English language institute and stayed there for two years running English tests for immigrants. Then, when I started my course in Melbourne I sent resumes out to local schools for relief teaching work and the first one to call me happened to be  a special school. I totally shat myself on the way there in the morning thinking ‘What the hell are you doing?’ but I had the best day teaching that I had ever had in my life. Slowly I just stopped teaching mainstream and I only teach special kids now and I love it.

I do all kinds of things depending on what type of needs the kids have. Lots of music, games, puzzles and sensory activities like playing with shaving cream. If they are higher functioning I do life skills which I love – I take them shopping, teach them how to catch trams, do sex education and teach them social skills. They are gorgeous creatures. Every one of them. I always finish my day with a smile on my face and the people I work with are amazing. The profession just attracts these great people so it’s always lovely to be at work with them.

Would you rather be a pirate or a ninja? Why?
Which are your favourite spots to socialise in the ‘Berra?

Please. Ninja. I fall over a lot so the idea of being stealth is quite appealing. Also I like boxing classes at the gym because they make me feel like I’m a Charlie’s Angel. I imagine being a ninja would give me equal amounts of please.

For socialising in the Berra… to be honest I like my friend’s balcony. But it would be weird if you hung out there so I’d say Knightsbridge in Braddon for cocktails, Regatta Point is great for afternoon coffee, I love meeting a girlfriend at the Gorman House markets on a Saturday and having yummy Lao food for lunch, Iori is great Japanese restaurant in Civic, A Bite to Eat in Chifley is a fabulous cafe, Chairman and Yip is my favourite for special dinners, I have to have Sammy’s at least once every time I come to Canberra, Tuesday night Trivia at University House is also a place that my friends and I frequent, I love a walk up Mt Ainslie or ride around the lake, there’s some lovely Thai resturants in Manuka. Also Braddon is quite up and coming these days. There’s some great stores like Unit Concepts, Itrip Iskip and Bourgeois Pig and pretty decent resturants and galleries. We also have some great tourist attractions that are great even if you live here. War Memorial, National Gallery, Portrait Gallery… most of which have great cafes with pretty views.

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

P.S Don’t forget that question time ends on Tuesday.