Etsy

Lady loves…

* Writing blog posts in a blank work email template so that when someone walks past it looks like I’m very busy and important. In my first year as a teacher I had a decoy handbag and a cardigan at work that I would leave over the back of my chair so no one would know that I left work after my last class and they would assume I was photocopying or  curing cancer or something. I got away with that one for a full year. It was awesome.

* The Green Smoothie Challenge. Browny got me onto it. Basically you have to have two green smoothies a day and it literally fills your body with vitamins and sunshine. It has also TOTALLY stopped my cravings for sweet food. Mr Squiggle (Mr Smaggle’s brother) had Jaffas last night and I ate four… and stopped. It was mental. I usually eat so many that my gums start to itch.

* Cooking Browny dinner and introducing her to the Wii Fit. We are going to exercise like addicts tonight. Well… that’s the plan anyway.

* Making jewels for the Smaggle Packs that I’m giving away to three commenters on my Ask Lady Smaggle post. I’ve been working with metal all of last year and it’s lovely to break out the beads again…

* My day to a page Moleskine diary where I write down to do lists, thoughts for the day, recipes… I love it. I have filled the full page everyday since the 1st January and by default every entry is dated. Highly recommended.

* Cold soy lattes with ice.

* Being given a sewing machine from a very special lady. Can’t wait to get all seamtress on you guys.

Lady loathes…

* My flawlessly healthy diet losing the plot everyday after 5pm. It’s all crackers, dip, wine and takeaway food from then on. Disaster.

* Mr Squiggle pointing out that I self narrate. To make me more aware of this, everytime I self narrate he adds to it. Lady Smaggle – ‘I’m going to have a shower and then cook dinner!‘ Mr Squiggle – ‘Lady chirped happily as she ran downstairs to the bathroom‘.

* The weather. Summer. Sucks. Balls.

* Not being able to sleep because… Summer. Sucks. Balls. It’s like being incased in lava sleeping next to Mr Smaggle. His body temperature is totally whack.

* Getting a fabulous recipe from my friend only to lose it 5 seconds after I left the house.

* Having to use the toilet immediately after my boss. It’s not that she’s gross or anything it’s just really awkward.

What about you angel face? Anything to share?

Love Lady Smaggle

p.s Don’t forget if you want to ask me something now is the time to do it!

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Lady made the pages of Cleo again! Snap up a copy of January Cleo…

Flick to page 32 to see my necklace DIY… and ugly mug! 

And a super huge round of applause to the gorgeous Lisa from Canberra’s Got Style who got a full page spread on her home, her craftiness and her accessories label, Tango and James! 

A massive hello to any new readers! Please introduce yourself! Also massive thanks to Lisa… whose images I stole for this post. 

Also to anyone who has written a comment in the last two weeks I have just replied TO EVERY SINGLE ONE! Just in case you were thinking I was rude…

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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Put your hands up if you love Vera Wang?  Thought so. Here is a quick and easy way to copy cat her gorgeous black wrap heels.

What you need - 

* A pair of open toed black stilettos

* A metre of black felt 

Step One 

Measure and cut 2 metre long pieces of felt 8cm wide. Pull each piece so that they stretch a little. 

Step Two 

Place one piece under the sole of your shoe with one side longer than the other. Keep the short side vertical against the inside of your leg. 

Step Three

Take the longer piece and wrap it forward around the top your foot and then back over the heel of your shoes. 

Step Four

Take the remaining length of the long end and wrap it around your ankle, tucking the end in when you’ve finished. 

Not too shabby for a piece of felt and an old pair of heels! 

If you try this please send me photos or links! I love to see it when people try my DIYs! 

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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After the success of my first stocking necklace tutorial I have had several requests for more DIYs. After seeing the Degas exhibition in Canberra I was inspired by this painting to make a necklace that ties around the neck leaving a bow. 

Here is the finished piece…

First I cut the toes off a pair of old tights and cut down the sides to open them up. 

Then I drew a flower template on cardboard and traced the shape on my stocking material. I then cut out all the shapes. I made 5 sets of 5 flowers but you can do more or less if you like. 

Step 1 – Take a metre of ribbon and find the centre. fold each side upwards to form a square-ish shape. Glue with fabric glue and leave to dry.

Step 2  - Take 5 of your cut outs and lay them roughly on top of each other. Sew them together through the centre of each flower. You can be pretty messy with this step because it gives the flowers more volume. Arrange the flowers on your ribbon as shown.

Step 3  - Sew each flower to the ribbon and sew a crystal or bead in the centre of each flower. You may need to put a few extra stitches in and around the flowers to make them sit flat when you’re wearing your piece. All done! 

Happy crafting! 

I’m still new to the DIY thang’ so please leave feedback! 

Love you guys…

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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It’s the end of the weekend and I’m utterly exhausted. The weekend was spent spoiling the shit out of Mr Smaggle for his birthday. I also slept for an obscene amount of time. 

* Hammer pants from DFO in Melbourne

* Singlet top from Country Road in Melbourne

* Cardigan from Valley Girl in Canberra

* Earrings from Bijoux in Canberra

* Shoes Doc Martens from DFO in Melbourne

* Singlet by Metalicus 

* Brooch Smaggle Made (It’s a black chip board square with a diamante ‘MJ’ design on it. I’m going to wear it for thirty days to mourn for my beloved Michael Jackson who I’ve been listening to non-stop for the past few days.)

This evening I’m going for a chilly jog around the lake, cooking an old fashioned meat and veg dinner for Mr Smaggle and getting ready for a busy week. 

What are you up to my love?

Love Lady Smaggle

P.S The winner of the armwarmer competition will be announced tomorrow! Good luck! 

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Sorry kittens, for the ridiculous absence and horrifying lack of outfit shots. I’m so crazy busy and rarely near my computer but I’m going to try to be a better Smaggle. I promise! 

This weekend was BRILLIANT! I spent Friday night at a gallery drinking free wine and mingling with this incredible Russian woman who was a witch but was wearing head to toe Issey Miyaki. I would like to be her when I grow up. Yes I would. Then I spent the evening at an asian karaoke bar flirting my arse of with a transgender (self proclaimed) ‘man with a clam’. Mr Smaggle was rather amused. I also ate McDonald’s for the first time in like 4 years. It was magnificent. 

Saturday night was spent having a delicious girly sleepover with Roomy Smaggle at one of our friend’s houses and my days were spent tearing my hair out over making jewelled rings for an exhibition opening in Canberra while simultaneously watching 90210 season six. The rings are modelled above by the gorgeous Roomy Smaggle. 

I’m off to teach winter themed art to my special kids today. Sigh! 

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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The last week of work countdown continues!

* Top from DFO in Canberra

* Skirt thrifted

* Shoes thrifted

* Necklace Smaggle made

* Sunglasses from DFO in Canberra

This evening I’m going to walk up a big arse hill and then I’m going out for dinner with Browny and then we are both heading to a pub to see our friend’s gig. I swear I’m going to pack soon… I’m booking the removalist for Friday so I won’t have much choice soon!

By the way it’s 34 degrees celcius here today. I’m melting.

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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Help! I have to post my application for NMIT this week (eek!) and I need some help in short listing some of my stuff. Here is a small selection of pieces that I am considering for the application. They will be  photographed more professionally for the application so this is just for an indicator of what people like. 

Chandelier earrings (these sit like a mini chandelier with the pearl hidden in curtains of shell beads) 

Michael Jackson charm bracelet

Shell and tortoiseshell wire wrapped charm bracelet

Bead woven earrings 

Bead woven rings

Tool belt necklace 

Swarovski crystal bead woven bracelet 

Chain maille bracelet

Cloisonné and crystal earrings

Would you be a kitten and pick your three favourite pieces? And tell me why you like them?

Love (your very stressed) Lady Smaggle

xxx

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Like any gal who lives in sub-zero temperatures I have a rather extensive collection of tights. Consequently I also throw many of them away when they get holes and ladders in them. I have zero patience which makes me rip them on too fast. This, coupled with a nasty habit of crawling around on the floor make my poor tights rarely last longer than a season. I was so upset when my yellow tights bit the dust recently and I decided it was far too soon for our relationship to end. So I shredded them to pieces and made a necklace out of them. I’m a heartless wench. 

 I just cut the legs off the body of the tights and cut the toes off.

Then I cut each leg open and cut them into strips, roughly 1cm wide.

Then I tied each end to an earring finding making sure that each layer was longer than the last. This sometimes meant tying two lengths together and trying it on to check that it was falling correctly.

Then I tied shorter pieces of stocking at irregular intervals along my strands. I also bought a DIY stud kit and put studs all along the strands and ties. I sewed a few silver charms on it too. 

Then I added a clasp and chain so I could wear it at different lengths. If you’re going to make this yourself I suggest that you wear it often through out the process of making it so you can gauge the shape and length of it. The total cost of the piece was $1.50. The tights, earring findings and chain were all junk that was lying around my house and the stud kit cost $1.50 from a discount store. Even if I had to buy the findings and chain it wouldn’t have cost more than a couple of dollars. 

This is the first D.I.Y post for Smaggle so if you have any questions just comment! 

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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I’ve had a few emails asking for close-ups of ’smaggle made’ jewellery so I thought I would give you all a peek at what I made last night…

These are for a benefit supporting Burma.

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

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