SARAH McGlashan’s business venture was a “happy accident”.
A year ago, the young social worker had never even heard of polymer clay and now she is working with it daily, creating a wide range of beautiful earrings.
From small plain studs to bright and bold statement dangle and drops, Sarah has built up quite an extensive variety in the short time since she established Stella and Smudge Boutique.
“I love that earrings can make such a statement,” Sarah said.
“When I see people put them on I can see the confidence it instantly gives them.”
It was while Sarah was meant to be “slowing down” that she found her new passion.
“Last year I was having some health issues and I was meant to be slowing down so I started knitting,” she said.
“I then moved on to sewing masks and while on YouTube fell down a dark hole and found myself looking at how to create earrings.
“I started to make them and made so many that I started selling them to friends and family.”
It wasn’t long before her hobby became her business – Stella and Smudge Boutique, which sees Sarah selling online and at local markets.
“Mum sells citrus at the Sunraysia Farmers Market so she was really supportive,” Sarah said. “The response has been quite overwhelming and positive.
“I am getting a bit of a following now and seeing repeat customers, which is lovely.”
Not only has her hobby become Sarah’s go-to way to relax but it provided the perfect distraction.
“I was meant to get married in November but had to postpone and managed to sneak it in in April, so in those few months it gave me something else to focus on other than wedding planning,” she said.
Sarah admits there has been plenty of “trial and error” but she has now got a good handle on the process.
“A year ago I didn’t know what polymer clay was and I would not consider myself crafty, I nearly failed woodwork and textiles at school,” she said.
“So I have really surprised myself.
“I really enjoy the process of working with clay and the more I do it the more fascinated I become with different techniques.”
A lot of time and effort goes into creating each pair, with Sarah unable to narrow down just how many hours she spends on each.
“It really depends on their complexity, if I am colour matching, conditioning the clay, baking, sanding, putting on a glaze and then putting it all together, it does take time,” she said.
“Most days I like to work in batches; spend a day cutting, a day sanding and a day drilling.
“It’s all very relaxing and definitely my self-care.”
Sarah has had a lot of interest in her products, which she has found that many people haven’t seen before.
“A lot of people are interested in the process of creating them having never seen clay earrings before,” she said.
“Once they get to know about them and just how light and easy they are to wear, most say they find themselves wearing them every day.”
Sarah hopes to continue to build her collection and Etsy website to enable buyers from outside the region to access her products.
