Smart Creations

Serena Altea Was Inspired to Make a Niche for Herself in the Jewellery Scene by a Bride’s Complaint About the Lack of Custom Made and Affordable Tiaras. Since Then, Serena Has Created a Huge Range of Tiaras and Accessories Catering for Even the Pickiest Brides. She Chats With Sarah Ezzy-dickson.

- Sarah Ezzy-dickson

AFTER BEING INVOLVED in costume design and theatre for many years, Serena decided to try her hand at making tiaras and, after only two years of practice, she entered the jewellery category in the Brisbane Exhibition in 2000. It was her first year competing, and she was placed in third place, while in her second year of competing (in 2001) she was awarded first place. This moment, Serena says, convinced her to begin making tiaras for a living. She has since created many different tiaras, ranging greatly in complexity and design, and she showcases them on her website, www.smacreations.com.au.

Her company, SMA Creations which is based in Brisbane, was originally created to cover her hair and make-up profession. While Serena’s expertise evolved, the name stayed the same and it now encompasses her jewellery profession as well. While Serena works as a sole trader, she also credits her husband with babysitting their 21-month-old toddler, Sofia, while she’s busy creating her masterpieces. Serena and her husband have just bought their first home so she hasn’t got a dedicated workspace yet, but she says, “Hopefully in a few years and after some renovations I’ll have my own special workroom.” For the moment, she makes do with a temporary desk and set of display shelves at the back of the garage.

Depending on the complexity of the design, it can take up to three hours for Serena to make a tiara, and she sometimes works for up to 16 hours over a weekend. Her preferred method to use when making her tiaras is soldering.

“I love to solder, there’s something grounding about creating something from scratch.”

Serena learnt how to solder by doing a workshop through a local bead store, which she says took about two hours (to learn the basics) and then, “the rest came naturally.”