Frequently Asked Questions

I used to have a snappy little image which answered this, but these days I’m getting more questions, so it only make sense that you get more detail in return!

Questions about Gala

Q: How do you get your hair so pink/purple/white?
A: I use Special Effects dye (which stains everything!), but check out The Ultimate Guide to Unnatural Hair Colouring for more detail!

Q: What are your tattoos of & what do they mean & where did you get them done?
A: Ooh, a two-parter!
i. The tattoo on my right arm was my first. It features siamese twins (characters from Fawn Gehweiler‘s imagination) surrounded by cupcakes, candy & teacups. It was done by Adam Craft at Illicit HQ in Auckland, New Zealand, over a few sessions.
ii. The tattoo on my left arm is a big pink swanboat with a hot air balloon in the background. It was done by Tim Kern at Last Rites in New York City. It took ten hours over two consecutive days.

Q: What camera do you use?
A: Since September 2006, I have used a Nikon D80 digital SLR. Before that I used a Nikon Coolpix which was great for a point-&-shoot. I make my videos on a Samsung Miniket.

Q: Where do you live? Where were you born? What nationality are you?
A: I moved to Melbourne, Australia in October 2006. I live somewhere around the 40th floor of a tower in the CBD. I was born in Wellington, New Zealand & lived there until I was 18. I then did a few years in Auckland (600 km north). I have two passports — one British & one New Zealand, though I am also an Australian resident.

Q: You have a weird accent. What’s the deal?
A: I don’t know! People have said I sound Australian, Canadian, British & South African. Funnily enough, I get “Are you Canadian?” more often than “Are you from New Zealand?”.

Q: Why do you sometimes call yourself Bunnyhead?
A: Mostly just because I can! Bunnyhead is my alter-ego. She is a fierce fashion warrior!

Q: Who are your heroes?
A: Hunter S. Thompson, Haruki Murakami, Vivienne Westwood, Patrick Bateman, Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Charles Bukowski, Diana Vreeland, Francesca Lia Block, Vladimir Nabokov, Mark Z. Danielewski, Floria Sigismondi, Francesca Woodman, Erica Jong, Andy Warhol, Mary-Kate Olsen, Eloise, Pharrell Williams, David LaChapelle, Rita Konig, Salvador Dali, Yoko Ono & Betty Dodson. Phew!

Q: Who are your fashion idols?
A: Diana Vreeland, the Marchesa Louisa Casati, Little Edie, Patricia Field & Mary-Kate Olsen. A strange combination, peut-être, but it works for me!

Q: Do you travel much? If you come to ______, do you want to hang out?
A: Yes, I do! I am a frequent visitor of New Zealand, the United States & the United Kingdom. & of course! Let’s buy dresses!

Q: Can you please break yourself down into groups I can understand?
A: Sure. My Sun & Mercury are Virgo, I have my Moon in Sagittarius & Venus & Mars in Leo. I am also a Water Pig & an ENFP. Is that helpful?!

Q: What’s your mailing address? I have something to send you.
A: Wow, thank you! My address is — Mlle. Darling / PO Box 12348 / A’Beckett Street / Melbourne 8006 / Victoria, Australia.

Q: I want more. Where else can I stalk you?
A: Lots of places. Try: Flickr, Last.fm, Livejournal & Metblogs.

Questions about iCiNG

Q: What is a “nonpareil”?
A: Officially, it’s a metallic-coloured ball of crunchy sugar which goes on top of cakes. Unofficially, it is my secret & loving nickname for my readers — since you are all a fabulous & essential part of iCiNG. (All together now: “Awwww!”)

Q: Can I ask you a question & will you write an article about it?
A: That all depends! I receive lots of questions every day & I don’t know the answer to everything! Have a read of Gala’s Guide To Asking Questions & then use your judgement!

Q: Who designed your website & what blogging platform do you use & who did you register your domain with & who hosts you?
A: I designed it (& the title “font” is my handwriting!) but my genius boyfriend does all the geeky back-end (& I love him for it). I currently use Textpattern as a platform but didn’t think this through very well & the plan is to switch to Drupal at some stage. I registered my domain with joker.com, who I think are very good. iCiNG is hosted by ServeInt.

Q: Who did that incredible illustration of you in your header?
A: It’s by the awe-inspiring India Kalff. You should hire her!

Q: Can we do a link exchange?
A: As much as I would love to, if I did a link exchange with everyone who asked, my links page would be about a gazillion miles long! I also really only like to link to websites which have me foaming from the mouth with excitement. If you have a site which you think I’d love, please do email me — you never know! You are, however, free (& even encouraged!) to link to me as much as you please!

Q: What inspired you to become self-employed?
A: Mostly, I think, a loathing of offices & subservience to anyone else! I have had a LOT of jobs, ranging from working with home loans & term deposits to a fairly long post as a Lush Cosmetics shop manager. I always thought the problem was that I didn’t have any work ethic, which is absolutely untrue — it’s just that I wasn’t doing anything I was passionate about.

Q: How does iCiNG make money?
A: At the moment most of it is ad-generated revenue, though I make a lot of other little side deals which help too. If you’re interested in doing something like this yourself, my best advice is to visit Problogger & read the whole thing. Several times, if possible.

Q: You live in a really nice place. How much do you earn a year?
A: Thank you! I like it too. I’m not really interested in telling you how much I earn, however ;>

Q: I want to get paid to work from home too!
A: Okay. Before you start, here is an honest break-down of my business. At the moment I have no staff, so the entire business rests on my shoulders. I wake up before sunrise every day & work until I pass out. I love it, but I do pour everything I have into it. It’s a huge responsibility & it was a big leap of faith to decide I was going to generate my own income. I should also point out that having a website is not the only way to make money by working for yourself, or even necessarily the best way. All of my closest friends work for themselves (writers, photographers, fashion designers, artists or they have retail businesses), & really it’s prudent to do something you’re good at!

Further reading:
10 Reasons You Should Never Get A Job / How To Make Money From Your Blog / How To Discover Your Life Purpose In About 20 Minutes / 10 Stupid Mistakes Made By The Newly Self-Employed / How Bloggers Make Money From Blogs / Blogging For Beginners / Monkey Bar Blogging