Gema's Musings and Makings

Hello...  What a uniquely strange time we are living through. I have wondered whether writing a post here, or on any of my social media channels, would be seen as frivolous - but I know I'm p...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2020/03/SupportingEachOtherThroughCovid19.html

With the cost of single use carrier bags going up - and carrying around a Bag For Life is now a given - maybe it’s time to think about making your own..? Don’t worry, I’ve got just the t...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/denim-jeans-into-bag.html

Gift wrap has received some bad press of late... so I won't repeat it all, by going on about the earth's resources, or waste here, I’ll just state the obvious which is, giving a present in a p...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/origani-paper-pouches-DIY.html

As you know, I’m half Spanish - and there are plenty of ways to honour that, like staying up til four in the morning, and drinking a lot of good red wine. No, seriously - just popping a grape i...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/my-12-days-of-thriftmas-day-9-how-to.html

We’ve all seen those cellophane-wrapped coffee cup gift sets, and now there are even entire shops dedicated to tea, catering for those of us who love our comforting hot drinks… but instead of...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/diy-tea-coffee-choc.html

We all know cling film is on it’s way out, with all things 'single-use-plastic' – so how do we get around it? Tupperware is amazing, no doubt about it – but sometimes I don’t have every s...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/diy-wax-wraps.html

Why ON EARTH would you make bath bombs, when you can easily buy them on the high street..? Well... they smell AMAZING, people will think you're amazing for making them, and you'll feel great abou...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/Bath-Bomb-DIY.html

Wow... the days are just flying by... we're already at DAY 5 in my 12 Days of Thriftmas!  (oh... did you think I meant advent..?!) Here's my latest video, on how to make your own soy wax candles...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/candle-DIY.html

Don't you just love the smell of roses..? I do! So much so, that making a rose fragrance HAD to be part of my 12 Days of Thriftmas! I needed to know how to make my own ☺️ I hope you enjoy ...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/rose-perfume-diy.html

I hope you've enjoyed the first two videos in my new YouTube series , this one is all about celebrating imperfection; Kintsugi really resonates with me. More details on that after the video... I...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/kintsugi.html

Wondering what to wear on Christmas Jumper Day, or even throughout the Christmas season..? Watch the 2nd in my 12 Days of Thriftmas videos , and read on for more tips and tricks! Let's start...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/make-your-own-christmas-jumper.html

So here it is then, the 2nd in my crafty Christmas YouTube series ... this one's all about customising your own jumper... In this one I share details of how to customise a jumper like Rod's, or ...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/12-Days-of-Thriftmas-Christmas-Jumper.html

Presenting... 'Gema's 12 Days of Thriftmas'! I'm SO excited to share this labour of love with you... For the past couple of months I've really wanted to post details from the shoot, and couldn't...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/12-Days-of-Thriftmas-Christmas-Decorations.html

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE FIRST OF MY 12 DAYS OF THRIFTMAS SERIES , HERE ARE A FEW BITS I DIDN’T GET TO SHARE IN THE FINAL EDIT OF THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS VIDEO...  CLOVE POMANDERS...  ...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/Sustainable-Christmas-Decorations-DIY.html

Making Christmas Special... Without Costing the Earth... Every Christmas it’s the same thing, I spend hours worrying about what to get for the people I love… how to choose gifts that are tho...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/12/Gemas-12-Days-of-Thriftmas.html

Do you have That Dress - and I'm talking specifically about That Zara Dress that is everywhere at the moment? If so, I have a proposition for you... in the name of sustainable fashion. So ...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/09/that-zara-dress.html

What a fabulous pattern! It's SO easy to make up - very quick, with great results, it's such a satifying sew! I shared on my Insta last week - but wanted to write a short post here, to celebrate...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/09/my-adrienne-blouse.html

My journey as a carnival costume designer started when I was asked by the band leader of one of London's longest standing mas bands to submit designs for Notting Hill Carnival 2018, back in Novem...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/08/how-to-design-outfits-for-carnival-aka.html

Yesterday I was asked to be Godmother to my friends' gorgeous twins - I felt so blessed I didn't know what to do with myself. In truth I've been feeling a little down of late... I could tell y...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2019/03/starting-over.html

Last week was Recycle Week here in the UK, posing a great opportunity to have conversations about what recycling means, why it’s important – and how we can each make small changes in our own...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2018/10/recycle-week-2018.html

You may have noticed over the summer I was bombarding social media with photos of the Notting Hill Carnival outfits I designed and made! It was such a special experience - and I'm going to t...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2018/09/Notting-Hill-Carnival-Creations.html

As a fond farewell to my Me-Made Wedding Series, I thought it would be fitting to post on the day of my anniversary.  We were having too much fun yesterday (!) - so here it is, one day late ...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2018/08/one-year-anniversary-me-made-wedding.html

THE SNOW HAS GONE! SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! YES, IT'S STILL COLD - BUT I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE COMING MONTHS, SO I THOUGHT I'D SHARE A SUNNY MAKE, FROM LATE LAST YEAR... Thi...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2018/03/rainbow-sliders-diy.html

Hello! How DID November happen? The months have been flying by - and I've got so much to share - but, if I'm going to do this in order, then I have to tell you about my 2nd wedding 'make', My Mum...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2017/11/me-made-wedding-part-2-mother-of-bride.html

My wedding feels like a LONG time ago now - in fact, they both do... Yes, I had TWO weddings! One was the planned, "let's do it in the summer..," kind of wedding. The other was a glorious gift, g...

http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2017/10/me-made-wedding-part-1-aroosi.html