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No matter how much planning I do, or how much time I have, I always seem to thrive on creating work in a crazy flurry of productivity right up against a deadline…it’s like being an art student all over again! I was recently commissioned to make two bespoke head pieces for Ali and Becky, who were organising a charity fundraiser Masquerade Ball and wanted … Read More Birds of a feather
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A few weeks ago I got an email from my stockist in Stow-on-the-Wold which opened with ‘I am doing a vintage ‘Great Gatsby’ shoot and a ‘Marie Antoinette shoot and I want to get some hair items that are made out of vintage necklaces so they go over the forehead and are pinned in to the hair (I hope im making sense) is this something you think … Read More Shine like Diamonds
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A couple of months ago I made some Bunny Ears which were sold through my local stockist Made in Stroud. They sold well in the run-up to Easter, and one lady even bought two woollen pairs for a party. I collected the unsold stock to take to a Vintage & Craft Fair in Gloucester. That same day the customer (who had already bought 2 … Read More An Unexpected Tail
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Inspired by pieces I saw recently in Liberty’s, and remembering a prototype pair I rustled up for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party themed event, I have made a collection of bunny ears. Every girl should have a pair in her wardrobe to call on for a party, or festival, or just a quirky pick-me-up. Put them on and you can’t help but smile! There are … Read More Mad March
+ Day to day, Makes
I have been collecting up old pearl necklaces, initially thinking of using them for flapper style head bands or tiaras, but after playing with coiling one round on a sinamay base and adding a diamante brooch for a bit of sparkle I came up with this design; This particular one is available at my new stockist in Bristol, Cox & Baloney (more on them … Read More Pearly Queen
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A selection on mock-ups for a recent wedding commission. See the finished piece here https://gemmasangwine.com/commissions/
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Painswick is a sleepy, picturesque, village, not far from where I live here in Stroud. It it’s known as ‘the Queen of the Cotswolds’, and once a year plays host to a Wearable Art Festival. Initially inspired by a similar, international event in New Zealand, Art Couture Painswick is now in it’s 3rd year and attracts thousands of visitors to the narrow streets lined … Read More Wearable Art comes to Town
+ Day to day, Makes
With a week and a half to go, the sewing machines are whiring away here at Stafford Mill, in preparation for the Textile Trail Open Studios, taking place on the weekends of the 12 & 13th and 19th & 20th of May. The local Made In Stroud shop have already got a range of our products on display (and for sale!). They re-did the window … Read More There’s nothing like the pressure of a deadline…
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The idea for these little bolero style cardigans came about when I needed a cover-up to go over the lovely vintage dress I wore to my sisters wedding. It was in May, and the unpredicatable English weather could go either way…so I needed something that would keep me warm if it was cold, but wouldn’t swamp me or hide the dress….I was searching for … Read More More felted wool! – Shrug cardigans
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So here’s a brief run down on how to make these felt flowers. 1. Start with a circular template, in this case I’ve used the lid to an aerosol can, approx 5cm across, but use anything similar that’s to hand or cut a cardboard template to suit. 2. Draw out 3 circles, taking care to make the best use of the fabric available. … Read More How to make felt flower corsages
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These corsages are perfect for using every scrap of fabric left over from the felted wool jumpers! This lovely pink wool and angora flower came from a jumper which had already yielded enough fabric to make a pair of slippers and a pair of wrist warmers. They are fairly easy to make. You cut circles out of the fabric, fold then over twice and … Read More Up-cycled wool flower corsages
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Had a great day at Prema Arts Centre yesterday, running an afternoon workshop. We were making a pair of slippers out of old, felted woolen jumpers. The emphasis was on using favourite jumpers which had been a victim of the washing machine and shrunk to unwerable proportions! We followed a simple pattern, adapted from ‘Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials’ … Read More Slipper Workshop
Cotswolds milliner designing bespoke hats, fascinators & hair accessories 