DIY POMPOM Slippers

 

When it comes to hoarding the free white slippers you get in hotel rooms I am as guilty as they get. At home I’m a sock girl but away I have to make use of the slippers. I especially love that moment of returning to my room and seeing that a lovely person has strategically placed them on a mat by my bed as part of the evening turn-down service. Hotel slippers are what makes a holiday in my books so it seems a real shame to throw them away afterwards when they still have some wear in them, so I like to bring mine home.

Trouble is I now have a ridiculous number of said white slippers and of course I never wear them. So I decided rather than letting them go to waste and take up space in my wardrobe I’d fashion them into something more appealing so here goes… introducing the pompom slippers. See how to make them in the quick video above or check out below for the details.

WHAT YOU NEED:
Free hotel slippers
Pompoms
Glue gun
A ball (I used a cricket one, a tennis ball would be fine too)

GET CRAFTING!
Place the ball inside the slipper, this gives it shape and stops the slipper from getting stuck to the sole while you’re glueing.

Apply a line of glue and then press your pompoms into place. Keep them nicely close together as the effect of full coverage looks so much more impressive when there are no gaps.

Slip out the ball, leave to dry and get ready to lounge at home in the coolest slippers of anyone on your street.

Indian Clay Bangle Making

 

A mesmerising watch.

I feel naked without bangles. They are the one accessory I have to wear and on the rare occasions I’ve accidently left my house without wearing any, I’ve gone to the nearest shop and bought some: that’s how bad my addiction is.

This demonstration of clay bangles was filmed in Jaipur. Every single bangle in the set is different but made in the same way by melting and moulding clay and tree gum. The colours are so vivid but the result is very delicate. I bought this set but shortly after, dropped a few on the floor and they broke into small pieces, so if you are going to buy clay bangles wear them and handle them with caution.

The great thing about buying direct from a demonstration is that you’re giving money directly to the maker and with that in mind, because I saw him at work these are currently the most precious bangles I own. I’m so shamed I broke some of them so early on but the ones I still have are very special.

Given a choice I encourage you to shop similarly – why give money to a store when it’s the maker who’s done the work? I know it’s not always possible but it beats buying something quickly from a shop which may not even have been made in the country you’re purchasing it from, even though it’s labelled a ‘handicraft.’

Don’t worry about price either because in actual fact it’s cheaper to buy direct. These clay bangles were a complete bargain!

Have you bought anything from your travels that you watched being made? Share your story in the comments, we’d love to know.