Domestic Sluttery's Mums Take Over! Selina's Mum Introduces You To A New Corset Maker

When I told Mama Shoes (that's Julie to the rest of the world) that we were going to let our mums take over Domestic Sluttery, she actually squeed. It's a rare thing that makes her do that. Here, she tells you about something else that makes her squee - the lovely corsets made by her friend Gemma Grosvenor.

When I was told that because Mothers Day was fast approaching the lovely Domestic Sluts were going to let their mums have their say, I was so excited. Mainly because it provided me with the perfect chance to introduce you all to my very talented friend Gemma Grosvenor, who produces some of the most exquisite corsets I have ever seen.

Gemma first learnt to sew when she was 10, being taught by her mum before eventually going on to study Contour Fashion at De Montfort University where her love for corsetry was born.

Gemma's business venture is still in its fledging stage but she is busy building up her portfolio of designs and is happy to take on commissions, working with you to produce your own unique piece of divine underpinning. Gemma takes her inspiration from whatever grabs her and has an eye for the prettier things in life! Besides these beautiful corsets Gemma is also working on designing a range of dresses with a retro feel (think 1950s elegance).

For more information, you can contact Gemma at gemmagrosvenorcouture@yahoo.com

Domestic Sluttery's Mums Take Over: Finding bargains for your home

For many reasons my mum is something of a mystery to me. She seems to know me better than I know myself ("Try that Alex, you will like it" or "I knew that dress would suit you"). I don't know how she finished a law degree and single-handedly raised three girls when I can barely keep on top of things working part-time. And I'm consistently surprised at how she's kept our house cosy and beautiful on a shoestring budget.

I'll admit that when I was 14 the last thing on my mind was the new wallpaper in the hallway or the kitchen flooring she'd spent days laying herself. But those things were important to her, and I love that she didn't let a little thing like having no time or money get in the way.

(Apologies for the lack of mother-daughter picture, but they're all tucked up in a photo album back home. But at least mum is wearing a hat and smile, just like me.)

So how does one get the house of their dreams (well, nearly) without spending much at all? Sounds obvious, but the best tip mum offered was keep your eyes peeled for a bargain. But if you're going down the never-paying-full-price route then you'll need to be patient and prepared to rummage.

Mum recommends making friends with the staff in your local charity shop. (Not shopping in a charity shop because you're embarrassed? You're missing out. And if anyone asks, it's vintage dahling.) She's something of a regular at the Littleover Village branch of Age Concern, and as a result they'll often put aside bits and pieces that they know my mum would love.

There's tonnes of lovely stuff from the charity shop in our house, but my favourite is this 17 piece teal tea set which was procured for £8.50. Unfortunately the milk jug was missing, but it had never been used before:

Sometimes sheer luck comes into it too. This vintage enamel sign was found in our shed - no idea how it got there. But other than a bit of rust around the edges, it was in good condition and went perfectly with the white walls in the kitchen:

Which brings me to a second top tip from Mum. If you're prone to getting bored quickly with your surroundings then keep the walls in your house white. That way if you fancy a change - from a new sofa or rug to set of cushions - your new furniture and accessories will always match the walls. After all, what clashes with white?

These gold hands are a one-off piece of art that mum found in the local charity shop. Being something of a statement piece, they bring the theme together. And the black statuettes were mere pennies from a market in Burton:

The gold border on one wall is a sticker (from a selection at B&Q) that can be easily removed once mum changes her mind:

And don't underestimate the power of the interwebs. Mum found two second-hand Chesterfield sofas in dove grey (one pictured above) from eBay, and paid £350 for both including delivery. Considering that vintage Chesterfields can start from £700, this was a bargain and a half - we didn't hear the end of it for weeks...

What hints and tips do you (or your mum!) have for kitting out your home on a budget?

Domestic Sluttery's Mums Take Over: Homemade Cleaning Products

As you must know by now, it's Mother's Day next weekend. And as well as our usual gift and recipe ideas, we thought we'd celebrate our love and affection for our dear mothers by doing something a bit special here at Domestic Sluttery.

That's why, in the run-up to Mother's Day on March 14th, the Domestic Sluts' Mums will be taking over the site. They'll tell us all their top-secret tips and tricks, advice on perfecting their signature recipes and their favourite finds to make our homes look as lovely as theirs.

And first up is my much-loved mother, Mama Bradley. Sorry for the cheesy portrait pic, by the way, readers. Mama Bradley made me promise to use one of the ones she'd classified as acceptable, which excluded all the ones of us snoozing on the sofa in Christmas hats after supping too much sherry. Don't fret, we're not as wholesome as this makes us look.

Typical Northern mum that she is, Mama Bradley is a thrifty bird if ever there was one. She's also a hypochondriac asthma-sufferer, meaning she is extremely distrustful of spritzing her home with brand-name cleaning products and all the hideous chemicals they contain.

Luckily, she has a handful of her own concoctions which do the job just as well. And as a cheeky bonus, they only cost a fraction of the real deal, and can usually be made from the contents of your kitchen cupboards. Mama Bradley's handy hints include using soda water to get rid of coffee or red wine spillages on carpets. Sounds like sinister dark magic, but it works. Just tip a bit on a clean cloth and rub gently.

Or for a cheap but effective toilet cleaner, try using supermarket own-brand cola. Roller cola, as Peter Kay would call it. Or to make a dusting spray for wood, mix 3 parts olive oil to one part lemon juice in a spray bottle. For a cheapo window and glass cleaner which will leave mirrors and tiles super-shiny, mix half-and-half clear vinegar with water in a spray bottle and squirt away to your heart's content. Last but by no means least, to clean brass or copper add a teaspoon of salt to 4 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Have you got any weird and wonderful cleaning secrets? Tell us in the comments if so! We'll share more tips from our mums' soon!