Barking Mad

I love dogs, I used to be more of a cat person but dogs are now my number one animal. 

There's nothing like a dog's welcome; whether you haven't seen them for days or just popped out for a paper, they're always delighted to see you. 

I spent the weekend with my favourite one Frank. He is the cutest and softest Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the world (don't believe what people say about this breed by the way - dogs much like people develop personalities in accordance to how they're brought up) 

Saying goodbye to Frank is always a little bit sad, he has perfected sad, puppy dog eyes and always manages to make you feel guilty when he sees you packing your case. 

So this cushion is for him (actually he'd probably quite like it for his box) and I love it too. 

Donna Wilson creates knitted cushions and throws with simple yet really effective prints such as this dog one and a humorous BLAH print. 

Check out her website to see her full range. 

Under The Sea

Much like I'm fast falling in love with Jonathan Adler's designs, I'm also totally in love with Thomas Paul and his beautiful products.

I've blogged about Thomas's cushions before when I mentioned his gorgeous Russian doll design and I love this seahorse design too. 

Seahorses, to me, are magical creatures and make great motifs for home wares but I also learnt something really sweet about them today. 

During courtship (which lasts a couple of days) they hold tails as they swim along with their chosen mate, and as everyone knows, the male seahorse is the one who gives birth. 

Something that's definitely going to get the vote amongst female cushion buyers...

Disco Fever

The great thing about blogging is you get to read other people's blogs and take inspiration from them. 

I definitely have to name check my friend Roh Roh and her blog The Beat That My Heart Skipped because if she hadn't received all her Christmas presents this year, then I wouldn't have known about Jonathan Adler and his great cushions. 

Jonathan produces a number of needlepoint cushions, now I know what you're thinking, needlepoint = grannies = fusty, pastoral scenes or even worse Home Sweet Home signs...

...not true with Jonathan's quirky designs, like this cool as retro Studio 54 ticket cushion. 

Jonathan also designs pottery, lighting, rugs and furniture (check out one of his very special chairs on Chairs Chairs Chairs really soon) 

The Eternal Optimist

Of course the normal saying is "Life is not a bed of roses" but I love this twist by Lulu Guiness.

Known more for her stunning handbags, Lulu also designs a range of bedlinen and accessories for the home. 

I reckon with all the doom and gloom around at the moment we could all do with a little more optimism and this cushion could be the perfect way to provide it. 

I mean, looking at this cushion is bound to do your Psyche more good than one that reads "life is shit" 

Botanic Inspiration

I might have the creative edge when it comes to writing (yes, I am blowing my own trumpet) but put a pencil or paintbrush in my hand and nothing creative happens.

Instead, little stick men emerge on the paper and not a lot else. In fact, all I'm capable of drawing is a plan of how I envisage a magazine feature looking. 

Anyway, it's for this sole reason that I really admire people who can draw. I'm not just talking artists here, but designers, architects and especially fabric designers are all high on my admiration list. 

Which is why I've always loved Clarissa Hulse's designs. She takes her inspiration from nature and transforms humble flowers, leaves and tress into botanical delights. 

There are loads of cushions to choose from (not to mention wallpaper, lampshades, bedding and more) but this Dogwood design is definitely my favourite. 

Liberty Taker

There's something magical about shopping at Liberty.

From its mock-Tudor facade to having its finger permanently on the style pulse, it's unlike shopping at any other department store. 

My favourite time to shop there is just before Christmas to see the beautiful displays and the bewitching Christmas shop. 

Known best for its Art Nouveau fabrics, Liberty has created a range of cushions that embrace this style period beautifully as part of the Liberty of London collection. 

I love this yellow version although the cushion is also available in fuchsia pink and blush. 

Right, that's sorted then, taxi to Regent St...

Festival Fever

It's great to feature international companies as well as homegrown ones and I found this cushion while browsing the fabulous American site Anthropologie.

Anthropolgie stocks a great range of fashion and jewellery, and thankfully an extensive range of products for the home. 

This Festival cushion (or pillow as they call them Stateside) really caught my eye because of its bohemian (still a hippy at heart) design and beautiful use of subtle golds, greens and greys. 

While Anthropologie doesn't have any stores in the UK just yet, you can buy them on line. Or you could (and this is my cunning plan) take a trip to New York and buy one in person. 

Fabulous felt

I love felt, in fact, its probably my favourite material of all time. 

Not only is it really versatile and warm but its available in an amazing array of colours. Ok, I confess my love of felt really comes from a childhood happily playing with Fuzzy Felt...

Anyway, it seems Selina Rose also shares my love of this fantastic fabric. She's created a whole range of products using it including coasters and table mats, hanging panels and rugs. 

Selina takes the felt and creates printed or cut work products all of which are beautiful. 

I've got my eye on the Botanica rug but while I'm saving the pennies for that one, I'll settle for a couple of cushions instead. 

Power Trip

I have a enormous affection for Batttersea Power Station, not just because I see this beast and well-known London landmark every time I travel from South London into Victoria.  Seeing it always made me feel like I was home when back from college in Falmouth and most importantly because my Grandad worked there. 

That was when it was a busy site supplying power to London but since 1983, it has lay dormant while property developers decide what to do with it. 

Its also become a popular image to put onto interiors products such as this cushion by Snowden Flood which I really, really like. 

Snowden has also put other iconic landmarks on cushions including the Statue of Liberty, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Taj Mahal. 

I think my Grandad would have really liked this cushion too and been proud to see his former workplace featured alongside such recognised landmarks. I know I am. 

Designer delights

Wow, two posts in one day, see I said there were loads of cushions out there to blog about. 

It's either that or I'm just looking for an excuse to use my beautiful new laptop.

And while we're on the subject of beauty, I happen to think this cushion certainly is that. 

Its by designer extraordinaire, Michelle Mason (you may know her for her exquisite cut work, felt rugs - which are also incidentally on my wish list) but she also designs, as this example shows, a number of stunning cushions. 

I think this one appeals because of  the retro pattern and also the muted tones of mustard, brown and charcoal - I've never been one for bright colours and with fabrics like this around don't see the need to start now! 

Watch the birdy

John Lewis is a national institution (and please let it be safe from the dreaded recession) 

From the hustle bustle of the Oxford St store to the calming, sophistication of Sloane Square's Peter Jones (hey, I am totally London-centric ) it has all the charm of an old fashioned department store while keeping it's finger firmly on the pulse. 

Which is why I was really please to find this cushion among the stock. It looks more like a art graduate's design, something you may find at Hidden Art and I think it's utterly charming. 

She's a model...

I love this cushion from Danish design company Ferm Living because it really ticks all my cushion criteria boxes: it's stylish, check; it's rather amusing, check and it's black and white, check (I do love a bit of monochrome)

In fact, I think I'm rather in love with all the cushions at Ferm. As well as the fashion design below, they also have a row of birds and a map of the world in this collection.

And then there are their beautiful silk cushions in beautiful teals, mustards and greys.

And best of all their available in the UK which means you don't have to take a trip to Copenhagen.

Best of British

A PR contact I've known pretty much since I started my career emailed me yesterday to wish me "best of British".

To be honest I didn't even know people used that expression past my Grandparents age but I kinda knew what she meant. It also reminded me of some rather attractive Union Jack cushions from The London Cushion Company

This one's my favourite, it's less about patriotism and definitely more about nostalgia, it reminds me of old post-war bunting used for street parties.

There's a whole host of designs available including a some what subtler flag cushion in whites and creams.

And now I've had a mad idea (could be a bit out there but bear with me it's quite early for a post) but how about for the next Proms everyone waves these instead of a flag...

Doing the Lambeth Walk, oi!

I've talked before about being a Londoner and a fiercely proud one at that and it's much to the amusement of my friends that I used to sing The Lambeth Walk at school instead of hymns.

I was reminded of it when I saw these cushions from brilliant interiors site Re

Inspired by Pearly Kings and Queens, these cushions are made from black velvet and just like the Cockney royalty's costumes are embellished with shell buttons.

Available in two designs: Good Luck or an anchor, I think they're a brilliant, tongue in cheek style statement.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a couple for my kangaroo pouch...

All you need is love...

...well and peace, and that's exactly what you'll get (well not literally) if you use these cushions in your home.

These wordy offerings are from Rockett St George which (and I know I say this a lot) is one of my favourite places to shop for interiors.

I urge you to take a visit to the site as it's full of an array of delights that you're not going to find on the high street.

I'm resisting the urge to get all political about these cushions, after all this isn't a blog with an agenda for world peace, so all I'll say is this: I think they're lovely, I think they speak volumes and I think they'll be making an appearance on my sofa real soon.

Happy New Year!!

Waterloo Sunset

I first stumbled upon designer Charlene Mullen and her beautiful cushions at 100% Design but was reminded about her Drawings 1 collection when crossing Waterloo Bridge last Sunday.

Being a fiercely proud Londoner (I've been known to defend it and its ridiculously priced drinks, overcrowding and abruptness to the hilt) I love anything to do with London.

Routemasters (RIP), crossing Westminster Bridge and happening across Big Ben and the view from Waterloo Bridge, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful in London.

Turn to the left and you see St Paul's dwarfed by The Gherkin, to the right The London Eye and the golden glisten of Parliament.

So it will be no surprise I fell for Charlene's beautiful cushions depicting London at its very best.

I'm wondering if I could buy all the designs and start my very own landscape of London in my living room?

Mind The Doors

The thing about the London Underground (the Tube) is that Londoners, whether born and bred or ones with alien status, love to moan about it.

But what you won't hear them admitting often, is they also love it and particularly the fixtures and fittings, in fact Fired Earth recently launched a range of tiles named after London tube stations in homage to the original oblong, bevelled-edged tiles used on the stations walls.

Anyway, I digress, this blog is about cushions not tiles (although what a great idea for a blog, hmmm)

Anyway, a friend recently bought these cushions by Squigee from the TFL shop and I was delighted as since I started this blog, I've been looking for them everywhere.

The cushions are inspired by the seating used on tubes and buses during the 70s and 80s and are available in three colourways.

From Russia With Love

I love, no adore Russian dolls. There's something so intriguing about the way they nest inside each other, starting off large and ending up almost as small as a finger nail.

So, I've also fallen for this cushion by American designer Thomas Paul for Supernice.

His Matryoska cushions are available in two designs; this square one with enlarged dolls or a rectangular option with the dolls going down in size.

I love them both and they'll definitely be a welcome addition to my own collection...

Vintage flair

Contrary to popular belief, cushions aren't always just a bit of fluff, sometimes they have a nice story behind them.

Take this Chrysanthemum and Poppy vintage design from Emma Loves Retro whose cushions are all made from either vintage or recycled fabrics.

I like this one's distinctive 70s vibe and it really reminds me of a dress I saw my Mum wearing in a photo once, in fact, perhaps it is her dress...

Flora and fauna

Mozi is a great Australian design company started by two sisters, that specialises in textiles and accessories for all over the home.

As well as a great collection of decorative plates, they also have a selection of cushions.

My top pick is this Lilly Pilly design in vibrant Turquoise. I love its intricate design which combines two birds and elegant leaves and flowers.