I don’t know about ‘the handbags of interiors’ but there is always room for a cushion because these are accessories that you can change pretty often.
 
Even so, I would rather invest in a bevy of beauties rather than swap each season.  Thinking more about this I have cushions from Bennison, Papa Stour, Eleanor Pritchard, Margo Selby, St Jude’s and now saving up for a de Le Cuona Liquid Velvet. Goodness, I didn’t realise I had such a habit.
 
How can I give up when Pentreath & Hall announce LINDELL & CO new hand woven and hand stitched embroidered cushions NOW IN STOCK?
 
LINDELL & Co works with highly skilled artisans and the production is based in northern India and Nepal. Each piece is unique and all of their creations are produced in very small quantities, which make them so special.
 
Gabrielle Soyer designs these original and eclectic cushions and many use chain stitch, which is a centuries-old embroidery tradition that is kept alive by talented craftsmen.
 
The names of the cushions are fabulous too – Gloria, Riviera, New Sun, Butterfly and John.

Gloria and John
 
Ben Pentreath and Bridie Hall have also designed cushions for Fine Cell Work, a charity and social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework. Their graphic designs ‘Falling Cubes’ and ‘Tetrahedron’ are based on stone floor and marble patterns by the great 18th century designer Batty Langley.
 
Pentreath & Hall and Fine Cell Work both believe that no chair, sofa, bed or life is complete without a lot of cushions.
 
How right they are.
 
www.pentreath-hall.com/accessories/cushions
 
shop.finecellwork.co.uk
​

Pentreath & Hall and Fine Cell Work have joined forces to create a striking collection of needlework cushions to be launched at the London Design Festival.

Pentreath & Hall’s two graphic designs ‘Falling Cubes’ and ‘Tetrahedron’, based on stone floor and marble patterns by the great 18th century designer Batty Langley, are stitched in six bold, bright colour combinations including mixtures of pink, blue, chartreuse and red, alongside softer grey tones.

Ben Pentreath says that; 

“Working with Fine Cell Work has been one of the most exciting collaborations of the year, for Bridie and me. We love their brilliant work and it was an absolute pleasure to be asked to design a range of cushions with them. The bold, vibrantly coloured Geometric patterns of our wrapping paper and books worked beautifully, rescaled in needlepoint; and seeing the skill with which our initial ideas have been translated into reality is a joy”. 

Fine Cell work is a registered charity and social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework – undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells – to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending.

Currently some 250 prisoners in 24 UK prisons are participating in Fine Cell Work workshops or projects and there are numerous prisoners on its waiting lists. Prisoners are paid approximately a third of the selling price of their completed projects.

On undertaking the new designs, one prisoner commented

“I enjoyed the challenge of stitching this design and also seeing the pattern stand out as the tapestry increased. This was when the 3D image became apparent and also grew in perspective.”

www.finecellwork.co.uk


www.pentreath-hall.com

The Haberdashery captures the spirit of early New York, in N16. A brilliant cafe on Stoke Newington High Street where homemade cakes are brought warm out of the kitchen and hot chocolate is served in bowls. The owners smile and it has that stylised raggedness that photographers love. A photographer friend Kristin Perers gave me the nod and to have such a place on your doorstep is a treat.

Another treat is haberdashery in the true sense of the word by those that do it best  - V V Rouleaux.

If you want an antidote to white walls and the tyranny of monochrome then head to the technicolour world of V V Rouleaux. This haberdashery heaven has every ribbon, trimming, flower and frippery imaginable. A kaleidoscopic whirl of colours and ideas.

Devotees flock from the worlds of fashion, interior design, theatre and royalty. Keira Knightley wore silver tin birds in her hair as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, while the Duchess of Cambridge selected silk-satin ribbon for her bridesmaids’ dresses. House & Garden said ‘V V Rouleaux is for those spurred on by the thrill of discovering something unique. For here is indeed something for everyone.’

Last week I wrote about how Matisse’s cut-outs should inspire us all and V V Rouleaux is a place of eye-popping wonder where I believe each of us can have a creative moment. Check out the V V Rouleaux courses: Tassels and Knots; Ribbon Flowers and if you need a hat for Royal Ascot try the Headdress Course.

the-haberdashery.com

vvrouleaux.com