blog:proleno

Bring a burst of Springtime in Japan to your living room… Breathe new life into your living space by creating some lovely Japanese Cherry Blossom cushions to brighten up your sofa. Place a Japanese screen behind your sofa or a vase of cherry blossom on your coffee table. Add some cherry blossom room fragrance perfume sticks and you’ll evoke the heady scent of a Japanese Spring.

Step One
Cut out blossom (flower) shapes from organza fabric using a Versatip with a soldering tip.

Step Two
To create the individual blossoms, place three organza flowers together, then pinch them all together in the centre and touch the point on the back of the flowers with the Versatip and the soldering tip to fuse them into one blossom.

Step Three
Use a Glue Gun to glue the strung brown sequins onto the cushion cover to form the branches, planning the design carefully first if you want it to run across a number of cushions.

Step Four
Cut out leaf shapes from green fabric and use a Glue Gun to glue the leaves and blossom in place. (Alternatively, you could create leaves using lime green sequins). Add some sparkle to your cushions by using the Versatip to apply the hot fix gems to suggest blossom buds or more blossoms.

Materials required:
White and pink organza fabric (note that fabric must be man-made fibre only)
Brown strung sequins
Green non-fray fabric such as faux suede or felt or green sequins
Clear hot fix gems
Cushion pads with silk covers
Dremel Versatip with soldering tip attachment
Dremel Glue Gun

More information at www.dremel.co.uk

Tessuti is a London based designer led company that specialises in selling gorgeous and unique printed fabrics by mail order. Characterised by bright, colourful patterns and high quality printed and woven fabrics they are the antithesis of mass-produced generic high street brands.

The Dinosaur print featuring Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus is a sure shot winner for all inquisitive little boys and girls. Buoyant primary colours and dinosaur prints contrast wonderfully against a plain white background in this fun and friendly bedlinen set.

For an exquisitely matching bedroom, take a look at the delectable Dino laundry bag (specially sized for small people). To complete the look accessorise with lively matching hangers in red, yellow, green or blue and make the room extra special by spelling out the child’s name with Tessuti’s wooden hanging letters.

Their website, bizarrely, isn’t ecommerce enabled so ordering is a tad old fashioned by telephone or post (yes, post!) but its worth a look as it does have some good quality product images so you can see what you will be buying when you pick up the phone! Tessuti can be reached on 020 8940 8808.

The Blankie lap duvet is the perfect gift, available in 5 colour combinations in time for Christmas. It is wonderful for warming up the winter months without worrying about your heating bill or your carbon footprint!

The Blankie has become extremely popular – its convenient size, feather and down filling and beautiful colours mean that it is an essential part of lounging in front of the TV as the nights draw in.

Blankies are ideal for cosy sleepovers, naps, journeys, outdoor concerts, picnics and barbeques. Measuring 60″ x 40″ & filled with a 70% down and 30% feather mix, the Blankie is covered in 100% combed cotton, machine washable and tumble dry proof – great for the kids.

Priced at £44, each Blankie comes with its own colour co-ordinated cotton stuff bag, making it easy to carry with you or tidy away, ideal for students and boarders.

To buy a Blankie or for more information visit www.solaceduvet.com.