Cool Stuff: Cushlab Felt Cushions

I got a sweet note the other day from a reader in England named Rebecca Barton, asking if it would be OK for her to post a link to my blog on a UK-based design forum. (By the way, the answer to that question is always an emphatic "Yes!")

Like many of us, Rebecca has an email signature that includes a link to her own website. (Be warned: I will always, always click on those.) So when I saw hers I couldn't resist taking a quick look, and here's what I found:

Touchably tactile felt loop cushions made with tone-on-tone or contrasting colors. The pillows are available as (roughly) 18- or 20-inch squares or 18-by-24-inch rectangles.

And I especially love these felt faux bois cushions, which depict woodgrain in a variety of fun, not-found-in-nature hues.

The pillows cost 65 to 80 pounds sterling (about $130 to $160) apiece. Each is handmade to order, and Rebecca will even consider custom sizes and color combinations. I wish I could scoop up a bunch of these (damn the weak dollar!). But for now, I'll have to be content admiring them from afar.

Check out more of Rebecca's charming cushions right here.

Cool Stuff: Woodsy Candleholders

More Autumn goodies: This faux bois candelabra, $89 from Wisteria, has the appearance of an ancient, gnarled tree. It would look especially spooky with black candles, methinks.

And these root candle holders, $29 each from Wisteria, are lovely in an earthy, natural way. (Bummer: They're on back-order until November.)

House in Progress: Feelin' Woodsy

I've mentioned before that no image fills me with joy quite like that of a barren tree set in a stark, wintry landscape (I know, I know -- my sunny nature is infectious).

And now I've discovered the perfect complement to my growing collection of tree art: Mats made from Egyptian papyrus, which looks just like tree bark.

I discovered the paper at my local art-supply store, where it's sold in sheets of various sizes for a few bucks apiece. When I got it home, I simply cut the paper to fit a set of frames I had laying around (they were purchased from Aaron Bros. during one of their regular 1-cent sales). Then I laid the carefully trimmed tree images right on top, slipped the paper-backed images into the frames, and hung the grouping in our family room.

I love how easy it was, and how the matting material perfectly fits in with the theme of the art while adding rich color and great texture to the vignette.

Next up for the bark-mat treatment: My vintage tree photos from the Alameda Antiques Faire.

Since I had some paper left over, I got my Martha on and wrapped it around a cylindrical vase, securing it with a bit of raffia. Next time I hit the florist or farmer's market, I'll pick up some berry-laden branches or richly hued fall blooms to pop in for a cool autumnal arrangement.

A few other ideas: You could wrap the paper around some glass votive holders to add to the candles' warm glow, spray-glue it around a boring old lampshade for a textural new look, or layer the paper under a piece of glass on a tabletop for an interesting faux bois treatment.

You can find the paper for $2.40 to $8.70 per sheet right here.

Trendspotting: Faux Bois

Etsy Find of the Day: Faux Bois Pots

I'm crazy about faux bois (more on that later, no doubt). I especially love it rendered in white porcelain -- it must be the incongruous contrast of sturdy, earthy form and delicate, ethereal material.

I just spotted this pair of hand-made faux bois flower pots from Etsy seller TyTravis. Wouldn't a bundle of bright dahlias or gerbera daisies with their stems trimmed short look lovely in these?

Cost: $45 for the pair.