Design Porn: Tobyboo

The story behind Tobyboo interests me as much as the designs themselves. After deciding as a teenager that she wanted to go to Central St Martin's art school and work in art or TV, Tina Crawford went on to be a successful TV producer and make the 'makes' on a children's art show.

Instead of continuing a lucrative TV career, Tina became chronically ill. She passed by a sewing machine shop by chance, and then went back to school to learn free embroidery. That was the start of her new adventure.

How much do I love her bone china range? Based on the nursery rhyme the Oranges and Lemons tea set, is a joy to look at. The entire set isn't cheap (they never are, get over it) at £220, but you can buy the cups and saucers individually and they've got lines from the rhyme on the inside around the rim.

You can get the range on cushions, too. I'd opt for yellow, obviously.

I also love this rat race sticky tape. I want to stick it on everything. It's only £6.

There are so many things to discover in Tobybee's shop (including some very creepy dolls), I'm a fan already. I think Tina Crawford's work is going to get very popular indeed.

Etsy Pick: Love for the Lighthouse

What's not to love about lighthouses? I mean, aside from the annoyingly bland band named after them. They remind me of all my seaside trips as a child, and they also symbolise the comforting idea of someone looking out for you. Plus, they're stripey. Stripey things are cool.

A recent visit to a friend of mine revealed her slight obsession with lighthouses. They're all over the house, in artwork, little ornaments on shelves, and even embroidered into the cushions. I thought I'd get me some of that action, and the lovely UK sellers on Etsy seem eager to oblige.

This lighthouse cushion from Jo Fulham Textiles is so darn adorable. The spotty one is my favourite. I want it on my bed. It's £31.82 with an extra four quid for shipping.

I will want to wear this lighthouse and seagull necklace on every sunny day there is. It's £14.95 with £1.50 from Jodie Anna. You can also get these dainty lighthouse earrings from Silk Purse Sows Ear for just £6 (£2 shipping).

This lighthouse print would go on my kitchen wall, so that every time I'm sat at the table munching my cheerios wondering what on earth to do with my day, I'll have a pretty good idea. It's £20 (£1.50 shipping) from Designed by Wink.

Etsy pick: Snug Interiors

Some people look at kittens, some people look at shoes but when I'm feeling down in the inspiration  dumps, I tend to seek out colour and pattern.

That's why I've got Print and Pattern bookmarked: a blog that simply flags up the brightest and most interesting pattern designs across the high street and independent designs. It's through them I discovered the Newcastle/London based Hannah and Sarah of Snug Interiors whose fun homeware designs are available through Etsy. Cute animals, pretty colours and even more tea towels, cushions and canvas bags to clutter up your home: there's a lot here to lift the spirits when you are feeling a bit down.

This Hello Cushion would be just the thing to cheer you up when you come in after a hard day's work. With that bird, it's definitely tottering towards the twee but (I'd like to think) it's rescued by the bright colours and shapes. It costs a bargain £18.31.

Another canvas bag to carry to the shops with you? I'm sure you already have more than enough, but do you have any that are both as pretty and fit for purpose as this Off to shop tote? It's only £7.19.

A sneaky addition to Tea Towel Tuesday is this Clean as a Whistle design. Clean until tomorrow is something I fully understand - in my case, it's more like until I knock my wine glass over five seconds after I've finally finished clearing up. This tea towel might also help with such spillage issues. It's £9.81.

The duo have also applied their design skills to some cute packaging, such as these summer bulbs which will set you back just £3.29.

For more of this kind, take a look at their shop: Snug Interiors have lots of things that will keep you snug, smug and happy.

The Friday Five: Cushions

Sluttery HQ is moving soon. I'm so excited about having a new place to decorate. Of course, moving anywhere new is expensive, which means instead of actually decorating I'll just buy new cushions. Here's my Friday Five.

Pigeons on cushions. Love it. Only £20 from Debenhams.

It's like that swirly writing you did at school. You know, when you used pen and paper and still had nice penmanship. This velvet and silk cushion is from Liberty and I'm trying to ignore that it's an eye-watering £145.

Chloe Croft has some new designs. I want them all. Especially the coy parrot. They're between £45 and £55 from All Things Original.

You could hide behind London while watching scary films. That'd do it for me. This is £45 from John Lewis.

Isn't this li'l cushion dog cute? He's £45 from Hunkydory Home. I want to hug him and hug him.

Shop in the Spotlight: Papa Stour

I hope you took our advice to heart and were well feed and watered this Burns Night (though your arteries probably took less well to the deep fried tunnocks). If you are still in the mood for all things Scottish, may I direct you to the wonderful webshop that is Papa Stour? It stocks independent Scottish makers and designers and has its very own, very Scottish kind of look to it. Even without a dram of whisky in me, it makes me feel very nostalgic about when I lived in Edinburgh and it makes me want to pack my bags and leap on the next Flying Scotsman up there.

It's full of beautiful things, like this 'In the Woods' light shade by Bronagh and Zuzana. The design is hand-printed onto sand silk and costs £40. You can get one with hares too.

Another thing Scotland is known for is its excellent knitwear. This cushion by Suzanne is illustrated with some excellent examples of said knitwear. It's £18 (cute Scottish child not included in price).

There's great potential for buying unusual gifts too. These ceramic jars are £30 each.

Or for a saucier than average wedding gift, how about this minx? She's also £30.

But if you still haven't had more than your fair share of teacakes, take a look at this Taking Over Teatime print, yours for £25. This one is definitely good for your heart.