I went to visit our upholsterers today, based in Northumberland I took the train from London and made the journey up to where all our upholstery is made. The building is a beautiful big stone house, where everything is made lovingly by hand using all British materials. The process is very creative and it's magical watching a bed put together in front your your very eyes. The skilled craftsmen make it seem so easy, from cutting the wood, scoring the fabric, sewing, pinning and buttoning, the amount of work that goes into making one of our beds is truly amazing. We are currently developing new designs for Spring Summer 2013 which are all very excited about and can't wait to share them with you...watch this space! Gabriella x

As we are opening our New Clearance Outlet in the lovely Banbury Cross Retail Park this Saturday ( 28 th July) we have been inspired to put together some facts and wonderful things to do if you pop in to see us over the opening weekend…. Well maybe you do know these facts but we certainly didn’t:... Here at Feather & Black we are partial to cake of any kind and we cannot wait to try Banbury cakes. I’ve been told that they are a flat pastry cake a bit like an oval version of an Eccles cake, made with mixed fruit peel, brown sugar, rose water, rum and nutmeg although the exact recipe is a secret from the sixteenth century. Maybe it’s something to try when you are in Banbury.. Or make your own with this Heston Blumenthal recipe. The origins of the nursery rhyme are unclear and the fine lady has remained a mystery. However it is thought that Queen Elizabeth I rode to see Banbury Cross but when a wheel from her carriage broke she got on a white horse and rode into the town. Famous for its cross but in Banbury many crosses were demolished by...

From Left: Sienna Bed , Sienna Chest of drawers , Celeste Cashmere Throw Camel , Sienna Chair . The parisian look for your bedroom captures effortless indulgence and luxe with simple textures. Our Sienna & Loire Collections capture the key ideas of this trend- combining beautiful weathered oak with luxury detailing. The Sienna bed is timeless with its softly curved head detailing and classic natural linen upholstery. From Left: Sienna Chair , Sienna Bedside , Loire Limited Edition Chaise Lounge, Limited Edition Hurricane Lamp, Vermont Cream Throw . Image from: http://cocomale.com/blog/tag/paris/ Work with neutrals for this trend, a colour palette of soft stone, oyster, French greys and indulgent creams punctuate white bed linen. Layer accents like pale greys eau de nil and caramel colours for a beautifully opulent look. Shabby chic and distressed decadence is key to this beautiful look, we love the Loire bed ( shown above) which features ornate carvings and a deep buttoned upholstered headboard. This can be styled with brass accessories, your treasures collected from antique shops and luxurious lamps . We have used vintage and antique picture frames to capture the Parisian eclectic look. Use a Chaise Lounge, like one from our Limited Edition Collection,...

Our lovely friend Suzie and her beautiful daughter Lola designed and painted a mural in little Lola’s bedroom- we love it! Have a read and be inspired to add some colour to cream bedroom walls... The cream wall provided the perfect blank canvas for Lola’s big tree design – incorporating fresh green leaves and pretty birds tweeting in the branches. Suzie sketched the design on to the wall and then they made sure that the carpet was covered in case of any paint spills. Once the dark brown trunk of the tree was carefully painted by Lola (with a little help from Suzie) they patiently waited for the paint to dry. During this time Suzie created a leaf template ready to draw the leaves around the branches. Finally once the paint has dried, Suzie used the mural as a backdrop and added Lola’s accessories and personal treasures. We love Suzie’s creativity, imagination and bright colours, perfect to create a beautiful and playful kid’s bedroom. Some of our other ideas you could create as a mural is a jungle scene, a pirate ship, a field of flowers or aeroplanes in the clouds. If, like me, you don’t have the natural creativity...

To enter our Exclusive Facebook Competition, all you have to do is click the image above - it's ever so simple! If you are feeling extra lovely share it on your page for your friends to see & enter too.... Just think about all that beautiful bedlinen, cushions and accessories you could indulge in with your voucher - or you could even put it towards the new bed that you've had your eye on or a luxurious new mattress. Love Holly x

As sleep lovers, we are always interested learning about how to get the perfect sleep – all night every night. After investing in your ultimate mattress here are some tips to help you sleep soundly… Your bedroom should be beautiful, quiet and uncluttered. Move computers, work papers and exercise bikes into another room – they’ll only remind you of chores or even make you worry. Prepare yourself for sleep by indulging in a good book, listening to relaxing music, having a bath with lavender or lighting a scented candle. It is essential to avoid big meals, brandies and espressos before bedtime. Instead try a chamomile tea or Horlicks for something much more soothing. Really indulge in silk or bushed cotton PJ’s (I love this pair from Hush) a hot water bottle, cashmere throws and an essential Hungarian goose down duvet. I have recently been relaxing with our new Cochine collection of candles; the beautiful smell instantly relaxes and creates a luxurious feel in your bedroom. These will soon send you off to the land of nod. Get in sync with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle by establishing a consistent bedtime and wake up schedule. Random sleep patterns will only confuse...

We have created some inspiration for the month of July. Fingers crossed for some sunshine! Make your escape and book a Mr & Mrs Smith break. Choose from beautiful boutique Bed & Breakfasts, vintage hotels for old school charm and fantastic hotels for families. We love the Number Thirty Eight Hotel in Bristol (and not just because our Henrietta & Montague beds are in the bedrooms.) An elegant Georgian townhouse set in the centre of the city it is perfect for exploring all that Bristol has to offer. With stylish interiors and intriguing art and some of Bristol’s best breakfasts it really feels like a home from home. The Story: Struggling with a failing marriage he knew was doomed from the start. Thomas Nesbitt tries to avoid the past but when a box arrives from Germany Thomas is transported back to an intense love affair he had set in the context of the Cold War when East & West Berlin were divided. This is a beautiful story, and more than just a romance - I promise you will not want to put down. It may not feel like summer but we are wishing it would arrive. Click here for a...

Our lovely Wilmslow stores have been working hard to create a flower bed with edible plants for the ‘Wilmslow in Bloom’ competition and a scarecrow named Stanley for the ‘Wilmslow Scarecrow festival.’ I think Stanley looks adorable in his lovely Feather & Black stripy pyjamas and dungarees. The flower bed is filled with edible plants for the ' Incredible Edible Wilmslow' theme and Teresa, the lovely store manager, chose plants which are all related to sleep. It is both relaxing and beautiful. The sleep bed included: Lots of Lavender - Lavender has a calming effect, improving sleep quality and promoting relaxation at bedtime. Marjoram - The relaxing effect of marjoram means that it is good for those who suffer with insomnia and is also good to relieve stress. Chamomile – as well as being a pretty daisy flower, chamomile is also used to help with sleep. If you need any other sleep tips, pop in to our Wilmslow store or any of our other stores ; our staff can help with advice from natural remedies to help with sleep to helping you choose a new mattress. Good Luck to the Wilmslow Store in the competition! Love Holly x Here's some...