Surely Houston-based ceramicist Carole Smith of McCheek’s Mayhem made these delightful ‘Bird Nerd’ tea cup and saucer sets with me in mind? The self-confessed bird nerd (tick) apparently ‘likes to look at pictures of wee birdies’ (tick, tick) and clearly loves a good cuppa from a fancy cup (tick, tick, tick). The mostly vintage decals and lettering are put through three firings in the kiln, so the results are permanent (though you should probably wash them gently by hand).
Bird Nerd Teacup and Saucer Set, US$45, from McCheek’s Mayhem’s Etsy shop.
Tweet Ceramic Mug, US$28, from McCheek’s Mayhem’s Etsy shop.
I was super-chuffed when one of my favourite Aussie websites, The Hoopla, wanted to interview me for their Top Bloggers series.
Have you had a look at The Hoopla yet? I’m a wee bit hooked – it’s a newsy/magazine-y online site for “wise, warm, witty and wonderful women”. It’s got a great line-up of smart women behind it (Wendy Harmer, Jane Waterhouse, Caroline Roessler and Donna Kilby) and I’m looking forward to watching it go absolutely gang-busters this year.
In the interview I talk about the business of blogging – starting out, finding readers, dealing with negative feedback and making money (and if you’re wondering, I’m wearing rubber gloves and holding a piece of old bone. Don’t ask). Click here to read the story.
Hello, 2012! You’re looking rather fresh and wet behind the (y)ears.
Wishing you all a glorious 2012 filled with good health, good cheer and much happiness.
love Wee Birdy xxx
Happy New Year glittering fringe banner by Nice.
As Christmas day draws to a close here in Sydney, I’d like to wish all my wonderful, beautiful readers around the world the most joyous of Christmas days. Thank you for visiting me here at Wee Birdy and welcoming me back so warmly after my big baby break. Your comments, emails and tweets have cheered me immensely and I’ve loved sharing my stories and wee finds with you all.
I’m still in a bit of a nostalgic mood so I thought I’d post a picture of my mum from 1960. It’s one of the first photos my dad took of her at home. I love the big, bushy Aussie Christmas tree (plucked from the bush, no doubt) with its humble decorations and balloons.
Happy Christmas, one and all. I’ll be back very soon to update you on the festive eating and the drinking, and no doubt, the decorating. But for now I’m going to put my feet up, enjoy a glass of bubbly and start on that pile of new Christmas reading. Delicious! Hope you’ve had a good one, too. xx
I found some old family photos while I was visiting mum this week. Check out this photo of her with my brother and sister from Christmas 1965. I love her high bun and frilly dressing gown. And my brother’s pale blue overalls. The burnt orange chairs are pretty good, too.
Here’s my hipster dad with my brother and sister in England. How cool is his intarsia jumper? Someone’s probably wandering around Dalston in it right now.
I LOVE the awkward Santa photo on the left from 1967. Everybody’s kinda wigging out. I don’t know what I adore more: my mum’s polka-dot frock with Peter Pan collar and matching trim around the sleeves or the perky little pink bow on her head.
That’s my first Santa photo at David Jones in ’74 (with my brother and sister, top right). You can tell it’s the ’70s, from my brother’s flares and my sister’s long frock to the beaded curtain in the background. By ’77 I’m rocking a patchwork Holly Hobby dress and Santa’s chair has been replaced with a big white cane peacock number.
Santa’s a bit different these days. We took Harry to David Jones’ Elizabeth Street store because we’ve always had Santa photos at DJs. We were led to a tiny little broom closet behind a sliding door that had about as much charm as a dodgy dentist’s waiting room. Santa was at one end in front of a fan (I do feel sorry for Aussie Santas in those suits) and the photographer at the other end. We handed Harry over, the photo was promptly taken, and then we picked the best pic off the Mac. There was no ho-ho-ho-ing and we weren’t allowed out until some kids had cleared the corridor lest they discover there was actually a production line of multiple Santas.
The other thing I noticed? No-one will ever have an awkward Santa photo again. Digital photography takes care of that courtesy of the delete button. No more hysterical toddlers, no more babies pulling on Santa’s beard, no more mums looking strained and no more dopey mid-blink stares. Which is a bit of a shame, really.
How are you going with your Christmas preparations? Have you got an awkward Santa photo, too?
It’s been a busy week here at the Wee Birdy nest. I’ve been reading my favourite childhood Christmas books to Harry (can you spot the Raymond Briggs and Dick Bruna?), putting the finishing touches on the tree and decorating the house with Australian summer flowers (the brilliant red blossoms of the Flowering Gum and Christmas Bush look a treat in my vintage Bitossi and Holmegaard vases). Then there has been all the festive eating: my Mum’s stained glass Christmas Cake, the zingiest pineapple, lemon and mint frappe from Cafe Mint in Surry Hills, and a special Christmas afternoon tea at Patisse (the very pretty Bouche de Noel was decorated with fresh flowers and tiny red meringue mushrooms).
What’s been happening at your place? Are you ready for Christmas?
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