Archive: Oct 2009

1. Craft Capital: Bust Christmas Craftacular

   October 19, 2009 2:22 pm 6 Comments

   

   Thanks to India Knight and her wonderful new Posterous blog for reminding me that the Bust Christmas Craftacular is coming up. The Bust crew are heading back to The York Hall in Bethnal Green on December 12, so pop it in your diary. Those looking to book a stall should apply now.

   But back to India and her brilliant must-read blog. My Glaswegian best mate sent me her book, The Shops, just before I moved from Sydney to London, and it was an absolute lifesaver.  I was educated on everything from Argos and their mysterious catalogue system to the joys of Neuhaus chocolate, and everything in between. Similarly, her blog is packed with glorious magpie's picks of the most beautiful finds, like this amazing M&S handbag, and these astonishingly-beautiful Sophie Cuvelier garlands. Bookmark, read it and sigh.

   

   p.s. If you love Nathalie Lete as much as I do, check out India's post about the new Bourjois limited edition blushers and eyeshadows.
   

2. Wee find: Mine

   October 18, 2009 5:01 pm 5 Comments
   

   

   
   

   This is MINE's spring/summer 2010 collection by Katherine Pont, one of the up-and-coming designers at Swanfield (see my post about the pop-up shop below). Featuring exquisite hand-drawn prints and embroidery, it's her most accomplished and cohesive collection to date. Entitled 'Tick Tock Order', it's all very quirky and whimsical, with fantastic attention to detail. Love the very sweet harlequin-bunting trim on the collars and cuffs, as well as the art-deco influence on the hand-drawn prints. 

   EDIT: This collection will be out in early 2010 for spring, but you will find Mine's current autumn/winter collection at Swanfield now.
   
   Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
   1.2 Kingly Court
   London, W1
   Tel. 07595640403
   Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
   Opening hours:
   Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

3. Wee find: Cecilia Hammarborg

   October 15, 2009 11:15 pm 2 Comments
    
   

   Cecilia Hammarborg is one of the core designers of the London-based Swanfield collective (see my post about the pop-up shop below), and her current winter coat collection, Black River Falls, has just been picked up by Topshop. I do love the feminine swishiness of the Riding Hood and Petrel coats, and they're extremely flattering to wear. Apparently the voluminous Petrel coat is very popular with pregnant women.

   
    
   Blue Riding Hood Coat, £250 and Noir Storm Petrel Coat, £295 by Cecilia Hammarborg.
   
    Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
   1.2 Kingly Court
   London, W1
   Tel. 07595 64040
   Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
   Opening hours:
   Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

    

4. Wee find: French and English Confectioners

   October 14, 2009 10:45 pm 8 Comments

   
    
   I'm loving these limited-edition ‘Gold Dust Woman’ bags by French and English Confectioners, one of the labels I discovered at Swanfield. Featuring incredible starburst designs in raffia and metallic thread, each bag (there are only 14 in total) has been hand-cut and hand-embroidered by designer Lucie Gonnord.

   There are also some rather lovely satchels and clutches in patent leather with sweet cut-out details. Priced from £85, at Swanfield.

   
   

   Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
   1.2 Kingly Court
   London, W1
   Tel. 07595 64040
   Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
   Opening hours:
   Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

5. Shopping in London: Swanfield

   10:28 pm 2 Comments

   
    
   I know that London (and this blog) has gone a little pop-up crazy in recent weeks, but here’s one that’s definitely worth a visit. Swanfield originated in East London as a collective of designers, and has recently gone ‘on tour’, with pop-ups in central London. The swans are currently nesting on the first floor of Kingly Court (just off Carnaby Street) with their fresh mix of independent fashion, vintage wares and accessories.

   

   Three young designers, in particular, caught my eye on a recent visit: Cecilia Hammarborg (for dramatic swing coats in tweeds and worsted wool); Lucie Gonnard’s French and English Confectioners (for custom-made limited edition shoes and bags) and Katherine Pont’s MINE fashion label (keep an eye out for her whimsical Spring/Summer 10 collection – she's one to watch).

   More posts to follow on each designer...

   Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
   1.2 Kingly Court
   London, W1
   Tel. 07595 64040
   Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
   Opening hours:
   Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

6. Wee find: Nathalie Lete in London

   October 13, 2009 5:33 pm 12 Comments
   

   As some of you may know, I’m a little bit in love with French artist Nathalie Lete’s vibrant and whimsical illustrations, which adorn many a lovely bag, notebook and pendant necklace. It’s all about birdies, bunnies and fairytale flowers sprouting up and frolicking around clichéd Parisian souvenir landscapes – naive art at its best.

   
   
   Her website offers a glimpse inside her Paris studio – looky here:

   
   
   I first stumbled across Lete on a trip to Paris a couple of years ago, and have since discovered that quite a few places in London stock a variety of Lete’s loveliness.

   Lapin and Me in East London has just stocked up on an assortment of sweet trinkets for Christmas, like this amazing Paris snowglobe, as well as scarves, chocolates and badges. Check out the page dedicated to Lete products on the online shop, and don’t miss the limited edition Mimi and Lili handmade cats.
   

   
   
   
   
   
   

   Over on Cheshire Street, meanwhile, Mar Mar Co stocks a range of Nathalie's ceramics and prints.

   But if you're after Nathalie's collection of extraordinary custom-made rugs, head over to Caravan on Redchurch Street, where you'll also find more stationery and some rather lovely ceramic pots.

   
   

   Nathalie has also created a range of milky-glazed ceramics for Parisian ceramist Astier de Villatte, and you can find them in London at Designers Guild on the King’s Road.

   
   

   And with Anthropologie opening its Regent Street doors on October 23 (the excitement!), Londoners will be able to access Nathalie's exclusive range of ceramics and furniture. And naturally, there's plenty of birdy designs to choose from. Swoon!

   

7. Birdy pick of the week

   October 11, 2009 8:19 pm 6 Comments

   

   Handmade silver leather purse, £45 from Kitty and Polly.

   Kitty and Polly are a Wee Birdy sponsor, so please do check out all their lovely handmade wares here.
   

8. Shopping in London: Eley Kishimoto’s pop-up

   October 7, 2009 7:00 am 10 Comments

   
   

   I peeped inside Eley Kishimoto’s pop-up shop in Soho’s Kingly Street on Saturday morning, and was delighted to discover not only the current ‘60s jetset-inspired collection (one of my favourites), but a room full of discounted samples downstairs.

   

   You might want to consider putting off your winter coat purchase until you’ve paid the shop a visit – there are some truly great pieces here, as well as some cute frocks and accessories. The best buys, however, are their signature hosiery in eye-popping prints (this season has some lurex mixed in for extra sparkle).

   

   The shop is run by members of the South London design studio, so you will get lots of insider EK news and advice, and you’ll also find some of their Japanese License accessories that have never been seen in the UK before. Look out for their ‘Flash’ print adorning everything from Converse sneakers to umbrellas.

   

   

   It’s quite accomplished for a pop-up shop, with Eley Kishimoto printed curtains in the dressing room and artwork on the walls. Now if only this shop was a wee bit more permanent, I would be a very happy birdy indeed. It’s officially open until the end of October, but there are whispers that it could be around a little longer.

   Eley Kishimoto pop-up shop
   8 Kingly Street
   London W18 5PQ
   Tel. 0207 734 5756
   Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
   
   Until October 31, 2009
   Opening hours:
   Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm
   Thursday 11am-8pm
   Sun Noon-5pm
   
   Click here for more shops in Soho.
   

9. Shopping in London: A week of pop-ups

   October 6, 2009 5:47 pm 7 Comments

   

   The Wish you Were Here pop-up shop opened in Newburgh Street on Saturday, bringing 12 new independent brands from New York's Lower East Side to London. It's the second leg of the trans-Atlantic shop swap, which saw 14 British brands pop-up in New York back in August.

   I don't usually bang on about press goodie bags, but this one was packed with all sorts of American candy, like Jolly Ranchers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, as well as a can of Creaming Soda and a copy of the latest Nylon mag. All my favourites!

   The shop is open in London until the end of October, with a month full of special events and parties. Check out my feature for full details (and my favourite picks) in this week's Time Out London magazine.

10. Birdy pick of the week

    4:44 pm 6 Comments

    

    I'm a dedicated builder's tea drinker, but these delightful origami bird teabags designed by Nathalia Ponomareva just might encourage me to consider the wonders of green berry tea. They've been doing the rounds of the blogosphere, but I just had to include them as a Birdy Pick of the Week. Thanks to Inspire Inspire for the tip! (Check out her recent trip to Lille here).