Secretly loving Lazy Oaf's slightly mad Christmas jumpers this season, the type your gran (or Ron Weasley's mum) might have lovingly laboured over for months. I think I need one because I've never actually been a lucky recipient of the classic reindeers-and-snowflakes version. It's limited edition and has been hand screen-printed in red and blue. £39, from Lazy Oaf.
Wise Guys DIY paper owls, £1.50 for a downloadable/print-at-home kit, by Mibo.
A big warm welcome to Caroline Gardner, Hunkydory Home and Sugalily, who are joining the Wee Birdy nest this month. Here are my top picks of the bunch from my lovely new sponsors...
Caroline Gardner
Using traditional printing techniques such as letter press and die stamping, Caroline’s distinctive and quirky designs have attracted a strong and loyal following in the UK. As well as greeting cards, notebooks, ribbon and wrapping paper, she also specialises in high-quality personalised stationery. Look out for her new-season Christmas collection, which features a rather lovely line-up of Advent calendars, wrapping paper and gift tags.
Hunkydory Home
Launched in 2005, Hunky Dory Home is the antidote to boring beige interiors, with a vibrant range of own-brand lampshades and cushions. All pieces are hand-made, and they also offer a made-to-order service if you’re after something completely unique. They also stock a handpicked range of design-led products to accompany their own designs. I love the hand-silk-screened sausage dog and Brit-themed cushions (1 and 4), crown teapot (2), and Brown Owl lampshade.
Sugalily
A very sweet one-stop design boutique, Sugalily specialises in luxe hand-finished, vintage-inspired stationery, greeting cards and wedding invitations. This is no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all operation, with each product featuring a signature vintage embellishment, like cream daisy-lace edging, diamante buttons and ribbons. Sugalily also offers a bespoke design service for everything from business cards and logos to re-branding and social stationery.
I recently found myself on a particularly dark and dismal Monday afternoon in the warm environs of one of my favourite London florists, Rebel Rebel, surrounded by the most exquisite and vibrant blooms. I was test-driving their first-ever flower school, which will be popping up at East London restaurant Bistrotheque in a couple of weeks’ time.
The first lesson involved a quick tour around the shop’s seasonal flowers, followed by a tutorial in de-thorning roses (super-easy thanks to a rather nifty little tool) and lots of hands-on practice. Then it was time to put my floristry skills to the test, with a workshop on how to make a hand-tied bouquet. After practicing on roses it was time to pick my own mix of blooms, which was a very Rebel-Rebel assortment of ruby hydrangeas, Italian mint, pistachio foliage, purple anemones and yellow dill. Here are some pics of my tutor, Gus, going through the steps…
For the finishing touch, I was tutored in the fine art of tissue and cellophane wrapping – and how to make a little water bubble to keep the flowers fresh. Et voila, here’s the final product, which is now taking pride of place in my living room… what do you think?
The first afternoon flower school will be held on Friday 20 November from 2pm to 5pm. You will learn how to make your own hand-tied bunch of gorgeous, seasonal flowers and foliage, which you can take home at the end of the day. £80 per person.
There will also be an all day Christmas workshops on Saturday 21 November from 10am to 4.30pm, where you will learn expert techniques to create your own door wreath or table centrepiece. Lunch at Bistrotheque included in the £195 fee, and you get to take home your wreath and other goodies.
For more details, call Rebel Rebel on 020 7254 4487 or email mairead@rebelrebel.co.uk, or visit the website.Here's the latest in French artist Nathalie Lete's painterly goodness: a children's puppet theatre from Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop. I'm just re-discovering this marvellous Covent Garden-based independent toy boutique, which also has a brilliant new online shop and blog.
It's so easy to forget about some Londons' speciality shops, particularly if they're located in the touristy part of town. Pollock's is a real little gem, with all sorts of traditional toys for kids and puppet theatres for less than a tenner. Nice antidote to all the mass-produced, high street tat around.
I'm also a little bit in love with this miniature puppet theatre (below), which at £6.50 is a very good buy AND (wonders of all wonders) it fits in the palm of your hand! Super-sweet.
Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop
44 The Market
Covent Garden
London WC2E 8RF
Tel. 020 73797866
Nearest tube: Covent Garden
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10.30-6pm
Sunday 11am-4pm
London was all a-glitter tonight with Carnaby revealing a super-retro Christmas lights display, but first up was Liberty and its brilliant Christmas windows.
It was a bit of a creature-feature with a giant birdy in one window (complete with a raft of bird boxes) and Mr and Mrs Foxy (and baby Foxy) sitting down to Christmas dinner in another, but I particularly love the Coronation/Rule Brittania set-up, which features the most incredible collection of royal memorabilia.
The next window transported us to a rather nostalgic suburban scene with the Quality Street scattered under the sofa, fruitcake piled up on the occasional table, and kitsch toys under the tree. Aaaah…so cosy.
The British heritage obsession combined with all the witty foxy-hunting-lodge references is of course a nod to Luella Bartley, who has stepped in to ‘guest-edit’ Liberty’s Christmas collection this year.
It’s celebrated in Luella’s Christmas Grotto (on the Carnaby Street side of the store), and it’s really difficult not to love all of her special picks, from the badger egg cups and goldfish hankies to the Shepherd’s diaries and Liberty-print hair bows. All of the Rubbish finger puppets are there, too. You can look at Luella's picks online here. Such a genius idea.
And then just outside Luella’s Grotto awaits Carnaby Street and its kitsch-tastic super-sized pink deers and lights…
Upcycled mustard vintage train case, with birdy design, US$69.95, from Get Ready, Set, Go's Etsy shop.
I finally paid Broadway Market a long overdue visit recently to re-discover some old favourites (Violet has some of the best cupcakery in London), as well as stumble across some exciting new finds. Since we moved to South-East London it's a bigger effort to 'make the trip' to what was once my little local market. It's more of an event than just nipping out to stock up on veg (and uh, cake) for the week. Can't wait til they open up the new rail line next year...
But first, I need to indulge my Violet obsession with a pic of their incredible chocolate devil's food cupcake with marshmallow icing (no wonder this stall was one of the first things I blogged about when I first started Wee Birdy)...
And I loved the look of these apples sitting in the sun...
But it was Karin Andreasson's jewellery that caught my eye this time: a mapgie's nest of vintage-style hairpieces, pendants and jewels. She's a local East Londoner and I love how she's used old ballerina jewellery boxes and mannequin busts to display her wares. It all adds up to a rather charming little stall...
I really love the '20s-style single-feather hair pins embellished with antique lace and vintage diamantes, which are perfect for tucking into a bun or chignon for a special occasion. And if you like quirky pendants, keep an eye out for Karin's re-purposed watch-faces, miniature hand-mirrors, keys and crocheted-edged charms.
(You can also pick up some of Karin's gorgeous pieces online from Wee Birdy sponsor Cerise.)
Broadway Market, every Saturday
Hackney, London, E8
Nearest rail: London Fields
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Click here for more Wee Birdy reviews of stalls and shops on Broadway Market.
Loving the retro simplicity and the eco credentials of The Claudettes postcards, which are printed on 100 per cent recycled, uncoated board. I've already received one as a baby thank-you note, but they would also be perfect for party invitations or birth announcements. Or any occasion, really.
They're from wonderful Wee Birdy sponsor The Green Apple. Have a look for more fresh and fun eco-friendly and ethically-sourced gifts of the non-hair shirt variety. (Don't forget that you get 10 per cent discount with the code 'weebirdy'!)
Along with the full Tatty Devine collections, the new shop will showcase an ace selection of products by the likes of Eley Kishimoto (keep an eye out for their flash print purses and hosiery), Mimi (luxe leather bags), Alexander Wang and Jeremy Scott (cool sunglasses). There will also be a collection of pieces designed especially for Tatty Devine by Rob Ryan (hurrah!)
And in true Tatty style, the girls have organised a raft of activities to celebrate the grand opening, including a "carnival-style parade" on the evening of Thursday 19 November, with a line up of performers, artists, fans and friends making a procession from the Soho shop to the new Covent Garden space. Customers will also be treated to some surprises and treats on Saturday 21 November, where every visitor will be entered into a competition to win a limited edition White Tiger Necklace.
Verena's work combines modern technology such as laser-cut acrylic frames with more traditional techniques such as paper cuts and woodcutting. Catch her ‘Diamond Tears’ exhibition at the Tatty Devine Brick Lane shop from 13 November. In the meantime, you might like to check out Verena’s portfolio here.
** News just in from Tatty Devine: their brand new Covent Garden store will be opening very shortly - maybe even this weekend! I'll keep you updated with the latest news.**
Diamond Tears by Verena Paloma JabsEverything's in black and white at Rob Ryan's shop Ryantoon at the moment, with all stock - from cushions and prints to tiles and decorative packing tape - rendered in a monochrome palette. Genius idea. Check it out while it lasts - until November 15.
Ryantown
126 Columbia Road
London E2 7RG
Nearest tubes: Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Saturday 1pm-4pm
Sunday 9am-4pm
For more shops in East London, click here.
All images courtesy of Rob Ryan.
