Bestest best wishes to all my dear readers for a glorious Christmas and a very happy New Year. Thank you so much for clicking away on Wee Birdy in 2009, may your days be chirpy in 2010.
love Top Bird xxxx
p.s. This limited edition screen-printed card by James Brown comes from one of my favourite Wee Birdy shops for 2009, the very dreamy Frank in Whitstable. Oooh – look how sunny it was back then!
When I first moved to London three years ago there wasn’t a lot happening on Redchurch Street … but my, how things have changed. With the opening of Terence Conran’s traditional British caff Albion at Boundary Project, as well as a slew of pop-up shops, boutiques and galleries, not to mention its proximity to Shoreditch House and Tea, Redchurch Street has evolved into East London’s latest destination for hipsters and cool kids.
But don’t let that put you off. Especially when there are so many delights to be discovered at Caravan, which moved from its Spitalfields Market location 18 months ago. The brainchild of interiors stylist Emily Chalmers, this cosy and welcoming boutique is filled with the kind of lovely stuff you never knew you really wanted (or so desperately needed), like angel wings for candles, toadstool lamps and white ceramic owl money boxes.
It’s superbly edited and excellent for last-minute gifts, especially for those who love their stuff feminine and quirky with a vintage edge. And you can pick up some exceptionally well-priced things and get change from a tenner, like ceramic animal jugs (£8.50 each), small furry deers (£9.95) and hare snowdomes (£8.50).
Caravan is also the main retail outlet for Deborah Bowness’ distinctive hand-printed wallpaper, as well as the main UK stockist for iconic Jielde lamps. There’s also a variety of glass display domes from £29 – perfect for showcasing your favourite pieces Victorian-style (see what I mean about things you never knew you wanted?).
The online shop is equally lovely, with a good selection of some of the shop’s best-sellers, as well as a new
sy and inspirational blog.
Keep an eye out for super-friendly shop-cat Bagpuss, who may just come and rub his head on your shins as you consider your purchases.
Just look at this heart-achingly tender animated Christmas greeting I got in my inbox from Rob Ryan last week. Click to play! So very Rob. Hands-down the most beautiful Christmas card of the year.
Soul Bird, handcrafted in England from sustainable solid brown oak, available to pre-order from £75 at Sanna-Annukka. Limited edition of 100. (via Retro to Go)
I also love the festive simplicity of this rose hip and ivy wreath. The last delivery before Christmas is Wednesday 23rd December – perfect for a lovely (and unexpected) last-minute gift as well as
a welcoming door decoration. They also offer same-day delivery to any
London postcode from their Selfridges concession.
One Boutique A relatively new addition to the online shopping landscape, One Boutique allows you to shop for clothes and accessories from some of the UK’s best independent boutiques, like Mya Rosa in Somerset, Prettyful Things in Norton and Chameleon in Carlisle. Keep an eye out for quirky finds by small designers, as well as pieces by the likes of Alex Monroe, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa and By Marlene Birger.
Bbel Every single element of UK-based independent jewellery label Bbel is made by hand, right down to the hand-formed clasps. Inspired by the natural world, there’s an abundance of flora and fauna and in the current collection, including a charming ‘fox stole’ necklace and delicate lily necklace. The prices are also very good, with a silver personalised heart necklace with 14kt gold for £39.
Scribble House Boasting
a wide collection of luxe leather gifts and stationery, UK-based
Scribble House is a family-run business – and a great place to shop for
gifts. Look out for their luxury leather-bound notebooks that come in a myriad shades (and start at a very reasonable £24), as well as the London A-Z books, which features an underground map insert. Perfect gift for London newcomers and visitors.
Makers Online Bringing
together a raft of small designer-makers in the UK, Makers Online is a
new online boutique for hand-crafted products. Unique contemporary
jewellery is its forte, with a wide range of bracelets, brooches,
earrings and necklaces. Keep an eye out for the very affordable
delicate silver jewellery, like these sweet silver daisy earrings for £8.99 and oxidised sterling flower studs for £39.
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