A global field guide to design, (life)style and secret finds
est. 2007

Archive: Dec 2011

  1. Happy Christmas!

    1 Comment 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
  2. Christmas past

    7 Comments 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?
  3. My place: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

    2 Comments 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?
  4. Wee Birdy in the press: Australian Home Beautiful

    Leave a Comment Hurrah for Aussie Home Beautiful! Wee Birdy scored a lovely mention in their rather gorgeous January 2012 issue, which is on sale now. Here's what they had to say (hello to Mr Bazaar, too!): The January issue is packed with beautiful rooms and inspirational homes, including an excellent feature on current interiors trends. Have a look at their vibrant take on the neon trend (below). The embroidered felt and linen artwork by Rachel Castle works a treat in this room, and I love the hand-stitched 'Kantha' quilt sitting on the orange Eames chair (from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald). I've also got my eye on the beautiful Vitra 'Albula' oak coffee table. While I adore my '60s Parker coffee table there's no denying the beauty of Vitra's soft organic form and the pop of Scandi-style freshness from the white-on-oak tabletop. Absolutely covetable.
  5. Wee Christmas recipe: Likkle Girl’s rummy balls

    2 Comments We've got balls! Oh yes indeedy we do, and they're pretty boozy, too. These delightful likkle bits of heaven are courtesy of my blog pal Likkle Girl, who is a bit of a clever bird in the kitchen.  She was one of the earliest readers of Wee Birdy back in ye olde blogging days of 2007, and she's a damn fine blogger, too. Go on and have a sticky, you'll fall in love with her life, I promise. I like this recipe because it up-cycles leftover bits of Christmas pudding. Which, let's face it, isn't always everyone's cuppa tea. And it's pretty easy, too! Anyway, over to Likkle Girl... Rummy Balls ~ The post-Christmas turkey sandwich of the leftover-Christmas-pudding world. However, if you have a slot free on your long holiday season to-do list, I think they will make delicious stocking stuffers and canapés/petits fours at your Christmas lunch or dinner. ~ What you'll need: For the balls: 400g Christmas pudding 50g hazelnut meal (or almond meal) 50g dried cranberries (sour cherries are good too!) 50g lightly toasted slivered almonds (or your favourite nut(s) - chopped them up if they come whole) 50ml rum (a dark one!) 50g melted chocolate (preferably couverture chocolate instead of compound - it really makes a difference) For coating: 300g melted chocolate (the quantity is a guess-timation because I usually just melt a whole load of chocolate for coating other things too and couverture again, if you can) 300g lightly toasted chopped nuts (I like pistachios because the green is so Christmas-y. Long coconut threads are pretty too. The most fuss-free finish would be a generous dusting of Dutch cocoa powder.) Let's get started: 1. Lightly toast all the nuts (coconut threads too, if you're using them) in the oven. Don't burn them! 2. In a large mixing bowl, break the Christmas pudding into small bits. Add hazelnut meal, cranberries, almond, rum and melted chocolate. Give them all a good mix with your hands. 3. Now, the balling fun begins! Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Take a small amount of the mix (some people like their balls a petite bite-size while some like hefty ones...you make them how you like them) and roll it into a tight ball. Place on tray and continue until you've used up all the mix. 4. Plonk tray of balls into fridge while you melt the chocolate for coating. 5. Place chopped nuts (or coconut threads or cocoa powder) in a deep baking tray. 6. Remove rummy balls from fridge, coat them with melted chocolate and place them in tray of chopped nuts/coconut threads/cocoa powder and roll them around to ensure an even coating. 7. Place fully-coated balls back on the first tray and back to the fridge they go until chocolate is firmly set (doesn't take long). Store in airtight containers. You now have yummy rummy balls to give away or serve at parties. YAY! I hope you'll have fun making them! Thanks Likkle Girl. If you're in Sydney, you MUST order some of Likkle Girl's incredible hand-crafted chocolate truffles. She's got a wee business called Your Local Dealer. I've got a serious addiction to the Almond Crunch Chocolate Truffles. Oh my. Creamy gooey  chocolate ganache spiked with handmade crunchy almond praline. You'll be coming back for seconds, I promise.
  6. Wee Christmas finds: Mum’s vintage decorations

    5 Comments My mum likes to collect stuff. Weird, wonderful and pretty cool stuff. This is just the icing of her vintage Christmas decoration collection. I only made it through one box on Tuesday, when I uncovered all manner of vintage paper ephemera, novelty vintage lights (birds, cottages, candles and snowmen), foil crackers, Avon perfume bottles, pipe cleaner Santa faces and honeycomb paper decorations. So much fun! I'll have to crack open another box next year!
  7. Wee Christmas find: Last minute DIY Christmas decorations

    Leave a Comment Here's another last-minute easy Christmas craft: capture Christmas in a jar (or an empty ham tin) with a wee wintry diorama. Cluster a few of them together for a snowy forest effect, or pop a lid on for instant snow dome fun. Click through the links below for full how-tos and tutorials: Top left: Ski slopes diorama by Martha Stewart. Top right: DIY snow dome by Artsy Ants. Bottom left: Christmas jars by Tortoise and the Hare. Bottom right. Gumdrop pops in a jar by Martha Stewart. For more clever Christmas craft ideas, have a look at my Pinterest boards.
  8. Wee Christmas finds: Last minute DIY decorations

    2 Comments It's never too late to add some festive cheer to your house with some bright and colourful DIY decorations. I've compiled some of my favourite projects from Pinterest: 1. Christmas wreath by Say Yes to Hoboken. 2. 3D Advent calendar by Snug. 3. Modern Christmas decorations by Nest. 4. Cupcake liner trees by Tatertots and Jello. 5. Christmas garland by The Violet Hours. 6. Origami hanging decorations by Mini-eco. 7. Pinata Tree from Blow Up! for Anthology. 8. Christmas garland by Mr Jason Grant for Real Living.
  9. Wee Christmas finds: Top 10 Snowflake Essentials

    Leave a Comment I love paper snowflake decorations. There is something magic about taking a pair of scissors to a plain sheet of white paper and transforming it into a delicate hand-cut decoration that Rob Ryan might be proud to call his own. Whether you stick them on brown paper parcels or display them en-masse in your windows, they're good old-fashioned fun to make. Even when the tree is done and the wreath is on the front door, you can never have too many snowflakes. And they're a really nice craft to make with the kids while listening to carols or watching Christmas movies (I do love a retro Rankin Bass at this time of year). Here are a few other snowflake ideas and templates that I've compiled from Pinterest: 1. Snowflake curtain how-to via Bugs and Fishes (above). 2. Snowflake how-to via Martha Stewart (see top right pic). 3. Snowflake templates via Bon Temps Beignet. 4. DIY snowflakes using cupcake liners via Scrumdilly-do. 5. Snowflake templates via Inspiration for Home (above, left). 6. Snowflakes using coffee filters via The Handmade House. 7. Snowflake decoration via Jutta's Flickr. 8. Snowflakes on brown paper parcels via a Pair of Pears. 9. Snowflakes en-masse (source unknown). 10. Overhead snowflake decorations via Martha Stewart. Click here for more decoration ideas from Wee Birdy.
  10. Wee Christmas find: Rob Ryan and Victorinox bunting

    1 Comment Now here's another clever collaboration: British paper-cut artist (and Wee Birdy favourite) Rob Ryan and Victorinox. Have a look at the Vitorinox Tomo website: there are some cool interactive things to play with, including free downloadable Rob Ryan stencils (for beginners and advanced) and a lovely interview with the fabulous beardy-one himself: They're also running a special Twitter Christmas campaign at the moment. Just tweet someone with a message and #alphabunting and wait a few seconds. Your message will be turned into Rob-Ryan-esque Christmas bunting. Such good fun - have a go now!
  11. Christmas gift guide: The prettiest presents

    Leave a Comment Ruffles, feathers and bows in delicate hues and Liberty prints make the prettiest last-minute presents. The good news? Some of this stuff is already on sale! Dig in, my pretties... 1. La Cerise Sur Le Gateau Alice Liberty print cushion cover, £62 from Selfridges. Order by midday Friday 23rd December for UK delivery on Saturday 24th December. 2. Penhaligons Artemisia Bath Oil, £35 from Go British. UK delivery by next working day if order placed by 3pm on Friday 23rd December. Or get same-day delivery Mon-Fri for £15. 3. Eugenia Kim Claudia feather-embellished silk-satin headband, £55.42 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. 4. Claire-Aude Liberty Print Miniature Suitcase, £65 from Liberty. Purchase in-store as the date for guaranteed Christmas delivery from Liberty has now passed. 5. Bourjois Pretty Paris Liberty Chic Eyeshadow Cream, £5.99 from Asos. UK customers, order by midnight Friday 23rd December for next evening delivery (£7.95). 6. Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart brass and crystal stud earrings, £41.67 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery- order by 10am Saturday December 24. 7. Aurélie Bidermann Mother-of-pearl charm bracelet, £47.83 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. 8. Rifle Paper Company Just Picked Recipe Cards, £12 from Anthropologie. UK delivery by Christmas is no longer guaranteed - so buy in-store. 9. Cutler and Gross D-frame acetate sunglasses, £233.33 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. 10. Stella McCartney Christmas cotton and silk-blend briefs, reduced to £14.89 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. 11. NARS Holiday 2011 highlighting blush, £20.50, from Asos. UK customers, order by midnight Friday 23rd December for next evening delivery (£7.95). 12. Aurélie Bidermann set of two silver-plated Liberty-print bracelets £91.67, from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. 13. Rodarte for Opening Ceremony High Neck Blouse, reduced to US$270 from Opening Ceremony. Delivery by Christmas is no longer available - so buy in-store. 14. J.Crew knotted Liberty-print cotton belt, reduced to £26.25 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery - order by 10am Saturday December 24. Want more present ideas? Have a look at last year's Christmas gift guides. I've also hand-picked the best books and presents in my UK Amazon shop and US Amazon shops.
  12. Wee Christmas finds: Gingerbread houses

    8 Comments Anyone making a gingerbread house for Christmas this year? I would love to make one from scratch because I really love our family's gingerbread recipe (I think it's from the Australian Women's Weekly) but I'm a bit nervous about baking the different pieces to the exact measurements. So I think I'll use a kit as the base for my first attempt but customise the decorations. What do we think about using Haigh's chocolate freckles as roof tiles? With thanks to the incredible makers and sources: 1. Globetrotter Diaries; 2. sassybeautimus' Flickr; 3. sassybeautimus' Flickr; 4. Frog Prince Paperie; 5. sassybeautimus' Flickr; 6. not martha; 7. kool wallpapers; 8. Better Homes and Gardens. I've compiled some of my favourite gingerbread houses from Pinterest for inspiration. I'm torn between the traditional European styles with white icing for decoration and the ones pimped out with half a sweet shop. But I absolutely adore the mid-century modern styles that have popped up recently (see below). Such good fun. Look at the incredible Frank Lloyd Wright Falling Water gingerbread house! You can buy the plans for the house here. I would love to make a gingerbread version of Sydney's Rose Seidler House. Something to plan for next year... 9. sassybeautimus' Flickr; 10. Hostess with the Mostess; 11. Martha Stewart; 12. King Arthur Flour; 13. Tiny white daisies; and 14. Call me cupcake. 1. Ohdeedoh; 2 Babble; 3. Garden Melodies; 4. Architect lines; 5. Mid-century modern Utah.
  13. Wee Christmas finds: The best gift wrapping ideas

    6 Comments Have you started wrapping your presents yet? I've rounded up some of the best ideas from Pinterest. Funnily enough, my favourite parcels are all wrapped with brown kraft paper. And I love the idea of drawing pictures/patterns straight onto the wrap with a white or silver pen. So clever. I'm still making pom-poms for my presents. I'll try to pop a picture up some time this week of my progress. With thanks and admiration to sources clockwise from top left: Hello Naomi; 100 Layer Cake; aprintadayarchives.blogspot.com; Creature Comforts; A Creative Mint; Paper Crave. Have a look at my Parcel Goodness board on Pinterest for more genius wrapping ideas. With thanks and admiration to sources from clockwise top left: Robbie and Erin; Art as life; Iffer's Nest (possibly originally Decor 8 - anyone?); Hey Look; Mer Mag; Das Kaninchen's Flickr; Petunia; The Purl Bee. p.s. I've done my best to credit the makers/photographers, but one of the frustrating things about Pinterest is that it's all too easy to lose the original source through repinning or lazy crediting. Gah! Let me know if you know the correct source! How are you going with your wrapping? Inspired by anything you see here?