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I think we have a winner for Best Christmas Wrapping Paper of the Year! Incredibly beautiful stylised birds! Carrying letters and parcels! By air mail! Amazeballs! (Dear Father Christmas, please wrap all my presents in this wrapping paper. K THX BAI!)
This fantastical illustrated design by Lesley Barnes is a mere snip at £1.50 from Soma Gallery. I have a lot more to say about this genius Scottish illustrator/animator before the year is out, mark my words. Just consider this a sneak preview...
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Have you discovered Sydney-based online shop Upon a Fold yet?
It's like a cabinet of curiosities for all things folded (ie. paper and fabric), and the immaculately curated online shop sources all manner of rare papery delights. Right now there is a wonderful collection of Christmas cards and wrap, including the exquisite deer papercut cards by Japanese artist, Ayame Kikuc (top). Each card, AU$14 is carefully handmade and the fanciful antlers portray the changing seasons.
Then there is the hand-dyed Christmas-themed cotton tenugui, AU$27.50 by Kyoto-based artist Mihoko Seki. It would make a wonderful wrap for an extra-special present - and a bonus table runner/wall hanging!
I've also got my eye on these charmingly-illustrated gift tags by the US-based Rifle Paper Co. They are AU$12.95 for a pack of 10.
And these miniature Christmas paper pockets were inspired by early 1950s Japanese Chiyogami patterns, and are perfect for tiny presents. They are AU$6.90 for a set of five.
But it's not all gift wrap and greetings cards - Upon a Fold is also a wonderful online source for unique presents for design-minded folk. Think paper vases, miniature paper models and pop-up coasters. Tricky Christmas presents sorted!
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Every Christmas brings a proliferation of London-themed Christmas decorations, so you'd think it would be difficult to find something new - and a bit special. But this handsome collection of hand-stitched fabric ornaments by Fortnum & Mason is really rather splendid.
Some might shudder at the notion of a department store-themed ornament, but I like to think that the historic Fortnums is a wee bit different and deserving of special treatment.
Like many other Londoners, a trip to F&M in December was one of my most memorable Christmas traditions. There were the Christmas windows to be gawked at, Christmas crackers to be admired, and presents to be bought and posted to Australia (the tea and biscuits inevitably picked over by Customs). There were also essential Christmas supplies to stock up on: the creamy ceramic pot of Stilton, the most perfect clementines (individually wrapped in squares of tissue paper) and traditional mince pies.
These London - and Fortnums - icons (there is the historic clock, shopfront facade,Christmas hamper and tea caddy, as well as the ubiquitous red telephone box, black taxi and red bus) are decorated with gold braid, the F&M logo and Union Jacks. Sadly, no Potted Stilton ornament! They are priced from £12 from Fortnum & Mason.
Fortnum & Mason 181 PiccadillyLondon W1 Tel. 0845 300 1707Nearest tubes: Piccadilly and Green ParkClick here for a Wee Birdy map.Opening hours:Monday to Saturday 10am-8pmSunday 12Noon-6pmClick here for Christmas opening hours.
By the way, if you're interested, here are Fortnum & Mason's Christmas windows this year. It's a theatrical theme (very West End London) and was apparently inspired by the Pet Shop Boys' video for 'What Have I Done to Deserve This'.
http://youtu.be/go-YnPVg5Lo
What do you think? Who do you think has done the best Christmas windows this year in London?
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London-based online store Papermash is one of my favourite online sources for design-y stationery and decorations, and they've done a superb job lining up some really lovely greeting cards, gift wrap and other stationery goodies for Christmas this year. I've been admiring the retro-inspired honeycomb pop-up card with the woodland deer scene inside (above, left, £5) and the Rifle Paper Co Night Before Christmas postcards (above, right, £10 for a set of 10).
There are also two very sweet stamp sets (mistletoe and pinecones, £9.99) for those who would like to make their own Christmas cards, tags and wrapping paper.
Decorative tapes have emerged as a bit of wrapping trend this Christmas, and Papermash have sourced two of the wittiest and prettiest: Christmas knit tape (left, £4) and gold snowflake masking tape (right, £3.50). Be quick though - the last posting date for Christmas is 12 December (Western Europe only).
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I do love my glittering vintage ornaments at Christmas, but there is no denying the naive charm and simplicity of these traditional hand-carved and hand-painted German decorations.
The miniature wooden decorations are made in the Erzgebirge region of Southern Germany, which is renowned for its traditional woodcarvings and woodwork.
Each set of decorations comes with its own wooden box for safe storage, and are priced from £17.50 from Theo.
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You know that giddiness you get when two beloved creatives (designers/musicians/artists/brands) get together and make something new and beautiful together? I'm thinking Liberty and Hello Kitty (genius AND unexpected). Tatty Devine and Rob Ryan (East London quirky AND romantic). Marni and H&M (dear GOD I'm going to have to camp overnight, aren't I?).
A littler closer to home, Sydney designer Rachel Castle has collaborated with Melbourne-based fashion label Gorman for a limited-edition summer collection of fashion and homewares. I first admired Castle from afar when I was living in London and coveted the sunny range of polka-dot bed linen. As soon as I was back in Sydney I bought four yellow polka-dot pillowslips for our new home.
But I go a little further back with Gorman, and first started wearing the fledgling label around 12 years ago when I was living in Melbourne. I admired the subtle retro sensibility, quality fabrics and new seasonal prints. Since then, the brand has grown and now has boutiques dotted around Australia.
Their collaborative summer collection is fresh, frisky and very Australian (there is a touch of '80s Ken Done in the colour palette), with a kind of shouty simplicity. Castle's distinctive hand-drawn lettering, punctuated with pops of neon, features throughout the mostly organic cotton range of simple skirts, shirts, t-shirts, bags, towels and pillowcases. I love the 'Put the love in the coconut' beach towel, AU$79, which would make a rather brilliant Christmas present.
The homewares and limited edition embroidered artworks are currently available from Castle's online shop, and the fashion collection is available from Gorman stores Australia wide.
Need a good present for your favourite fashionista? I've pulled together all the best designer gifts, starting at £15 for a Lacroix. It's true! Read on...
1. Balenciaga and Spain by Hamish Bowles, £28 from Wee Birdy's UK Amazon shop and $40.95 from Wee Birdy's US Amazon shop.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (Metropolitan Museum of Art), by Andrew Bolton, UK£21 from Wee Birdy's UK Amazon shop and US$27 from Wee Birdy's US Amazon shop.
Christian Louboutin by Christian Louboutin, US$94.50, from Wee Birdy's US Amazon shop.
2. Maison Martin Margiela by L'ATELIER d'exercices tabi leather bookmark, £29.17 from Net-a-porter.
3. Yves Saint Laurent arty gold-plated glass ring, £125 from Net-a-porter.
4. Tom Ford Santal Blush eau de parfum 250ml, £270 from Selfridges. (There is also a 50ml bottle for £120.)
5. See by Chloé captain parrot keyfob, £54.17 from Net-a-porter.
6. Marc by Marc Jacobs jungle animal-print automatic umbrella, £33.33 from Net-a-porter.
7. Comme des Garçons embossed leather coin purse, £50 from Net-a-porter.
8. Christian Lacroix 'Oro Y Plata' Correspondence Cards (x12), £15 from the V&A shop.
9. Marni stretch silk-satin soft-cup bra, £125 and stretch silk-satin shorts, £100 from Net-a-porter.
10. Alexander McQueen enamel skull keyfob, £54.17 from Net-a-porter.
11. Jonathan Saunders for Smythson two-tone leather Panama diary, £137.50 from Net-a-porter.
12. Small shifting planes resin bangle, AU$75 from Dinosaur Designs.
13. Marc by Marc Jacobs brass mouse ring, £54.17 from Net-a-porter.
I've also added some beautiful new fashion books to my Amazon shops. I'm rather proud of this collection - I want them all! They make gorgeous presents for any follower of fashion. Click here to go to my UK Amazon shop and here to my US Amazon shop. 
