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

Archive: Sep 2012

  1. Wee Birdy in New Zealand: a different view of Christchurch

    1 Comment For a glimpse of the 'old' Christchurch, the one relatively untouched by the devastation of the 2011 earthquake, head to the Botanic Gardens. It's the perfect spot for a picnic by the Avon River, which puts on a floral spectacle of daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops throughout early spring. We crossed the river to walk along the Hagley Park side, which was a great opportunity to stretch our legs while Harry slept in the pram. It's amazing how much this part of Christchurch reminded me of England. There are more sculptures to discover along this walk - keep an eye out for the giant daffodil and the hummingbird in mid-flight. We headed back to the historic Antigua Boat Sheds for lunch, before taking a punting tour on the Avon river. It was a rather frosty winter's day in Christchurch and rain clouds were gathering, but we were surprisingly cosy under the complimentary woollen blankets and hot-water bottles. Harry promptly fell asleep, cocooned under layers of blankets and lulled by the gentle rocking of the boat. It’s a relaxing, peaceful journey and offered another view of Christchurch from the river: one teaming with water wildlife, flowers and blossoming trees. I can only imagine how different it would look in summer, with the green of the weeping willows reflected in the water. Our friendly punter was also extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife and history of the area. And I highly recommend his services as a baby whisperer. The man has magic powers. Punting on the Avon at Antigua Boat Sheds 2 Cambridge Terrace Christchurch, NZ Tel. +64 3 366 0337 Wee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand. Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops. Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about HAPA at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about Johnson’s Grocers at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about Primo Cafe in Methven.

  2. A Wee Birdy week – in pictures

    Leave a Comment According to Instagram, this is what the past week in my life looked like:
    • I found the world's prettiest babycinno at Flood Street Carousel in Leichhardt, a superb toddler-friendly cafe in Sydney. Books, toys, a magnetic alphabet wall and a retro Space Invaders arcade table - fun for kids big and small.
    • I attended the launch of Iconic Kids at Sydney's Taronga Zoo and discovered the sweetest Spring collection by Bebe by Minihaha (shirring, ruffles and vintage-inspired floral prints for baby girls), as well a very cute mum-and-bub gorilla. So pleased to find that many of the zoo's original buildings and structures are still around, including the heritage-listed Indian elephant temple, which was built in 1916.
    • I loved Napoleon Perdis' new collection of hand-poured candles, available exclusively from his Life.Style homewares store in Sydney's Woollahra. That's the limited-edition Fig candle on my bathroom window sill.
    • I spent Sunday morning making miniature play-dough hats for Harry's animal figurines. How awesome is play-dough, and having an excuse to play with it as an adult? I'm going to make my own batch of play-dough this week using this awesome no-cook recipe.
    What have you been up to? Do you love Instagram? I’m addicted – I love scrolling through the lives of Wee Birdy readers around the world. Find me on Instagram – I’m @WeeBirdy.

  3. What to buy right now: Brights

    3 Comments Boring old beige begone: brights are back. And they're easier than ever to work into your wardrobe or home, no matter how safe and neutral they may be. Here are my favourite bits and pieces for clothes, accessories, furniture and home decor, starting at $10. Clockwise from top left: Stripe tank dress, AU$129 from Country Road. IKEA PS 2012 blue stool, AU$49.99 from IKEA. IKEA PS 2012 green easy chair, AU$199 from IKEA. Colour-pop metal bed in yellow, AU$620 from Lark. Emerald bella wallet, AU$34.95 from Sussan. Jonathan Adler giant erasers, £12 from Heal's. Pink marcie bag, AU$59.95 from Sussan. Citrus floral necklace, AU$29.95 from Sussan. Linen peg leg pant, AU$69.95 from Sussan. IKEA PS 2012 cushion cover, AU$10 from IKEA. Weekender occasional chair in yellow, AU$229 from Freedom. Flamingo all over cushion, AU$29.95 from Freedom.

  4. A week in the life of Wee Birdy – in pictures

    1 Comment According to Instagram, this is what the past week in my life looked like. I went to the annual Dinosaur Designs garage sale in Sydney and snapped up this amazing coral resin bangle. I've wanted a wide DD bangle for ages and I love the coral-like texture as well as the amazing colour. It POPS and it looks fab with my ever-growing collection of Breton stripes. Amanda Talbot mentioned that she's a Wee Birdy follower on Twitter in Sunday Life magazine, along with some other brilliant bloggers including @Will_UK, @decor8, @citysage and fellow Aussie @interiorsaddict. Check out Amanda's excellent design and interiors blog, Snoop. This delicious New Zealand rainbow trout with horseradish cream on toasted rye was just one of the canapes I feasted on at a Tourism New Zealand reception at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal. There was also an incredible performance of the Haka. Afterwards, I watched the sun go down over Sydney harbour and showed off my new Country Road booties. I also met Swedish glassmaker Göran Wärff at David Jones, where he is currently exhibiting some of his stunning limited edition pieces for Kosta Boda. His use of colour throughout his work is legendary, and these purple and orange vases were two of my favourites. I was also invited by Nuffnang to secret squirrel launch about a brand-new blogging product. Follow NuffnangX to find out more. And we had one of those rare evenings out with our 18-month-old toddler who happily accompanied us out to an early dinner in Darlinghurst. We headed to Gelato Messina for dessert, arguably Sydney's best ice-cream. We shared a tasting plate of 'Schmeckel' (peanut butter and white chocolate-coated pretzels); salted caramel and white chocolate; dulce de leche (milk caramel); milk chocolate and peanut butter fudge and chocolate fondant ice-cream. Oh boy. What have you been up to? Do you love Instagram? I'm addicted - I love scrolling through the lives of Wee Birdy readers around the world. Find me on Instagram - I'm @WeeBirdy.

  5. Frock on Friday

    2 Comments Some of you have asked for some plus-sized options for Frock on Friday, so I've turned to Clements Ribeiro's clever new collection for UK plus-sized label Evans for inspiration. This is the London-based designers' second collection for Evans, after their triumphant Spring/Summer collection earlier this year which sought to slash accepted fashion cliches for plus-sized women. Clearly, they're on to a winner. Clements Ribeiro's (northern hemisphere) autumn/winter collection for Evans sees a return to their signature prints (traditionally a no-no for curvy shapes) with a line-up of some cracking frocks. If you're after a classic LBD that works between seasons, look no further than this crepe LBD (above). The supremely flattering cut features a v-neckline and a bang-on-trend peplum. It's available in sizes 14 to 32. Swan by Clements Ribeiro Debra dress, £75 from Evans. However, it's impossible to ignore the fabulous prints from this collection, including (below, from left to right) Swan By Clements Ribeiro Placement Print Salome Dress, £95; Swan By Clements Ribeiro Pansy Print Betty Dress, £75; and Swan By Clements Ribeiro Lace Grace Dress, £95. Clements Ribeiro for Evans.

  6. Wee Birdy in New Zealand: Primo Cafe in Methven

    2 Comments I would never expect to find much in the way of (a) quirky cafes, (b) vintage clothes and (c) the kind of shopping that gets my heart racing in a small ski resort town. So I was surprised to discover that Primo Cafe in Methven delightfully ticks all three boxes. Methven is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand and is the base for nearby Mt Hutt during the ski season. Part-cafe and part-junk-shop, Primo is a veritable Aladdin's cave of retro Kiwiana, bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, jewellery, accessories, tablewear, books, prints, paintings, toys, magazines and furniture. Every available surface is crammed with the kind of trinkets you'd be thrilled to uncover in a country carboot sale. The back wall is stacked with an impressive collection of vintage blankets, sheets and fabric, while the front window houses an assortment of glassware and crystal. The kitchen counter is stacked with just-baked slices, muffins, biscuits and cakes, and the menu offers an assortment of delicious old-fashioned breakfast and lunch time options. Primo's legendary bacon and egg toasted sandwich is not to be missed, but we also liked the avocado and tomato on toast. There was an adorable vintage enamel highchair for Harry, the kind which has a seat that slides out to reveal an in-built potty. He was happy with his avocado toast and a "little Fluffy" - Kiwi for babycinno. There is no rush to leave - in fact, lingering is encouraged with the wood-burning stove in the corner, cosy crocheted cushions on the chairs and various vintage chess sets scattered around the tables. I was tempted to curl up in an old armchair by the fire for the day, but we had to get going to Mt Hutt. Still, it was a rather charming and unexpected way to start our day at the snow. Primo Cafe 38 McMillan Street Methven, New Zealand Tel. 03 302 9309 And if you're looking for somewhere to stay in Methven, the Brinkley Resort was superb in every way possible. We had an apartment on the ground-floor so we didn’t have to worry about lugging suitcases, child and pram up stairs, and we also had two bedrooms, a laundry and a kitchen, so we could easily adapt to Harry’s familiar home routines. The accommodation itself was modern, clean and stylish, and it provided the perfect base for our adventures on Mt Hutt. Wee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand. Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops. Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about HAPA at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about Johnson's Grocers at Re:Start in Christchurch.

  7. Birdy pick of the month: Milk from a Thistle

    1 Comment Sydney fashion brand Milk from a Thistle featured as a 'birdy pick' last year, but I couldn't ignore their new Spring/Summer 2012 collection in which this splendid digital bird print features so heavily. It seems that sophisticated digital prints featuring all manner of wild creatures has become somewhat of a signature for this young Sydney label, with their graceful seagull print last summer (who knew that seagulls could look so delicate?) and the stallion print from their autumn/winter collection. This season they've teamed the tan bird print with red and black stripes in an easy-to-wear collection of tops, bottoms and breezy frocks. Highlights include the fabulous three-quarter sleeve shift dress and silk pants, which have already sold out online but are back in stock on September 16. www.milkfromathistle.com

  8. A wee birdy week – in pictures

    Leave a Comment According to Instagram, this is what the last week or so in my life looked like. We went back to Cockatoo Island in Sydney today to see the rest of the Biennale of Sydney. It finishes next week so make sure you catch it before it goes. It was a glorious day on Sydney Harbour, and I loved wandering around the old industrial buildings exploring the installations. I really loved Li Hongbo's extraordinary Ocean of Flowers; a wondrous landscape of multi-coloured honeycomb paper sculptures that upon closer inspection actually folded down into revolvers, arms and bullets. And Phillip Beesley's incredible Hylozic Series was well worth the half-hour wait, with a delicate and interactive forest of fibre-optic lights that responded to movement and touch. I hate to say it but it reminded me of the fantastical world of Avatar. But don't let that put you off: it was truly incredible! And predictably I rather enjoyed Maria Fernanda Cardoso's Museum of Copulatory Organs, which is entirely dedicated to the genitalia of insects. And it was FANTASTIC; imagine delicate ceramic and resin sculptures of the most extraordinarily complex penises. Who knew the penis of the bean weevil was the "spikiest in the world"? Apparently, it's not size that matters. It's shape. We also headed back to Quay restaurant for our seven-year anniversary and feasted on Peter Gilmore's seven-layer chocolate cake and jersey cream with "ethereal sheets". Amazing. And if you fancy the awesome vintage Mr Men toddler pants, they're by My Poppet Shop for My Messy Room. What have you been up to? And if you’re on Instagram, find me @WeeBirdy. 

  9. Frock on Friday

    1 Comment You all know that I love a good print, and Australian brand Gorman has captured my attention in recent seasons with some real beauties. I adored the last spring/summer collection, and the collaboration with textiles designer Rachel Castle was an inspired move, resulting in a fresh pop-tastic collection that was the very essence of an Aussie summer. The new spring/summer collection arrived in store and online yesterday, featuring another fabulous collaboration, this time with Australian artist Rhys Lee. I remember first seeing Lee's work when he was with Helen Gory Gallerie in Melbourne and I was expecting to see washy, drippy prints in muted dirty colours with perhaps a pop of neon. Instead, Gorman and Lee revealed a 21-piece capsule collection rich with candy-coloured harlequin and droplet prints and embellished with beads and sequins. The washy watercolours, however, are evident in a couple of pieces, most beautifully realised in this skirt. The dress in the top image features a superb handprint with black, lilac and yellow highlights. Typically I've gone with a more 'relaxed' fit, but the slight tapering at the bottom of the dress provides some subtle definition. Handstand linen dress, AU$269 from Gorman. I've also channeled my inner Gok Wan and selected this second dress (above) with a more defined waistline, which is infinitely more flattering on curvier and larger figures. I can be an incredibly lazy dresser and I've fallen into a rather unfortunate habit of favouring ye olde sack frocks, despite the fact they do nothing for my post-baby body. And although this second frock is sleeveless it features wide straps in a pretty lilac colour and a flattering neckline. And look - a hemline that finishes just at the knees. Tick, tick, tick all round. Handstand silk dress, AU$329 from Gorman.

  10. Wee Birdy in New Zealand: Johnson’s Grocers at Re:Start

    1 Comment Johnson's Grocery is a Christchurch icon in its own right, with the family business first setting up shop on Colombo Street in the city centre in 1911. It's remarkable that Johnson's operated for one hundred years on that site until the February 2011 earthquake, enticing locals and homesick British ex-pats with Twiglets, Tunnock's Teacakes and Yorkshire Tea. Sadly the original store was damaged in the earthquake and has since been demolished, but Johnson's has set up a temporary shop in the shipping container village of Re:Start, packing the shelves with all sorts of imported British, American and European treats. The current owner, David Johnson, who thankfully made it out of his store to safety when the earthquake hit last February, has plans to rebuild on the original site when the street eventually re-opens. In the meantime, it's nice to see a business with local historical significance making a temporary home in Re:Start, and the bulging shelves packed with colourful and vibrant old-school sweets adds a sense of nostalgia to the urban-industrial design of the village. I couldn't resist making a beeline for the Tunnocks Teacakes (you have no idea how much I miss that soft marshmallow-y awesomeness), before stocking up on Parma Violets, Maynard Wine Gums, Fry's Peppermint Cream bars and a box of Quality Street. (Not that I need an excuse, but I figured we needed snacks for our road trip to Mt Hutt.) Johnson's Restart Cashel Street City Mall, Christchurch Tel. 03 366 3027 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm Wee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand. Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops. Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch. Click here to read about HAPA at Re:Start in Christchurch.

  11. New Zealand finds: Paris House

    Leave a Comment I first heard of New Zealand designer Sharon Paris over two years ago when an email from her landed in my inbox. Sharon was on her way over to London and wanted to meet for a coffee - she had followed Wee Birdy and wanted to discuss breaking into the UK market. At this point her leather accessories brand, Paris House, was sold in over 60 shops throughout New Zealand and internationally including Colette and Le Bon Marche in Paris. Sadly, I was heading back to Australia so we never had that coffee. Not that Sharon needed any of my advice - Paris House is now sold in the likes of Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Urban Outfitters. So this is a long overdue post about some excellent and rather unconventional leather wallets and bags - the kind of bags you stroke longingly because the leather is so soft and the colours are so pretty, all the while chuckling because the gold-embossed bunny is saying 'Bite Me'. Paris House wallets and handbags are for those who have an aversion to bags that take themselves just that little bit too seriously. You know the ones I mean. After all, how many luxury leather bags can get away with a googly eye or two as embellishment? The bags themselves are beautifully crafted, with sumptuous printed fabric lining, double-stitched leather and metal zips, and the leather colourways offer a delicious spectrum of macaron-inspired hues. Paris House's signature gold-embossed one-liners channel David Shrigley's sardonic witticisms and add a playful edge to the sweetness of the lilacs and corals and emerald greens, and the extensive collections include iPad covers, envelopes, weekend bags, card holders, shoulder bags and travel wallets, with prices starting at US$78. There is also an incredible collection of Swarovski evening bags, bearing 'Regrets, I've had a few' and 'Hey good looking' slogans. Available online at www.parishouse.co.nz.

  12. Wee Birdy in New Zealand: HAPA at Re:Start

    Leave a Comment A design shop in a shipping container sounds like the kind of deliberate, carefully-planned work of edgy creatives looking to make their mark. But HAPA is part of Re:Start, the temporary and innovative village of container shops that is home to the city's independent shops that were devastated in the February 2011 earthquake. Happily, it's a home that works beautifully for HAPA, which showcases work by local and international designer-makers. HAPA means 'half' in Hawaiian, and is used to describe people of 'mixed racial heritage'. For the store's owners, Maureen Taane and Yuri Bacas Hosaka, it also represents the combination of two worlds, as well as the coming together of the old and the new in Christchurch's re-building. The range of design-led gifts include homewares, jewellery, textiles, toys and art, and highlights include a hand-stitched Kiwi soft toy made with vintage NZ army blankets, jewellery by Debra Fallowfield  and HAPA's own delightful 'Kia Ora' bunting mugs. There is also a dedicated section for local up-and-coming designers from the Design & Arts College of New Zealand. HAPA Re:Start Cashel Street City Mall, Christchurch New Zealand Tel. 03 372 9335 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm Saturday to Sunday 10am-5pm Wee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand. Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops. Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch.

As seen in