So much choice, so little time! I’m not quite sure how it happened but suddenly the countdown is on for Christmas and everyone is madly ticking off their to-do lists. If you’re looking for some festive new stockings, look no further. I’ve scoured the best online designers and retailers for the most beautiful Christmas stockings, and edited it down to my Top 20.
Here they are:
1. Fox Christmas Stocking in yellow by Allenbrite Studio’s Etsy shop, US$25.
2. Freckle Christmas stocking by Little Lamb in red, AU$49 from Lark.
3. Scandi Christmas Stocking by birdyhome, US$22.59 from Not on the High Street.
4. Embroidered linen mix Christmas stocking , AU$69.95 from David Jones.
5. Cath Kidston Christmas deer stocking, £14 from John Lewis.
6. Ball cuff stocking, AU$75 from Papier D’Amour.
7. Petal Christmas stocking by Little Lamb in Turquoise, AU$49 from Lark.
8. Red ticking personalised stocking, AU$60 from Papier D’Amour.
9. Freckle Christmas stocking by Little Lamb in grey, AU$49 from Lark.
10. Marimekko Raanu Christmas Stocking, AU$59 from Funkis.
11. Gisela Graham red Santa Christmas stocking, £10.95 from Liberty.
12. Cody Foster woven striped Christmas stocking, £59.95 from Selfridges.
13. Gisela Graham Gingerbread Man stocking, £10.95 from Liberty.
14. Circus-inspired Christmas stocking by Rocket and Bear, $19.63 from Not on the High Street.
15. Red wool star stocking, £59.95 from Liberty.
16. Karl Lagerfeld Christmas stocking, £200 from Selfridges.
17. Gisela Graham red satin embroidered stocking, £14.95 from Liberty.
18. Personalised Christmas stocking by Charlotte Cot Blankets, $64.64 from Not on the High Street.
19. Gisela Graham snowman and snowflake stocking, £10.95 from Liberty.
20. Retro Rudolph Christmas stocking in peacock blue, US$25 from Allenbrite Studio’s Etsy shop.
Click here for more nice Christmas stockings.
And click here for my edit of the 20 Best Crackers for 2012.
Here in Sydney we’re heading into a hot and humid weekend with temps around the 38 degree celcius mark – yikes! So I can’t think of anything better than swanning around (a freezing cold air-conditioned mall or cinema) in this bright and sunny one hundred per cent cotton dress by cult Finnish textile company Marimekko. The Käly dress, AU$529, is from their Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which was released in the Northern Hemisphere earlier this year. I love Marimiekko’s signature vibrant and oversized florals in this frock and graphic sunny stripes. You can find it at Funkis in Sydney and online.
Funkis has also reduced some of the Spring/Summer 2012 Marimekko frocks, like this very sweet Nopsa dress (reduced to AU$150 from AU$199), featuring cute pocket details and a contrasting blue trim.
And this smart Sattuma dress is great for those who love Marimekko’s sleek lines and graphic prints, but prefer a more conservative look.
Northern Hemisphere birds who are heading into a bitterly cold winter might like to check out the new arrivals from Marimekko this season, including the Manteliptsi knit dress, the Huuru dress and Matilda shirt.
Marrimeko Manteliptsi knitted dress.
Marimkekko Huuru dress.
Marrimekko Matilda shirt.
Click here for Marimekko stockists.
This week I’ll be bringing you my pick of the best gifts, cards and decorations that you need to order now to make sure your goodies arrive in time for Christmas. The vast majority of these things are handmade and many sellers on Etsy are so inundated with orders that they’re already calling last orders. In fact one Etsy seller, who makes the best hand-knitted and personalised fair isle stockings is already taking orders for Christmas 2013. Wowzers. So if you spot something you like, for goodness sake, don’t dilly-dally, snap it up!
I love these simple and graphic Christmas stockings by Etsy seller RikRak, which uses ‘ecospun’ felt made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The stockings are available in 60 different colour combinations, from the minimalist cream stockings with green trees to retro jewel-tones embellished with rick-rack.
The personalised stockings are particularly lovely, and with prices starting at US$12 they’re also very good value. Rikrak is taking customised orders until November 19 or until her schedule is filled.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a really gorgeous little frock for a three-year-old and wished there was a version in my size. And apparently I’m not alone. It was only last week at my local childrenswear shop that I discovered that the lovely tiny wee toddler’s frock in the gorgeous tropical print had also been the object of many a grown woman’s affection. And – hurrah! – word had got around that Zimmermann had a dress in the exact same print. For (much) bigger girls.
So I’m delighted to hear that UK childrenswear designers Poppy Children have responded to popular demand for adult versions of their delightful vintage-inspired kids frocks with the launch of their first womenswear collection. Featuring Poppy’s trademark storybook illustrations, the collection is inspired by a 1950s aesthetic and is available in a range of prints, styles and sizes (10-18).
Naturally, I adore their new London print, which also features on a range of frocks for little girls. Each dress comes with its own story book about Poppy and Fred’s adventures in London. I love that the vintage-inspired design features a thoroughly modern London, complete with the Gherkin, London Eye and a wandering giraffe. The collection is made in the UK and is one hundred per-cent cotton.
My favourite style is the Beatrice dress, which is superbly flattering with three-quarter length sleeves, a wide bateau neckline at the front and a V at the back, which can be worn either way and is available in five colour ways, for £129.99. Ladies can also purchase a matching petticoat for extra swoosh factor, as well as a pair of stripey cotton tights for winter.
The London print is also available on the Millie dress for girls, which features a Peter Pan collar and looks ridiculously adorable with a matching little cardigan. It would make a super-sweet London-themed bridesmaid’s frock, and it comes in sizes 0 to seven years for £62.50. There is also a range of matching fluffy petticoats and darling stripey tights for little ones.
www.poppychildren.co.uk
As you may already suspect, we rather like having tea parties at our place. Here’s Harry showing his teddy how it’s done. I loved playing with my tea set when I was little, so there was no way that Harry was going to miss out. I picked up this little wooden set from Aldi, and it came complete with miniature wooden tea bags, wooden donuts and sliceable wooden tea cake. Swish!
I rounded up the top 12 tea sets for kids over on Kidspot. Here are some of my favourites:
Clockwise from top: Children’s retro rose floral tea set, $41.91 from Not on the High Street; Schylling traditional tin tea set, $24.95 from Peanut Gallery; Bear tin tea set, $57 from Down That Little Lane; Belle & Boo Dollies tea set, $59.95 from Lark; and Nathalie Lete Vilac tea set US$50 from Opening Ceremony.
Read the full round-up over on Kidspot here.
* Thanks to Eeni Meeni Miini Moh for gifting Harry this very smart shirt and shorts, and to Scruffy Dog for gifting him these adorable red sandals. Loving these two Aussie fashion labels for kids.
Here’s something I’ve been working on for a little while: the Wee Birdy buyer’s guide to the 20 best tea pots. The value of a good tea pot should never be underrated, especially if they pack in as much charm and good looks as these little beauties. From chintzy rose buds and polka dots to a modern interpretation of the classic Willow pattern, these little pots do more than brew a good cuppa – they add a splash of personality, colour and good design to the diurnal grind. Essential qualities, really.
1. Oranges and Lemons hand-painted tea pot, £75 from Tobyboo’s Etsy shop.
2. Camellia tea pot, £35 from Pierrot et Coco.
3. White lace hand-painted tea pot, US$58 from Clayful Impressions’ Etsy shop.
4. Mr Jones tea pot by Polly George, AU$84 from Everything Begins.
5. Lace tea pot by We Love Kaoru, AU$105 from Everything Begins.
6. Vintage enamel mid-century tea pot, US$85 from Hindsvik’s Etsy shop.
7. Salt and Pepper green tea pot with infuser by Salt and Pepper. Click here for your nearest stockist.
8. My Teapot’ in yellow with an anthracite lid by Anouk Jansen, £45 from Howkapow.
9. The New English x TNE Studios Benday cobalt tea pot, £122 from Culture Label.
10. London Willow tea pot by We Love Kaoru (features Big Ben, London Eye and the BT Tower), AU$96 from Everything Begins and £60 from Culture Label.
11. Gordon Ramsay Maze by Royal Doulton blue tea pot, AU$39.95 from Royal Doulton.
12. Provence rose tea pot, £18 from Cath Kidston.
13. Blossom tea pot by Swedish designer Camilla Engdahl, £30 from Howkapow.
14. Cupcakes tea pot by Poppy Treffry, made from fine bone china in Stoke on Trent, £24 from The Green Apple.
15. Blodwen white enamel Caernarfon tea pot, £35 from Liberty.
16. Wedgwood Polka Dots teaware tea pot, AU$89.95 from Wedgwood.
17. Royal Albert Polka Rose Vintage tea pot, AU$199 from Royal Albert.
18. Miss Etoile Gold polka dot ceramic tea pot, US$63.04 from Oliver Bonas.
19. Limogues pink tea pot, price on enquiry from The Bay Tree.
20. Wedgwood Butterfly Bloom Teaware tea pot, AU$125 from Wedgwood.
It’s A Week of Tea on Wee Birdy. WIN a stunning Twinings wooden tea chest packed with Twinings tea – click here to enter now!
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I’m curious. Which tea pot is your favourite? Tell me in the comments below.
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