Carnaby Street has gone for a disco Santa theme with giant headphones. Photo by FranHolden1/Instagram.
I love my Instagram feed at this time of the year, especially when London turns on its Christmas lights. Aaaah!
I can almost feel the cold creeping up through my boots, as I make my way through the Oxford Street crowds to find respite (and perhaps a cheeky mulled wine) in a Soho cafe. Look, right now, I’d take one of those super-sized cream-topped eggnog concoctions at Starbucks for a night out on London’s West End. I know, the rose-tinted glasses are out, but London, you’re so pretty at Christmas! #nostalgic
(I do, however, recall the hard stares I got on the Tube one night in December 2009, when I thought it was a splendid idea to bring home a live Christmas tree from the Pedlars’ pop-up shop at Selfridges. Fellow Tube-goers were distinctly displeased getting poked in the face by the tree in the middle of the carriage. Bloody Australians…) #awkward
But look! Christmas lights in London! On Instagram! Here are the pics that make me wanna jump on the next plane out of here…
The Christmas lights at Stella McCartney’s Mayfair store on Bruton Street are legendary, and Beauty and the Dirt‘s Krista Madden captured this pic at the annual Stella Holiday party. Photo by krista_madden/Instagram.
Anyone in London want to sponsor an Australian bird? I haz skillz. Call me, maybe?
Tell me: has something amazing or Christmassy caught your eye on Instagram this week? Have you spotted any other cool Christmas lights around the world?
Treat a favourite lady in your life to a beautiful trinket for her to find under the Christmas tree.
Soft pinks and warm golds are trending this season, and I’ve found all manner of sparkling, glittering gifts to suit all budgets, from teeny-tiny gold stud earrings to pretty gold-foil art prints.
Just click on the photo of each product below to go through to the shop to buy.
Decadent gold teacup & saucer, $19.95, from Lark.
Sweet Watermelon print, $24, from Down that Little Lane.
Love + Salt beach mist, $24, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
Rare Rabbit diamond cut wood display hook in gold, $24.95, from Down that Little Lane.
$24.95
Brass Himmeli ornament,
AU$23.83, from HRUSKAA.
Coconut triangle earrings in soft pink and wheat, $30.24 from gtgadabout
Kester Black nail polish in Supernova, $20, from Lark.
Madewell double ring
US$24, from Shopbop.
It Girl bobbi pins, $22.95, from Lark.
Drop incense holder in brass, $30, by Dinosaur Designs.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Starburst drop earrings
US$48, from Shopbop.
Gold spot lunch plate, $14.95, from Lark.
Bee signet ring, £165, by Alex Monroe.
Zooey purse in blush, $139, from Oktoberdee.
Monserat De Lucca friendship puzzle necklace set, US$84, from Shopbop.
Marc by Marc Jacobs love stud earrings, US$42, from Shopbop.
Count Your Lucky Stars typographic print, $35, from Everything Begins.
Gold holly necklace, £25, by Tatty Devine.
Birkenstock Arizona copper flat sandals, $144, from ASOS.
Tiny Lightning Studs,£13.50, from Custom Made.
Pink Turkish bath towel, $49, from Everything Begins.
Kate Spade gold dot coasters, set of 24, $34.95, from House of M&K.
Ariel Gordon teardrop silhouette ring, US$161, from Shopbop.
Kotur #Getsmart bag, reduced to US$276.50, from Shopbop.
Shashi circle bracelet, US$62, from Shopbop.
Flowers & Stones ring, $45, from Karen Walker.
Gold succulent bottle garden, $18, from Everything Begins.
Kate Spade Dream a Little Dream eyelash mask, US$38, from Shopbop.
Gorjana Olympia stud earrings, US$40, from Shopbop.
Sea anemone ceramic-bottle in fairy floss, $26, from Indie.
Mrs. President & Co. top tier hair barrette, US$88, from Shopbop.
Bralette in Wildflower, $49.95, from Fabrik.
24k Gold Mask By Peter Thomas Roth, £55, from Cult Beauty.
House of Harlow 1960 pyramid stud earrings,
US$30, from Shopbop.
Welcome to Christmas at my place (aka the Treehouse)! Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
This is a sponsored post for Freedom. Please see full disclosure at bottom of post.
Ready or not, Christmas is upon us! I’m sure I’m not the only one trembling ever so slightly as we find ourselves on the eve of December, staring down a month packed with family, friends, parties, presents, decorating, finishing up work, school holidays… and food.
So when Freedom launched their shiny new Christmas collection for 2014, I was inspired to give our outdoor deck a makeover for the festive season. Up until now, we had a rather clunky picnic table that was really too big for the space. Guests had to duck and weave to find their place, and there was a fair bit of whacking-of-heads on overhead beams. So we moved the table to the back yard, and brought in Freedom’s Genoa lounge set. Add a few plants and decorations and I think – finally – we just might be ready to have people around.
So come inside, and have a look at what I’ve done with the place…
You might remember my vintage sideboard from the dining room makeover? Here, I’ve used it as a cool spot indoors to set up a little drinks station, complete with a water dispenser. This is an incredibly handy addition and is perfect for Australian summer entertaining, as it means guests can help themselves – and you can stop running to the tap to top-up jugs every few minutes. It looks rather impressive filled with a bunch of lemons, limes and mint.
I also added a touch of Christmas to an otherwise empty corner with Freedom’s very pretty light-up tree, and an assortment of their beautiful glass baubles. Have you seen the full collection of Christmas decorations? I think you’ll really like it.
I can’t begin to tell you how much we love having a lounge and coffee table on the deck, instead of an enormous outdoor table. By simply swapping a too-big table for a more relaxed lounge setting, we’ve created a space that’s not only more attractive, but it’s also incredibly user-friendly.
We can now kick back with friends over a few platters of food and drinks, instead of a complicated formal-style dinner, and we can always add occasional chairs for when extra guests pop in.
Freedom has gone for Christmas gold this year, which is one of this season’s biggest decorating themes. So it was only natural that I would jump on the trend bandwagon for Christmas entertaining.
I actually don’t have a lot of gold in my kitchen cupboards, and I was quite amazed to see how good it looks, especially when mixed with natural timbers and white. You can see that I didn’t hold back on the gold confetti, either.
Pistachio-encrusted goats cheese balls on Rustic serving board, $39.95, from Freedom. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
When it comes to food and entertaining for Christmas, I’ve found through harsh experience that keeping it simple is really the only way to go. It’s just too darn hot in Australia to be fiddling with hot canapes and complicated recipes.
So I like to take short-cuts and “cheat’s” methods when it comes to entertaining, which, in other words, is the incredibly easy art of making shop-bought food look sensational.
OK, so there was a tiny bit of preparation for the goat’s cheese balls. But not much! All you do is roll a bunch of little balls from a packet of soft goat’s cheese, and then roll the balls in chopped pistachios. Arrange some fresh baby spinach leaves on a platter – I love Freedom’s new rustic serving board – and pop a pistachio-encrusted ball on each leaf. You could also try rolling the balls in chopped chives for a different flavour. Easy, right?
Ye-olde chip-n-dip is a solid stand-by for easy entertaining, but it looks extra-special (in a homemade kinda way) when you pop a scoop of each dip in a little bowl on Freedom’s new collection of Entertain timber platters.
And making shop-bought mince pies look more homemade and less ‘supermarket’ is also easy: remove from plastic packaging; warm on tray in oven; pile on stylish white marble platter; and dust generously with icing sugar. Perfect! I added a touch of green and gold with air plants and some wire gem decorations from my own collection.
Try hanging a bunch of co-ordinated Christmas decorations from a branch or beam. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
I also created an eye-catching centrepiece with an assortment of paper decorations and glittering gold baubles from my own stash of Christmas decorations. If you don’t have exposed beams, you could hang a bunch of paper decorations from a branch.
Freedom’s Entertain tasting paddle, $39.95, makes the simplest of desserts look amazing. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
I love serving a few different options for dessert, and a cold trifle or layered pudding is perfect for lazy Australian summer entertaining. These individual mini puddings are a variation on my raspberry cream macaroon dessert, which is also ridiculously easy to make. Just layer a bunch of ingredients such as crushed coconut macaroons (or meringue) with raspberries, pomegranate seeds, and freshly whipped cream in each glass. Dust with icing sugar and serve on Freedom’s genius new Entertain tasting paddle. Instantly, this simple summer dessert makes for delicious (eye) candy.
I also like the idea of using the tasting paddles for various drinks tastings, which can be adapted to whatever tipple takes your fancy. If you want to get your hipster on, how about a craft beer or cider tasting? Or if kale is more your style, you could present a tasting of various ‘green’ drink recipes. Could be fun!
And nope, I didn’t make the pudding. But doesn’t it come up a treat and look extra decadent when it’s served on Freedom’s Celebrate gold plates? Layering plates and bowls is actually a good stylist’s trick to pull out when you’re entertaining. Just use an assortment of co-ordinated bowls and plates in different shapes and sizes, and layer no more than three levels on top of each other. It makes a statement and adds depth and interest to any table setting. Or it can make an ordinary shop-bought pudding look very special indeed.
Tell me: how are you getting ready for Christmas this year? Do you have any easy entertaining tips or tricks that you’d like to share?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post paid by Freedom Australia. I only work with brands that I genuinely like, and think you should know about, too. All of the Freedom furniture and homewares were borrowed from Freedom for the purposes of this shoot.
Do you have a young person you’re buying for this Christmas who is perhaps more than a little interested in space? I do. He lives in my house and he’s almost four-years-old. And just about anything related to the moon, stars, planets and rockets catches his eye.
I’ve had a few questions about present ideas for older kids, so I thought I’d pull together my favourite things from around the globe for a special space-themed gift guide.
I’ve found presents to suit all budgets, starting at $5.92 (Australian dollars), as well as gifts for different ages, from three to thirteen – and beyond.
From beautiful art prints of the moon to space puzzles and an astronaut bath towel, here are 40 fun ideas for kids’ Christmas presents.
Just click on the photo of each product below to go through to the shop to buy.
Love You To The Moon & Back print, $36, from Down that Little Lane.
Glow in the Dark Stars & Planets kit, $24.95, from Lark.
Moon Landings wall Clock sticker, $129, from Everything Begins.
Moonlight Bear print, $49.95, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Paperwings Spacemen tee, $27.97, from My Messy Room.
Spaceboy rocket icy pole makers, $14.95, from Lark.
Globe mobile, $124, from
Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Plate, $7.95, from H&M.
Teal ‘To The Moon and Back’ banner, $25, from Down that Little Lane.
Blast Off acrylic mirror set, $85, from Down that Little Lane.
Luna gilded wall clock, $148, from Down that Little Lane.
Mobile solar system $149.95, from Zanui.
Cardboard rocket playhouse, $39.99, from Green Ant Toys.
Blast Off Rocket wooden mobile, $69, from Down that Little Lane.
Mars print, $240, by Stella Maria Baer.
Hugg-a-Planet with Moon, $69.95, from Down that Little Lane.
Nanoblock space ship, $22.95, from Kido Store.
Moon knit jumper by Tootsa MacGinty, $60, from Down that Little Lane.
Strelka the Space Dog print, $41.45, from Berkly Illustration.
60AZ beginners telescope for kids, $139.95, from Australian Geographic Shop.
Littlebits space electronics kit for kids, $279.95, from Hard to Find.
White moon piñata, $39.95, from Lark.
Love you to the Moon poster, $25, from Lark.
Space Explorer iron-on patch, $5.92, from Mokuyobi Threads.
Astronaut pillowcase
$58.03, from i3Lab.
Moon Phase art print, $20, from Down that Little Lane.
Wooden Solar System £14.95, from Muji.
Storage box, $7.95, from H&M.
Hape Discovery Spaceship, $189, from Kidstuff.
Space floor puzzle, $35.95, from Hard to Find.
Suck UK space cookie cutters, $25.95, from Hard to Find.
Moon poster, $60, from Down that Little Lane.
Saturn kids’ t-shirt, $39, from Hard to Find.
Shower towel, $9.95, from H&M.
Solar System mug, £10.95, from Pedlars.
Universe stamp set, £9.95, from Muji.
Vintage space poster, $32, from Artsy Galleree.
A Trip To The Moon wall sticker, $81.71, by i3Lab.
Molo moon surface tank, $30, from Down that Little Lane.
Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
This is a sponsored post for Freedom. Please see full disclosure at bottom of post.
Shopping for a new bed – and everything you could possibly need to make your bedroom the ultimate retreat – just got so much easier, with the launch of Freedom Bedroom.
And let me tell you, this launch fills a vast hole in Australia’s retail landscape, introducing a (rather stylish and innovative) one-stop shop for creating and personalising the sanctuary of your dreams.
I should know. We started shopping for our new bedroom almost 12 months ago, and it wasn’t a wholly pleasant experience. And really, it shouldn’t been so hard. After all, it was this very space that you can see in this post that pretty much sold the Treehouse to me.
Goodbye tiny cramped room and hello space. Goodbye neighbour’s brick wall and hello sun! Trees! And light!
So we really didn’t need to do much to this room, but we did make it lighter and brighter by replacing the old carpet with white-washed bamboo floorboards. I had in my mind a style that was akin to Scandinavian-summer-house-meets-the-Australian-bush, so we painted the yellowed panelled-wood ceiling white.
And then it was time to buy a new bed, mattress and furniture… and hello a world of pain. Schlepping from mattress shop to furniture shop, the whole experience was confusing and impersonal. It just about drove me to taking on a carpentry apprenticeship in an attempt to get exactly what we wanted.
Here I am, attempting to make the bed with Mister 3, featuring Freedom Bedroom bed linen as before. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
Fast forward 12 months and I find myself at the new Freedom Bedroom in Belrose – and hello a world of options! Rather stylish options, at that! And a unique opportunity to pick and choose designs, fabrics and timbers to create my very own look.
There are over 100 Charles Parsons fabrics to choose from, which ensures you get a look and style that is far from cookie-cutter. You can customise your bed head to mix and match with your customised bed base, chair or ottoman. And the prices don’t scream “custom”, either.
As bedroom specialists, Freedom Bedroom can help you start at the very beginning, with a mattress that is perfect for your needs. With a line-up of Australia’s leading mattress brands to choose from, including A.H. Beard, Sealy Posturepedic, Sleepmaker and Whitehaven, Freedom has brought the best in bedding to their collection of homewares and furniture.
For this post, it didn’t take long for me to handpick exactly what I wanted to make our bedroom ‘ours’, all within the one shop. I wanted clean white linen on the bed, and kept the theme light and bright with a matching Scandi-inspired dresser and bedside table. I really needed help with layering colours and textures, and that’s when Freedom interior decorator Diane Birol stepped in, helping me choose a fresh and pretty palette that I usually wouldn’t consider: jades, teals and aquas mixed with earthier tones.
Beautiful colours and textures by Freedom Bedroom. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
I’m sold on the Oslo dresser and matching bedside table, which are superbly priced at $899 and $349 respectively. And I adore the new Danish-inspired woven web bench. I think it’s my favourite new Freedom piece. The Fenton floor rug, meanwhile, brings much-needed warmth and additional texture to the room, and helps to ground the bed in an all-white space.
Looking in from the stairs. Photography by Lucas Boyd for Wee Birdy. Styling by Diane Birol/Freedom ID. Production by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd/Wee Birdy.
So say hello to my new bedroom! What do you think?
Freedom Bedroom is available at Belrose, Logan and Windsor stores.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post paid by Freedom Australia. I only work with brands that I genuinely like, and think you should know about, too. I was gifted the sheets, quilt cover and pillowslips. All of the other furniture and pieces were borrowed from Freedom for the purposes of the shoot.
A stylish present doesn’t have to cost the earth, especially if it’s black and white. The two-tone look emerged as one of this year’s biggest trends in design and decor, and it goes with just about any colour palette. The best thing? It often looks more expensive than it actually is, which isn’t a bad thing.
I’ve found 30 of my favourite black and white presents for under 30 clams (Australian dollars – we really don’t use clams as currency, although that would be jolly fun), from art prints and rather nice kids t-shirts to tiny faceted earrings and a ceramic baby sloth bowl (seriously amazing).
‘Don’t wig out’ tea towel, $22, from Down that Little Lane.
Facial toner, AU$28.19, by Herbivore Botanicals.
Sicilian orange liquid soap, $23, from House of M&K.
John Keats literary art print, AU$28.19, by Obvious State.
Maiko Kids’ T-shirt, $30, from Down that Little Lane.
Ceramic baby sloth bowl, AU$20.57, by Barruntando.
Kate Spade library notepad, $14.95, from House of M&K.
Repair cuticle balm, AU$21.14, by Herbivore Botanicals.
Monochromatic clouds and plane t-shirt, $25, from Down that Little Lane.
Geo cat brooch, £12, from Custom Made.
ABC poster, AU$29.24, by Snug Studio.
Chalkboard cloud, $29, from Down that Little Lane.
Fig + Cranberry hand-poured soy candle, AU$24, by Maison Blanche Candles.
Summer slouchies, $25, The Raisin Did It.
Adventure hip flask, $24.95, from Lark.
Canvas tote lunch bag, AU$24.08, by Olula.
Kate Spade black spot plate $26.95, from Lark.
Golden Days print, from $25, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Set of 4 ‘Manners’ screenprinted napkins, AU$28.19, by Urban Bird and Co.
Shopping List tote bag by Seb Lester, $27, from Everything Begins.
The Tiny Collection fine bone china mugs by Eleanor Stuart, $23, from Everything Begins.
Buttering Board by Darling Clementine $28, from Everything Begins.
YAY banner flag, AU$23.49, by Zana Products.
Tea for Two tea towel, $29, from Indie.
Chalkboard door hanger, AU$23.49, by Clive Roddy.
Handprinted teething toy, $23, from Down that Little Lane.
‘Note to self: Relax!’ banner flag, $27.95, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
Black geo earrings, AU$23.49, by A Merry Mishap.
Hippo factory miniature ceramic sculpture, AU$29.37, by Pearson Mason.
I just pulled a pile of catalogues out of the letter box today. Now, usually, that is a good thing (I pay geeky attention to the Bunnings catalogue in particular), but right now, I’m seeing the same old toys and stuff for kids splashed across the pages of the big chain stores, advertising big discounts to get more people through their doors this weekend.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against a big toy sale (hello, I’ll most probably be there), but I do get tired of stomping up and down the same aisles looking at the same old licensed toys and ‘shouty’ mass-produced products.
And while my home is scattered with various Thomas the Tank Engines, Lightening McQueens and Dusty planes, Christmas is a really great time to explore other options, too – like beautifully-designed toys, clothes and accessories – for our little ones.
And it needn’t cost the earth to invest in well-designed stuff for kids. In fact, I’ve rounded up 40 of the best design-led presents for children, starting at $9.34. So grab a cuppa and let me show you a few very nice things indeed…
Just click on each product to go through to the shop to buy!
Small blue hot air balloon, $28, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Once upon an alphabet, by Oliver Jeffers, $17.14, from Book Depository.
Wooden peg doll Kokeshi by Abby Jacobs, $35, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
$35
Sun hat in multiple colours, $39, from Down that Little Lane.
The farm paper toy kit by PUKACA, $12, from Down that Little Lane.
Multi confetti owl low voltage lamp, $71.95, from Indie.
Rainbow ripple blanket, $84.95, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Blafre tractor lunch box, $35, from Down that Little Lane.
Wooden Chococcino machine, $50, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
OMY Costume Panthero, $39.95, from My Messy Room.
Rainbow garland by Krissy Osborne, $32, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
Fox head paper mâché sculpture by Abigail Brown, $135, from Everything Begins.
Tamarama ukelele, $45, from Lark.
Ladybug flower press, $10.19, from Indie.
Ciack toy camera with fish-eye lens, $65, from Mycuppatea..
Tin of toy Aussie biscuits, $34.95, from Lark.
Alimrose Ted soft doll, $49.95, from My Messy Room.
Wooden moon house by Gecko Toys, $60.95, from Down that Little Lane.
Toy sailing boat by Spirited Mama, $59.95, from Down that Little Lane.
‘Always be Batman’ print, from $24.95, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Tsumiki wooden construction house, $135, from Fabrik.
Modular tree house,
AU$104.84, by Manzarita Kids on Etsy.
Rock Your Baby David Meowie T-shirt, $39.95, from My Messy Room.
Mountain pillow, $81.01, by Colette Bream on Etsy.
Microphone wooden ruler, $9.95, from My Messy Room.
Gatcha Gatcha wooden dispenser, $65, from Fabrik.
Wooden lacing apple, $9.34, from Indie.
‘Lately Lily’ by Micah Player, $24.95, from My Messy Room.
$24.95
Felt Giraffe animal head, $175, from Lark.
Wooden castle blocks, $10.19, from Indie.
Mr Whale Cushion, $46, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Wooden vehicle and traffic sign set, $16.99, from Indie.
Toy Aussie post box, $60, from Lark.
Ridleys Domino Rally, $34.95, from Lark.
Mr Chicken Lands on London by Leigh Hobbs, $21.25, from Booktopia.
Build a Picture geometric mosaic wooden puzzle,
$22.94, from Indie.
Vintage giant pencil stationery set, $14.95, from Lark.
Kuruma green car, $29.95, from Fabrik.
Le Toy Van doctor’s set, $69.95, from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Dot Musee crayon set, $22, from Mycuppatea.
How did you go? Spotted something for a special little person? Nice one!
Christmas can be costly, but you can find all sorts of affordable and unique wee gems from some of my favourite shops online. I’ve done the shopping for you, and found 34 drop-dead gorgeous presents for under $20 (Aussie dollars), from hand-stamped copper necklaces and designer Scandi babygros to handmade aftershave balm and beautiful art prints. You’ll find something for just about everyone in this list. Have fun!
Terns print by tinykiwi prints, $15, from Down that Little Lane.
click on main image to enlarge
$15
Black Raspberry travel tin candle, AU$20, by Manili Home.
Indigo blue linen embroidered napkin, AU$22.04, by Maalikaa Creations.
Harneys Paris Tin of Tea, $19.95, from Down that Little Lane.
Anamalz Emu, reduced to $4, from $7.95, from House of M and K.
Blushing Phoenix body polish, AU$13, by Vice and Velvet.
Men’s Irish linen skinny bow tie, AU$17.62, by Moaning Minnie.
Giant confetti balloon, $16.50, from Down that Little Lane.
Anchor candle, $16.95, from Lark.
Draw-a-Postcard Kit by Monica Loos, $16, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
10 of Spades Elephant notebook, AU$14.50, from Indie.
Instant Comfort pocket box, AU$11.68, by Kim’s Little Monsters.
Hello Sunshine tote bag, $19, from Everything Begins.
Kate Spade Notepad, $18.95, from House of M and K.
All natural aftershave balm, AU$19.03, by Dr K Soap Company.
Orla Keily Scribble Pear Mug, $19.50, from House of M and K.
Home Memo Pad, $12, from Mycuppatea.
Apple bodysuit, $14.95, by Smafolk from Oliver’s Twisty Tales.
Squadron flying kite, $12.95 from Lark.
Baby neckerchief bib, AU$12.89, by Big Bird’s Boutique.
Double Hundreds & Thousands Tea Towel, 18, from Everything Begins.
Wild Things Max felt crown tiara, AU$16.45 by Wild Things Dresses.
Sunny side up Owl Egg Ring, $19.95, from Down that Little Lane.
High white vase, AU$18.95, by Snug Studio.
Womens Hipster Powder Floral pants, $20, from Thunderpants.
Abstract Circles 2 art print, AU$20, by Ammiki.
Ceramic cat miniature, AU$19.10, by Barruntando.
Belle & Boo Neck Purse, reduced to $10 from $19.95, from House of M and K.
Melamine posy plate, $19.95, from Lark.
Mediterranean Pear Home Spray, $15.95, from House of M and K.
Overlapping Circles print by Britt Castellano, $18, from Wee Birdy’s GREAT.LY shop.
Hot copper plant bag, $18, from Down that Little Lane.
Custom rose gold stamped letter necklace, AU$17.62, by Petite Co.
Here it is, the one blog post you’ve been eagerly awaiting all… day (OK, maybe I’m just speaking for myself).
Now in its seventh year, I like to think of my annual round-up of the world’s best Christmas crackers as a Wee Birdy festive ritual, exploring and excitedly presenting my slightly-bonkers obsession with this most British of excellent Christmas traditions.
No Christmas table is properly dressed without a cracker at each place setting, and no Christmas lunch is complete without a round of minor-bangs, bad Dad jokes, crappy paper hats that fall over your eyes (unless they’re the $1,000 variety from Fortnums), and a little trinket that usually goes flying into the gravy boat.
I don’t mind if they’re one buck for a pack of 12 or a one cool grand for a wicker hamper of six, I love them all! But if I had to narrow it down, here it is: the 20 best Christmas crackers for 2014.
2. Thornback & Peel Hankie Crackers
Stag & Spot luxury crackers, set of six, £55, from Thornback & Peel. Each cracker contains a hat, snap, joke and a hand-printed festive Thornback & Peel handkerchief. Jolly good.
3. M&S’s giant novelty cracker
Giant novelty Christmas cracker, £19.50, from Marks & Spencer. The cracker contains gifts, hats and mottos. Kids would probably get a kick out of the ginormous plus-size.
4. Fortnum & Mason’s $1,000 crackers
Fortnum’s The King of Crackers, set of six, £1,000, from Fortnum & Mason. Each handcrafted ruched cracker contains all manner of luxury brand gifts: a black leather card holder from Launer of London; a pair of navy knitted cashmere gloves from heritage Scottish brand Johnstons of Elgin; a silver tie pin from Tatteossian, artisan-made pearl studs from Colman Douglas, a silver bookmark or a silver wine topper. The crackers also contain the traditional entertaining scroll and a fabric crown to keep. Well, I guess a paper hat would be somewhat inappropriate. Wowsers.
5. Magic Party Crackers from Lark
Magic Party Crackers, set of six, $29.95, from Lark. This cracker set contains six magic tricks, along with the obligatory party hat, joke and snap. Tricks include exploding dice, 3 ball return and magic cards. Deliver Christmas with a potential bang (via exploding dice). UK readers: head to Selfridges for Ridleys magic crakcers.
6. John Lewis 12 Days of Christmas crackers
Twelve Days of Christmas crackers, set of 12, £20, from John Lewis. Each cracker contains a snap, motto and hat along with one of the following: a bottle opener, metal yo-yo, bottle stop, tape measure, screwdriver set, carabiner, padlock, playing cards, metal puzzle, chess game, place card holder or folding corkscrew. Use each cracker as prompt to sing the Christmas carol around the dinner table… or not.
7. Light-up crackers from M&S
Light-up burgundy Christmas crackers, set of six, £45, from Marks & Spencer. I’m fairly certain this is the first light-up cracker (or indeed, any kind of technologically advanced cracker) to feature on my annual round-up of the best crackers. Each cracker contains a gift, hat and motto and ‘light-up features’. Switch the lights off and dazzle your guests. Well, the kids will love them, anyway. Lights! In crackers! Mind is boggling.
8. London crackers by Jennie Maizels
Iconic London crackers, set of six, £28, from The National Gallery. This set of handmade crackers are designed by Jennie Maizels, and each cracker contains one of Jenny’s London-themed iron-on patches, hat and motto. Of course, I LOVE the GUTS out of these wee crackers.
9. Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea crackers
Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea Christmas Crackers, set of six, £100, from Fortnum & Mason. Take note, Australians, it’s afternoon tea, not high-bloody-tea. Each cracker contains a miniature tea caddy containing one of Fortnum’s exclusive blends and miniature pot of Fortnum’s preserve in complementary flavours: Afternoon Blend and Strawberry Preserve, Royal Blend and Marmalade, Queen Anne and Damson Preserve, Assam and Raspberry Preserve, Earl Grey and Blueberry Preserve and Darjeeling and Strawberry Preserve. Very nice, too.
10. Heal’s children’s puppet crackers
Children’s puppet crackers, set of six, £25, from Heal’s. Each cracker contains one animal character finger puppet, a paper hat and a motto. Amuse small children, zaaany adults or get the kids to put on a puppet show after Christmas lunch.
11. Nancy & Betty’s Nutcracker crackers
Luxury Nutcracker crackers, set of six, £34, by Nancy & Betty. Handmade by this British design brand with their own very fine paper, each cracker contains a silver or gold foil paper hat, joke and snap. Gifts include marbles, pencil set, die, mini whisk, cookie cutter and egg cup.
12. Origami crackers from Lark
Origami party crackers, set of six, AU$29.95, from Lark. Made by British brand Lucky Lad, each cracker set features origami tricks, along with a party hat, joke and snap. Includes 30 origami sheets and instructions, so you can attempt to make tiny and rather impressive origami creations around the dinner table. Warning: could produce unintended hilarity, depending on individual level of fine motor skills and consumption of French bubbles. UK readers: head to Selfridges for a similar box of origami crackers.
13. Harrods Ice Princess crackers
Harrods of London Ice Princess luxury Christmas crackers, set of six, £99.95. Each cracker is embellished with a sparkling crown pin, and contains a paper hat, joke and one of six beautiful silver-plated gifts, including table bell, bottle opener, compact mirror, perfume atomiser, tealight candle holder and tape measure. A bit posh for wanna princesses.
14. Mackenzie-Childs Crackers
Mackenzie-Childs Crackers, set of six, £500, from Fortnum & Mason. Add a touch of Americana to the dinner table with these crackers from New York’s Mackenzie-Childs. Decorated in the brand’s signature check, each cracker contains a distinctive gold-plated Mackenzine-Childs keyring, plus the traditional paper crown and entertaining scroll.
15. Toast’s crackers made with hand-blocked Nepalese lokta papers
Christmas crackers, set of six, £35, from Toast. Each cracker uses Nepalese lokta papers that have been hand block-printed by women in the Kathmandu Valleys of Nepal. Decorated with hand-tied grosgrain ribbon, each cracker contains a riddle, a hat and a gift, such as, glycerine soap; jasmine flower tea bomb; miniature glass tree decoration; sparklers; mini beeswax candle; and rose-flavoured chocolate bar. Crafty types will give these crackers a big thumbs-up!
16. Sausage Dog Crackers
John Lewis Sausage Dog crackers, set of eight, £15, from John Lewis. A jolly sausage dog is stretched across each cracker, which contains a snap, motto, hat and a fun retro-style gift such as, marbles; bouncy ball; yo-yo; water pistol; fortune fish; jumping frog; skittles or harmonica.
17. Tetrahedron pattern crackers by Pentreath & Hall
Yellow tetrahedron pattern Christmas crackers, set of six, £40, by Pentreath & Hall. Each cracker is handmade in Dorset covered in Pentreath & Hall patterned paper, and contains a hat, snap and a joke, along with one of the following prizes; herb seeds, a wooden spoon, nail brush, star cookie cutter, dice, pack of marble, golf ball tees, plant labels. Perfect for design lovers. Or fans of geometry.
18. Harrods musical crackers
Harrods of London Magical Forest Luxury Christmas crackers, set of eight, £120, from Harrods. Each cracker contains a hat, joke and one of eight musical bells with sheet music. Jingle bell jam time around the Christmas table, or just general jingling, tingling chaos. Fun.
19. Gold, silver and copper crackers from Marks & Spencer
Gold, silver and copper Christmas crackers, set of six, £29.50, from Marks and Spencer. Each cracker contains a gift, hat and motto, and you’ll get a big tick for being bang on trend this season with mixed metallics. Give your Christmas table an extra touch of sparkle and lustrous sheen.
20. Liberty print crackers
Edenham print superior Christmas crackers, set of six, £45, from Liberty. Perfect for vintage-lovers and Liberty-print enthusiasts, each cracker contains a gift, hat, and motto.
This is it, people. Five weeks’ til Christmas. Eeep!
So if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet, now is a good time to put your orders in from shops online. It’s easy, fast, you avoid the crowds, and guess what? I’ve been researching for months and found all the best stuff for you. Job done.
You might have noticed an ice cream or two in your travels recently. Ice cream motifs are one of the biggest trends this season, which is perfect timing for our Australian summer, and they make playful gifts for the rest of the year.
There are ice cream lamps and ice cream dolls, ice-cream artwork and ice-cream quilt covers. They really do make for particularly fun and pretty presents.
So here’s my round-up of the best ice cream-themed presents for Christmas, starting at $5.95. Just click on each image to go through to each shop.
Set of 3 honeycomb ice cream decorations, $16.95, from Down That Little Lane.
Ice Cream Pen, $5.95, from Lark.
Ice Cream Light by Ollie Rose, $29.95, from Down That Little Lane.
Limited edition screenprint by Lucie Sheridan, $99, from Everything Begins.
Mint ice cream cushion by Suella, $40, from Down That Little Lane.
Momiji collectable dolls, $19.95, from Momiji.
‘Ice Cream Dream’ by Glenn Jones Art, $49, from Down That Little Lane.
Porcelain Ice Cream cone by Xavier & Me, $24, from Everything Begins.
Ice cream money bank, $19.95, from Lark.
Strawberry ice cream coin purse by Misala Handmade, $20.90, from Down That Little Lane.
Do you have any pet-owners or animal lovers on your Christmas present list? My top tip? Make a beeline for Etsy, which is chockers with all manner of personalised, custom-made and handcrafted presents for pets.
Pet owners are usually rather fond of their animals, so a special, handcrafted pet accessory, or a customised portrait in their pet’s likeness, will show that you’ve gone to a bit of effort, and will mostly likely be a big hit come Christmas day. Which is want you want, really.
Here, my top 12 picks of the best presents for pet owners and animal lovers alike. Just click on the image and it will take you to the individual Etsy listing.
Martini bowtie red leather dog collar, AU$82.17, by Luxe Mutt.
Portrait of you and your pet, AU$$446.38, by Sarah McNeil.
Custom handpainted wooden pet portrait, AU$29.37, by Zime.
Pink geometric print cat collar, AU$5.87, by That Crazy Cat Lady.
Custom pet dog carved crayon portrait,
AU$70.90, by Carved Crayons.
Crazy Cat Lady cushion cover, AU$34.07, by Zana Products
Eco-friendly cardboard cat scratcher house,
AU$82.71, by Original Catpods.
Personalized dog Christmas ornament, AU$23.43, by Susabellas.
The Algonquin teepee pet bed for cats, AU$135.89, by Tails End.
Personalized handpainted cat portrait pillow,
AU$74.93, by MosMea.
Custom tattooed pet portrait, AU$46, by Sophie Parker.
Navy stripe dog leash, AU$23.63, by Green Bean Dog.
I can’t stop looking at these wreaths. Aren’t they the best thing since… felt ball rugs? There is something about the look of tiny multi-coloured felt balls that is somehow comforting and alluring and nostalgic – all at once. Is it because they look like hundreds and thousands? And they recall memories of yummy, pretty, sticky fairy bread, chocolate freckles, confetti, and children’s birthday parties? Probably.
Whatever the reason, I’ve added felt ball wreaths to my list of “It Decorations” for Christmas 2014. (Move over It Bags, it’s all about “It Decorations” here at Wee Birdy.)
Down That Little Lane stocks a line-up of serious wreath eye-candy by Little Puddles, with a choice of 20 different colour ways. You can find the perfect wreath to match your exact interiors colour palette or Christmas decor.
I love the traditional colours in the “Christmas” wreath, but I’m also drawn to the vivid “rainbow” wreath; and I can see the very pretty “Christmas pastels” wreath working beautifully in a little girl’s room.
Little Puddles creates the wreaths by hand, using hundred of individual feltballs in an glorious mix of colours. The wreaths are created by gluing each felt ball to a foam wreath and adding a deer as a final embellishment. The back of the wreath is flat and doesn’t include a hook, so you can lean it on a shelf or add your own hook.
If you fancy getting crafty for Christmas, Little Puddles has also created a handy DIY wreath and garland kit, which has everything you need to make your own feltball wreath. So there’s no faffing about in craft shops trying to work out what you need – and there is a clear set of instructions.
After something really special for the favourite ladies in your life? Go handcrafted for Christmas this year, and you’ll inspire present envy in all of her friends. Treat her to handmade organic soap, a personalised necklace, or a cheeky cup of ‘wine’.
Here, my top 12 greatest Etsy picks for girls. Just click on each image to buy.
Porcelain ‘cloudy’ dish, AU$25, from Urban Cartel.
‘She Drinks Whiskey From A Teacup’ set of 6 pencils, AU$14, from Miss Poppy Design.
Grandma vegan soap set, AU$23.49, from Right Soap.
Brass Himmeli ornament, AU$23.49, by HRUSKAA.
Cotton/linen cushion,
AU$140.96, by Belinda Marshall Art.
Pink geo earrings, AU$23.49, by A Merry Mishap.
Pink Clay gift set, AU$30.54, by Herbivore Botanicals.
Nourishing face serum, AU$20, by Seventh Tree Soaps.
Wine in a Teacup, AU$65.78, by Yvonne Ellen.
Texture Work 5, AU$47.26, by Little Girl Lies.
Bar necklace, AU$42.54, by Moncadeau.
Coconut triangle stick earrings, AU$30.24, by gtgadabout.
