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

Author Archives: topbird

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

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    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.

  2. Frock on Friday

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    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.

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

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    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.

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

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    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

  5. A wee birdy week – in pictures

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    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. 

  6. Frock on Friday

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    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.

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

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    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.

  8. New Zealand finds: Paris House

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    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.

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

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    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.

  11. Wee find: Make me Iconic’s Melbourne tram and Sydney ferry toys

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    Do you like shopping at the airport? I’ve always enjoyed that sense of freedom after I’ve checked in my luggage and found myself with a spare hour or two to fill. I’ve never been a big spender at airports, apart from the requisite survival items (water, sweets, magazines) for the flight. But at Sydney Airport recently I couldn’t help noticing the dismal offerings of Australian-themed toys for children.

    So I thought a round-up of the best Aussie toys would be a great blog post for Kidspot, but what I didn’t count on was finding it so hard to scrape together a top 10 line-up. Apart from the usual mass-produced plush koala and kangaroo suspects, it seems that very few local designers are keen to fly the Aussie flag when it comes to making quality toys for kids. And I’m not quite sure how this has happened, apart from the cultural cringe that continues to pervade our culture on so many levels.

    However I’ve noticed some renewed interest in Australiana, especially in homewares, textiles and design, with a nostalgic trend for retro Australiana alongside new interpretations. Hopefully the trend continues and sparks some fresh and fun ideas for children’s toys. I’d love to see some creative Aussie-themed toy designed and made in Australia. Surely this isn’t too much to ask. Australian up-and-coming designers, are you listening?

    Leading the way in innovative and clever Australian-themed toys is Melbourne design studio Make me Iconic. Their beautiful wooden Sydney ferry and Melbourne trams sets are the Australian answer to London’s red double decker bus, and the superb attention to detail and potential for hours of imaginative play make them the kind of keepsake toy you imagine your kids handing down to their children. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re particularly easy on the eye, providing a splendid antidote to all the plastic crap that children seem to naturally attract.

    Make me Iconic‘s wooden toy sets are designed in Melbourne by a proper old-school toy maker and are ethically made in China using non-toxic materials. The Sydney ferry is painted with authentic colours based on the First Fleet Sydney Ferry, and comes with eight wooden passengers and two sailors. There are wheels on the bottom for ease of play and the lid comes of the top and second deck, with access to all the passengers and the sailors’ cabins. The tram, meanwhile, is based on the iconic W-class Melbourne tram, and comes with 12 wooden passengers and two conductors. Like the ferry, there are wheels on the bottom and the lid can be removed so children can play with the people in their cabins. The ferry is AU$95 and the tram is AU$90 and both are toys are available from Lark.

    They have also produced a ‘munchies’ wooden puzzle, featuring all the great and “unsung” icons of Australian food. From vegemite on toast to fairy bread and pavlova, the puzzle is a playful way to teach your kids about Aussie food. It’s $30 from Lark.
    www.makemeiconic.com.au

    Click here to see what other Aussie-themed toys made my top 10 list on Kidspot.

    Have you seen any other cool Aussie-themed toys?

  12. Frock on Friday: the New Zealand edition

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    Welcome to a brand new regular feature on Wee Birdy: Frock on Friday.

    I guess you could call me a frock girl. Until the birth of my first child, a classic frock was my go-to wardrobe essential for achieving an instant pulled-together look, especially during Australian summers. I love the simplicity of throwing on a frock, slipping into sandals and just GOING – with no tricky separates to assemble or layer.

    But when I started breastfeeding I realised that ripping off a dress and sitting semi-naked in the middle of a shopping centre wasn’t feasible, so I had to re-think pants and tops and skirts. It’s only been the last few months that I’ve started to look at frocks again with brand new eyes (and a larger waistline, ahem).

    I’ll be welcoming in the weekend with my pick of the best frocks around, and I thought I’d kick things off with one of my favourite New Zealand designers, Karen Walker. The dress above is from her new Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which is in-store and online now. The Bow Tie  Renaissance dress is NZ$750 and features signature Karen Walker details such as bows, quirky prints and ruffles and pleats.

    The inspiration for this collection was Jules Verne’s 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, “mixed with the decor­ative flourish of the Victorian age and a dash of Brian Jones-esque ’60s mod”. Quite. This is apparent in the brocade-look of the fabric, which is actually printed taffeta.

    Now, my single-income family budget doesn’t stretch to $750 frocks, but I try to keep an eye on Karen Walker’s mainline collection on eBay, and I look to her diffusion line, Hi There, at sales time. I just wish that designers’ diffusion lines weren’t automatically ‘younger’ versions of the main collection. Some more mature styles inspired by the main collection would be a welcome move for cash-strapped ladies aged 35-plus. I’ve also found that you get to a certain age (and bust size) where you can’t pull off a ruffled bib-front anymore. Know what I mean?

    New pieces from the spring/summer Hi There collection have just started to drop in-store and online over the past week. Here’s my favourite frock from the diffusion line:

    (I don’t want to come across as a wowser but this frock would be PERFECT if it was two inches longer. I think I’d be pulling at the hemline all day, willing it to lengthen.) Hi There Margo dress, NZ$215 from Karen Walker.

    What do you think of Frock on Friday? Is it a keeper?

  13. Wee Birdy in New Zealand: The General Store, Christchurch

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    The General Store in Christchurch was one of the shops that was relocated due to the earthquake last year, and can now be found in the Re:Start village of unique shipping container shops on Cashel Street. It’s a cheery design-led gift shop and is one of the best places in Christchurch to pick up some really lovely Kiwi souvenirs. Take the little wooden ‘Keko’ Kiwi pull-along toy, for instance (see above) and the all-natural Honey Sticks beeswax crayons. Both gorgeous products are made and designed in New Zealand, along with the Owl and the Pussycat art cube by Wellington artist Ellen Giggenbach. Great presents to take home for children!

    Along with children’s toys and gifts, The General Store also stocks a range of homewares, jewellery, art prints, books and stationery. There is also a good representation of international designers, including art tea-towels by Third Drawer Down, ceramics by Rob Ryan and novelties by Suck UK.

    But it’s the the retro Kiwiana that caught my eye here, such as the The Longest Drink in Town giraffe milkshake cup; plastic Tiki charms and miniature Wahine and Warrior dolls. Other highlights include the Swedish Klippan throw blankets made with New Zealand wool; Native tui tea-towels by New Zealand textile designer Ingrid Anderson; and appliqued New Zealand-themed cushions made with vintage blankets.

    The General Store
    Re:Start
    Cashel Street
    City Mall
    Christchurch
    Tel. 03 365 9950

    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.

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