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

Author Archives: topbird

  1. Five awesome ways to celebrate Bastille Day in Sydney

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    It’s Bastille Day tomorrow and Sydney is celebrating, so grab a baguette, beret, and any other French cliche you can muster and get your French on. Breton top optional.

    1. Have breakfast at Le Petit Creme in Darlinghurst
    Get the day off to a Frenchy start at this bijou Darlinghurst cafe. The legendary Eggs Benedict is rich and creamy and is served on toasted brioche with your choice of ham or salmon. And if you like hot chocolate, I heartily recommend that you request ‘le bol’, which, as you can imagine, arrives in a steaming hot bowl. You may need to loosen the top button on your pants as you waddle off down Darlinghurst Road.
    Le Petit Creme
    118 Darlinghurst Road
    Darlinghurst NSW 2010
    Tel. 02 9361 4738

    2. Head to North Sydney Markets for their Bastille Day celebrations
    The monthly markets will be transformed into a proper marche tomorrow, with live French music, French food and French products in addition to the usual line-up of stalls. The organisers are also on the look-out for the “most fashionably dressed French shopper”.
    North Sydney Markets
    220 Miller Street
    North Sydney
    (Plenty of parking in Ridge Street car park)
    Tel. 9922 2299

    3. Grab a croissant from Saint Germain Patisserie
    Arguably Sydney’s best croissants can be found at this wee patch of Paris in Redfern. The rich flaky buttery crescents of pastry are baked daily by French baker Gwenael “Gwen” Lecampion. Or you could always go for a pains au chocolat. Oh god, I really need to stop writing about French pastries right now.
    Saint Germain Patisserie
    88 Rosehill Street
    (corner Gibbons Street)
    Redfern NSW 2016
    Tel. 02 9319 7161

    4. Buy a French charm bracelet
    If you’re after the gorgeous French friendship bracelets by La Môme Bijou that I featured on Wee Birdy yesterday, you can find them in Sydney at Mr Rose in Paddington. However, I’ve been informed that there are only two pieces left, so run, don’t walk. Mr Rose also stocks scarves by luxe Parisian label Jean-Jacques Rogers, as well as tights and stockings by Cervin Paris and Polder jewellery. Otherwise, head to Tiny Bird in Avalon for the range of necklaces and bracelets by French label Inspirations by La Girafe. Prices start at AU$39.
    Mr Rose
    31 Norfolk Street (corner of Gurner Street)
    Paddington NSW 2021
    T: 02 9368 1423

    Tiny Bird
    Shop 9, 20 Avalon Parade
    Avalon NSW 2107
    Tel. 02 9918 0214

    5. Head to dinner at Sel et Poivre
    Personally, I can’t go past the incredible Creme Brûlée at this old-school French bistro, but by all means, go ahead and have all three courses. There will be live accordion and “bonne humeur” tomorrow to celebrate Bastille Day. Bookings are essential.
    Sel et Poivre
    263 Victoria Street
    Darlinghurst NSW 2010
    Tel. 02 9361 6530

    Header image of My Darling Clementine ‘Paris’ cards via Home Girl London.
    Bastille Day garland Fine Art Photography print by Magalerie’s Etsy shop.

    Are you doing anything to celebrate Bastille Day tomorrow?

    Click here to read about my favourite shops in Paris.

  2. Wee finds: La Môme Bijou bracelets

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    You know what I’d be doing if I was in London today? I’d be making a beeline to Liberty to create a customised friendship bracelet by La Môme Bijou. Isabelle Prat, the founder and designer of the Parisian company will be working in the Jewellery Hall until Saturday as part of Liberty’s Jewellers En Residence program.

    The super-sweet French bracelets come in myriad hues – including a rainbow of neons – and feature rose gold vermeil charms engraved with various slogans such as ”yesterday is history”, “tomorrow is mystery” and “today is a gift”. A bespoke bracelet, using your choice of colour, charm and design is £89, and Isabelle makes it for you while you wait. I’d be running, not walking … but maybe that’s because I’ve been starved of exciting retail events – and unique products – at Australian department stores.

    Liberty
    Great Marlborough Street
    London W1B 5AH
    Tel. 0207 734 1234
    Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
    Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

  3. How to steal Rosanna’s style from Offspring

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    It’s the season finale of Offspring tonight, and since last week’s post about Nina’s apartment proved to be a hit, I thought I’d revisit the popular Aussie TV show one more time.

    As I mentioned last week, Nina Proudman’s wardrobe is the focus of an excellent series of posts by Nikki at Styling You, so I thought I’d have a look at Clare Bowditch’s character, Rosanna, for style inspiration. Like Nina, she’s got a particular uniform that is re-interpreted in every episode, which consists of the following key elements:
    1. Floral fifties-style cross-over tea dress.
    2. Cardigan.
    3. Hoop earrings
    4. Vintage-inspired hair do.

    Clare Bowditch has mentioned in interviews that Rosanna’s wardrobe is not dissimilar to her own, with many frocks by Australian labels Lazy Bones and Easton Pearson. It’s a style that suits her retro aesthetic as well as her curves – and it’s also a look that is totally achievable. Here’s how to steal her style:

    1. Cotton voile Alice dress with a cross-over bust, fitted waist and pleated skirt, AU$129, by Lazy Bones.

    2. Cropped cardigans are key to this look, so make sure it finishes at your waistline. Invest in a classic cashmere cardigan by London label N.Peal – keep an eye out for bargains during sale time. [Updated 22/09/12: the cardigan pictured above has sold out but you can get a similar version by N.Peal here.]

    3. Belem beaded hoop earring, US$4.99 from Urban Outfitters.

    4.  Isharya 18-karat gold-plated onyx ring, £83.33 from Net-a-Porter.

    5. Rosanna wore her hair in victory rolls in one episode. Learn how to create vintage hair dos with Style Me Vintage: Hair: Easy Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Classic Hairstyles by Belinda Hay, US$10.85 from Wee Birdy’s Amazon shop.

    6. Rosanna usually carries a soft unstructured brown leather handbag. Daphne leather bag, AU$249.95 from Witchery.

    7. ASOS LOVE leather ballet flats, AU$59.52 from ASOS.

    8. Dinosaur Designs Wishbone Bangle, AU$55 and Dinosaur Designs Irregular Bangle, AU $75 from The Iconic.

    Click here to read last week’s post about how to recreate the look of Nina’s apartment.

    Do you like Rosanna’s style, too? And what did you think of the season finale?

  4. Birdy pick of the week: Our Garden Birds

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    It’s British, it’s birdy and it’s really rather beautiful – check out Matt Sewell‘s new book, Our Garden Birds: A Bird for Every Week of the Year (£4.50, Amazon). Naturally, I’m excited and delighted for Matt as his popular ‘bird of the week’ blog posts were the genesis for this compilation of his charming watercolours.

    Accompanied by his inimitable observations of each bird’s distinctive character, Sewell has created his own quirky field guide to Britain’s most beloved birds. It would make a marvelous present and it’s gone straight to the top of my wishlist.

    If you like Matt’s work, check out the wooden birds he made exclusively for the V&A here.

  5. Get the look of Nina’s apartment from Offspring

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    Have you been watching Offspring? Are you as obsessed as I am?

    This season has officially got me hooked, and when I’m not angsting about Nina and Patrick’s on-off relationship, I spend quite a bit of time perving at her apartment. (My sister, meanwhile, is obsessed with Nina’s casual-bohemian wardrobe, and if you also want to get her look, I heartily recommend Styling You‘s excellent series of posts, ‘So you want to look like Nina Proudman‘.)

    I adored Nina’s first apartment (which was destroyed by fire in the first episode of season three), especially the extraordinarily beautiful white pressed metal feature wall. I was so taken by it that I hunted down the Melbourne-based manufacturer, Pressed Tin Panels, and bookmarked their site for future dream home renovations.

    This led me to hunt down some of the key pieces from Nina’s new apartment, especially her bedroom, which features quite a few things by independent Australian designers. I love that the stylists and set dressers have sourced many things from Melbourne, which is where the show is set. Way to keep the show real.

    In a tribute to Styling You‘s original Nina posts, here’s how to make Nina Proudman’s bedroom your own:

    1. I love Nina’s lamp on her bedside table, which was a gift from Darcy when she moved into her new flat. It’s made by Melbourne-based design studio Pierre and Charlotte. The bleached and limed Baby Tree Light is AU$630 plus GST and can be ordered via their website.

    2. Nina’s distinctive cushions match the quilt which was custom-made for Offspring by Melbourne-based accessories label Nancy Bird. The Fish Scale cushions are AU$150 each, from Nancy Bird. (Nancy Bird’s other cushion designs also feature on Nina’s couch.)

    3. Nina has a chrome floor lamp on the other side of her bed. Get the look with the Alpha Floor Lamp, $299 from Freedom.

    4. Nina’s room features a French provincial farmhouse-style dresser or buffet. Get the look with the HEMNES chest of eight drawers in white from IKEA, AU$499. For a similar antique French sideboard, check out Sydney’s Country Trader as well as this Cancun white-washed three drawer console table, now AU$499 from Freedom. I also like this gorgeous fishing boat buffer from Rustique, which would also look great in Nina’s apartment.

    5 and 6. I spy some luxe Jo Malone candles and cologne on Nina’s dresser, and I reckon the Wild Fig & Cassis fragrance is very Nina. Jo Malone is available from David Jones stores in Australia. Jo Malone Wild Fig & Cassis home candle, £38 and Wild Fig & Cassis cologne, £76, both from Selfridges.

    7. The distinctive painting over Nina’s bed is by Australian artist Rosetta Santucci.

    8. It looks like Nina has an oak candlestick on her dresser. If you’re after a similar design, look at these French Oak candlesticks, from £110 from Katherine North Design. Otherwise, get the look with the ÅRYD candlestick, AU$17.99 from IKEA.

    9 and 10. It wouldn’t be Nina’s bedroom without an owl. While most of her collection perished in the house fire, it looks like she’s restrained herself in her new apartment with just one small ceramic owl on her dresser. Get the look with this owl ornament, AU$12.95 from Domayne. I also love this image of an Have You Met Miss Jones horn owl lamp, which is also very Nina and features a white pressed metal wall in the background – just like Nina’s old flat.

    11. Here is Nina’s actual quilt which was custom-made for Offspring by Nancy Bird. They’ve since been inundated with requests so they’ve put the digitally-printed design into production. The Fish Scale Queen size quilt cover is available in Queen and King sizes from $650.

    12. Nina’s dresser features a group of plain white pillar candles in various sizes. Get the look with the HEMSJÖ unscented natural block candle, AU$2.99 for a pack of four from IKEA.

    13. I’ve spotted a classic Bentwood chair next to Nina’s bedside table. You can get a replica Thonet No 18 Bentwood timber chair from Matt Blatt for AU$195.

    14. There is an arrangement of various clear glass bottles and carafes on Nina’s dresser. Copy the look with IKEA’s LÖNSAM carafe, AU$2.99 and PS BJUDA Carafe, AU$15.99.

    15. Nina’s dresser also features a white bone china bird on a pedestal. I’m pretty sure it’s by Australian designer Have you met Miss Jones, for AU$24.

    Do you watch Offspring? What’s your favourite thing in Nina’s room?

  6. Checking in

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    Oh, YOU greeting card from Perch Paper Company.

    Sorry about the lack of posts on Wee Birdy recently. I’ve been sick. Mr Birdy’s been sick. Baby Birdy’s been sick. And now I think I’m getting sick again. Gah! It’s really getting a bit boring now. Many of the clothes I’ve been wearing over the past three weeks don’t have waistbands. Or darts. And if there is a waistband, it’s strictly drawstring. Also, I don’t think I’ve worn a bra for three weeks.

    Sweary pencils from The Carbon Crusader.

    In the meantime, I’ve been making a daily appearance on either Instagram (totally addicted), Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. So if you need a quick Wee Birdy fix, come over and say hello. Let me know if you need an invitation for Pinterest. I’m loving the guts out of my Pinterest boards.

    I’ve also been blogging about stuff for kids over on Kidspot. This week I’ve rounded up 12 clever projects to make with small plastic toys. You might also dig the 10 display shelves I found for little toys and figurines, too.


    Type case display shelf from Retro Villa    .

    What’s news with you? Are you on Pinterest or Instagram? And do you also take off your bra as soon as you get home?

  7. Birdy pick of the week: Erdem silk scarf

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    I do love a good scarf and when British fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu turns his attention to a single silk square, the exquisite artistry of his prints can be truly appreciated.

    I personally don’t know whether I’d frame or wear this beautiful piece, but I really love the simultaneous sense of abundance (of flora and fauna) and restraint (of design and colour). The dove grey silk crepe lifts it beyond any sense of chintz – not that you’d find even a whisper of that in Erdem’s sophisticated designs. £225 from Net-a-porter.

  8. Wee Birdy on top of Jubilee parties around the UK

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    I’m tickled red, white and blue to see my Jubilee cake picks on top of many a cupcake, scone, pork pie and Victoria Sponge cake around the UK. Hurrah! Thanks to everyone who sent me a pic: you made me feel like I was part of your long weekend, all the way from Sydney.

    From top, left to right: Owltwit‘s Jubilee scones; The Pastry Tip‘s Jubilee biscuits with icing toppers.
    Second row, left to right: Sewhipfolkie‘s Jubilee spread; North Rock’s cake; Scamp’s festive cupcakes.
    Third row, left to right: North Rock’s pork pies and incredible Jubilee spread with cut-out corgis.
    Fourth row, left to right: Little_Emilou‘s chocolate cupcakes; and TheJenBug‘s cupcakes with Union Jack toppers and bottoms.
    Fifth row, left to right: Pamplemousse’s cupcakes; Monkey and Bo‘s cupcakes; and 30skellum‘s red velvet cupcakes.

    Here’s a round-up of Wee Birdy’s Jubilee blog posts – hope you enjoyed them:
    Click here for a gallery of British street parties from decades past.
    Click here for the best Jubilee shop windows around the UK    .
    Click here for the best non-tat Jubilee souvenirs.
    Click here to download your free Jubilee cupcake toppers and cake banner printables.
    Click here for the best Union Jack souvenirs.
    Click here for my top 10 Jubilee tea-towels.

  9. Wee finds: Street parties from decades past – how Britain celebrated

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    Did you have a street party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee? Did you beat the rain?

    I love this photo of a 1953 street party celebrating the Queen’s coronation in Heriot Hill Terrace, Broughton (via Edinphoto). Look at the party hats! And the line-up of glass bottles with straws in them. I wonder what’s in the parcels wrapped up with string?

    It led me to search for more historic street parties in Britain – there are some real beauties. I’ve assembled my favourite ones in this gallery. Enjoy!

    01_coronation-street-party-1937-394-43

    Wee Birdy is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!

    Click here for the best Jubilee shop windows around the UK.
    Click here for the best non-tat Jubilee souvenirs.
    Click here to download your free Jubilee cupcake toppers and cake banner printables.
    Click here for the best Union Jack souvenirs.
    Click here for my top 10 Jubilee tea-towels.

  10. Wee finds: Jubilee shop windows

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    Happy Jubilee Tuesday! I love the way that Britain’s retailers have fully embraced the pomp and pageantry of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with patriotic window displays. Not a bad retail strategy, actually, considering it’s a golden opportunity to showcase the very best of British products.

    I also adore the very British sense of humour that’s evident in so many window displays – from bunting fashioned out of knickers in Frome to the Queen dressed in a sparkly Union Jack in Hebdin Bridge.

    But no-one else could quite capture the splendour, eccentricity and wit of Selfridges, which outdid itself with its magnificent “Big British Bang” campaign, with each window portraying a typically British scene. The “food of royalty” window features a Pearly King and Queen in an East End caff, while punks take over the “changing of the guard” window. Brilliant.

    I’ve pulled together a gallery of some of the UK’s best Jubilee shop windows. Which one is your favourite?

    01_485725_10150906488287836_47608402835_9739299_420052676_n

    Special thanks to all the Wee Birdy readers who contributed their photos.

    Wee Birdy is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!
    Click here for the best non-tat Jubilee souvenirs.
    Click here to download your free Jubilee cupcake toppers and cake banner printables.
    Click here for the best Union Jack souvenirs.
    Click here for my top 10 Jubilee tea-towels.

  11. A week of Aussie Etsy: Storybook Rabbit

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    Etsy shop: Storybook Rabbit.
    Who: Kelly, a Sydney-based illustrator who lives with Juno the bunny “in a little house filled with tiny ceramic animals, brightly coloured dresses, vintage treasures and rabbit-chewed furniture.”
    What: Re-worked vintage plates with decals of Kelly’s ridiculously cute animal illustration – think Hipster bunnies in peter-pan collars, baby deer in party hats and French bulldogs in Breton stripes.
    Best Buys: Little Shy Bunnies vintage plate, Lovely little hipsters on green ’70s floral plate as well as handy plate hangers and stands.
    How much: A baby pug vintage plate starts at US$27.
    Read more: Storybook Rabbit’s blog and Facebook.

  12. 17 of the best non-tat Jubilee souvenirs

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    Happy Jubilee Monday, British birdies!

    How has the Jubilee long weekend treated you so far?

    The Thames river pageant screened on Australian telly at 10.30pm last night. I didn’t get to bed ’til 3.30am. But I loved watching every second of it, and the sight of that poor choir singing in the pouring rain while the royals restrained themselves from launching into a jig was British eccentricity at its best.

    I thought the Queen looked fabulous in her white coat and matching hat – and how incredibly appropriate was her sparkling diamond Jardine brooch? Apparently it’s one of her favourites. And Kate looked wonderful in scarlet Alexander McQueen. I rather liked Pippa’s ’60s-inspired Orla Kiely jacket and skirt, too.

    As most of you already know, I’ve got a ‘thing’ for fabulous design-led London souvenirs. So the Jubilee has left me positively swooning for Cool Britannia.

    I’ve spent the last few weeks curating the best Jubilee souvenirs – and I’ve whittled it down to a top 17. There were many pieces that sold out – some many times over – like the Queen jelly mould, a YSL compact embellished with a crystal Union Jack and several beautiful Jubilee-themed Liberty scarves. So if you want something special to commemorate the Queen and the best of British, don’t hang about. They’re going faster than a stack of £1.99 umbrellas on a British summer day.

    finecellworkjubilee_crown_blue


    What’s your favourite Jubilee souvenir?

    Wee Birdy is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!
    Click here to download your free Jubilee cupcake topper and cake banner printables.
    Click here for the best Union Jack souvenirs.
    Click here for my top 10 Jubilee tea-towels.

    Top image via Selfridges.

  13. A week of Aussie Etsy: Draw Pilgrim

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    Etsy shop: Draw Pilgrim.
    Who: Pilgrim Lee, a Melbourne-based graphic artist who loves the design and style of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
    What: A collection of bright and bold decorative children’s prints which are evocative of vintage picture books, wallpaper, décor and toys. There is also a range of tote bags, badges and cards.
    Best buys: Alphabet poster print; Ahoy art print; and ‘Little Girls Made Of’ art poster.
    How much: The Ahoy art print (above) costs AU$15.
    Read more: Pilgrim’s blog and Twitter.

    It’s a Week of Aussie Etsy on Wee Birdy, in celebration of Etsy Success Sydney on Saturday. Click here for more Australian Etsy goodness.Do you have a favourite Aussie Etsy shop? Or are you an Australian Etsy seller? Tell me all about it below in the comments!

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