Have you seen the hilarious genius that is Portlandia yet? I only recently discovered it, thanks to my former Time Out London boss who had an inkling that I might get a kick out of this clip.
You absolutely have to watch this. Go on. Click to play.
What can I say? Put a bird on it.
(and thanks, Dan!)
Is anyone celebrating Valentine’s Day today? To be honest, I don’t actually know anyone who’s marking the occasion. I’ve spent the day putting together a mega 5×5 IKEA Expedit book shelf in our kitchen, filling it with all my stuff, and trying to catch my almost-one-year-old son’s urine in a specimen jar. Ahem. Moving along…
I like old-school conversation sweet hearts. I really do. I love the powdery pastel hues, the bleeding red font and the frisky phrases. So I’ve rounded up some clever and rather lovely little things that are inspired by this sentimental sweet. Best of all, you can dig them out and bestow upon your sweetheart at ANY time of the year. Who needs Feb 14?
Top row, from left to right:
Ceramic heart studs, AU$18 from Follow Store.
Union pillowcases, £22, from Twisted Twee.
Valentine Conversation Heart cookies from Linda’s Edible Art Etsy shop.
Second row, from left to right:
Conversation Heart personalised stamps, US$10 for a set of three, from Cupcake Tree’s Etsy shop.
Valentine’s Sweethearts Card, US$4 by Rifle Paper Co.
Conversation heart seals, US$8.25 by K is for Calligraphy’s Etsy shop.
I know we’re only six weeks into 2012, but surely Rin and Joe’s joyful backyard nuptials take the (rainbow) cake for Wedding of the Year. The Melbourne couple got married in a heartfelt celebration of love on the weekend, and featured the most incredible array of original handmade details. Of course, I would have expected nothing less – after all, the Mum of the Bride is Australia’s Queen of Crafts, Pip Lincolne, of Meet me at Mike‘s fame.
The beautiful day was the result of the most creative of team efforts – head over to Pip’s blog to read all about Rin and Joe’s dream team. I especially adore the old-school cake table, which featured an array of retro children’s cakes from the original Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, as well as the magnificent rainbow wedding cake (and not just because one of my mates helped make it!).
Such a super-sweet couple, right?
For more drool-worthy wedding goodness, take a peek at the full gallery by photographer Eric Ronald, and read the full story at Meet me at Mike’s.
I’m back with more wee tokens of love for February 14 – or any time of the year, really…
Top row, from left to right:
Karin Akesson ‘Love is all you need’ print, £20 from A Little Bit of Art.
Blanca Gomez ‘Enamorado’ temporary tattoo, US$5, from Tattly.
I Heart U hankie in red by Mr PS, £5 from Mr PS.
Second row, from left to right:
Prints Charming tights in Queen of Hearts, US$25 from Yes Natalie’s Etsy shop.
‘You’re all sorts of lovely’ tea towel, US$20 from Able and Game’s Etsy shop.
The Heart tenor ukulele, made to order, US$520, from Celentano Woodworks’ Etsy shop.
Third row, from left to right:
Mini Heartlette Crown, US$40, by Giant Dwarf’s Etsy shop.
Letterpress ‘love u’ die cut card, US$4, by Blackbird Letterpress.
Set of 20 ‘You’re All Sorts of Lovely’ notecards, US$22, from Able and Game’s Etsy shop.
Fourth row, from left to right:
Love brooch by Gemma Jones, US$29, from Paintergirl’s Etsy shop.
Valentine’s Day pack of 10 postcards, US$10, from Rifle Paper Co.
Limited edition ‘Love you the longest of time’ print, AU$45, from Bespoke Press.
You know how Withnail went on holiday by mistake? Well I’ve gone to town on Valentine’s Day – by mistake. I didn’t mean to find so many lovely things. But I did, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to share them with you over the next few days.
So if Valentine’s Day makes you want to vom a little bit, may I suggest that you view my sweet tokens of love as just that – little things that make me smile, and may in fact make the object of your affection (or best mate) smile a little bit, too. Otherwise just close your eyes, grit your teeth, and it will all be over soon.
Top row, from left to right:
Yeti Time letterpress card, US$4.50, by Hello!Lucky.
LOVE GIRL gocco print by Gemma Jones, US$29 from Paintergirl’s Etsy shop.
Mint Arrow Valentine paper-cut note card, US$5 by Ashley Pahl.
Second row, from left to right:
Punchline ‘Kisses’ card, AU$4.50 from Upon a Fold.
1/100 Paper Model Set No.11 Cherry Blossom by Terada Mokei, AU$23.95 from Upon a fold.
Letterpress Valentine Bear Hug card, US$6 by Blackbird Letterpress.
Third row, from left to right:
Cross my heart yoyo in blush pink, US$12 by Something’s Hiding in Here.
‘You’re just peaches and cream’ letterpress card, AU$6, from Bespoke Press.
Enamored pencil set, US$11 from Paper Pastries.
Surely Houston-based ceramicist Carole Smith of McCheek’s Mayhem made these delightful ‘Bird Nerd’ tea cup and saucer sets with me in mind? The self-confessed bird nerd (tick) apparently ‘likes to look at pictures of wee birdies’ (tick, tick) and clearly loves a good cuppa from a fancy cup (tick, tick, tick). The mostly vintage decals and lettering are put through three firings in the kiln, so the results are permanent (though you should probably wash them gently by hand).
Bird Nerd Teacup and Saucer Set, US$45, from McCheek’s Mayhem’s Etsy shop.
Tweet Ceramic Mug, US$28, from McCheek’s Mayhem’s Etsy shop.
I was super-chuffed when one of my favourite Aussie websites, The Hoopla, wanted to interview me for their Top Bloggers series.
Have you had a look at The Hoopla yet? I’m a wee bit hooked – it’s a newsy/magazine-y online site for “wise, warm, witty and wonderful women”. It’s got a great line-up of smart women behind it (Wendy Harmer, Jane Waterhouse, Caroline Roessler and Donna Kilby) and I’m looking forward to watching it go absolutely gang-busters this year.
In the interview I talk about the business of blogging – starting out, finding readers, dealing with negative feedback and making money (and if you’re wondering, I’m wearing rubber gloves and holding a piece of old bone. Don’t ask). Click here to read the story.
Hello, 2012! You’re looking rather fresh and wet behind the (y)ears.
Wishing you all a glorious 2012 filled with good health, good cheer and much happiness.
love Wee Birdy xxx
As Christmas day draws to a close here in Sydney, I’d like to wish all my wonderful, beautiful readers around the world the most joyous of Christmas days. Thank you for visiting me here at Wee Birdy and welcoming me back so warmly after my big baby break. Your comments, emails and tweets have cheered me immensely and I’ve loved sharing my stories and wee finds with you all.
I’m still in a bit of a nostalgic mood so I thought I’d post a picture of my mum from 1960. It’s one of the first photos my dad took of her at home. I love the big, bushy Aussie Christmas tree (plucked from the bush, no doubt) with its humble decorations and balloons.
Happy Christmas, one and all. I’ll be back very soon to update you on the festive eating and the drinking, and no doubt, the decorating. But for now I’m going to put my feet up, enjoy a glass of bubbly and start on that pile of new Christmas reading. Delicious! Hope you’ve had a good one, too. xx
I found some old family photos while I was visiting mum this week. Check out this photo of her with my brother and sister from Christmas 1965. I love her high bun and frilly dressing gown. And my brother’s pale blue overalls. The burnt orange chairs are pretty good, too.
Here’s my hipster dad with my brother and sister in England. How cool is his intarsia jumper? Someone’s probably wandering around Dalston in it right now.
I LOVE the awkward Santa photo on the left from 1967. Everybody’s kinda wigging out. I don’t know what I adore more: my mum’s polka-dot frock with Peter Pan collar and matching trim around the sleeves or the perky little pink bow on her head.
That’s my first Santa photo at David Jones in ’74 (with my brother and sister, top right). You can tell it’s the ’70s, from my brother’s flares and my sister’s long frock to the beaded curtain in the background. By ’77 I’m rocking a patchwork Holly Hobby dress and Santa’s chair has been replaced with a big white cane peacock number.
Santa’s a bit different these days. We took Harry to David Jones’ Elizabeth Street store because we’ve always had Santa photos at DJs. We were led to a tiny little broom closet behind a sliding door that had about as much charm as a dodgy dentist’s waiting room. Santa was at one end in front of a fan (I do feel sorry for Aussie Santas in those suits) and the photographer at the other end. We handed Harry over, the photo was promptly taken, and then we picked the best pic off the Mac. There was no ho-ho-ho-ing and we weren’t allowed out until some kids had cleared the corridor lest they discover there was actually a production line of multiple Santas.
The other thing I noticed? No-one will ever have an awkward Santa photo again. Digital photography takes care of that courtesy of the delete button. No more hysterical toddlers, no more babies pulling on Santa’s beard, no more mums looking strained and no more dopey mid-blink stares. Which is a bit of a shame, really.
How are you going with your Christmas preparations? Have you got an awkward Santa photo, too?
It’s been a busy week here at the Wee Birdy nest. I’ve been reading my favourite childhood Christmas books to Harry (can you spot the Raymond Briggs and Dick Bruna?), putting the finishing touches on the tree and decorating the house with Australian summer flowers (the brilliant red blossoms of the Flowering Gum and Christmas Bush look a treat in my vintage Bitossi and Holmegaard vases). Then there has been all the festive eating: my Mum’s stained glass Christmas Cake, the zingiest pineapple, lemon and mint frappe from Cafe Mint in Surry Hills, and a special Christmas afternoon tea at Patisse (the very pretty Bouche de Noel was decorated with fresh flowers and tiny red meringue mushrooms).
What’s been happening at your place? Are you ready for Christmas?
Hurrah for Aussie Home Beautiful! Wee Birdy scored a lovely mention in their rather gorgeous January 2012 issue, which is on sale now. Here’s what they had to say (hello to Mr Bazaar, too!):
The January issue is packed with beautiful rooms and inspirational homes, including an excellent feature on current interiors trends. Have a look at their vibrant take on the neon trend (below).
The embroidered felt and linen artwork by Rachel Castle works a treat in this room, and I love the hand-stitched ‘Kantha’ quilt sitting on the orange Eames chair (from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald). I’ve also got my eye on the beautiful Vitra ‘Albula’ oak coffee table. While I adore my ’60s Parker coffee table there’s no denying the beauty of Vitra’s soft organic form and the pop of Scandi-style freshness from the white-on-oak tabletop. Absolutely covetable.
We’ve got balls! Oh yes indeedy we do, and they’re pretty boozy, too. These delightful likkle bits of heaven are courtesy of my blog pal Likkle Girl, who is a bit of a clever bird in the kitchen. She was one of the earliest readers of Wee Birdy back in ye olde blogging days of 2007, and she’s a damn fine blogger, too. Go on and have a sticky, you’ll fall in love with her life, I promise.
I like this recipe because it up-cycles leftover bits of Christmas pudding. Which, let’s face it, isn’t always everyone’s cuppa tea. And it’s pretty easy, too! Anyway, over to Likkle Girl…
Rummy Balls
~ The post-Christmas turkey sandwich of the leftover-Christmas-pudding world. However, if you have a slot free on your long holiday season to-do list, I think they will make delicious stocking stuffers and canapés/petits fours at your Christmas lunch or dinner. ~
What you’ll need:
For the balls:
400g Christmas pudding
50g hazelnut meal (or almond meal)
50g dried cranberries (sour cherries are good too!)
50g lightly toasted slivered almonds (or your favourite nut(s) – chopped them up if they come whole)
50ml rum (a dark one!)
50g melted chocolate (preferably couverture chocolate instead of compound – it really makes a difference)
For coating:
300g melted chocolate (the quantity is a guess-timation because I usually just melt a whole load of chocolate for coating other things too and couverture again, if you can)
300g lightly toasted chopped nuts (I like pistachios because the green is so Christmas-y. Long coconut threads are pretty too. The most fuss-free finish would be a generous dusting of Dutch cocoa powder.)
Let’s get started:
1. Lightly toast all the nuts (coconut threads too, if you’re using them) in the oven. Don’t burn them!
2. In a large mixing bowl, break the Christmas pudding into small bits. Add hazelnut meal, cranberries, almond, rum and melted chocolate. Give them all a good mix with your hands.
3. Now, the balling fun begins! Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Take a small amount of the mix (some people like their balls a petite bite-size while some like hefty ones…you make them how you like them) and roll it into a tight ball. Place on tray and continue until you’ve used up all the mix.
4. Plonk tray of balls into fridge while you melt the chocolate for coating.
5. Place chopped nuts (or coconut threads or cocoa powder) in a deep baking tray.
6. Remove rummy balls from fridge, coat them with melted chocolate and place them in tray of chopped nuts/coconut threads/cocoa powder and roll them around to ensure an even coating.
7. Place fully-coated balls back on the first tray and back to the fridge they go until chocolate is firmly set (doesn’t take long). Store in airtight containers. You now have yummy rummy balls to give away or serve at parties. YAY!
I hope you’ll have fun making them!
Thanks Likkle Girl. If you’re in Sydney, you MUST order some of Likkle Girl’s incredible hand-crafted chocolate truffles. She’s got a wee business called Your Local Dealer. I’ve got a serious addiction to the Almond Crunch Chocolate Truffles. Oh my. Creamy gooey chocolate ganache spiked with handmade crunchy almond praline. You’ll be coming back for seconds, I promise.
