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

Author Archives: topbird

  1. Christmas gift guide: presents for men (the Australian edition)

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    It’s not too late to get your menfolk something cool for Christmas!

    1. Sky Blue 1/8 inch gingham tie, US$41.90 from Marcello Menswear’s Etsy shop (order by 19 December for free express post delivery within Australia).

    2. La Sardina Cubic with flash, AU$150 from Lomography.

    3. Urbanears plattan headphones in mustard, AU$99.95 from Notemaker.

    4. Tattoo Parlour: Artists from the World of Tattoo by Martin McIntosh and Gemma Jones (Overseas Customers: hardcover US$65 + US$30 shipping; softcover US$39 + US$1 shipping Australian Customers: hardcover AU$65 + AU$15 shipping; softcover AU$30 + AU$7.50 shipping) from Outre Gallery. Shipping has closed for Christmas delivery, but you can buy this book in store at Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

    5. Field Notes ‘County Fair’ Limited Edition notebooks, AU$12.95, from Notemaker.

    6. Navy document wallet, AU$125 from Elk Accessories.

    7. Hanno the Gorilla, NZ$159 from Simon James Design.

    8. Silencer signed and numbered framed print by Niagara (limited edition six color hand pulled serigraph print),  AU$290 from Outre Gallery. Shipping has closed for Christmas delivery, but you can buy this book in store at Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

    9. Leaf print boardie, AU$69.95 from Country Road.

    For more present ideas, you might like to look at last year’s gift guide.

    Or check out my Amazon book shops (click here for my U.S. Amazon store or click here for my U.K. Amazon store).

  2. Christmas gift guide: presents for birdy lovers

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    Bird is still the word for presents this Christmas. Here are my top birdy picks:

    1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Petal to Metal across–body pouchette, £165 from Selfridges.
    Click here to buy.
    2. Songbirds wooden mobile by Berit Lüdecke and Kerstin Reilemann, £40 from Howkapow.
    3. Rob Ryan pink folklore bird plate, £11 from Liberty. Click here to buy.
    4. Alex Monroe flowery bird loop necklace, £120, from Liberty. Click here to buy.
    5.  Silken Favours bounteous birds silk scarf, £135 from Liberty. Click here to buy.
    6. Bird On A Tree Kit, £45 from the V&A Shop.
    7. Black bird bookmark by Hung Min Chen, £4.95 from Howkapow.
    8. ‘A Charm Of Finches’ print, £79 from Culture Label.
    9. Birds puzzle, £12.75, from Muji.

    Want more present ideas? Click here for last year’s gift guide.
    Have you got this year’s Christmas Crackers? Here are my Top 20.
    Check out the Wee Birdy Amazon shop for more present ideas. Click here to go to my UK Amazon shop. Click here to go to my US Amazon shop.

    * Support Wee Birdy! The ‘Click here to Buy’ links are affiliate sales, so I will make a small percentage from each product sold.

  3. Birdy pick of the week: Lesley Barnes wrapping paper

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    I think we have a winner for Best Christmas Wrapping Paper of the Year! Incredibly beautiful stylised birds! Carrying letters and parcels! By air mail! Amazeballs! (Dear Father Christmas, please wrap all my presents in this wrapping paper. K THX BAI!)

    This fantastical illustrated design by Lesley Barnes is a mere snip at £1.50 from Soma Gallery. I have a lot more to say about this genius Scottish illustrator/animator before the year is out, mark my words. Just consider this a sneak preview…

  4. Wee Christmas finds: Upon a Fold cards

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    Have you discovered Sydney-based online shop Upon a Fold yet?

    It’s like a cabinet of curiosities for all things folded (ie. paper and fabric), and the immaculately curated online shop sources all manner of rare papery delights. Right now there is a wonderful collection of Christmas cards and wrap, including the exquisite deer papercut cards by Japanese artist, Ayame Kikuc (top). Each card, AU$14 is carefully handmade and the fanciful antlers portray the changing seasons.

    Then there is the hand-dyed Christmas-themed cotton tenugui, AU$27.50 by Kyoto-based artist Mihoko Seki. It would make a wonderful wrap for an extra-special present – and a bonus table runner/wall hanging!

    I’ve also got my eye on these charmingly-illustrated gift tags by the US-based Rifle Paper Co. They are AU$12.95 for a pack of 10.

    And these miniature Christmas paper pockets were inspired by early 1950s Japanese Chiyogami patterns, and are perfect for tiny presents. They are AU$6.90 for a set of five.

    But it’s not all gift wrap and greetings cards – Upon a Fold is also a wonderful online source for unique presents for design-minded folk. Think paper vases, miniature paper models and pop-up coasters. Tricky Christmas presents sorted!

  5. Wee Christmas finds: Fortnum & Mason decorations

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    Every Christmas brings a proliferation of London-themed Christmas decorations, so you’d think it would be difficult to find something new – and a bit special. But this handsome collection of hand-stitched fabric ornaments by Fortnum & Mason is really rather splendid.

    Some might shudder at the notion of a department store-themed ornament, but I like to think that the historic Fortnums is a wee bit different and deserving of special treatment.

    Like many other Londoners, a trip to F&M in December was one of my most memorable Christmas traditions. There were the Christmas windows to be gawked at, Christmas crackers to be admired, and presents to be bought and posted to Australia (the tea and biscuits inevitably picked over by Customs). There were also essential Christmas supplies to stock up on: the creamy ceramic pot of Stilton, the most perfect clementines (individually wrapped in squares of tissue paper) and traditional mince pies.

    These London – and Fortnums – icons (there is the historic clock, shopfront facade, Christmas hamper and tea caddy, as well as the ubiquitous red telephone box, black taxi and red bus) are decorated with gold braid, the F&M logo and Union Jacks. Sadly, no Potted Stilton ornament! They are priced from £12 from Fortnum & Mason.

    Fortnum & Mason
    181 Piccadilly
    London W1
    Tel. 0845 300 1707
    Nearest tubes: Piccadilly and Green Park
    Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

    Opening hours:
    Monday to Saturday 10am-8pm
    Sunday 12Noon-6pm
    Click here for Christmas opening hours.

    By the way, if you’re interested, here are Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas windows this year. It’s a theatrical theme (very West End London) and was apparently inspired by the Pet Shop Boys’ video for ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This’.

    http://youtu.be/go-YnPVg5Lo

    What do you think? Who do you think has done the best Christmas windows this year in London?

  6. Wee Christmas finds: Papermash cards, stamps and tape

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    London-based online store Papermash is one of my favourite online sources for design-y stationery and decorations, and they’ve done a superb job lining up some really lovely greeting cards, gift wrap and other stationery goodies for Christmas this year. I’ve been admiring the retro-inspired honeycomb pop-up card with the woodland deer scene inside (above, left, £5) and the Rifle Paper Co Night Before Christmas postcards (above, right, £10 for a set of 10).

    There are also two very sweet stamp sets (mistletoe and pinecones, £9.99) for those who would like to make their own Christmas cards, tags and wrapping paper.

    Decorative tapes have emerged as a bit of wrapping trend this Christmas, and Papermash have sourced two of the wittiest and prettiest: Christmas knit tape (left, £4) and gold snowflake masking tape (right, £3.50). Be quick though – the last posting date for Christmas is 12 December (Western Europe only).

  7. Wee Christmas finds: Erzgebirge decorations

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    I do love my glittering vintage ornaments at Christmas, but there is no denying the naive charm and simplicity of these traditional hand-carved and hand-painted German decorations.

    The miniature wooden decorations are made in the Erzgebirge region of Southern Germany, which is renowned for its traditional woodcarvings and woodwork.

    Each set of decorations comes with its own wooden box for safe storage, and are priced from £17.50 from Theo.

  8. Wee find: Castle and Gorman summer collaboration

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    You know that giddiness you get when two beloved creatives (designers/musicians/artists/brands) get together and make something new and beautiful together? I’m thinking Liberty and Hello Kitty (genius AND unexpected). Tatty Devine and Rob Ryan (East London quirky AND romantic). Marni and H&M (dear GOD I’m going to have to camp overnight, aren’t I?).

    A littler closer to home, Sydney designer Rachel Castle has collaborated with Melbourne-based fashion label Gorman for a limited-edition summer collection of fashion and homewares. I first admired Castle from afar when I was living in London and coveted the sunny range of polka-dot bed linen. As soon as I was back in Sydney I bought four yellow polka-dot pillowslips for our new home.

    But I go a little further back with Gorman, and first started wearing the fledgling label around 12 years ago when I was living in Melbourne. I admired the subtle retro sensibility, quality fabrics and new seasonal prints. Since then, the brand has grown and now has boutiques dotted around Australia.

    Their collaborative summer collection is fresh, frisky and very Australian (there is a touch of ’80s Ken Done in the colour palette), with a kind of shouty simplicity. Castle’s distinctive hand-drawn lettering, punctuated with pops of neon, features throughout the mostly organic cotton range of simple skirts, shirts, t-shirts, bags, towels and pillowcases. I love the ‘Put the love in the coconut’ beach towel, AU$79, which would make a rather brilliant Christmas present.

    The homewares and limited edition embroidered artworks are currently available from Castle’s online shop, and the fashion collection is available from Gorman stores Australia wide.

  9. Birdy pick of the week: Candy Stripe Cloud Christmas decorations

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    These Scandi-style Christmas decorations are the rather charming result of a collaboration between Australian illustrator Andrea Smith and Candy Stripe Cloud. There is a menagerie of animal decorations to choose from (including a sweet mouse and handsome fox), and they are also available in white and wood. You can also custom-design your own decoration.
    Red pear bird     decoration and red bird on a bon-bon, AU$12.95 each, from Candy Stripe Cloud.

  10. Top 10 Clever DIY Christmas presents: Part 2

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    ‘Tis the season to get crafty. Or something like that. It’s December 4, so there are still 20 days to make your own presents. Plenty of time, right?

    Did you catch Part 1 in this series? Have a read of it here. I found so many clever ideas on my Pinterest boards that I had to split my top 20 over two blog posts. So here are another ten totally genius, fairly thrifty and completely do-able projects…

    p.s. Pom-pom progress report
    Remember my pom-pom project? I’m making them to decorate my presents this year. So far I’ve made 6 pom-poms. Another 30-odd to go. I think I need fatter yarn. Or faster fingers.)

    1. Woven metal bracelet (see top) by Julia Petit.

    2. Hot Air Balloon Mobile (top) by Brown Accents.

    3. DIY crafty book binder by Poppytalk.


    4. Fabric-wrapped coathangers by Corrieberry Pie (OK, some of you may think this is naff, but I would absolutely adore getting a bundle of these in different Liberty print fabrics. Am I the only one? And it looks so easy, too! Tell me if you think I’m nuts.)


    5. DIY Pom Pom Necklace by Honesty WTF.


    6. Scrappy lampshade tutorial by The Pleated Poppy.


    7. Silhouette mason jars by Lauren Elise Crafted.

    8. Floral fabric-covered suitcases by A Beautiful Mess (and yes, I do think they would look superb covered in Liberty print fabric.)

    9. Peter Pan collar by Honestly WTF (do you follow this blog? It’s brilliant).


    Holiday mat by A Beautiful Mess (another Wee Birdy blog favourite).

    All photography courtesy of the original blogger/designer/maker. Thank you to all the very clever people behind these projects.

    What do you reckon? See anything you fancy making? How are your DIY Christmas projects going?

  11. Wee Christmas finds: Have you met Miss Jones

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    Have you met Miss Jones is the quirky name behind a Sydney-based design studio which specialises in the most delightful bone china ornaments. I’ve been meaning to write about the collection of white bone china vases and decorations for a while now. A lot of the genius and beauty comes from everyday items (like buttons or keys) rendered in delicate white bone china, but I’m also quite taken by the Nouveau-inspired pineapple box as well as the extensive collection of adorable animals. And yes, there are lots of birds.

    This year’s Christmas collection is rather extensive, and includes all manner of woodland animals, as well as stars, hearts, snowflakes, feathers and fruit. The ornaments add a touch of sophistication to the Christmas tree (imagine an all-white Christmas tree with these feathers) but they also make wonderful decorations tied to the top of parcels.

    The range of woodland animals look magical grouped together on a mantel or shelf, and the collection of votives (like these skyscrapers) are beautiful as glowing Christmas decorations. Prices start at around $18 and can be purchased from the online shop as well as from a range of Australian stockists.

  12. Join Wee Birdy on Facebook

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    Have you had a peek at my Facebook page? Head over there now and have a look around – I’ve been busy updating it with all the sample sales and Christmas shopping markets, pop-ups and events in both Sydney and London. I’ve also been known to post my latest pics while I’m out and about in Sydney.

    If you’re interested and don’t want to miss out on the latest sales and events, you might want to “like” my Facebook page so you get all of my updates in your Facebook news feed. Nice, right?

    In the meantime, here’s the Wee Birdy digest on what’s happening this weekend. Head over to my Facebook page for future updates and all the details:

    LONDON:

    My Asho Christmas pop-up boutique in Notting Hill.

    Donna Wilson Sample Sale in East London.

    The Social Christmas Market in Little Portland Street.

    Shelf Pop-up Shop in Boundary Street, E2.

    Clarence Mews Open Studios in East London.

    East London Design Show in East London.

    SYDNEY:

    Finders Keepers Christmas Market at Carriageworks.

    Dion Lee warehouse sale in Darlinghurst.

    Lover sample sale in Paddington.

    Akira Isogawa studio sale in Marrickville.

    Manning Cartell studio sale in Marrickville.

    For further details and more events, join Wee Birdy on Facebook.

  13. Free! Wee Birdy Christmas gift tags 2011

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    Happy December the first! We’ve designed some new Christmas gift tags this year in five new colour-ways so you can co-ordinate with your wrapping. Hope you like them.

    All you need to do is click on the links below and print out the PDF onto (printable) white card stock (alternatively, print them out on white paper and glue to cardboard). Cut out around the tags with either plain scissors or pinking shears and use a hole punch to create a hole. Thread through ribbon or string for the chirpiest of presents.

    Click here to download the red gift tags.

    Click here to download the green gift tags.

    Click here to download the blue gift tags.

    Click here to download the pink and yellow gift tags.

    Click here to download the red and blue gift tags.

    Happy Christmas!

    p.s. Last year’s tags are still available!

    Click here to download last year’s pink and red tags.

    Click here to download last year’s blue tags.

    * The gift tags are copyright Wee Birdy, and are for personal use only. Not for commercial usage.

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