Cracker crib notes:
What? Laura Laura handmade crackers.
From? Laura Laura.
How much? £5 each or a set for £25.
The booty? Each cracker contains a traditional paper hat, a motto and a pair of button earrings.
This is my third annual round-up of the best Christmas crackers around – both in London and online. I admit that I have a bit of a thing about this very English tradition, from the silly hats and jokes to the surprise trinkets that come tumbling out. I’ll be profiling a new cracker each day this week, so stay tuned…
Cracker crib notes:
What? Purple Peacock Feather Crackers
From? Liberty.
How much? £29.95
The booty? Each of the six handmade crackers include ‘gift’-donations to a Variety Club charity, such as helping to pay for a sports wheelchair or giving a gift to a child in need. And for every box Liberty will donate £10 to the Charities Advisory Trust.
Migh T by Kumiko Watari may not be to everyone's taste, but I quite love this Japanese fashion designer's sense of fun and kookiness. The Central Saint Martins graduate's latest collection is stocked at No-one in Shoreditch, and includes an exclusive koala screenprint (£60, above – love the psychedelic flower eyes), as well as the fabulous 'melting snow' berets, which are topped with ginormous white pom-poms and ice-cream toned tees. The hot-air balloon tees also pack a vibrant, graphic punch.
No-one
1 Kingsland Road
London E2 8AA
E2 8AA UK
Tel: 207 613 5314
Nearest tube: Liverpool Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 11am-7pm
Sunday 11am -6pm
For more shops in East London, click here.
These utterly wonderful clay birds are doing the rounds on the blogosphere (India Knight's Posterous via Tea for Joy) – but how could I *not* post about them? They're birds. They're made in London. Heck, they're even made from London itself (clay, to be exact). Historical too – the clay is dug up from the site of an old Victorian warehouse in Islington, and dates back to "the Palaeogene period, 50-60 million years ago … when a warm tropical sea covered London". Swooon. You can get them from Folksy (but they appear to be sold-out at the moment), or check out the blog.
I've had these hand-crafted dolls by Simpli Jessi bookmarked for months now. I love their ruby-red circle cheeks, wavy hair and graphic simplicity, as well as the raw, vintage quality of each individual doll. And they take custom orders, too. They'd make perfect Christmas presents for children three years and up. US$64 from Simpli Jessi's Etsy shop. Follow the blog here.
After more handmade Christmas present ideas? Browse through my Etsy find archives.
Go for a voluptous retro-style pin-up girl with your Christmas cards this year, from new online shop Crumpet & Skirt. There's also matching wrapping paper, tea towels and peek-a-boo mugs. Miaow!
Loving the impressive line-up of artists featured in Soma Gallery’s Christmas exhibition, including Graham Carter, Sally Elford, Peskimo and Andy Smith. Rob Ryan has also created an exclusive colourway of his classic nest print for the show (see above). I’m flagging this now because Soma are offering free postage within the UK on all orders until 6 December.
I had the chance to visit the bijous gallery when I was in Bristol a couple of weeks ago, and I found it nestled between the antique jewellery and vintage clothing shops of Clifton Arcade. It's full of character and interesting finds – most definitely a must-visit in Bristol. I pounced on the Tatty Devine Christmas-themed jewellery and exquisite bird prints by Fanny Shorter. And I’m just a little bit in love with this sweet ‘Blown Away’ print by Spencer Wilson, which is very affordable art at £20.
Soma Gallery
Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue
Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AA
Tel: 0117 973 9838
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am-5:30pm
Soma Gallery is a Wee Birdy sponsor.
If you like your clothes feminine with a distinct quirk (like say, deer and lace doilie prints), then you might like to check out Emma Cook, who just happens to be having a sample sale at her East London studio on Friday and Saturday. All sorts of bargains are up for grabs!
In the meantime, have a peek at Cook's resort 2010 collection, which is in-store now and features her signature girlish silhouettes against a soft palette of dusky pinks, browns and greys. Quite loving the flattering empire-line jersey dresses and silk chiffon tops, as well as the symmetrical art-nouveau motif, which is repeated throughout the collection. It's currently available from Liberty and Matches in London.
Read all about it here.
Loving these slightly bonkers bearded lady Christmas cards (via Basil Exposition). Almost as good as the beard font (via India Knight's Posterous). Genius. (Looks like we've moved on from the moustache trend.)
Thanks for all your amazingly creative entries in the Hello!Lucky stationery competition. It was a tough decision, but the Hello!Lucky girls have chosen Rachel as the winner with this entry:
"The hello lucky stationery is beautiful.
Every year my Grandparents give me and my sisters money for Christmas and every year it comes in a 'card' of some sort. This started out as an actual card but has progressed over the years to all sorts of unusual but beautiful items holding the money including a teeny tiny papier mache boat with a rolled up cheque as its mast. One year they were little knitted angels with the cheques as their scrolls. I have collected them all as they are so lovely (and also in the knowledge that they will not keep arriving forever)."
Congratulations, Rachel, I'll be in touch with you shortly to arrange your prize.
Birdcage Necklace in Wood, £28.50, by Stolen Thunder.
Here's my final round-up of London's best Christmas shopping sales, markets and events. Get your diaries ready and dig in…
3 December: Late Night Exmouth Market Christmas Shopping Extravaganza
Indulge in some mulled wine and nibbles while you consider your purchases from independent boutiques like EC One Jewellery, Family Tree (pictured below) and Clerkenwell Tales Bookshop. 5-9pm.
5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 21, 22 and 23 December: Pop up Christmas
If you’re in the Stoke Newington area, you might like to check out this Christmas market, which features a variety of brands and designers including Joseph Joseph, Pantone and Rude. You can also make merry with the requisite mulled wine and mince pies, along with Christmas carols and Father Christmas. Click here for more details.
12 December: Bust Craftacular
The Bust girls are back with their festive spectacular, offering over 60 stalls of crafty, handmade goodness. Shop to the sounds of ‘60s girl-pop courtesy of Sheila B, and try your luck at Tatty Devine’s Christmas Tree Tombola (can’t wait to see that one!). Keep an eye out for Belgium Waffle’s Cruel Tea stall, although prudish types may wish to avert their eyes. Adm £2. Click here for more details.
12 and 19 December: Of Cabbages and Kings Christmas market
This Stoke Newington market will be offering a host of festive treats, with refreshments from the Of Cabbages and Kings café. Look out for handmade wares by the likes of Edwyn UK (see below), Strikk handknits and Helen Rawlinson. Click here for more details.
12 December: The Mangle Xmas Sale
Tatty Devine, Rob Ryan and Amanda Fatherazi are just some of the big names to feature in this festive Shoreditch sale. Entrance is free and there will also be tea, cake and music. 11am-6pm. Click here for more details.
18, 19-22 December: Somerset House Super Christmas Market
If you’ve left Christmas shopping ‘til the last minute, here’s your chance pick up some great gifts of the non-high street variety from designers including Michael Marriott, Carl Clerkin and students from the Royal College of Art and Camberwell. Adm £2. Click here for more details.
