Wee Birdy has found a new nest

Hi everyone,

Just a wee note to let you know that I moved to Typepad a few weeks ago. I presumed that the move would be straight-forward as I've retained the same website address, but I've noticed that I'm still getting visits to my old Blogger site.

So if you're reading this right now, please go to www.weebirdy.com to get all my latest posts (and get a load of my fancy new all-singing, all-dancing website). You may need to re-subscribe if you're still seeing the Blogger blog.

Does that all make sense? Sorry about the confusion ... see you all over on Typepad!

love Top Bird xx

Wee finds at TK Maxx

I can count on one hand the amount of times I've set foot inside a TK Maxx store.

When I first arrived in the UK, I made a beeline for this shop. It was, apparently, where "savvy shoppers" head to unearth a designer gem. Heck, I thought, I'm a savvy shopper. So off I toddled, dedicating a decent amount of time to digging around in a bid to bag a designer bargain [note to self: go easy on the alliteration]. But after a few visits yielded zero startling finds, I gave it up as the stuff of legend.

But there I was this afternoon, back at my local Lewisham branch, trawling the racks in desperation for a bikini. I know. It's the end of the season. I've missed the boat. BUT, I'm flying off to Sardinia next month and I have a bad habit of leaving bikini buying 'til the last minute. That's because it's a demon task from hell. Still, I thought I had nothing to lose and dutifully made my way around the shop floor.

Not surprisingly, there was zilch in the way of swimsuits BUT, I did end up in the scarf section (yep, miles away from bikinis) and found a rather choice selection including a See by Chloe cotton print scarf (£19), a striking orange and black silk McQ by Alexander McQueen scarf (£99 - down from £500), a dancing Olivia red silk Moschino scarf (£15) and a woolen tan and cream scarf by Michael Kors (£19). I also discovered a bunch of pretty Calvin Klein and Elle McPherson bras for around £6 over in lingerie. Cheep cheep!

Shopping in London: Sunday & Rex

Pop-up galleries and shops is where it’s all happening in London right now. I do like a bit of a pop-up myself – something about its temporary nature and implied sense of urgency spurs me to actually get off my arse – lest I ‘snooze and lose’.

And popping up in East London on Friday is Sunday & Rex, a gallery showcasing art, furniture, contemporary jewellery and designed objects from up-and-coming designers from Australia and Europe.

Stewart Brooks and Georgie Morgan are the Aussie expats behind Sunday & Rex, and together they’ve curated a cracker line-up of design talent. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the tasty gems on offer …

Lucy Folk's sterling silver popcorn ring.

Lucy Folk's sterling silver cornchip necklace.

Lucy Folk's gold popcorn necklace.

Gregory Bonasera's ceramic bowls.

Vaugh Shannon's branch table.

Vaugh Shannon's happy lamp.

Krista McRae's odd-shaped earrings.

Krista McRae's gem studs in silver, oxidized silver and 24ct gold.

Nina Ellis's bowls.

Sunday & Rex
Pop-up gallery
30 August-14 September
90 Redchurch Street E1 6LA

18-21 September
Tent London
Truman Brewery
Brick Lane E1

Click here for more shops in E1.

Birdy pick of the week

Vintage ‘60s blue, white and red "drunken owl" enamel pendant necklace, £27, from Nina & Lola.

Shopping in London: Repetto 60 Ans

It’s all about tulle, tutus and tortured toes at Dover Street Market right now, and I couldn’t stay away for a second (OK, I made it over there yesterday).

Repetto design by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garcons.

I was there to check out Repetto’s 60 Ans exhibition, which opened in London on Monday. The iconic French ballet shoe company has just turned 60, and to celebrate they invited 60 sparkling luminaries from the worlds of dance, film, art, fashion and design to customise a pair of ballet shoes.

Bardot ‘Strass Rouge’ – limited and individually numbered by Repetto.

I’m not sure that I saw the entire line-up – perhaps they’re showing different designs over the exhibition period – but highlights included Vanessa Beecroft’s blood-spattered white leather flats (she got murderous with some thick red paint), and a French ballerina’s satin pointe shoes that had been hand-embroidered with a charming pas-de-deux design. By contrast, Carla Bruni’s silver star and moon design looked positively bland.

There’s also a line-up of customised tutus and leotards, including Rei Kawakubo’s flirty and fun French-maid version with a shorter white ‘apron’ frill over a longer black skirt. It also plays with the difference between the classic shorter tutu and the romantic mid-calf version.

Repetto design by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garcons.

My only (tiny) complaint was that at times it was difficult to discern who actually designed what, as the labels were attached to each shoe and often tucked underneath. And a good sprinkling of “Do not touch” signs made me reluctant to turn them over. I would have loved to have seen the shoes designed by Chloë Sevigny and Kim Gordon.

All designs in 60 Ans will be auctioned in October, with proceeds going to Unesco to fund select educational establishments.

Repetto 60 Ans
Monday 18th August to Saturday 13th September
Dover Street Market
17-18 Dover St,
London W1
Tel: 020 7518 0680

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-6pm
Thursday 11am-7pm

Nearest tube: Green Park

Click here for more shops in Mayfair.
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
All images courtesy of Dover Street Market.

Birdy pick of the week

Lovely bird decoration and lovely badge, US$24, from One of Kind’s Etsy shop. Check out One of Kind's blog and website - or visit the stall in person at London's Spitalfields market.

Shopping in London: Beyond the Valley sale

Looks like it will be pop-up shop au-go-go in the Carnaby area over the next couple of weeks. While you're checking out Urban Craft Stars' pop-up shop, don't miss Beyond the Valley's countdown sale on nearby Ganton Street, starting Friday 22 August (just around the corner from the main BTV store). Prices start at £30 and will reduce further by £5 every two days until they're cleared. Most items are one-off or in limited supply. Well worth checking out.

From Friday 22 August to Monday 1 September only
2 Ganton Street
London W1F 7QL

Nearest tube: Oxford Street

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am – 7pm
Sunday 12.30pm – 6pm
(Closed Monday 25 August)
Cash and cheque only

Shopping in London: Urban Craft Stars

As regular Wee Birdy readers will know, I’m a big supporter of local independent designers and the urban craft movement, so I was excited to hear about Urban Craft Stars and their pop-up shop which opens tomorrow for a limited time in Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street.

This London-based design/craft collective, who all met via Etsy, will be selling a range of hand-crafted and vintage items including recycled furniture, organic printed kids’ t-shirts, stationery, leather purses and hand-knitted scarves.

Here are my picks from some of their Etsy shops:

Silver leather zip pouch with bow, US$32, from Peppermint Design’s Etsy shop.

Vintage atlas envelopes, US$12, from Bombus’ Etsy shop.

Vintage fabric cushion cover in blue and white French ticking, US$25, from Little Chook’s Etsy shop.

Other sellers include Urban Knit, My mum's a hippie, and photography by Ryokan Art.

Urban Craft Stars
1.4 Kingly Court
London W1
www.carnaby.co.uk

Nearest tube: Oxford Street

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Open from Saturday 16 August - Sunday 31 August only
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 11am – 7pm

For more shops in W1, click here.

Birdy pick of the week

Birdcage Gocco print by Andrea Courchene, US$10, from Paper Sparrow's Etsy shop.

Time for Tea

I don’t know why I’m surprised. But here I am, completely astounded and gobsmacked by one particular revelation that arose from tonight’s rather brilliant first episode of Britain From Above, a new TV series on BBC1. (Missed it? Imagine a narrated UK-version of Koyaanisqatsi, minus the Philip Glass score.)

So what’s got my feathers in a flap? Well, there’s a precise moment, every day in Britain, when the nation’s energy supplies are so strained and pushed beyond capacity that, when necessary, the dude who keeps an eye on the national grid has to borrow extra energy from France.

Hmmm ... what could possibly be causing this weird phenomenon, which apparently is entirely unique to Britain?

Cue the rolling end credits and the theme-tune of EastEnders, when millions upon millions of Brits get up and switch on the kettle for a cup of tea.

It’s true! The national grid dude even has a telly in his office – which is thrown into one helluva commotion as soon as EastEnders is over. Just goes to show that the British are creatures of habit … and they love a good cuppa.

So Gloustershire-based Etsy seller, Lupin, is on to a good thing with her range of handstitched brooches for the tea-obsessed masses.

Tea Addict pin badge, US$14, from Lupin’s Etsy shop.

Little tea cup pin, US$15, from Lupin's Etsy shop.

Fabric tea cup brooch, US$28, from Lupin’s Etsy shop.