A wee birdy in a pear tree

Forgive me for indulging my passion for all things ornithological, but following a year where birds emerged as a major decorating trend, the interest hasn't let up for the festive season. So without further ado, here's a wee birdy or two for your tree. I've sourced these various feathered folk from London shops and my fave online stores. See the bottom of the post for stockist details.

Bird decorations, £29.95, for a set of eight, from Dotcomgiftshop.

Large tin bird, £13.58, from VVRouleaux.

Multi-coloured glass parrots hanging decorations, £8.95 for a set of three, from Dotcomgiftshop.

Swarovski owl decoration, £16.95, from The Conran Shop. Tel. 020 7589 7401

Robin Christmas tree decoration by Vivi, £7.75, from Not on the High Street.

Gold sequin bird, £3 for a set of three, from Woolworths.

Gold glitter wire bird, £2, from John Lewis.

Personalised handpainted fine china bauble in robin design, £9.95, from GettingPersonal.co.uk.

And I'll just sneak in a few fave birdy cards, as well:

Elle and the Snow Dove Postcards, US$16 for a set of 8, from BelleandBoo’s Etsy shop.

Pear Tree cards, US$10 for a set of four, from BlueSnailPaper’s Etsy shop.

Season’s Greetings cards, US$6 for a set of four, from EnfinLaVoila’s Etsy shop.

Top bird tip: if you click on the link to an Etsy product and it has sold out (they tend to do this quickly as they are one-offs), make sure you click on the link to the actual shop as they will often have the exact item listed again.

London stockists:

VVRouleaux
54 Sloane Square
Cliveden Place
London SW1W 8AX
Tel: 020 7730 3125

VVRouleaux
102 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2QD
Tel: 020 7224 5179

The Conran Shop Chelsea
Michelin House
81 Fulham road
London SW3 6RD
Tel: 020 7589 7401

The Conran Shop Marylebone
55 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HS
Tel: 020 7723 2223

John Lewis
Oxford Street
London W1A 1EX

John Lewis
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
London
NW4 3FL

A Very Cath Kidston Christmas

Check out the endearing new Christmas range from Queen of Twee Prints, Cath Kidston. I'm totally loving the cheery holly print in Kidston's signature colour palette.

Holly print cake tin, £8, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print napkins, £15, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print double oven glove, £10, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print apron, £18, from Cath Kidston.

Wool sheep decorations (including the requisite black sheep of the family), £16.50 for a set of five, from Cath Kidston.

Enamel Christmas badge, £4.50, from Cath Kidston.

Cath Kidston
www.cathkidston.co.uk
Click here for store locations

Cath Kidston - Covent Garden
28-32 Shelton Street
London WC2H 9JE
Telephone: 020 7836 4803
Nearest tube: Covent Garden

Cath Kidston - Chelsea
12 Cale Street
London SW3 3QV
Telephone: 020 7584 3232
Nearest tube: Sloan Square and South Kensington

Cath Kidston - Kings Road
322 Kings Road
London SW3 5UH
Telephone: 020 20 7351 7335
Nearest tube: Sloan Square

Cath Kidston - Fulham
668 Fulham Road
London SW6 5RX
Telephone: -20 7731 6531
Nearest tube: Parsons Green

Cath Kidston - Marylebone
51 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HW
Telephone: 020 7935 6555
Nearest tube: Baker Street

Christmas in London: decorations

As you can tell, I have a huge soft spot for beautiful Christmas decorations, which, like most things, I entirely blame on my mum (sorry, mum!). She has the biggest and most eclectic collection of decorations, all picked up from her travels and lovingly cared for over the past 40-odd years. When I was a little girl, I loved the moment when she would disappear into the recesses of a dark closet and proudly emerge with a pile of dusty boxes with "Christmas decos" scrawled on the side. It was all very exciting - even in Australia's 30 degree December heat.

Here's my round-up of the 2007 Christmas collections from London stores, starting with the beauties at The Conran Shop:

Squirrel decoration, £10.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

Swarovski poodle decoration, £24.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

Swarovski mushroom decoration, £10.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

I love the graphic icicle designs and the magenta colour palette on this year's Habitat line-up, which include:

Brush/flocked bauble, £3.50 for a pack of three, from Habitat.

Brush/painted bauble, £3.50 for a pack of three, from Habitat.

Engel embossed angel, £14, from Habitat.

And the V&A Museum can always be counted on for a selection of well-designed decorations:

Jewelled ruby snowflake decoration, £7, from the V&A shop.

Green jewelled star flower decoration, £3.50, from the V&A shop

Orange little cardigan decoration, £4.50, from the V&A shop.

And they've also great an excellent selection of Christmas art cards:

1950s bauble cards, £6 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

Bicycle ride Christmas cards, £4 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

Beatrix Potter Christmas cards, £6 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

The Conran Shop Chelsea
www.conranshop.co.uk
Michelin House
81 Fulham road
London SW3 6RD
Tel 020 7589 7401
Nearest tube: South Kensington

Habitat
www.habitat.co.uk

The V&A Shop
www.vandashop.com
V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000
Nearest tube: South Kensington

Christmas in London: Liberty

It’s December 1 and the Christmas season has officially begun, even though London stores got a head start with Santas and snowflakes in October. Still, I’m the biggest sucker when it comes to all things festive, and when London’s streets turned on their twinkling lights recently, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Sure, it all smacks with commercialism and thinly veiled advertisements, but the display at Oxford Street Debenhams literally made me catch my breath (hmmm … or perhaps that was the particularly bracing air that night ):


And I’m a major of fan of the fabulous paper chain decorations on Carnaby Street:



My vote for the prettiest Christmas shop goes to Liberty, which is decked out as a magical winter wonderland. I almost cried when I walked in and glimpsed the canopy of fairy lights strung across the old timber beams (told ya I'm the biggest sucker). The snowy owls, squirrels and life-size deer decorations are a particular highlight (can you imagine walking out the door with one of those under your arm?).




The gift shop’s elaborate display of rainbow-coloured sweets, treats and chocolates stacked in tall jars on endless rows of tables is surely the stuff the sugar plum fairy’s dreams are made of. Just look at this chocolate cottage from Brighton chocolatier Choccy Woccy Doodah:


Liberty also has a beautiful collection of exclusive decorations for your tree this year:

Gisela Graham resin Scottie dog decoration, £3.25, from Liberty.

Gisela Graham pale silver glitter reindeer decoration, £2.95, from Liberty.

Gisela Graham iridescent crystal drop decoration, £3.95, from Liberty.

Liberty
www.liberty.co.uk

Regent Street
London
W1B 5AH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7734 1234

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 11am-9pm
Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday:12pm-6pm

Nearest tubes: Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus

What to take home Wednesday: Prestat chocolates

It’s hard not to be impressed by an English product bearing a gold-stamped Royal Warrant. Especially one that’s packaged in the most delightful bright yellow box with swirly gold designs and crammed with white chocolate truffles oozing with the softest, creamiest caramel and banana centres.


I’m talking, of course, about Prestat’s luscious Banoffee Truffles, £10, one of the more adventurous options from this traditional London chocolatier.

Established in 1902, Prestat has been a royal favourite since 1975, and the tiny old-fashioned shop on Piccadilly’s Princes Arcade was apparently a favourite pitstop for author Roald Dahl.


And with flavours such as Organic Milk Choc Wafers with Ground Cinnamon and Organic Milk Choc Wafers Infused with Earl Grey, is it little wonder that Dahl was inspired to create Willy Wonka’s weird and wonderful business?

For a unique taste of England, try Prestat’s Violet and Rose truffles, £13.50. The sugar-crème fondants are infused with rose and violet oils and covered in dark chocolate. With the royal nod of approval, you really can’t go wrong.



Prestat
www.prestat.co.uk

14 Princes Arcade,
Piccadilly,
London SW1

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 9.30am-6pm
Saturday 10am-5pm

Nearest tube: Piccadilly or Green Park

What to take home Wednesday: Smythson books

I’ve been harbouring a secret girl crush all year. Her name is Nancy and she’s a bag. Her last name is Smythson, maybe you’ve heard of her?


Just look at her sitting there in all her cute and quilted glory. And her large retro-style clasp is quite heavenly in a Jackie O kinda way. But at £750 for her small version, she doesn’t come cheap, so for now she will reluctantly remain on my crazy-dreamin’ wishlist.

But apart from being so damn good-looking, there’s so much more to like about young Nancy here, not least because of her fine pedigree.

Smythson is synonymous with stylish bespoke stationery and quality leather goods, and is steeped in a rich London heritage dating back to 1887, when Frank Smythson opened his first store at 133 New Bond Street.

The brand is also famous for its covetable leather diaries and notebooks in fashion-forward colours and tongue-in-cheek titles, like the Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads address book from the 1950s, and more recently, Me, Me, Me; Therapy Notes and Seduction Notes. Handsome and practical!

Trademark features of a Smythson book include “featherweight” pale blue watermarked pages; supple leather binding and gold or silver-stamped cover titles, which can be personalised for an extra fee.

The Beauty Bible, at £40, makes a stylish London souvenir. It's bound in soft grained lambskin leather and includes indexed sections for make-up, skincare and hair, diet, exercise and treatments.


Smythson
www.smythson.com

40 New Bond Street
London
W1S 2DE
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7629 8558

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30am-6pm
Thursday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm

Nearest tube: Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Green Park

A very Etsy Christmas

You know it's almost Christmas in England when Marks & Spencer start running their annual Christmas food porn adverts on TV (cue: stripper music, oozing baked Camembert undressing itself, steamy molten chocolate pudding dripping in luscious whipped cream, and food just about falling off the plate it's so sexy). It gets so hot and bothered it's enough to make a girl grab the nearest glass of mulled wine to steady herself.

Or, you could do what I do and start thinking about your Christmas card list. Ah, there's a bucket-load of icy cold water if ever there was one. But for a stationery-obsessive like me, shopping for this year's cards is actually a wee bit exciting, especially with the tasty morsels from super-duper website Etsy. Check out my top picks of the bunch and see if you're seduced.*

* We regret to advise that the whipped cream gift with purchase is no longer available.

Haute Couture snowflake Christmas greeting cards, US$6 for a set of four, from EnfinLaVoila’s Etsy shop

Jingle All The Way Christmas Cards (Bella Figura), US$20 for a set of nine, from PepperinaPress’ Etsy shop.

Bah humbug! gift tags, US$4 for a set of 10, from Corrabelle’s Etsy shop.

Happy Holiday note cards, US$15 for a set of six, from Thebeautifulproject’s Etsy shop.

Holiday Clara card, US$5, from CupcakesForClara’s Etsy shop.

Joyeaux Noel ice skates holiday note card, US$3, from Thebeautifulproject’s Etsy shop.

Holiday cards, US$12 for a set of 10, from Ohmycavalier’s Etsy shop.

Blueberry Bandit Christmas card, US$15, for a set of eight, from BlueberryBandit’s Etsy shop.

Holiday tree with snowflakes gift tags, US$3 for a set of five, from PinkBathTub’s Etsy shop.

Animal parade cards, US$16 for a set of six, from Paperedtogether's Etsy shop.