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.
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Birdy pick of the week
Friday, 15 August 2008
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:
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.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.
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Sunday, 10 August 2008
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.
Fabric tea cup brooch, US$28, from Lupin’s Etsy shop.Saturday, 9 August 2008
Etsy loves babies, too
Not done with the baby thing yet (sorry, will return to normal posting next week).
I've always loved handmade things for babies. You know, knitted booties with matching matinee jackets. So I've been keeping an eye on Etsy for a while, and have found some real gems for wee bebes. Here are my picks...
Four hand-embroidered sock dollies (can be personalised), US$54.40, from Chickabiddy Baby's Etsy shop.
The Manly Man Baby Sweater, (can be personalised with an initial) US$70, from Magnolia Rose’s Etsy shop.
Remember that Etsy items are one-offs, so my links may sell-out quickly. However, they are often relisted by the seller, or you can always contact them with a request.
French label Bon-Ton loves Liberty for Little Girls...
Read about my visit to BonTon in Paris.
BonTon is also stocked at Petit Aime in Notting Hill...
Petit Aime
34 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AB
Tel. 020 7221 3123
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Baby girls get to wear the best clothes
Here are two of my favourites I found on New York-based enfant-terrible's website. How amazing are the prints? I love the toile 'Versailles' print. I swear I'd wear 'em if they came in my size...
New hatchlings
I'm still buzzing after my visit to Queen Charlotte's hospital last night to see my dear friend and her gorgeous brand-new baby daughter. Since I've been immersed in the world of babies over the past nine months, I've become acquainted with some ace baby boutiques - both in London and online.
So I'd thought I'd post a few of my favourites. And if babies aren't your thing right now, just admire the fabulous vintage-style Liberty prints - which as UK womens' mags would say are 'bang on trend' right now...
Couldn't resist buying this ultra-sweet smock and bloomer set for my friend's baby girl. It's from Marie Chantal in Notting Hill.
Marie Chantal
61A Ledbury Road
London W11 2AA
Tel. 020 7243 0220
and
148 Walton Street
London SW3 2JJ
United Kingdom
Tel o20 7838 1111
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
London shopping: Tracey Neuls
Today we’re heading back to Marylebone Lane and the bijou boutique at number 29 which is home to Tracey Neuls and her eponymous collection of shoes.
I’ve often walked past the window and marvelled at the Canadian designer’s unconventional approach to visual merchandising. Here, shoes are displayed like an installation, hanging in rows from the ceiling.
The artsy connection doesn’t end there. The shoes really are “pieces” and reflect the designer’s taste for the theatrical. Her premium Tracey Neuls label is beautifully hand-crafted in Italy with extraordinary attention to detail. But unlike a pretentious hands-off gallery, these elegant shoes are utterly wearable, with lots of low hand-carved conical wooden heels and flats (joyous news for this arthritic ol’ birdy!).
The current Tracey Neuls summer collection (on its way out and on sale with 30 per cent off) features lots of patent leather in ripe, juicy colours like apple green, sky blue and cherry, with distinctive girlish and vintage-inspired details including contrast piping, oversized buttons, duplicate buckles and peep-toes.
Her other label, TN_29, is made in Portugal and showcases a more muted, neutral palette with a less “produced” quality. I love the soft leather tie-front sandals in tan and black.
Apart from shoes, there’s a selection of tights and soft, slouchy leather bags in black, red and grey with covetable circular wooden handles. Neuls is also the only English stockist for German designer Girl and the Gorilla’s range of delicate crocheted headbands (£40), cotton crocheted gloves (£75) and wrist bands.
There’s also a changing line-up of artists taking residence on the shop’s walls, reinforcing the notion of shop-come-gallery.
Overseas readers will be pleased to hear they can purchase online, with the new Autumn/Winter collection hitting the website soon. Stay tuned…
Tracey Neuls
29 Marylebone Lane, London
United Kingdom, W1U 2NQ
Tel: 0207 935 0039
Nearest tube: Bond Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 11am – 6.30pm
Monday and Sunday 12 noon – 5pm
For more shops in Marylebone, click here.
For more shops in West London, click here.
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