What to take home Wednesday: Blue Plaques

W2 are the London-based design team behind the clever Pantone mugs (oh, how I desire one in every colour) and they're also the the official licensees of English Heritage, who are responsible for the iconic blue plaques posted on buildings around the capital. The plaques mark the historic home or working place of a Very Important Londoner (VIL).

Blue plaque tea towel, £6, by W2.

The girls at W2 have produced a fabulous collection of Blue Plaque tea-towels and fine bone china mugs, which includes such VILs as Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, Enid Blyton, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx. I only have one question: is it an oxymoron to hanker after the suffragette Pankhurst women tea-towel as well as the Enid Blyton?

W2 shop
www.w2products.com
1.22 Oxo Tower Wharf
Barge House Street
London SE1 9PH
Tel. 020 7922 1444

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am -6pm

Nearest tubes: Waterloo and Southwark

Wee Birdy Q&A: Homewares in W1

Q: I’m currently planning a trip to London in June and although I have been to London a few times (and lived there for a year in college and attended the LSE), I’m checking your blog for the new and fun. This trip won’t afford me much time for shopping because I’m travelling with my boyfriend and two of our teenage nephews, but I do plan to skip the Royal Artillery Museum for a bit of shopping.

I am planning to focus on the W1 area (Do Shop, Liberty, Mint, Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery), and would love any additional suggestions for home décor stores in that area. Thanks! - Lisa, Phoenix, Arizona.

Hi Lisa,
Wow, travelling with two teenage boys – you’ve certainly got your work cut out for you. But in terms of interiors shopping in the W1 area, you’re off to an excellent start with Do, Liberty, Mint and the CAA shop. Here are some others to add to your must-see list:

Lifestyle Bazaar
A relative newcomer to Carnaby Street’s shopping area, Lifestyle Bazaar specialises in design-led products sourced from around the world. And thanks to its French owners, it has a plethora of Gallic design, including Atelier LZC’s vibrant homewares collection (think birds and flowers), Jean Luc Le Deun’s innovative lighting and Leonor Mataillet’s gorgeous print cushions. There’s also a great line-up of British designers including Michelle Mason (retro-style organic prints and china egg candlesticks), Soop Groop’s homewares with humour (check out their ready-meal plates) and W2’s innovative London-icon range (I love their English Heritage blue-plaque collection).
10 Newburgh Street
London W1F7RN
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Skandium
Quite literally, Scandi-cool heaven. Skandium is the ultimate shopping destination for Scandinavian design, with an impressive line-up of furniture, lighting, glassware, ceramics, textiles, kitchenware and books. It has two stores in London, one of which is located on Marylebone High Street in W1 (an excellent street for shopping and eating), as well as the Marimekko concept store on St Christopher’s Place.
86 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4QS
Nearest tube: Bond Street

Marimekko
16-17 St Christopher's Place
London W1U 1NZ
Nearest tube: Bond Street

Heal’s
A traditional British homewares brand, Heal’s Tottenham Court Road flagship store has been operating since 1840. They stock a range of brands and designers including Clarissa Hulse and Sophie Conran, as well as their own classic brand of homewares. Keep an eye out for the Heal’s Discovers Designers range, which features new products by up-and-coming designers including Sam Aloof (gorgeous scented candle range), Royal College of Art graduate Ella Smith (graphic rugs and cushions) and Jessica Haigh (quirky knitted cushion covers).
196 Tottenham Court Road
London W1
Nearest tube: Goodge St

Habitat
Classic design and homewares mecca. Check out new Spring/Summer products such as the vibrant Sadie drinkware range (£9 for jug), the Zen-like Utopian melamine picnicware range (starting at £2 for a beaker), and Hus Mosaffar’s delicate porcelain teacup tealight holder (£5).
196-199 Tottenham Court Road (next door to Heal’s)
London W1T 7PJ
Nearest tube: Goodge Street
121-123 Regent Street
London W1
Nearest tubes: Piccadilly and Oxford Circus

John Lewis
OK, so it’s a predictable and middle-of-the-road department store, but their homewares section is well worth checking out. I like their extensive collection of bed linen (although coming from the States, you’ve got much better –and waaay more affordable – options over there).
John Lewis
Oxford Street
London W1A 1EX
Nearest tubes: Oxford Circus and Bond Street

Also, don’t miss Muji for their minimalist and understated range of homewares (head downstairs at the Carnaby Street store) and Beyond the Valley for quirky design pieces like cuddly cloud cushions, laser-cut decorative mirrors and Jake Phipps’ Jeeves Hat Light.

Muji
41 Carnaby Street
London W1V 1PD
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Beyond the Valley
2 Newburgh Street
London W1
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Beyond the Valley

As for your teenage nephews (I'm thinking 13 or 14?), I’m sure you’ve already got that side of things sorted, but may I suggest the Tower of London, London Walks’ Jack the Ripper walk, the Ancient Egyptian mummy room at The British Museum (they’ll freak at the mummified cats), and the Doctor Who exhibition at Earl's Court Exhibition Centre.

If all else fails, the awesome Apple store on Regent Street should keep them occupied while you duck across the road to check out Liberty. Oh, and icecream. Try the legendary Knickerbocker Glory at Fortnum & Mason or go for one of the more spectacular sundaes (impressive in terms of size and scale) at the Harrods Ice Cream Parlour.

Rob Ryan + Tatty Devine = Must-have jewellery

Bird Lady II screenprint, US$500, from Mister Rob's Etsy shop.

A wee birdy (ahem, lovely Jess from Cult Beauty) told me that Mister Rob "heavenly paper-cuts artist" Ryan and Tatty "legendary acrylic jewellery designers" Devine have recently joined creative forces for a limited edition jewellery range.

Stay tuned for a first peek at the Tatty Devine pieces, which are based on prevalent themes (think whimsical birds, plants, flowers and folk) from Rob's work. Apparently one of the most special pieces is a heart-shaped piece of jewellery which can be custom-made to feature your top ten favourite things. Not exactly sure how that works but it sounds magical.

I can't think of a better creative collaboration - Tatty Devine will no doubt replicate the exquisite detail in Rob's artwork and infuse the pieces with their trademark pop-fantastic vibrant hues.

Rob is also exhibiting his paper cuts at the Tatty Devine gallery space in Brick Lane, including three or four giant paper cuts.

The jewellery and paper cuts will be available from 24 April at Tatty Devine.

Tatty Devine's cult-classic plectrum charm bracelet, £36.

Tatty Devine

236 Brick Lane
London E2 7EB
Tel. 020 7739 9191
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 11am-6pm
Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

57b Brewer Street
London W1F 9UR
Tel. 020 7434 2257
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Birdy pick of the week

Fifties birdcage pillow, US$20, from Olive’s Etsy shop.

Top Bird loves: Stephanie Simek jewellery

Back in the fledgling days of Wee Birdy, I came across jewellery designer Stephanie Simek and her delicately playful sterling silver eyelash necklaces. I especially loved the sweet single eyelash with the freshwater pearl tears (US$35).


Stephanie has since added to her collection with a seemingly fragile speckled quail egg pendant, lined with 23k gold leaf (US$125).



Her latest piece is this rather sweetly subversive powder necklace (below), which features a pearlized Turbo Cinereus shell filled with a sparkling mineral powder (US$95). The idea is that you tap the shell whenever you want to dust your decolletage with a light sprinkle of shimmer powder. A sterling silver funnel is also attached to the clasp for decoration and refilling. (It's a kinda innocent spin on the "secret stash" vial necklace worn by Sarah Michelle Gellar's character in Cruel Intentions, don't you think?)



You can also customise the necklace by re-filling it with your favourite shimmer powder. (I like Becca's Loose Shimmer Powder in Angel or Nymph.)
www.stephaniesimek.com

Design Museum: Designs of the Year

Two new things I learnt about London over the weekend:
1. It snows in spring, not winter; and
2. Marks & Spencer Hot Cross Buns and Cadbury Crème Eggs are key items for holiday survival.

Fighting the urge to hibernate under the duvet, I headed over to the Design Museum with some friends on Easter Sunday to look at the 100 works nominated for the Brit Insurance Designs of the Year. This year’s decision to change the title from “Designer of the Year” to “Designs of the Year” was inspired as it really opened up the competition to new and innovative design from all disciplines.


Amongst the iPhone, Nintendo Wii, and a cheap and energy-efficient laptop for children in developing countries (Yves Behar’s One Laptop Per Child was the winning design), I was particularly (and predictably) taken by the Hussein Chalayan LED dress from his a/w 2007 Airborne collection. Encrusted with Swarovski crystals and 15,600 LEDs, multi-coloured patterns flickered across the fabric as if lit by psychedelic fireflies. Quite beautiful.


Also up for nomination in the fashion category are Pierre Hardy’s fashion accessories from s/s 2008; Giles Deacon’s s/s 2008 collection; Uniqlo’s cashmere project with Pantone; Issey Miyake’s innovative Dyson vacuum cleaner dress (complete with male and female parts) and Osman Yousefzada’s a/w 07/08 collection.

My other favourites include Anthony Dicken's clever interpretation of the classic Anglepoise Fifty lamp, Marigold’s genius (and nomadic-friendly) Make/Shift shelving, and the Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions (for dazzling new illustrated covers like a comic-strip version of Lady Chatterley's Lover).




The museum's shop is a must-see (and worthy of its own post), especially if you fancy design-led products and books. In fact, some of nominated products are available to purchase in the shop (as well as online), including the Anglepoise Fifty lamp (£39.50), Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions (£12.99), Make/Shift shelves (£120 for a set of two), and Naoto Fukasawa's calculator (£25.95).

Design Museum
www.designmuseum.org
Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
Tel. 0870 833 9955

Tickets: Adults £8.50; Concessions £6.50; Students £5; Under 12s free

Opening hours:
10am - 5.45pm daily (last admission 5.15pm)

Nearest tube: London Bridge

What to take home Wednesday: Claridge's candles

If the ultimate souvenir serves to remind your senses of an authentic (and specific) sense of place, then you’d be hard pressed to do better than Claridge’s eponymous Black & White collection.

In fact, in The Goddess Guide (a Wee Birdy favourite), author Giselle Scanlon says she “can’t leave Mayfair without visiting Claridge’s to pick up a bottle of their signature musky bath oil – in its elegant Art Deco bottle, with the lid shaped like the hotel’s bathroom taps.”


The collection’s black and white packaging reflects the classic glamour of this historic London institution, as well as the foyer’s grand marble floor.

I especially love the candle’s evocative floral top notes of Turkish rose and Indian jasmine, with warm, woody-Oriental undertones of Russian wild coriander and agarwood bark. The entire Black & White collection is available exclusively from Claridge’s Flowers & Gifts stall (just inside the Ballroom entrance).


Claridge’s Black & White Candle, £32 (250g)
Claridge’s Travel candle set, £18.50 (2 x 50g)

Claridge's
Brook Street
Mayfair
London W1K 4HR
Tel: 020 7629 1508

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Nearest tube: Bond Street

(p.s. for the ultimate in bathroom luxury, make sure you check out the Ladies just to the right of the front entrance.)

Photography by Paul Raeside, courtesy of Claridge's.

Update: Kate Moss for Topshop

Is it possible to publish a retraction on your own blog?

So ... I just stopped by Topshop at Oxford Circus today for a quick look around, and (surprise, surprise) the latest Kate Moss stuff wasn't exactly impressive. In fact, it was kinda shockingly bad. And uh, really overpriced. Why was I so optimistic, considering all the cold, hard facts?

It just took a 10 second dash around the racks to confirm the worst. (I still quite like the idea of the little tunic, but not at £60. It looked like something you wouldn't mind paying five quid for at Primark. Maybe.) 'Nuff said.

Meanwhile, I headed downstairs to the indie designer section in the basement and spied some rather lovely summer frocks (at reasonable prices, too). Only problem is, a lot of the cuts were a bit on the wee side. One of my more petite friends picked up an incredibly sweet striped red shirt with puffy sleeves by Sahrei Lamar London.

She also scored a rather Marni-esque frock across the road at Gap. With a heavy, almost utilitarian cotton drill fabric combined with fitted shoulders and an exposed zip at the back, it was a total steal at £39. Quite beautiful in its simplicity, and it totally kicked Kate's arse.

Where to eat in London: Tom's Deli

Like most Londoners, I suffer from the worst case of decision fatigue. My notebooks are filled with long lists of shops, art galleries, exhibitions, restaurants, cafes, parks, museums and markets that I Simply. Must. Visit.

So when B suggested we head to Tom’s Deli in Notting Hill for lunch last week, I was not only grateful for (a) her quick, decisive action, but (b) the opportunity to visit one of the top spots on my “to-do” list.


I love Tom’s. It’s where disco meets old-fashioned deli, thanks to the mirrored disco ball hanging from the ceiling and nostalgic wooden display shelves crammed with beautifully packaged treats. Little wonder the visual merchandising gets full points, since Tom is Terrence Conran’s son.


The buzzy café at the back is a cosy retreat from the bitter wind outside, and its full English breakfast is almost as legendary as the crowds and queues on the weekends. But it’s Thursday so it's relatively quiet, and the squish factor is minimal.


Tom’s makes an ideal shopping pit-stop in the Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road area, where you’ve got such gems as Twenty8Twelve, Nicole Farhi, Aime, Joseph, Smythson, Emma Hope, Comptoir des Cotonniers, L'Artisan Parfumeur, Mulberry, Paul & Joe, Diane von Furstenberg and Matches. And then there are the exclusive French children’s boutiques like Petite Bateau, Petit aimé, Bonpoint (where I spotted Claudia Schiffer shopping with her wee bebe), and Marie Chantal.

The café’s changing menu features an impressive line-up of hearty salads, soups, pizzas and sandwiches. After devouring an artery-challenging but delicious breaded goat’s cheese and beetroot salad, I descended on the Easter goodies out the front. Amongst a selection of chocolates by the likes of Rococo and Prestat, there’s also a great range of European foil-wrapped chocolate chickens and bunnies.


I like this delightful gingerbread family (with requisite cat), £4.50, and gingerbread chick & egg set, £1.95. A rather tempting alternative to chocolate, no?



And if you’re just after tea and cake (a very pleasing combination for shopping pitstops), there’s a delectable selection of eat-in or takeaway cakes and pastries including hot cross buns, lemon crunch cake, carrot and pineapple cake, chocolate sponge, deep-filled treacle tarts, and Primrose Bakery cupcakes.


Don’t forget to pop downstairs for traditional deli items, take-away dishes and sandwiches.


Tom’s Deli
226 Westbourne Grove
London W11 2CH
Tel. 020 7221 8818

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 8am - 7.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 9am - 6.30pm (check times for bank holidays)

Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate
For more shops in Notting Hill, click here.

Online shopping: Kate Moss for Topshop

Clockwise from top left:
Broderie Anglaise dress, £60.
Embroidered Tunic Dress, £60.
Daisy print tea dress, £60.
Kate’s 50s-style dress, £45.

Wait. What? Kate Moss for Topshop garments that I’d actually consider wearing?

I’m quite mad for a good summer frock, and these little lovelies are perfectly wearable. Not sure that I’ll actually follow through to the check-out, though (but I do quite like the white tunic dress).

The first (and last) time I considered La Moss involved some rather hot, sweaty and downright undignifying moments in the dressing room. (Hey! Not as dirty as it sounds! You know that manic hopping-on-the-spot-fight-dance you do when you’re stuck in a top that was clearly designed for a child, not a grown woman? That was me. I choreographed a new version. I like to think of it as a breakaway-pop pastiche.) Sigh.

Of course, there's also the problem of it being so bleeding obvious.

So, what say you? Can you be bothered?