Wee Birdy

Birdy pick of the week

Do I need a good reason to feature kitsch crocheted budgies on this blog? Not really. BUT, it is Australia Day. Have a good one, Antipodean birdies. Budgie crochet pattern, US$5, from Queensland-based Crochetroo's Etsy shop. Check out the lorries, too!

Where to buy Australian in London

Happy Australia Day, birdies. Just before I head off to inhale a pile of lamingtons, here's where to buy the best of Australian in London.

Check out Australian designers at:

Austique
330 Kings Road
Chelsea
London SW3 5UR

Tel: 020 7376 4555
• Rachel Gilbert
• Cohen et Sabine
• Alannah Hill
• Alice McCall
• Anna & Boy swimwear
• Camilla & Marc
• Zimmermann
• Fleur Wood
• Leona Edmiston
• MOR cosmetics
• Vani-T tanning and body products

MOR beauty products

Fleur Wood

Liberty
Regent Street
London W1B 5AH
Tel: 020 7734 1234
• Mozi homewares (Australia’s answer to Cath Kidston)
• Ghost & Lola jewellery
• Yeojin Bae womenswear

Harvey Nichols
109-125 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7RJ
Tel: 020 7235 5000
• Wheels & Doll Baby
• 18th Amendment jeans
• Metalicus (essentials for layering)

• Sass & Bide
• Juliann lingerie and slips
• Camilla
• Flamingo Sands swimwear
• Jets swimwear
• Becca cosmetics (My make-up bag staples are Luminous Skin Colour foundation and Crème Blush in Wild Orchid)

Becca Luminous Skin Colour foundation (pssst apparently Kylie's a fan)

Mimi London
309 Kings Road
London SW3 5EP
Tel: 020 7349 9699
• Collette Dinnigan
• Willow

Collette Dinnigan

Collette Dinnigan
26 Cale Street
Chelsea Green
London SW3 3QU
Tel. 0207 589 8897

KJ’s Laundry
74 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2PU
• Carl Kapp
• Ginger & Smart

Ginger & Smart

Browns
23-27 South Molton Street
London W1K 5RD
Tel: 020 7514 0063
• Josh Goot
• Lover
• Tina Kalivas
• Michelle Jank accessories
• Sass & Bide
• Anna & Boy swimwear

Josh Goot

Selfridges
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1AB
• Jayson Brunsdon
• Nobody denim
• A’kin (gorgeous organic botanical beauty range) at Farmacia

Jayson Brunsdon

No-one
1 Kingsland Road
London E2 8AA
Tel: 207 613 5314
• Alice McCall
• Ksubi
• Elke Kramer jewellery

Alice McCall

Elke Kramer

Get your Aussie beauty fix at:

• SpaceNK
• Jurlique (I love the Rosewater Balancing Mist)
• ModelCo (The Lash Wand Heated Eyelash Curler is one of their bestsellers)

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

And check out Innika, an excellent Australian mineral cosmetic brand which is 100 per cent vegan.

For essential Australian treats, like Iced Vo Vos, Violet Crumbles, Twisties, Minties, Vegemite and Tim Tams, head to:

The Australia Shop
27 Maiden Lane
Covent Garden
WC2E 7JS London
Tel: 020 7379 0723

Harvey Nichols also stocks a range of Australian gourmet food, including:
• Maggie Beer
• Bird in Hand olive oil
• Aunty Joan’s Gourmet Toffee
• Byron bay Cookie Company

Head to Waitrose for:
• Anzac biscuits
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer
• Dandaragan Olive Oil

Pick up a bottle of Aussie plonk from any Tesco or Marks & Spencer, or look for a boutique wine at:
• Aussie Wine Direct
• The Aussie Wine Company
• Australian Wines Online

And dine out with an Australian chef at:
Pied a Terre, tel 020 7636 1178 (Shane Osborne)
Smiths of Smithfield, tel. 0207 236 7666 (John Torode)
Nahm at the Halkin Hotel, tel. 020 7333 1234 (David Thompson)
The Ledbury, tel. 0207 792 9090 (Brett Graham)
Petersham Nurseries, tel. 020 8605 3627 (Skye Gyngell)

Phew. I can't believe I got through all that without a Walkabout pub, can of Fosters or a flamin' galah in sight.

p.s. try this lamington recipe from the Australian Women's Weekly (another Aussie icon).