Wee Birdy

Birdy (and Xmas) pick of the week

Just found some more Christmas stocking (and birdy) joy by way of South-east London design company Roddy & Ginger's range of homewares, bags and prints. Scandi and folksy-inspired birds and owls are hand screen-printed across a collection of the loveliest natural linen homewares, including tea-towels, cushions and Christmas stockings. Beautiful and affordable gift ideas!

From above, large Roddy the Owl Christmas stocking, £16, Bird Christmas stocking, £12, Happy birds cushions in teal and turquoise, £25 each, adult's apron in blue or pink, £20, owl cushion in yellow, £25, and pink bird cushion on white linen, £26, from Roddy & Ginger's online shop. 

You can also purchase from their Etsy shop, and read their blog here.

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for crafty girls

I loved putting together this crafty gift guide - and it's an extra big one because there was so much GOODNESS out there. You'll notice that there's a mix of some of the best Aussie and British designers - some old favourites (can you guess who?), and some new ones, too. What takes your fancy?

1. Sew La Tea Do by Pip Lincolne, AU$49.95, from Readings (ships internationally).

2. Rob Ryan ‘Give me Work’ tapestry kit, US$110, from Misterrob’s Etsy store.

3. Make your own monster kit, £15, by Donna Wilson (ships internationally).

4. Yasmin Ellis rain cloud tape measure brooch, AU$66, from the Portrait Gallery Store (ships within Australia only. Shipping is free if you have five or more items).

5. Wooden apple stamp, AU$8.95, from Kikki K (ships internationally).

6. Amanda Fatherazi 'Mary Swinging Sixties' hand-finished brooch, £50, from Liberty (ships internationally).

7. Sara Carr large Monty the Fox lambswool plush, US$66, from Sara Carr’s Etsy store.

8. Connections Twin Lid Sewing Basket, £35, from John Lewis (ships only within UK). Smaller baskets also available.

9. Rob Ryan Button tile, US$36, from Misterrob’s Etsy store.

10. Sara Carr lambswool petrol blue pencil scarf, US$60, from Sara Carr’s Etsy store.

11. Victoria Mason sterling silver and enamel granny square necklace, AU$220, from Lark (ships internationally).

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for birdy lovers

Thought I’d kick things off with the first in a series of present ideas for Christmas. But rather than just another bloody Christmas gift guide (yep, I can just about hear the multitude of groans), it’s really my way of catching up on Wee Finds, which I’ve been feverishly collecting over the past six months.

You’ll find that a lot of the stuff I like is UK-based, but my goal is to make Wee Birdy more global going forward. And as time goes by, I’ll endeavour to slip in more Australian products and designers.

Anyway, let me know what you think. Has anyone finished their Christmas shopping yet?

1. Sparrow pegs, designed in Australia, AU$15, from Design Dispensary (ships internationally).

2. Hand-made bone china birds nest plate, £20, by Donna Wilson (ships internationally).

3. Aubin & Wills swallow print silk underwire bra, £39, and silk briefs, £29, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

4. Swallow necklace in turquoise mirror, £42, by Tatty Devine (ships internationally).

5. Bird in a Nest magentic paper clip holder, £5.95, from Muji (ships to mainland Great Britain, the EU and mainland United States and Canada).

6. Birdcage cushion by Sydney artist Binny Talib, AU$29, from Lark (ships internationally).

7. Bird black iron candlestick holder by Swedish illustrators Bengt & Lotta, £92, from SCP (ships to the UK and selected EU countries).

8. Bird bottle stopper, US$18, by Jonathan Adler (ships internationally).

9. Birdy walk scarf, £38, by Donna Wilson (ships internationally).

Wee Birdy competition: Win a set of Cornishware mugs

The classic blue and white banded pottery of T.G.Green & Co’s Cornishware has been gracing British kitchen tables for over eight decades, and I'm delighted to offer Wee Birdy readers the chance to win a set of 8 'His and Hers' mugs (see above and below).

Each set of four mugs comes in a beautiful Cornishware box and can be ordered from the company’s new online gift service at www.tggreen.co.uk. Prices are £40 per set, with a total prize value of £80. The website features some great Cornishware present ideas, with the entire range of the distinctive blue and white kitchenware, from teapots to egg cups and cake stands to pudding bowls.

For your chance to win both sets of mugs, leave a comment below, telling me what your favourite piece of Cornishware is. The winner will be chosen using a random number generator. Entries close 6pm Thursday 4 February (GMT) and the winner will be announced on Friday 5 February. Please be sure to leave your email address below so I can contact you. Good luck!

UPDATE: This competition is now closed, thanks to all for entering!

Wee find: Rob Ryan's Valentine

Take a look at Rob Ryan's brand new Valentine for this year. Could the man get any more old-school romantic? I think not. This lovely laser cut is hand-screenprinted and available in a limited edition of 250. You can purchase them directly from Ryantown on Columbia Road.