Wee Birdy

Sponsored post: Kitty and Polly

Vintage screen-printed purse, made using organic Fair Trade cotton, £8, from Kitty and Polly.

I hate to nag but it’s Mother’s Day in the UK on March 22, so now is the time to make a considered purchase well in advance. Whatever you do, don’t leave it ‘til the last minute, or you’ll end up freaking out and buying a plastic-wrapped box of toiletries foulness.

I may be predictable but handmade is best, and Wee Birdy’s newest sponsor, Kitty and Polly, is just the (online) place to find the perfect gift.

Vintage “Clarissa” screen-printed shopping bag, left, and "Viola", right, hand-made using organic Fair Trade cotton, £10.

Kitty and Polly specialise in gifts and accessories handmade in the UK, with a heavenly range of jewellery, bags, bath products and homewares. The prices are extremely reasonable, too. And they’ve just had a delivery of brand new products, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Here are more of my favourite picks:

Handmade tea cosy, £20.

Wheat and lavender screen-printed hottie, made using organic Fair Trade cotton, £22.

Handmade brooch, using recycled materials, £20.

Sign up to their newsletter now, and get 15% off your next purchase.

Wee finds: The latest Target collaborations

Have any of you seen the latest Target designer collaborations in the States?

I'm positively swooning over the rather brilliant Thakoon resort collection, which features his signature Shibori print at ultra-affordable Target price points. Loving the beach-ready frocks and floral-print bikini - which are almost imaginable from the depths of a freezing London winter ... roll on, spring!

 

The Hayden-Harnett accessories collection is also quite impressive, with this smart envelope-style clutch for US$29.99 and a range of totes and umbrellas in a vibrant leaf print.

   

And these bejewelled flats by Sigerson Morrison are also a great buy at US$29.99 ...

 

And I've now discovered that the guys over at Apartment Therapy have just previewed the upcoming Orla Kiely homewares collection, which translates beautifully for Target and features some amazing ceramics. I'm also loving the tiered serving tray and the retro barkcloth-style print.

 

 

Top 10 London Christmas crackers - No. 5

5. Best for crafty birdies on a budget
Fill your own crackers (includes snaps), £4.85 for a pack of six, from John Lewis.
The booty: Fill them yourself with hand-made crafty goodies, hand-written jokes, sweets and paper hats.

(p.s. I'm also loving Robert Dyas' luxurious gold crackers at the bargainous price of £4.95 for a big box of 12)

Handmade Xmas Part 3: Stamp it

Birdie with ornament hand-carved rubber stamp, US$10, from Craft Pudding’s Etsy shop.

Christmas tree hand-carved rubber stamp, US$12, from Craft Pudding’s Etsy shop.

I'm loving these adorable hand-carved rubber stamps from Craft Pudding's Etsy shop. Make your own gift tags by stamping them on old-school style cardboard luggage tags (you can buy them by the packet at WH Smith). Perfect for brown paper parcels!

Wee Christmas finds: Present & Correct

Christmas surprises are always fun, especially when they come in the form of a surprise Advent goody bag from Wee Birdy web favourite, Present & Correct.

With one new bag released for each day of Advent, these little beauties are flying out the door (and there are just 14 left!).

Each bag is packed with a surprise collection of premium vintage pencils, stamps, envelopes, booklets, stickers and other stationery treats. They make a gorgeous (and highly unique) gift idea for crafty birdies and stationery fans. £10 each from Present & Correct.