Wee Birdy

Handmade Xmas Part 2: Brown paper parcels

I suspect that many of you, like me, are pedantic about the particulars of Christmas gift wrapping. This year I’m going for budget-friendly brown paper, which looks rather chic tied with old-school twine, or you could be inspired by some of the gorgeous ideas by Gloustershire-based Etsy seller Lupin (of felt tea brooches fame) over on her blog, Bugs and Fishes.

I’m loving her genius how-tos on decorating brown paper parcels…

with paper snowflakes…

with vintage stamps…

with pom-poms…

with lacy cake ribbon…

and with cut-out fonts...

Top 10 London gifts for under £10

In the first of my series of Christmas gift lists, I've found all manner of goodies from London for under a tenner. And with all of them available to purchase online, those birdies from outside of London can buy up, too.


1. Freedom SteamCream, £9.95, from Liberty
London’s number one cult beauty buy this Christmas, SteamCream uses steam-infused technology to create an ultra-light but deeply moisturising cream that can be used on face, hands and body. It’s made in the UK using oatmeal, orange flower water and soothing lavender oil. I dig the gorgeous collectable tin designs. Thanks to Cult Beauty blog and British Beauty Blogger for the tip.

2. Panama silver pencil, £7, from Smythson
For those who love their luxury brands, a stunning slim silver pencil from London heritage brand Smythson is an excellent gift for birdies on a budget. There’s also a lovely gilt version for £9, with lead refills from around £2. Thanks to the super-sharp Consume team at Time Out London who put me on to these little beauties.

3. Trafalgar Shaving Cream, £9.50, from Truefitt and Hill
For a wallet-friendly gift that comes with a royal warrant (that would be HRH The Duke of Edinburgh), look no further than Truefitt and Hill’s Trafalgar Shaving Cream. Established in London in 1805, Truefitt and Hill has over 200 years of expertise in grooming products and services, and their glycerine-based shaving cream makes a fine gift for the discerning gentleman.


4. Charbonnel et Walker Marc De Champagne Truffles, £10, from Liberty
With a sublime Champagne and butter ganache centre, Charbonnel et Walker’s Champagne truffles are the ultimate in Christmas chocolate decadence. I’ve been known to get stuck in first thing on Christmas morning – naughty (but oh so nice)! Established in 1875, Charbonnel et Walker is one of Britain’s oldest chocolate makers, and have also earned the Queen’s stamp of approval with a Royal Warrant.

5. Lavender vanilla lip balm, £4.50, from Content Beauty/Wellbeing
A glorious vintage-inspired tin of certified organic lip goodness is a snip at £4.50 from London’s luxury organic beauty boutique. It’s a dream to use with no artificial preservatives, and the pretty tin can be used afterwards to store hair clips and pins.


6. Liberty print handkerchief, £4.95 for one, from Liberty
If a Liberty silk scarf is way beyond your budget this Christmas, consider a pretty Liberty print handkerchief in super-soft Tana Lawn cotton instead. There are crochet-edged handkerchiefs for £5.95, and a pack of three for £19.95 (pictured above). I also like slipping them inside birthday cards to girlfriends back in Australia.

 

7. Rose Water, £7.80, from Neal’s Yard
A lovely old-fashioned beauty gift from legendary London apothecary Neal’s Yard Remedies, this handsome bottle of rose water has a faintly-retro sweet rose scent. Working as a toner to refresh the skin, it also removes final traces of make-up after cleansing.

 

8. Fortmason Tea, £8.25, from Fortnum and Mason
As London’s finest connoisseurs of tea, Fortnum and Mason is a good place to start for affordable Christmas presents. With a blend of Indian and China tea, the classic Fortmason Tea is scented with orange blossom for a deliciously fragrant cuppa. The gorgeous tea caddy can also be re-filled after use.

 

9. London Classic Mug, £7, from Cath Kidston
The new London print by Cath Kidston is inspired by vintage souvenir prints, and makes a very sweet mug design. Perfect affordable gift for Cath Kidston and London fans alike.

10. Archive poster, £7.78, from The London Transport Museum
With an archive of over 5,000 posters and 700 original poster artworks, prices at the London Transport Museum start at £7.78 for an A4 print. Search by decade, artist or keyword, and find the perfect gift for your favourite Londoner. This poster of the Tower of London (pictured above) is from 1956 by Hans Unger.

Birdy on a budget: Top 10 Ebay auctions

I’ve rediscovered the bargainous joys of Ebay recently, prompted by my friend C’s winning bid of 40 quid on a stunning Balenciaga blazer. I guess one of the reasons Ebay is so good right now is because everyone is flogging the contents of their wardrobes in a bid to make some cold hard cash. Good news for those looking to make one those fabled ‘investment’ purchases, be it a new winter coat or a new pair of designer ballet flats – all going for high street prices.

I’ve been watching some auctions over the past few weeks, and have been astounded by some of the winning bids, like the Miu Miu three-tone ballet flats for £18.01, See by Chloe dress for £41, Marni dark grey trousers for £31, Marni dress coat for £62, A.P.C dress for £51, and Alaia black sandals for US$54.

With that in mind, here’s my round-up of the best Ebay auctions right now. Be quick - some of them are ending soon.

Balenciaga blazer, UK size 12, current bid £49.

Isabel Marant shoes, size 37, current bid £16.87.

Vanessa Bruno black coat, UK size 14, current bid £70.

Marni wool jacket, UK size 8-10, current bid £29.99.

Alaia black top, UK size 10-12, current bid £50.

Marni tweed skirt, UK size 8, current bid £15.

Erdem black coat, UK size, 8, current bid £99.

Miu Miu black dress, UK size 10, current bid £11.

Marni leather and seagrass belt, current bid £30.

Marni ballet flats with a buckle, size 36.5, current bid £30.

You Ask, Birdy Answers: Sew-your-own patterns

The best bit about writing a blog is reading all the feedback, and there has been lots to read recently, especially in response to my post about the slow fashion trend. Here's what a wee birdy called le bug had to say:

“I think the slowest of slow fashion would be if I made my own clothes ... know any good sewing pattern shops/online shops?”

Kudos to you for going down the make-your-own route, le bug! I’m always super-impressed by crafty people who dig out the old Singer and knock up a skirt on a rainy afternoon. There are actually some excellent online sources for patterns, as well as some good starting points for absolute beginners (like me). Here’s a list of my very favourite online sew-your-owns and other crafty sources:

1. Built by Wendy
Wendy Mullin (of Built by Wendy) is a New York-based fashion designer who’s designed a line of home sewing patterns for Simplicity called Built by YOU. I really love the simple smock and frock pattern, which has variable sleeve and length options. I know a few birdies who have tried and tested Wendy’s patterns, and give them a big thumbs-up (but warn that they tend to be a bit on the small size).

2. Paintergirl’s Knicker Making Kit
Pop artist Gemma Jones (aka Paintergirl) has recently launched her own knicker-making kit, which has been selling like hot pants on her Etsy shop. The pattern shows how to make your own customised pair of knickers from an old t-shirt – the ultimate in make-do and mend! The pattern has been trialled by some 20-odd Kaotic Kraft Kuties who have reportedly gone on to “run, dance, make-out and pick up wearing them.” Nice one.

3. Burda Style
It mightn’t sound overly sexy, but Burda Style is actually an amazing resource with a plethora of free patterns, sewing how-tos and a supportive online sewing community. Check out this sweet and simple shift.

4. Sublime Stitching
OK, so this isn’t so much about making an entire outfit, but these too-cute embroidery patterns will make you some lovely embellishments. They’re a snip at US$3.50, and can be used to decorate everything from t-shirts to tea-towels. Check out the vital organs kit and stitch some ovaries on to your undies. Chain stitch has never looked so sexy! Great DIY Xmas gift ideas, too. (Londoners can also pick up Sublime Stitching patterns at the V&A Museum shop.)

5. Sew Mama Sew
Another good resource for fabric and patterns, Sew Mama Sew features some excellent options for babies and kids, like Oliver & S patterns for toddlers. I also like the fabric messenger bag pattern, which would look good in a strong Marimekko print (although IKEA has an excellent range of retro Scandi-style fabrics at the moment, a snip at £1.59/metre).

6. The Make Lounge
Sewing novices in London can learn the basics with a workshop at The Make Lounge in Islington. I like the sound of the Survival Sewing workshop, which teaches basic hand-sewing skills so you can tackle your own repairs and take up hems and cuffs. Handy stuff. Check out the upcoming workshops, which include fun projects like making a leather cinch belt and Japanese-style stitched journals.

The Make Lounge
49-51 Barnsbury Street
London N1 1TP
Tel. 020 7609 0275
Nearest tube: Angel

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Birdy on a budget: COS statement necklace

I found this gorgeous Marni-inspired copper and resin statement necklace in COS recently. Since I'm yet to invest in any new Autumn/Winter purchases, the £10 price point was a good budget-conscious way to update my wardrobe. Mind you, I've got my eye on the rest of COS's splendid line-up for this season - the coats, the shoes, the shifts - ack, get me out of there!

COS
222 Regent Street
London W1
Tel. 020 7478 0400
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.