Wee Birdy

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for teens

1. PAM for Covers for a Cause iPhone cover, AU$39, from Incu (ships internationally).

2. Lazy Oaf Spaced Out T Shirt, £25, from Lazy Oaf (ships internationally).

3. Tatty Devine future Mystic Cluster Bracelet, £33, from Tatty Devine (ships internationally).

4. Lazy Oaf In the Mix Blue Rucksack, £35, from Lazy Oaf (ships internationally).

5. Urbanears Plattan headphones in turquoise, 60EUR, from Urbanears (ships internationally).

6. Archie Grand Celebrities I Met and Liked notebook, AU$19.95, from NoteMaker (ships to selected international countries).

7. Lazy Oaf Pink Rosy Bear Girl's Sweatshirt, £40, from Lazy Oaf (ships internationally).

8. Marc by Marc Jacobs jumble-embossed neoprene laptop case, £45, from Net-a-porter (ships internationally).

9. Diana multi–pinhole operator camera, £46, from Selfridges.

10. Apple Notes, AU$9.95, from Raw Space (contact Raw Space for international deliveries. UK readers can purchase Apple Notes from the V&A for £4.50.

11. Painted Beauty Glide On Nail Colour Holiday 2010 Collection, AU$22 each, by Mecca Cosmetica.

Sydney shopping: Finders Keepers market

Phew. I'm a bit puffed. We moved into our new place last weekend and I've been trying to conquer the seemingly expanding mountain of boxes (I think they're breeding) while dealing with a 27-week baby bump and an ever-growing list of utterly mad pregnancy maladies.

But I was so delighted to take a break on the weekend and finally delve into some Australian independent design, in the form of the brilliant Finders Keepers market at Eveleigh's CarriageWorks.

It was my first visit to CarriageWorks and my first real foray into Australian independent design since returning from London. And after covering so many design markets in London (including Bust) and seeing the best of UK talent, I wasn't really sure what to expect. After all, when I left Sydney in February 2007, there wasn't an awful lot happening with local design and craft, but the scene has really taken off since then.

And joy, oh joy, Finders Keepers was an absolute treat! I was not only impressed by the high standard of work but also the diverse and beautifully collated line-up of 75 exhibitors, spanning furniture, fashion, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and stationery. The carefully considered mix of designers offered a new surprise at every turn (my head was just about spinning), neatly avoiding the trap of 'samey-ness' that can sometimes plague design markets.

CarriageWorks itself is a wonderfully cavernous and light-filled industrial location to hold a busy Christmas design market on a humid Sydney weekend, complete with an excellent bar and cafe.

Here are some of my Finders Keepers highlights, with more posts to come over the week. Overseas readers can also purchase some great Australian design by clicking on the websites, which link through to contact details, blogs and online stores.


Super-sweet rabbit characters adorn The Storybook Rabbit's collection of vintage plates.


Loved the 'Noice' biscuit tea-towel at Materialistic's stall.


Sophisticated simplicity from Mr & Mrs White's range of homewares and furniture.


Charming handprinted stationery at Write to Me features adorable vintage motifs.




Cory Child's beautifully pleated fabric necklaces.


Loving Bride and Wolfe's Scandi-inspired circle wall shelves - perfect for collectables and displaying children's figurines.


Vintage fabric and a whimsical timber panel illustration combine to make a gorgeous and unique handbag at Oktoberdee.


The Missing Piece's handcrafted stools feature beautiful organic design and unexpected pops of colour.


The most splendid pre-loved vintage books have been repurposed as journals, photo albums, diaries and sketchbooks at Rebound Books.


'Scratchie' cards, advent calendars and beautiful graphics at TMOD.

Adorable handcrafted creatures (think pugs, owls and foxes) and whimsical embroidery at Cat Rabbit. (Nice website, too.)




Lox+Savvy's brilliant installation of a paper metropolis and eye-popping collection of stationery.

Finders Keepers markets are bi-annual events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Visit their website (and check out their brilliant blog) for more information about the next event.

For more photos, click here for my Flickr set.

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for her

I'm on a roll compiling all my new wee finds into Christmas gift guides. Such fun! Here's one for the girls, starting at £6.75.

1. PPQ Letters SteamCream, £9.95, from Liberty (ships internationally).

2. 3.1 Phillip Lim printed silk-satin bralette, £99, and printed silk-satin shorts, £99, from Net-a-Porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

3. Philosophy limited edition Apricots and Cream shower gel, AU$38, from Mecca Cosmetica (ships to Australia and New Zealand).

4. Comfort and Joy by India Knight, £6.75, from Wee Birdy’s UK Amazon store (ships internationally).

5. Melly Rose gold small face Liberty knot watch, £55, from Liberty (ships internationally).

6. Kimono fabric mirrors, £9.95 each, from Muji.

7. ‘Use my beehive’ tea towel,  £11, by Donna Wilson (ships internationally).

8. Vivienne Westwood Chick & Gem Stone Egg brooch, £115, from Vivienne Westwood (ships internationally).

9. L'Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubereuse EDP 100ml, £78, from Space NK.

10. Shall we Dance? by Maggie Alderson, AU$32.95, from Borders (free delivery within Australia). For international shipping, purchase from Readings.

11. Women’s necklace, £29, from Cos (instore only).

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for romantics

My top picks of the best wee pretties around, starting at £10.

1. Charbonnel et Walker pink Marc De Champagne truffles (oh dear god, my favourites), £11.50, from Liberty (ships internationally).

2. D.L. & Co Le Pomme rose mini candle, £30, from Liberty (ships internationally).

3. Stella McCartney Knickers of the Week camisole, £65, from Net-a-Porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

4. Bourjois limited edition Paris-themed blush pots, AU$20, for Australian stockists call 1800 181 040 (available from Boots in the UK).

5. Guerlain Or Impérial Sublime Radiant Powder Face & Body, US$85, from Sephora.

6. Pink Rob Ryan journal, £12, from John Lewis (only ships within the UK).

7. MOR Lychee Flower Lip Delight, AU$14.95, from MOR. (UK readers can purchase MOR products from Space NK).

8. Strange Invisible Perfumes in Prima Ballerina, £120, from Content (ships internationally).

9. Day Birger et Mikkelsen pearly knitted open-ended necklace, £60, from Net-a-Porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for fashion lovers

The new YSL book, a luxe but affordable Manolo Blahnik shoe horn, the perfect Vivienne Westwood party dress and beautifully constructed silk-satin Marni undies ... all manner of marvellous presents for lovers of fashion.

1. Bloch yellow patent ballerina flats, £105, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

2. Erdem Narcisse scarf for the V&A, £185, from the V&A shop (ships internationally).

3. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel mohair-blend heart intarsia scarf, £160, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

4. Marni silk-satin bandeau bra, £155, and silk-satin briefs, £97, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

5. Tortoiseshell shoe horn by Manolo Blahnik for Liberty, £25, from Liberty (UK only).

6. The Fitzgerald large gold mirror spike necklace, £90, from Jennifer Loisell’s Etsy store.

7. Firework brooch, £81, by Tatty Devine (ships internationally).

8. Yves Saint Laurent by Farid Chenoune, Florence Müller, Jéromine Savignon, Bernard Blistène, £32.55, from Wee Birdy’s UK Amazon store.

9. Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Friday printed cotton dress, £395, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).