Wee Birdy

Wee find: Ella Doran for Glasgow School of Art

One of the wee finds I stumbled across in the Glasgow School of Art shop is this collection of stationery and homewares by London designer Ella Doran, whose shop I reviewed a few years ago.

Capturing some of the more unknown details of Mackintosh's building in her inimitable photographic style, Ella's produced a range of notebooks, mugs and coaster for the shop. Apparently she used the student tour guides' list of favourite 'hidden' spots for inspiration.

Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew Street
Glasgow G3 6RQ
Tel. 0141 353 4526
Nearest underground: Cowcaddens

Shopping in London: Caravan

When I first moved to London three years ago there wasn’t a lot happening on Redchurch Street … but my, how things have changed. With the opening of Terence Conran’s traditional British caff Albion at Boundary Project, as well as a slew of pop-up shops, boutiques and galleries, not to mention its proximity to Shoreditch House and Tea, Redchurch Street has evolved into East London’s latest destination for hipsters and cool kids.

But don’t let that put you off. Especially when there are so many delights to be discovered at Caravan, which moved from its Spitalfields Market location 18 months ago. The brainchild of interiors stylist Emily Chalmers, this cosy and welcoming boutique is filled with the kind of lovely stuff you never knew you really wanted (or so desperately needed), like angel wings for candles, toadstool lamps and white ceramic owl money boxes.

 
It’s superbly edited and excellent for last-minute gifts, especially for those who love their stuff feminine and quirky with a vintage edge. And you can pick up some exceptionally well-priced things and get change from a tenner, like ceramic animal jugs (£8.50 each), small furry deers (£9.95) and hare snowdomes (£8.50).

Caravan is also the main retail outlet for Deborah Bowness’ distinctive hand-printed wallpaper, as well as the main UK stockist for iconic Jielde lamps. There’s also a variety of glass display domes from £29 – perfect for showcasing your favourite pieces Victorian-style (see what I mean about things you never knew you wanted?).

The online shop is equally lovely, with a good selection of some of the shop’s best-sellers, as well as a newsy and inspirational blog.

Keep an eye out for super-friendly shop-cat Bagpuss, who may just come and rub his head on your shins as you consider your purchases.

Caravan
3 Redchurch Street
London E2 7DJ
Tel. 020 7033 3532
Nearest tube: Liverpool Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map

Opening hours:
11am - 6.30pm every day until Christmas Eve.
Special late night opening until 8pm every Thursday

Click here for nearby shops I’ve reviewed in East London.

Christmas shopping nights in London – part 1

It’s that time of year again when I round up my favourite spots for Christmas shopping in London. There’s a plethora of events, markets, and shopping nights on offer this time around, from candlelight shopping on Cheshire Street to buying direct from the artisans at Cockpit Studios. With a focus on the hand-made, design-led and independent shops, here are my top picks (part two is coming tomorrow)...

26 November: One Night in November Xmas
This East London shopping night boasts an excellent line-up of designers including byGraziela (retro-style kids’ bedding), Studio Special (cool clocks) and Share the Feeling (stocking fillers handmade in Hackney). There will also be extra Christmas cheer by way of champagne, cupcakes and raffles. 7-10pm, Thursday 26 November, 20 St. Philip’s Road, E8 3BP.

 

26-29 November: Made in Clerkenwell at Craft Central
Buy direct from over 70 designers at the Craft Central studios, and take your pick from a variety of jewellery, fashion, homewares, ceramics, accessories and traditional crafts. Don’t miss The Design Pop-up Shop, which features Esther Coombs’ distinctive ceramics (see below). Click here for all the details. Adm £2.50.

26-29 November: Homeworks
This collective of designer-makers, including the likes of Made with Love by Mrs Booth, Petra Boase and Lou Rota (see below), will be holding a Christmas sale at the Twentieth Century Theatre in Notting Hill. Click here for all the details. Adm £1 for the Special Yoga Centre.

 
27-29 November: Hidden Art London Christmas Fair
Setting up shop at the Old Truman Brewery, the fair will offer up some great alternative gift options from around 60 UK designer-makers. Take advantage of a sustainable gift-wrapping service by Fabrications, and there will also be drop-in craft workshops for children. Click here for all the details.

27 November: Cockpit Arts Open Studio
Buy direct from the artisans at this open-studio event, held at both the Holborn and Deptford locations. Nosey around their studios and consider your purchases over a glass of mulled wine or two. Click here for all the details.

Shopping in London: Ryantown goes B&W

Everything's in black and white at Rob Ryan's shop Ryantoon at the moment, with all stock - from cushions and prints to tiles and decorative packing tape - rendered in a monochrome palette. Genius idea. Check it out while it lasts - until November 15.

Ryantown
126 Columbia Road
London E2 7RG
Nearest tubes: Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Saturday 1pm-4pm
Sunday 9am-4pm

For more shops in East London, click here. 

All images courtesy of Rob Ryan.

Birdy picks of the week: the Anthropologie edition

Today's the day! I've been saving up this week's birdy pick to coincide with Anthropologie's grand opening today in London. And really, no other store does birds quite as well as Anthropologie.

Here are my top Anthro birdy picks from the London store (note that each Anthropologie store stocks slightly different stuff):
1. Gladiator bird, finch with key, £258.
2. Hasty hatchling necklace, £258.
3. Flight-Of-Swans dress, £258.
4. Bird hook, £20.
5. Gladiator bird, Quail, £218.
6. Tweeting tea party dishtowel, £22.
7. Birder dishtowel in blue, £16.

Click here to read my sneak peek inside London's Anthropologie earlier this week. 

Anthropologie
158 Regent Street
London, W1B 5SW
Tel. 7529 9800
Nearest tube: Piccadilly
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 10am-7pm
Thursday 10am-8pm
Friday to Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 12 noon-6pm