Wee Birdy

Birdy (and Xmas) pick of the week

 

I have a rather ambitious plan for Christmas baking this week. There's gingerbread snowflake cookies (using my mum's gingerbread recipe and the Peggy Porschen icing designs I learnt at her cake decorating class in London), my mum's apricot balls, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's peppermint creams (I think it's a children's recipe, which suits me fine), and Karen Martini's Florentines.

A cinch, surely. But if I wanted to make things a bit simpler for myself, I might consider whipping up a batch of cupcakes and decorating them with these adorable cupcake decorations by Meri Meri. The Tweet Tweet Cupcake kit, US$11.95, featuring cupcake picks and wrappers in hand-drawn bird designs, would be great for any kind of celebration, while the Tis the Season and Nutcracker Tale Cupcake kits (complete with Mouse King, Clara ballerina and Nutcracker cake picks), would instantly transform plain vanilla cupcakes into suitably festive affairs.

I shall report back on how the baking bonanza goes!

What about you? Are you planning to make any sweet treats for Christmas?

Wee Christmas finds: Papermash loveliness

The rather lovely UK-based online stationery shop, Papermash, has stocked up on some super-sweet things for Christmas.

I love the wine letterpress gift tags (£2.25), the dainty and delicate tissue snowflake card (£5, and it ships flat) and the very special London snow globe print, which was designed by Clare Owen (and is exclusive to Papermash, £46). I think I really need one on my wall to remind of London's winter wonderland right now (it's way too hot, humid and sticky here in Sydney!).

And if you're in a crafty mood, you might like to try the pretty snowflake doily project, which is featured in the 'Free' section of the site.

www.papermash.co.uk

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.

Wee Christmas finds: Beautiful fresh wreaths

Back in 2008 I did a countdown to the top 10 wreaths in London, but many of the wreaths I loved then are still around now. This Christmas I just can't go past The Real Flower Company's glorious collection of fresh scented wreaths. With two farms in Hampshire and Kenya, the UK-based company offers the convenience of ordering flowers online, as well as a shop in Selfridges' food hall.

The Real Flower Company's signature scented garden roses dominate this year's Christmas collection of door wreaths, garlands, table wreaths and bouquets, while traditional red and green arrangements feature bountiful sprigs of thyme and rosemary combined with rose hips, ivy leaves and silver grey senecio. I particularly love the addition of a romantic Odile hurricane lamp to the centre of each table wreath.

The last delivery before Christmas is Thursday 23 December, but to ensure delivery orders need to be placed by Friday 17 December.

The Real Flower Company

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for wee kids

This one was super-difficult to edit down into one post - there is just so much good stuff online for little kids. Hope my picks help with the wee ones.

1. Indie Rock Coloring Book by Yellow Bird Project, £5.27, from Wee Birdy's UK Amazon shop. (or US$9.95 from Wee Birdy's US Amazon shop). Both stores ship internationally.

2. Handmade cotton Socks the Fox, US$46, from Blabla (ships internationally).

3. Plastisock short sleeve 'Peace Please' T-shirt in yellow, US$24, from Vyssan Lull (only ships within the US.)

4. All About Heidi handmade leather summer shoe, available in a rainbow of colours, $39.95, from My Messy Room (ships internationally).

5. Wooden Solar System, £16.95, from Muji.

6. The Small Object Thumbprint Notecard Set by Sarah Neuburger, US$11.53, from Wee Birdy's US Amazon store (ships internationally) and £6.39 from the UK Amazon store (ships internationally).

7. Hip Stuff Groovy Maracas in blue spot, AU$12, from The Hip Infant (ships internationally).

8. 'Alphabet favourites' print, £20, from Made with Love by Mrs Booth (ships internationally).

9. Press out Giraffe, £3.95, from Muji.

10. Doggie booties, US$27, from Blabla (ships internationally).

11. Duktig 15-piece breakfast set, AU$10.04, from IKEA.