Page 92 – A Little Bird

21st November 201827th October 2021

Deck the Halls!

For most of us the ritual of dressing the Christmas tree signals the beginning of yuletide festivities. Whether you’re a traditionalist, one-colour only conformist, or anything goes, we hope you’ll find something here to add to your collection:

Mistletoe and Wreaths

Felt Mistletoe, £27 Trouva
Pom-pom wreath, £108 Anthropologie
Mini Jingle Bells wreath, £24.99, H&M

Garlands

Clockwise from top left:

1. Innovative light up copper star, £13.95 Graham and Green
2. Zinc stars, £24.50 Petersham Nurseries
3. Star fairy lights, £12 White Company
4. Silver and gold bell garland, £35 Graham & Green
5. Super stylish 1-metre bell garland from Petersham, which wins hands down on the style front this Christmas. Pay the Covent Garden store a visit. £10 Petersham Nurseries

Tree Toppers

1. Our top pick for tree toppers is this Lama, £22 V&A
2. Golden dove £35 Anthropologie
3. Light-up tree topper, £25 Heal’s
4. Fairy Tree Topper, £16.50 Meri Meri

Classic and Traditional

Melchior wise king, £40 Harrods
Beautiful velvet bauble, £30 Harrods
Gold Tone Jingle Bell Cluster, £6.95 Liberty
Large etched bauble, £35 Graham & Green
Queen Victoria from Buckingham Palace, £12.95 Royal Collection Shop
Painted floral bauble, £16, harrods.com
Beaded star, £8 Debenhams

Animal Kingdom

Left-right from top:

Glitter octopus, £6 Debenhams
Flying pig, £9 Selfridges
Harry the polar bear, £22 Fine Cell Work
Lama, £22 Harrods
Golden octopus £18 Anthropologie
Felt dalmatian, £7.50 Cox & Cox
Toucan, £20 Conran Shop
Decked out dog, £14 Anthropologie

Good enough to eat

Rainbow lolly, £14 Selfridges
Amalfi Lemon, £12 Petersham Nurseries
Glass glitter aubergine, £5 Paperchase
Pickle, £10 Harrods
Turkey Platter, £15 Fortnum and Mason

Monogrammed

Jewelled Alphabe, £25 Fortnum & Mason
Beaded monogram, £8 Anthropologie
Light-up Alphabet Letters, £4 M&S

21st November 201827th October 2021

25% off at Chinti & Parker

We’ve teamed up with the gorgeous cashmere and womenswear label, Chinti & Parker, to offer A Little Bird readers a brilliant 25% discount off when shopping online. Just type in the code ALBCHINTI25 to the discount section when checking out, press on APPLY and it will automatically take 25% all full priced items (including their brand new Resort 2019 Collection). The offer is available for 10 days from 21st November, is only available for one use per customer and is not to be used in conjunction with any other discount code. Happy Shopping!

21st November 201827th October 2021

Christmas Presents for Babies, Children and Teens

From stocking fillers to big presents, shop our Christmas gift guide for babies, children and teens:

Christmas Presents for Babies By Chiara Allsup

Pull along baby reindeer, £40 at The Modern Nursery

Father Christmas will be visiting for the first time, choose a stocking that will be hung by the fireplace with excitement for many years to come like this simple design, £40 Skandium.

For baby’s first encounter with the turkey, this sweet cotton bib, £15 at Liberty

Little drummers can lead the carols on this classic toy instrument, and parents will be thankful that the drumstick has a rubber head to soften the din! £20 at kidly.co.uk

Hand-knitted mittens on a string from Kalinka, £45 at scandimini.co.uk

A Steiff teddy bear is a friend for life. Tip the bear upside down to delight babies with Teddy’s signature growl. £135 at Steiff.

Red baby bonnet to brighten winter walks, €12,95 at Patricia Mendiluce, also available in-store at Beeboon.

Christmas Presents for Small Children

Skipping rope, £14 from Les Jouets Libres

Amsterdam’s chicest bicycle brand now do balance bikes for ages 2-4 in rainbow colours, €99 at veloretti.com

Roar! Wearable lion mane, £16.50 at meri meri.

Ladybird knit cape, £127 at Stella McCartney. The tights are sweet too.

Maileg Christmas mice in a book, £45 libertylondon.com

Personalised children’s storybook for ages 2-5, £18.88 at papier.co.uk.

Le Toy Van make beautiful dolls houses, and this Red Barn to fill with farm animals, £44 smallable.com

Christmas Presents for Older Children

Rio roller skates, £39.95 at Skate Hut

Wise owl pen pot, £18 at the V&A

Dreaming of a white Christmas? This classic Sirch sledge can be bought with a screw-on back rest for children, £39 at Connox.

Starter acrylic set with Daler Rowney brushes, paints and paper, £29.95 at Cass Art

This table tennis table doubles up as a chalk board, £275 at the Conran Shop

From the plane Amelia Earhart’s flew across the Atlantic in, to The Blue Whale at the Natural History Museum, discover amazing objects from museums around the world in Molly Oldfield’s new picture book for ages 9-11. £14.99 amazon.co.uk

Giant football colouring-in poster, £12 from Omy

Christmas Presents for Teens

Kiipix smartphone picture printer, £39.95 at harrods.com

Gold star-struck studs, £50 at Missoma

Sneaker cleaning wipes, £15 at Urban Outfitters

Personalised chocolate peanut butter spread, £4.99 at Selfridges

Shimmer bear socks, £6 at Oliver Bonas

Classic casio water-resistant watch in bright blue, £22 at Casio

Child-friendly neon lightening bolt, £55 from the Little Lovely Company

15th November 201815th November 2018

Good Grief, Charlie Brown at Somerset House

For those of us who grew up with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang, this is a great trip down memory lane. For children not familiar with the world’s longest running comic strip (Schulz created 17,897 strips during his life, syndicated to over 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries and translated into 21 languages), this is a fun show with lots of interaction sections – there’s a Snoopy Cinema and light boxes to help draw the Peanuts gang – and a great addition to an ice skating session. For those looking for something more complex, look no further than the art works created in response to the comic strip by artists including Ryan Gander and Fiona Banner. Indeed, it’s easy to underestimate the power of Schulz’s comic strip which broke cultural and religious barriers and even garnered support for a ‘Snoopy’ for President campaign (NASA took a silver Snoopy to the moon to raise awareness). This silver Snoopy is on show alongside many of the original comic strips, vintage products and of course, the most brilliant gift shop. It’s a treat of a show for all ages and don’t miss also the Skate with Snoopy events who will appear at special events throughout the season.

15th November 201825th October 2021

Bulgari Hotel’s Breakthrough Women in Film Series

Bulgari Hotel’s Breakthrough Women in Film Series is back with four preview screenings this winter. Championing female filmmakers and storylines, each showing is followed by a live Q&A with the director or a member of the cast. The first three films in the line-up have been announced with a further showing to follow in March:

Friday 16 November– My Year With Helen

The story of New Zealand’s first female Prime Minster, Helen Clark who went on to attempt to become the United Nations’ first-ever female Secretary-General. Revealing an impenetrable glass ceiling, My Year With Helen gives a glimpse into Helen’s bid for the top job.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark will be hosting this screening and Q&A.

Friday 25 January– Only You

Laia Costa and Josh O’Connor play a couple who, after a one-night stand on New Year’s Eve, fall madly in love. Within weeks they are living together, and not long after they begin trying for a child. When conception isn’t immediate, pressure builds on the pair and the idea of a family begins to overshadow their relationship.

Harry Wootliff and her award-winning producer Rachel Dargavel will host the screening and Q&A.

February TBC– Madeline’s Madeline

Madeline’s Madeline (MUBI) is the latest film from writer and director Josephine Decker that deals with the messy struggles of self-reflection and coming-of-age. One of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, Decker is said to be ushering in a “new grammar of narrative” according to The New Yorker. Q&A host TBC.

Exclusive access will be available via Eventbrite in exchange for a £10 donation to Bulgari’s chosen charity, Save The Children.

Prior to the film, ticket holders can also enjoy canapés from 6.30pm, along with champagne and wines to be enjoyed at the screening room foyer. Each showing will commence at 7.15pm.

15th November 201827th October 2021

Cabana and Luke Edward Hall Pop-Up Shops

If you’re looking for that very extra special Christmas present (for yourself or somebody else!), then don’t miss two very stylish pop-ups that have just opened this week. First up is Cabana, from the beautiful interiors magazine, in Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade. Open until December 24th, it features their trademark colourful prints everywhere in a jewel-box like spot over two floors. There’s a plate wall and numerous bags, table linens and ceramics featuring their colourful patterns. Alongside these sits a selection of vintage items and products sourced from around the world including jewellery and silk pyjamas. You’ll also find the Viennese inspired collection of glassware and linens from the collaboration between Cabana and Aerin Lauder, all hand blown and painted in Murana. The shop is a riot of colour and all in the most beautiful taste.

Luke Edward Hall’s Pop-Up corner on the 3rd Floor of Liberty is equally as colourful. (Read our previous interview with Edward Hall on his favourite coffee table books here). Featuring his vivid classical, Romanesque sketches on chairs, prints, cushions and vases, he has also added in his favourite products from within the store and some vintage finds. There are marbled obelisks from Parvum Opus, maker of bespoke desk furnishings, books from specialists Beaux Books, velvet slippers from Stubbs and Wootton and glasses from Campbell Rey. It’s a fascinating, quirky, must-have mix and if you can’t make it down to Liberty, then you can shop a selection online here.

15th November 201827th October 2021

Holiday Season Party Looks

The invitations have started rolling in; let’s get the party started. Here’s our edit of perennial party classics and one-off gems. It turns out all that glitters is gold after all…

Skirts and Dresses

Dorothy ‘Wizard of Oz’ would approve of this skirt. Serafina skirt by A Detacher £445

2. Everyone needs a silver skirt in their wardrobe. TFNC sequin pleated midaxi skirt in silver, £60 at ASOS.

3. Understated chic with Della metallic skirt by Iris £125.

1. Epitome of grown-up party attire. Stine Goya crushed velvet maxi dress £330

2. A firm favourite this one. Also available at The Cross, Holland Park Banjanan Joy Velvet dress £759.

3. And another super glam option is the Edith Reed Print Maxi Dress, £319 at Whistles.

One of the key looks this season is the slip dress. Here in canary yellow. Lilly Camisole in silk velvet £125 by Klements.

2. From Rixo London, who have a party outfit for every occasion …. This Ava multi-striped sequin dress is also available in long camisole version. £295

Other-worldly floaty dress. Devore dress £338 at The Kooples.
This versatile Riley dress comes in a teal too. £195 at Ghost.
We bring you the Little Black Dress for 2019. Short velvet dress £260 at Sandro

Trousers & Jumpsuits

Ease off on the mince pies before attempting this look. Donna stretch-satin jumpsuit Staud £285
Dress up or down we love these Zara Joggers with shiny side stripes £25.99.
One-piece wonder. Kate bottle green jumpsuit £240 at Rock the Jumpsuit.

A lifetime investment. Collection leather leggings, in navy, black or burgundy £495 at J Crew.

Tops

Not a sequin in sight with this fab Golden Goose Deluxe Brand floral shirt £235.

For a party in an art gallery team this Forte Forte tiered maxi skirt £483 with a gold Metallic Satin Blouse from And Other Stories, £69.

Accessories

Steal the show with these Beaded circular drop earrings Sylvia Toledano £160.

J Crew has a reputation for awesome costume jewellery ever since they collaborated with St Martin’s when they first landed in the UK. These Hoop floral earrings will get any party started. From £33.

Bargain of the week. Rainbow hoop earrings £8, Accessorize.

15th November 201827th October 2021

Sustainable Christmas Presents

‘Toxic’ has been deemed the word of the year for 2018. Eliminate single-use plastics with these eco-friendly Christmas presents:

Handmade glass straws with coloured tips from Strawgrace, £11.95

Replace single-use paper napkins for linen, £18 for two at Rowen and Wren

Cult unisex trainers from Veja, €125

Re-usable shopping bags that folds into teeny-tiny lightweight ball in your handbag from Baggu.

Christmas Pear Fig and Port chutney made by Rubies in the Rubble. All their condiments are made using fruit and veg that would otherwise be wasted by the UK’s supermarkets, farmers and markets. £9.50

LOVE nail polish from the world’s first eco-friendly varnish brand, Kure Bazaar £15

Stud star earrings, Lark & Berry £450, made using ethical ‘cultured’ diamonds.

Scottish Handwoven Wool Blanket, £175 aerende.co.uk

Replace liquid soap and all the packaging that comes with it with bars. Badgers Velvet Dirty Soap, £10 badgersvelvet.com

De-bobble your jumpers and make your clothes last longer with a Swedish Pilo Fabric Shaver, £36

Swap cling film with a wrap made from organic cotton and beeswax. This three-part set for cheese includes a 10% donation to The British Beekeepers Association.

Disposable paper tea bags are full of toxins, pesticides and dioxins. Go loose leaf, with this Afternoon Tea Set complete with in-cup brewer from Good + Proper Tea, £26

Swap out j-cloths for a crocheted cotton fish scrubby, £14 for two at Anthropologie

Wildflowers for Butterflies and Bees seed gift box, £12 at Petersham Nurseries

Brown paper and colourful twine makes a chic alternative to wrapping paper which is often not fully recyclable. Nutscene garden twine, £7.75 or coloured raffia, £5.99.

Stop synthetic plastic fibres escaping into the environment with a Guppy Friend Washing Bag, £25

This reusable Liberty primula print S’Well bottle keeps drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours, £42

Throw away plastic biro’s be gone. Stick to a signature fountain pen like this safari LAMY, £20

14th November 201815th November 2018

Emma Chichester Clark

We had the privilege of meeting one of our favourite childrens’ authors and illustrators a few weeks ago. Most well known for Lily and the Blue Kangaroo series, Plum Dog and also for illustrating the classic Three Little Monkeys, written by her former tutor Quentin Blake, Chichester Clark sat down with us at The Langham Hotel after doing a book reading (for more details about The Daunts Childrens Tea, read about it here).

What was your favourite children’s book growing up?

Madeline. I loved the drawings, the rhyming language and she was such a feisty heroine. Plus they were genuinely dramatic stories which you just don’t get as much these days. My most recent book, The Rescue of Bunny Bunny, for example is rather anti spoilt children and it’s not really a happy ending for the child.

Who are your favourite artists?

Goya, Picasso and Balthus, although he isn’t so popular now.

Francisco de Goya, Spanish, 1746 – 1828, Señora Sabasa Garcia, c. 1806/1811, oil on canvas, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

What advice would you give to illustrators/authors just starting their careers?

To be true to yourself. What is most personal to you is what is going to most interesting to others. There is a lot of peer pressure to do what your peers are doing but I think it is honesty that always wins through. I spent my whole life trying to work out my illustrating style and then I discovered that it is the one that is closest to my handwriting. It is what comes most naturally and what is closest to your heart.

Which is your favourite bookshop in London?

I’m lucky enough to live in West London with a brilliant Daunts Bookshop around the corner. They have such a great selection of books, I always love going there.

Lily and the Blue Kangaroo are such a popular series. Why do you think that is?

I base quite a lot of my books on my own childhood injustices. I haven’t had children, only step children but I was the eldest child and lived through all my siblings coming along. I think children feel these things quite strongly.

Can you tell us what you are working on next?

Three Little Monkeys Go On Holiday. They go and stay with Hilda’s mother in the country and wreck it but they also save her. Quentin has also written a third book too. He wrote the original book way back about 30 years for me when he was my tutor but I was already working on a series about monkeys and so the books got shelved. In a way I’m glad that I illustrated them a little later in my career though as I don’t think I would have done a very good job earlier on!

14th November 201825th October 2021

Advent Calendars for Children

From luxury beauty to high street bling, the world’s gone mad for advent calendars. For children it’s about the countdown to Christmas itself. These are our favourite chocolate-free advent calendars this year:

Meri Meri Railway Advent Calendar

There are 24 wooden pieces to find within the North Pole Railway Station, fit them together to make winter railway. £29 merimeri.co.uk

Biscuiteers Christmas Circus Advent Calendar

A Susie Watson cloth calendar to keep year after year, and a tin full of colourful circus biscuits to go inside each pouch. £99, biscuiteers.com

Emily Sutton’s 3D Toy Shop Advent Calendar

A Christmas Toy Shop brought to life by children’s illustrator, Emily Sutton this calendar arrives flat-packed but can be folded out into 3D, complete with roof, sign, awning and a cast of supporting characters. £9.50 blackbough.co.uk

Liberty’s Traditional Advent Calendar

Liberty stock a range of traditional German paper calendars complete with glitter, including this Christmas scene where children rule the roost, £8.95 libertylondon.com

Christmas at The National Gallery Calendar

Father Christmas meets Nelson in Trafalgar Square in this magical scene. Open up the doors to find a different detail from the National Gallery’s collection including Constable, Manet, Botticelli and more. £7.50 nationalgallery.co.uk

12 Days of Christmas Puzzle Advent Calendar

Each door opens to reveal an 80-piece puzzle, with the twelve pictures all coming together to create one almighty Christmas scene. £20 shop.rnli.org

Traditional Nativity Advent Calendar with a fresco from Spoleto

This traditional nativity advent calendar is illustrated with a fresco from Spoleto Cathedral by Pinturicchio (1513). £4.99 traditionaladventcalendars.co.uk

Snowy Hyde Park Advent Calendar

Spot the gaggle of geese, sledging children and hardy joggers in this image of London’s Hyde Park. £8 johnlewis.com

Meri Meri Christmas Tree Calendar

One decoration every day to add to your fold-out honeycomb paper tree. £13.50 merimeri.co.uk

Colour-in Advent Calendar

A fold-out calendar to colour-in every day until Christmas. £6.99 usborne.com

Caspari Christmas Ballet Advent Calendar

A Christmas ballet with nutcrackers, ballerinas, giant candy canes and a twinkling tree. £15, casparionline.com

Highgrove House Advent Calendar

All eyes are on HRH Prince Charles as he celebrates his 70th birthday. This design by Alison Gardiner celebrates Christmas at his royal residence, Highgrove House complete with the Queen’s corgi waiting at the door. £12 fortnumandmason.com

13th November 201827th October 2021

Christmas Markets, Open Studios & Fairs

We’ve trawled through many a Yuletide Shopping event in previous years and these are our definite favourites for this season.

Kindred Open Studios

A creative home for over 170 crafts makers, you’ll not only find great Christmas presents but also poetry readings by William Sieghart, calligraphy and weaving workshops, dance, food, music and much, much more. Find the full programme of events here. Kindred Studios, 18 Saltram Cresent, W9 3HW. Open 17 – 18 November.

Swedish Christmas Market

Taking place at the Swedish Church in Marylebone, the Swedish Market sells Christmas decorations, food, candles, gifts and all things Scandi. You can also eat and drink here at the cafe. Do note though that Saturday can get very busy with queues to get in so try to visit on either the Thursday or Sunday instead. Swedish Church, 6 Harcourt Street, W1H 4AG. Opening times: 22 November: 11am – 8pm, 24 November: 11am – 7pm & 25 November: midday – 5pm.

Cockpit Arts Open Studio

One of the best ways to buy directly from independent crafts people is at these two open studio events where you can meet 170 makers including weavers, ceramists and jewellers. The first event is 23 – 25 November at Holborn, Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, WC1N 2NP whilst the second is 30 November – 2 December in Deptford, 18 – 22 Creekside, SE8 3DZ. Advance tickets are £5 and you can buy them here.

Cressida Bell Open Studio

Find the most beautiful scarves, lampshades, stationery and many more items at this Christmas Open Studio, including some seconds at reduced prices. 29 November: midday – 8pm; 1 December: 10am – 6pm & 2 December: midday – 6pm at 24 – 26 Clarence Mews, E5 8HL

Antonia Graham’s Christmas Home Sale

The founder of Graham & Green’s annual Home sale is always full of the most wonderful things sourced in India and beyond. Find Nehru jackets, pretty kimonos from Jaipur, and hand-knitted socks from the Himalayas. 16-20 November: 10am-6pm at 12 Findon Road, W12 9PP.

The Hand Sale

Top independent brands come together for this bi-annual sale – think velvet cushions from Kristen Hecktermann, sculpted lights from Viola Lenari, clothing from Bolam Style and jewellery from Drift. 28 November: 6 – 9pm, 29 November: 10am – 8pm and 30 November: 10am – 5pm at St Mary Abbot’s Centre, Vicarage Gate, Kensington, W8 4HN.

The Monocle Christmas Market

If you’re looking for a Yuletide experience with a twist, then head to the Monocle Christmas Market. Yes, there will be grazing reindeer, mulled wine and Father Christmas but you’ll also find an array of stalls from both local Marylebone business and international labels, all hand picked by Monocle. 1- 2 December, 11am – 5pm both days, free entry at Monocle HQ, Midori House, 1 Dorset Street, W1U 4EG.

Belgravia Christmas Market

Find over 60 boutique market stalls (including some of our favourite labels such as Smalls) plus Christmas carols, festive food and mulled wine at this market on Elizabeth Street and Eccleston Yards. 2 December, 11- 5pm.

Babyccino Kids Shop-Up

If you’re shopping for children this Christmas, then we can’t recommend the Babyccino Kids Shop-Up more highly. Held at the Chelsea Town Hall, King’s Road, SW3 5EE on 2 December: 11am – 6pm & 3 December: 10am – 5pm, the independent shop stalls are extremely well curated including the gorgeous Niddle Noddle and Greenberry Kids. Entry is free and you’ll also find a resident Santa, craft classes and mini photo shoots available too.

Further afield, don’t miss the Charleston Frost Fair on 24 November: 11am – 5pm at the Hay Barn, Charleston, where there will be over 30 craftmakers including Molly Mahon’s textiles and Rathfinny wine plus there will be free kids arts and crafts sessions and a resident Snow Queen. Entry is £5.

And finally, the Great Dixter Christmas Market has some of our very favourite stalls including Badgers Velvet, Cambridge Imprint and Persephone Books all selling their wares in the old Medieval Outbuildings and barns. The shop and nursery will both be open too. Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6PH. 24 – 25 November: 10am – 4pm. Entrance is £5.