Birch + Bird Vintage Home Interiors

This weekend was the kick off for my holiday cheer, fa-la-la! My in-laws offered to watch the kids (and who am I to deny grandparents their grand-babies…), so I gladly obliged and as soon as they were safely away I shuttled myself off for a full afternoon of shopping. And I’m so very glad to get the worst of it out of the way. Just a few more gifts to sort out and I’ll be able to take a deep breath, relax and focus on the important bits of the season. Family, the real meaning of Christmas, and traditions like baking and crafts galore.

Starting with this advent tree tutorial by Paige Russell that I found on one of my Pinterest wanderings. It was so easy to print out the templates and, although it took a bit of time to cut out and piece together, all I needed to buy were some small envelopes from Michaels and some Christmas candies (I also used up some stray treats from Halloween) and voila! Well, this isn’t mine…I’ll post pics of my finished product on my next post…but I was able to fit 3 treats, one for each of my kids, into each envelope and I know they’ll have so much fun opening them!

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Although I continually struggle to add more “simple” to my busy life, I couldn’t help but catch the frenzy amongst sale-hunting shoppers in more than one store this weekend. Several of my Canadian friends crossed the line to dive into the Black Friday sales and they said they felt the same…so much hype around the sales and flashing lights but when it comes down to it, do you really need it? I find it as hard to ignore blow-out sales as the rest of you but I also can’t ignore the continuous stream of items that are added to my Sally Ann bag almost weekly. So,  I’m going to take a big step back and try to enjoy some quiet moments like this…

Country’s Best Cabins, photo by Heidi Long.

Nothing says clean and simple like white. Some would argue that there’s nothing simple about a flocked tree, and I would usually agree, but I love how this one was placed on a wood pedestal table with natural birch poles propped in the corner. And I think I’ll always have a soft spot for whimsy touches like the ones on this all white mantle…

1. House & Home 2. House & Home

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh pine boughs and greenery to conjure up Christmas memories. Rachel and I are each lucky enough to have homes nestled amongst tall evergreens and, thanks to our recent windstorms, there are many a twig and branch ready and waiting to be put use like these…

1. Better Homes & Gardens 2. Sunset 3. Sunset

From a rustic log cabin to a more modern space, simple touches like woolen socks or bright bunting add festive touches to any design style. I love the how effortless and lovely Ez’s pinecone and deer look under glass…equally at home in a farmhouse or a sleek loft! Her 5 minute tinsel wreaths (here) are pretty great too…

1. House & Home 2. Design*Sponge 3. Creature Comforts 4. Lipstick on Your Teeth

A little known fact about Rachel and I is that we lived in the same apartment complex when we were first married, long before we’d ever met. And our starter homes were each 2-storied townhouse style units featuring loft bedrooms and  Jetson’s era wood burning stoves, very similar to the one below! My hubby and I loved lighting fires at night…there’s nothing better than falling to sleep listening to wood crackling! I would gladly cuddle up on the chair in this light filled room. The holiday decor is so simply Scandinavian!

Hus & Hem

Thankfully, retailers are catching on and there are a wide assortment of naturally simple holiday ornaments and decorations readily available. Mixed in with the right amount of glitter and splashes of red, little extras like these from Terrain and Toast bring the finishing touches to my favorite Christmas decor scheme…

1.Tree Skirt (no longer available) 2. Birdhouses 3. Glass Owls 4. Felted Mushroom1. Miniature Cowbell Garland 2. Cow Bell Tree Decorations

Last but never least, Etsy is always a goldmine of handcrafted treasures and she didn’t disappoint me tonight! I put together a treasury featuring neutral finds with some dashes of red thrown in for festive good measure and I’m really liking the colour combination. I’ve made several Christmas purchases on Etsy this season and there’s nothing better than receiving those lovingly packed packages in the mail…so much better than having your purchases thrown in a bag by a frazzles sales person! Never made an Etsy purchase before? No worries, follow the easy steps found here.

Top Row: Shaving Kit Supplies, Three Red Apples, Open Door Studio, Lucy Snowe Photography 2nd Row: Miss Annie May, Petits Details, Holli, Lonny 3rd Row: Doodle Birdie, Kathi Roussel, Skippy Designs, Funkyshique Bottom: Quotes and Notes, Spread the Love, French By Design, Eclu

Thanks for reading!

My first Christmas with our twin daughters is a blur to say the least.  I’m so glad I kept a journal so I can look back and dig out memories buried deep from sleep deprivation.   I hardly had enough time to eat and decorating for Christmas just wasn’t on my priority list.  I was certain that newborns probably wouldn’t notice a tree or not.  And I’m sure they’ll understand if it ever comes up.  However, my mom thought that was ridiculous and showed up one day with a bag full of Christmas decorations for my mantle.  There was going to be Christmas in our home after all.  Thank you mom.

These precious treasures are for those wee babies who will be celebrating their very first Christmas this year.  I’m lucky enough to know a few and I thought of them while I searched for these goodies.

This adorable little t is from Wren Willow.  Marla hand dyes and screen prints her very own illustrations.  She has a wide range of illustrations to choose from.  Why not get a shirt for the whole family? My good friend, Vicki, makes these quality reusable bags in all different sizes and shapes.  When you are packing everything but and the kitchen sink into your diaper bag, it’s nice to keep things somewhat organized.  Great for snacks, wet wipes, cosmetics,  they look great and they will last a long, long time.  I love good quality children’s toys a lot.  I’ve often dreamed of owning a little toy shop filled to the brim with good quality toys.  And Mama May I has what I love.  These sweet wooden blocks would be a great gift for a baby to grow into.  They are lovingly made with non-toxic paint and come with a draw string bag.

This handstiched rabbit from Timo Handmade reminds of the Velveteen Rabbit.  With his sweet little jeans and his striped flobby ears, I’m sure he’ll be “real” someday.  For bathtime or mealtime, these cozy cloths will keep your baby clean.  Don’t you love the owls?  I’m a sucker for Waldorf toys and I found these little Bundle Babies especially cute.  You can create your own custom bundle baby, the perfect size for those little hands.  Luis the Raccoon would make a charming keepsake and is just one of the kitschy characters that fill up One Little Red Fox‘s shop.

An adorable little bear hat on a sweet brand new baby.  Could it get any cuter that this?  This woodland creature mobile will beat a mass manufactured mobile any day.  Don’t you think?  Leslie, at Pink Perch, hand stitches all her whimsical, original creations.  Jenn crochets these darling baby boy booties and many more.  You have to see her Marigold Baby Ballet Flats!

Mary Wells creates all sorts of creatures from all sorts of fabrics.  And this little woolen mouse happens to be looking for a home at the moment.  Okay, this little boy takes my breath away.  Isn’t he adorable?  What a great gift a custom portrait would be!  Or how about one or two wobbly bowls for meal times?  There are cups to match and each piece is individually made.  And for those sore gums, this little fawn is made by Little Alouette. And they have plenty more old school cool teethers to choose from.

The portrait sketchings of  Lisa Golightly are featured in this December issue of Martha Stewart Living.  Her work is absolutely stunning and is available on Etsy.  Her custom sketch paintings would make heirloom gifts.  This one is definitely on my Christmas list.

So, there you go… a selection of heirloom and useful gifts for baby.

Is it just me, or are the men in your life tough cookies to buy gifts for too? Each Father’s Day, birthday, and Christmas comes with the same dilemma…what to buy my Dad? Father-in-Law?? Brothers-in-Law??? Not to mention my husband…well, actually, he’s probably the easiest of the bunch but I suppose that’s because I’ve helped to curate his good taste, tee-hee!  I thought online shopping would be just as difficult as wandering shop aisles but I found a surprisingly great selection of manly and stylish gifts for the dudes in my life…

I admit, my eye (but never my heart!) has been known to wander when a well-dressed fellow walks in the room, or past my grocery cart for that matter! What man wouldn’t look dapper in any of these stylin’ finds…

1. Gwen Delicious 2. Malam 3. Old Gold Boutique 4. Revolver

If the man on your list prefers the woods to the big city, here are some outdoorsy items that maintain their cool. Canoe is a Portland based store with a minimal yet fabulous online shop. As stated on their website, their concept is “to offer simple, beautiful, and functional objects that can be used and enjoyed everyday”…sounds like the perfect motto to me!

1. Aluminum Food Storage Box 2. American Bird Calls 3. Chopping Board & Knife 4. System Bottle

For those white collar boys, here are some great techie gifts that are far from geeky! I love the contrast of warm woodgrains and felted wool with high-tech devices…

1. Less and More 2. BP Custom Woodworks 3. Byrd and Belle 4. Grove Made

Although I prefer wine to beer (unless there are hot wings or a sunny beach involved), I really love this poster by Pop Chart Lab. Titled, “The Very Many Varieties of Beer”, this could very well push those flashing neon signs out of the man cave for good!

Pop Chart Lab

Since we’re redecorating the man cave, why not add some recycled sail pillows like these graphic ones from Reiter8. Aren’t they amazing? And to think…they could even have sped yachts across the high seas in their lifetime! Ahoy!  They even make Christmas stockings and bags, too!

1. Green Star Pillow 2. Number 3 Pillow 3. Sail Stockings 4. Black 5 Pillow

Peace4You has been a featured seller on Etsy’s blog, the Storque, for the last couple of days and I just couldn’t leave their stunning man-bags out of this testosterone induced selection. Made in Germany by Karl Paul, his wife and son,  recycled materials such as tarpulins, French army tents, navy kitbags are crafted into these sturdy, made-to-order bags. Seriously cool…

Peace4You

I now have no excuse for wandering blindly through Home Depot at the last moment…hope these ideas help you out as well!

I’ve always envied the Black Friday sales of our American neighbours to the south.  This day seems to be the official signal of Christmas shopping season.  I quite like the idea, really.  First a day of rest and Thanksgiving…then shopping extravaganza!  Our media always makes it out to sound so fantastic with people scrambling over top of each other  for that perfect gift at the lowest price ever.  Is it really like that?

1. Vintage Bookplate 2. Vintage Paper Pack 3. Vintage Bookplate

Well, Lily and I thought we would like to join in on the fun and have our own little Black Friday sale.  But ours starts now and goes through until midnight on Cyber Monday.  And you can shop from the comfort of your own home and avoid the crowds.

1. Aqua Apothecary Bottles 2. Edgeworth Tobacco Tin 3. Brass Numbers

Everything in our shop is 25% off! So, if there is anything that you’ve had your eye on, now is the time to snatch it up before somebody else does. Buy now to be sure that your item(s) arrive in time for Christmas!

1. Amber Bottles 2. Irish Tobacco Tin 3. Book Collection

I mentioned the other day that Lily and I have carefully packed up over 200 treasures and sent them to far off places like Australia, Sweden, and Argentina, not to mention the U.S.A. and of course, Canada.  All because someone had faith in our shop and loved one of our treasures as much as we did.  And for that we are so happy.  Thank you.

The temperature has dropped well below freezing the last few days (somewhat rare for the Vancouver area) and that, combined with bone chilling wind storms, is making me very thankful to be toasty warm inside by the fire right now! There were a few tense nights as the wind tossed around the giant trees that surround our home but we’re safe and sound and I now have a HUGE pile of boughs and branches to decorate the outside of my house with! My husband is very excited (insert eye roll) to get out his staple gun.

Getting cozy needn’t be complicated…sipping a warm drink, soaking in a hot bath or bundling up in a cozy throw or extra layers will all do the trick! Here are some goodies to help you warm up in style…

I made this yummy Ginger Pumpkin Bread today. It’s from an old issue  of Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food magazine and every time I’ve made it over the last couple of years, it disappears in no time…dangerously delicious! But the best part about the recipe is that it makes two loaves…I was smart today and gave one to a friend! There’s an optional glaze in the recipe that I usually forgo as it’s sweet enough on it’s own. Enjoy….

Doesn’t the next image just sum up the feeling of being outside in the first snow? I loved it so much when I first saw it on Creature Comforts…now if only this cold could bring the kids some snow to play in!

Federica Simoni via Creature Comforts

What better way to get cozy on the couch or fireside than with a soft and luxurious throw? I would gladly adopt any of these warm blankets, especially the colourful striped National Parks one…it reminds me of the authentic Hudson’s Bay Company blanket.

1. Canoe 2. Canvas 3. West Elm 4. Terrain

I found these wintery looking lovelies while doing an Etsy treasury last night and think that they’d make perfect Christmas gifts…or perfect gifts to myself, let’s be honest! These vintage finds are so apres ski…retro lodge style at it’s best!

1. White Willow Vintage 2. IKAHN 3. Working Girl Vintage 4. Cinti Does Vintage

Each of these would be so lovely to wear at upcoming family gatherings, to give, or to decorate with. I would love to have glass bowls full of the felted acorns…don’t they just make you want to reach out and touch them?

1. louloudo 2. Oveja Negra 3. Fairyfolk 4.Cloth and Patina

Whimsy & Spice. The name, not to mention the mouth watering photos, says it all. Mark and Jenna, the husband and wife team behind this Brooklyn shop use unique combinations of spices and flavours for their handmade sweets and the result is obviously sublime! They also offer samplers and gift packs…

Whimsy & Spice

Well, it’s become very clear that I’d better get back to the gym and avoid all the temptations of staying bundled up at home! Off to do some crunches…