The Swelle Life

Cupcake Monday! Pretty Pink Valentine Treats

Lace-piped cookies from the brilliant Sweet Sugarbelle

Well, I needed look no further for beautiful Valentine cookies after I found these lace-piped pale pink ones, they are just gorgeous (as is her photography which is just as important as the cookie!). I usually feel I couldn't eat the prettiest treats, but I would have no trouble with these. Iced cookies have that nice crisp break when you bite into them and I have a drooly Pavlovian response when I see them. They wouldn't stand a chance.

Their talented creator Sweet Sugarbelle swears they're easy to do, these were her first try! Surely some are far more adept at these things than others, but if you want to give it a go she shares her (very comprehensive) tricks for perfection on her blog The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle, and shows us some awesome black, round versions as well. I might actually try these if I can make friends with the piping bag, but I feel a fight coming on.

Cake Journal's Louise created this gorgeous blue and pink Valentine cake

I love this Valentine cake for its pretty simplicty and because it's blue.  I do prefer the pastels to the hot-blooded red we usually get for the occasion, even when it comes to roses, the kind you look at and smell as well as the kind you eat. Louise from Cake Journal created this cake for Valentine's two years ago which also happened to be her 10th wedding anniversary, so it was double romance.

As for Valentine's Day in the Swelle house, I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers a day early, chosen by my daughter,  all in shades of pink of course. I can't say what Mr. Swelle is getting because he does read my blog, and Baby Swelle is getting a surprise Valentines breakfast in bed, and is reading this as I write it. Good thing the 'look at that over there' trick still works. She brings me breakfast in bed nearly ever weekend and wanted to tomorrow (she's on her half-term holiday), but I told her she needs to stay in bed for her own special surprise. (This morning I got some bread with jam on it because she can't use the toaster, a handful of corn flakes and a cold hot-cross bun. She told me that there were no butter knives in the drawer - there were - so she used one from the dishwasher but it was clean - it wasn't. Daddy reminded her to ask for help next time.) For serving I have a new floral tray with little hearts on it and I'm making her heart-shaped pancakes with a strawberry yogurt, cereal and raspberry parfait and an assortment of Valentine chocolates, and later on she'll be getting a pink Le Creuset cocotte with a rose frozen souffle. It's my first time making them so I hope it's not gross. The rest of the day will be spent running her around in the back garden to burn off some of that sugar high.

Have a lovely Valentines!

Inside is a chocolate cake with strawberry mousse!

Cupcake Monday! Valentine's Crisp Strawberry Pavé

Today's treat was meant to be the latest Café Gourmand at our local chocolatier Gareth James - he's always working on an irresistible new surprise and I was told this one has homemade strawberry marshmallows and a white chocolate parfait with passion fruit granita - but word must have got out because they had none left when we arrived! That's ok, we'll be back later this week.

The topic of texture arose and Gareth pointed me to their new Valentine's confection which I'd been eyeing up. It was a white chocolate pavé coloured pink by the freeze-dried strawberries, and soon I was out the door with some. (No, I did not steal them.) As soon I was finished taking my shots I ate one. Then, two, then three. If I'd been left alone any longer I'm afraid I may have eaten all of them! Gorgeous texture indeed - it has a delicate crunch thanks to the strawberries which are in perfect proportion to the thinness of the pavé. I really do have no self-control whatsoever. No regrets, either!

Oh yeah that's the stuff.

Photos © The Swelle Life

HAPPY NEW YEAR! FIREWORKS FROM LONDON

Click to view the show on BBC

This is the spectacular display that is surely responsible for hundreds of small animals in and around London having heart attacks last night. Every New Year's Eve the BBC presents this world-class fireworks show put on by the City of London which you can watch by clicking the image. If you want to skip past the audience chat and get right to it - I highly recommend doing this - forward to about the 3:00 mark for the countdown.

Happy New Year! I for one am looking forward to a 2012 that bears no resemblance whatsoever to the last half of 2011. Onward we go!

 

Merry Christmas from Swelle!

This is our table display with a mini gingerbread house, Wedgwood teacup ornament and Hediard matryoshka doll with mini dolls inside, of course. The coloured design is a part of the chocolate which is dark and to die for. Behind the 'mum' is dreamy artwork that Susan Canaday Henry sent me - more on that soon!

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today! This was our first with just the three of us and hopefully the last without family, but it's been a great time which comes down to having a little one  whose excitement was so intense I think I saw some twitching.

I've got a turkey cooking for its last hour, it's a "Spiced Roasted" from Sweet Paul's Winter issue and I have a feeling it's going to top last year's. I have many more hours in the kitchen today and it's almost 7pm here in England. And the weight I lost recently, well, I found it!

Happy Holidays to everyone! ♥♥♥

Cupcake Monday! Ladurée's Noel Treats Overload

I have really been looking forward to this one! Come daydream with me, it's calorie-free. (But who cares anyway, right? Some things are worth it and more.) These heavenly treats are from Ladurée's 'Collection Noel 2011'. I think their packaging is the ultimate in pretty, when I was last in Paris I bought the Marie Antoinette loose thé you see in the blush pink paper cannister on the right because I wanted to see it in my kitchen every day, and I do! (And also because it's called 'Marie Antoinette', the combination was too much to resist.) It's displayed proudly on a shelf with my favourite teacups.  Somehow it got a little scratch on the front when I brought it home - why is it never on the back?! - and I admit it nearly killed me to see it blemished. (Somehow I got over it.)

Here are more of my favourites from the collection, which is nearly everything!

Yes, you can eat this. It's Ladurée's Christmas Ball filled with a delicate chocolate sponge, chestnut mousse and pear cremeux. Oh why do I do this to myself...

 

An icy blue gift box of 'Fleur de Neige' macarons

 

The bulldog is of course French. Ladurée often takes inspiration from cute animals for their package design, and sometimes the chocolates themselves, as in these coloured mice.

 

Ladurée's muse, Marie Antoinette. 

What a gorgeous blue! Nevermind the macarons, I'll eat the box.

 

A candy box made of chocolate!

The Gourmandises and Macarons hampers. That is one lucky girl who gets a hamper for Christmas.

Cupcake Monday! Putting Up the Christmas Tree

From Baked. Cupcakery

Yesterday we put our tree up, though I have to admit that's as far as we got, it's still naked except for lights.  (Why do they have that freaky strobe setting? Who would enjoy that?!) Ours is white with arctic blue baubles (well, it will be soon) to  match the living room but it's the green with red decorations that really gives me that nostalgia for childhood Christmases. Here's some of that, in cupcake form:

From Sweet Disposition

And this is pretty cute, Santa relaxing in a cup of hot chocolate:

Cupcake Monday! 'Cupcake in a Jar'

First you'll notice how adorable these cupcakes are, in their pretty jar, and then you'll ask 'How do you get them out?' Or if you're quicker than me (not hard) you'll realise straight away they are for eating in the jar, with a spoon. I'll admit, until I saw the photo I was willing to go in with four fingers and a thumb.

Just when I thought I'd seen everything, here's a great gift-giving idea from G Desserts on Notonthehighstreet.com which is a brilliant way to give a cupcake, in person or through the post without the smashy-smashy. Other than a clown crying, there is no sadder sight than a smushed cupcake (though unlike  a clown it still tastes good. I don't know what that means.)

I have some on the way - in 8 different flavours which all sound divine - so I'll do a follow up nearer to Christmas when they arrive and let you  know if they live up to their irresistible packaging (I have high hopes), but in the meantime wanted to share as they really are a great gift for teachers, neighbours, lollipop ladies and men (I love that in the UK crossing guards are called 'Lollipop Ladies' because stop signs here are round), or friends. Or you. Don't be a martyr, go for it.

Cupcake Monday! The Sweet Paul Holiday Issue

(Sorry for the late post, I was on a client shoot yesterday)

If I wasn't in the holiday mood yet, I am now! We've had a true autumn in the north east of England, lovely walking weather with only a couple cold days and unlike last year, no snow, so I needed a push toward the holiday spirit.  For me, Sweet Paul's Holiday issue is now synomymous with those  nice homey festive feelings - it's impossible not to get excited from simply looking at the cover! (That gorgeous thing is Vanilla Cake topped with Sugar Star Cookies, made and styled by Paul.)

My parents can't make it over to us from Canada this year and we're a bit gutted, so we have to make Christmas extra special with lots of distractions for Baby Swelle, and I'll be getting most, if not all, of my ideas from this issue, including our menu. Our entire Christmas dinner last year was from Sweet Paul's first Holiday issue and it was fantastic. What I love most about his recipes is the ease of them. Paul always finds ways to take the things we know and do something really clever with them. His creations are a combination of comfort and inspiration presented beautifully, and I think that's why his fans have such a fierce loyalty to his blog and magazine.

Here are just some of the pages that have me buzzing:

I love this dreamy wash of icy blues - we have 'arctic blue' baubles for the tree to match the living room.

What fun styling! There's more of this in the story Big Cookies in a Small World

The Cupcake of the issue, little Christmas puddings!

Or these! Or both! 

Paul put a challenge to his favourite contributing photographers to cook, style and photograph their favourite holiday dish. It's fascinating (and drool-inducing) to see what they came with it!

Oh my god!!!

Photos from Sweet Paul Holiday Issue

Cupcake Monday! Sweet Paul's Autumn Issue

The Autumn issue of Sweet Paul magazine is a very special one, dedicated to Paul's mother who passed away in August after fighting cancer for over a year. In his editor's note, he recounts a vivid childhood memory of one day in Norway when they played together in the snow and then had hot cocoa with whipped cream when they came in from the cold. What a lovely memory. It made me realise how many of my childhood memories are of simple, seemingly insignificant events where food and family were involved.

So here's to making more memories! There's a recipe for Caramel Apples with Walnuts, they are such an indulgent treat and certainly a sticky one. I don't even try to fool myself into believing it's ok because there's an apple involved. I thought I was buying toffee apples on Saturday - because the sign said 'toffee apples' - but they were actually candy apples. They're not the same! It turns out it ripped out Baby Swelle's tooth, her first one to lose, and she unwittingly ate it. Heavy sobbing ensued, she thought she got robbed of her first Tooth Fairy visit!

Anyway, now I can make my own caramel apples, but I will be checking for loose teeth before serving them.

And there's a whole section for Mexican! One of my favourites for its limey, spicy tastiness.

 

There's always a new cupcake to try and this Chocolate and Mascarpone version sounds really tempting (I've just realised I've been saying 'marscapone' - good thing it doesn't come up in conversation often).

Ideas for creating cheerful interiors are plentiful and I like the mid-century modern flair of some of these pieces.

Here's Paul's To Do list before the next issue. His sounds like a lot more fun than mine. Can we trade?

See the entire yummy issue online at www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com

Cupcake Monday! Coolest Halloween Edition

Cupcake Monday's new love, Arthur & Aleksandra, wins hands down for most original and the coolest of the Halloween cakes. I mean really, how cool is a glass skull vessel with black cherry liqueur to dip your pipette in and drizzle over red velvet sponge and pure white cream cheese frosting? A clever trick and a glorious treat.

If you love what Arthur & Aleksandra are doing (how can you not?) see their first Cupcake Monday feature here and visit their blog. Then prepare to suffer intolerable cravings!

And their brilliant version of the Halloween bat: Rich chocolate sponge topped with a white chocolate and milk chocolate frosting. Embellished with  a dark & white chocolate shard. Dangerous indeed!

Photos courtesy Arthur & Aleksandra

Cupcake Monday! Candy Queen's Horned Cupcake

Here's a naughty little twist to the nice, sweet cupcake - horns! And this one you don't snack on, you snap on. To a t-shirt. Candy Queen is a new UK clothing brand for girls and they've created a totally unique way to customise a top - just snap one of their felt ICONS  to their special tees or vests.  You or your candy princess  can create your own design and preview it on their shop site by dragging the icons onto the t-shirt - a fun "pick n' mix" way to try different looks!

I see it as accessorising 101 for little ones, and no beads to drop all over the floor when their necklace inevitably breaks! Sweet.

Candy Queen's 3 ICON t-shirt

Cupcake Monday! The Canadian Thanksgiving Edition

   

A beautiful Thanksgiving cake from Pink Cake Box 

Another year, another missed Thanksgiving! We don't have this holiday in the UK, for obvious historical reasons. It's a bit of a drag not being home for Thanksgiving dinner - if only turkey leftovers could be mailed to me. Canada Post might do well to introduce a foiled-lined envelope for the holidays. (Please know I'm kidding.)

So in the spirit of No Thanksgiving, here are some cakey homages to the holiday which many people now call Turkey Day, which is rather unthankful! It's about as sentimental as Salami Day (which I had yesterday and am really regretting it).

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

Cute and gross at the same time! Turkey Dinner cupcake from Family Fun

 

Simple vanilla with chocolate Kahlua frosting from Paula Hennig

Thanksgiving Pie Cupcakes from Cake Decorating Corner

Cupcake Monday! The Ladurée Easter Edition

 

We returned from Paris last night kicking and screaming (in my mind, anyway). I was so exhausted from my glorious nine-day tour of gluttony that I fell asleep reading my daughter the Marie-Antoinette story book that I bought for her at Versailles (they left out that last nasty bit). And missed being the Easter Bunny. Daddy forgot, too. Luckily I woke up before she did, realised, and got right to it. Phew. Childhood innocence saved.

Not having the time to buy the Easter treats before we left for our trip, I had no choice but to buy them in Paris. That might sound like a dilemma to celebrate rather than lament - I prefer to buy handmade chocolates for Easter - but it's incredibly expensive there. Paris barely tolerates Cadbury but there is an artisanal chocolatier on practically every corner, so that's where you go and all of them are pricey. I saw a large chocolate egg for €140 and nearly laid one myself. Smaller treats, then.

There were a lot of chocolate fish as is the tradition, and neat things like a real egg shell filled with dark chocolate (it at least looks real, we're still not sure!)

On our last full day in Paris I took my daughter to Ladurée. I booked the Castiglione Salon, the prettiest room, and we shared a brunch which was tough to finish between us - we had to bring home the macarons for later and had no room for their divine Saint-Honorés! It still stings.

But we left with the mauve coloured white chocolate Easter egg done up in a pretty lilac Ladurée ribbon that you see in the photos with Baby Swelle, and some other pretty deliceuse that I will show you next week. We heard movement inside the egg - it contains tiny Ladurée surprises! We're about to investigate...

Easter photos © Denise Grayson, The Swelle Life

Photo of Castiglione Salon from Laduree

Cupcake Monday! Treats You'll Love at First Sight

Red Rose cupcakes by Bakerella. See how to make the roses here - super easy!

Valentine's Day, whatever your situation, should be about nice little indulgences. Sweet things. If not for someone else, then for yourself! (A single friend celebrates 'Anti-Valentines' with another friend - they watch horror movies, pig out and revel in their drama-free life!)

For our daughter I have a tiny set of three porcelain nesting dishes. They say 'I', 'Love' and 'You'. It fits perfectly with this little game we do, so despite being only five years old, I really think she's going to like it, she is the sweetest. It was such a small thing but I'll never forget waking up for school one morning when I was young, I'm guessing I was around 11 years old, and found a little trail my mom had made for us with cinnamon hearts on the coffee table, leading to some red foil wrapped chocolates on a doily. It was really nice and totally unexpected. Of course then I expected it every year after that but none was forthcoming! It was a one-shot deal. In grade four our teacher walked up and down the aisles, dropping handfuls of cinnamon hearts on our desks. You would have thought we'd won the lottery by the smiles on our faces. You know those cheap chocolate-covered marshmallow hearts/bunnies/santas you find at convenience store counters during the holidays? I love those. They are such crappy quality and they get worse and worse every year and I feel a bit sick after eating one, but I still love them. Don't tell anyone. 

I wish I'd gotten on Valentine's Day sooner so I could make one of the fantastic looking treats here, all come with recipes or decorating instructions so you can make them, too!

Bakerella's Macaron Pops. Oh yeah, that's the stuff.

   

Glitter Jam Cookies from the lovely and local Katie Cakes

 

And these are from the amazing and wonderful Sweet Paul:

Pink Vanilla Mashmallows with Candied Violets. In a jewellery box. Yes, please.

 

How gorgeous is this Raspberry & Almond cake and setting?

Happy New Year! London's Best Fireworks Display Yet

 

Last night's fireworks display on the Thames is being called London's best ever. Spectacular, sustained intensity that was awesome to watch even on TV. It was a family New Years Eve with my parents who are visiting from Canada, except that neither of them made it to midnight! It's alright, we had our champagne with dinner. We even ate champagne! Thanks to Mr. Swelle who made pasta with a champagne cream sauce. It calls for caviar which we've done before though not using the expensive kind (and is so decadent you need to clear the next two days so you can sit there in elastic waisted pants until you find the motivation to move) but this time we went with smoked salmon as we had some we needed to use and it was delicious with it.

Happy New Year everyone! May it bring lots of happiness wherever you are.

(If you're an email subscriber click the title so you can watch the video!)

 

 

Merry and Happy Christmas!

 

Well, it's awfully late and I can barely keep my eyes open after wrapping all of the presents and playing Santa. Today my parents arrived from Canada and we had a great time looking for my mother's medication all afternoon and nearly heading out the door to go to the walk-in and pay £80 to see the doctor before she found the bottles in her purse, the place she thought she had put them before the flight. Said Mr. Swelle "Now I understand where you get it from." Tomorrow is the big turkey dinner so tonight I made a monkfish dish that could have been right out of a 1970s French restaurant. It had wine, cream and saffron. Only there wasn't quite enough fish despite me asking for a quantity for four adults and a child who eats as much fish as an adult. So about an hour after dinner I was hungry again and made some popcorn and ate most of the bag. Not smart as I've never tolerated large quantities of popcorn very well. In fact, it's agonising. And tonight is no exception. As I write this I am on and off doubled over in a most unpleasant discomfort, one that has me anticipating dreams of elves stabbing me in the lower abdomen with sharpened candy canes.

On that note I wish you all who are celebrating it, a very happy Christmas (as they say in England) and a very merry Christmas (as we say in Canada). I'll never get used to 'Happy Christmas' but it's not a bad thing now, is it? Be happy and merry, and hopefully cramp free!! (That's a little peak at our tree above, it's a white tree with arctic blue bulbs, naturally.)

Celebrating Five Years of N.E.E.T.!

 

Five years ago, N.E.E.T. Magazine was launched and became the first online, free publication dedicated to showcasing the most exciting things happening in the DIY movement - independent, handmade, eco-friendly and vintage fashion and design. Today the quarterly magazine has thousands of enthusiastic readers and is known as a "grassroots style bible for the digital age."

To celebrate five years of success, editor Stephanie J presents the first printed N.E.E.T book. With the theme of ‘FIVE’, the book features five sections with five inspiring N.E.E.T. people, designers, bloggers, photographers and homes, with interviews by five writers, in a N.E.E.T. retrospective.

In the spirit of 'FIVE' you can choose from five cover designs by illustrators Gemma Correll, Kris Atomic, Anke Weckmann, Peggy Wolf and Jordan Grace Owen:

  

The book is available in hardcover and softcover and can be purchased at Blurb. Get a discount until December 31st using one of these codes:

USD $10 coupon: CHEER
GBP £6 coupon: CHEER1
EUR €8 coupon: CHEER2
CAD $11 coupon: CHEER3
AUD $12 coupon: CHEER4

Want a peak inside?

And in case you missed it, the 5th Anniversary edition of N.E.E.T. magazine is now out:

 

 

Congratulations and a BIG thank you for bringing us the wonderful N.E.E.T. Magazine, Stephanie!

(FYI - Stephanie did the redesign of Swelle Boutique, you can see her design portfolio here)

Cupcake Monday! Cakes or Presents?

From Sweet Disposition Cakes. More on her later, she's amazing!

For the first time since Cupcake Monday! began I actually had a cupcake on hand and didn't have to suffer sugar lust while putting this post together. (It was a white cake with berries and pink frosting.) Good job as these are some of the most impressive 'present' cakes I've ever seen, the lines are so clean and precise. I'm very curious what happened to that wonderful pile of fondant bows above - did someone eat it (imagine the stomach ache?) or was it put aside as a centrepiece? I wonder if you can preserve them...

I bought more fondant, or sugar paste as they call it in England (at least where I live) and I'm going to attempt using it on cupcakes and snowflake cookies. It's the best colour of blue, my favourite 1950s pale turquoise. If they turn out, you'll see here next Monday! (No pressure, then...)

 
Topsy Turvy Gift Box Cake from Pink Cake Box

From Pretty Sweet Cakes

  
From Cake Central

 
From Unique Wedding Cake

From Amelia's Cakes

 
From Inspired by Michelle

 
'Lavish Gift' cake from Toronto Wedding Cakes

 

Want to know how to make this gorgeous snowflake adorned gift cake by Gillyflower Jewellery? Get the recipe for the cake and most important, the instructions for decorating here

Holiday Help is Here! Natalie MacLean's Top 10 Gift Wines

Admittedly, I have given wine as a last resort for a gift many times. It's a fine gift of course; the desperation comes from not having thought of something more personal for the recipient. Rushing out to the nearest LCBO (when in Toronto) or the local off-license (in England) only to find myself staring at the shelves asking no in one particular 'Do they like dry wine or crappy sweet wine?' I have only a brief moment with which to make assumptions about someone I barely know - if I knew them well I wouldn't be in this situation - and determine whether what I do know lands them in the category of refined palate or White Zinfandel. And then how do you choose from the hundreds of bottles? It's enough to give you make your head spin and not in a fun way. We all know by now that you can't judge a bottle by its price or the fanciness of its label, so what to do if you're not clued in to the fineries of the wineries? (Just let that one go, please).

Natalie MacLean to the rescue. The hugely popular sommelier and wine writer behind NatDecants at nataliemaclean.com comes with accolades so distinguished that my inbox shot off fireworks when her email landed in it. And guess what she had done? Thoughtfully tailored a list of wines for the people you might be looking to gift during the holidays, if you're one of those nice people. She makes it meaningful and she'll make you look good. She even took the time to grant my humble request for a recommendation for the 'impossibly chic fashion-loving friend'!

Natalie’s Top Ten Gift Wines for Your ...

1. Hairdresser: For the person who combines humor and optimism every time she styles your mop. Go for a light, gulpable wine like a dry rosé. It’s versatile and fuss-free—a great quaff for your coif. 

2. Psychiatrist: Of course, he’ll analyze whatever you give him so choose a wine that’s all about balance. Easy-drinking pinot noir is medium-bodied yet packed with flavor. Surprise him with a large-format bottle, like a magnum. Big thinking means big progress for you. This wine also works for psychologists, marriage counselors and bartenders.

3. The Boss: Pick too pricey a wine and your boss will think your last raise was too much; go cheap, and she’ll think you lack judgement. Focus on a label with a lot of white space since that makes the bottle look more expensive. A castle in the distance also works, but avoid fluffy animals.

4. Personal Trainer: Think a muscular, robust red would work? Hold that position. Instead, try riesling: this light white wine pairs well with a health-nut diet of salad and seafood, plus it’s low in alcohol. You can also give it to Pilates instructors, yoga masters and Tai Chi coaches.

5. Financial Planner: You and he both know it’s going to take decades before your portfolio recovers after the crash of 2008. With that long-term view, vintage port makes the perfect gift. This fortified wine from northern Portugal, with its long aging potential, will be around for both of you into your retirements.

6. Travel Agent: She’s been everywhere and seen everything, so go local with your choice of wine. Even better, if you live close to the winery, get the bottle signed by the winemaker.

7. Teacher: If you can’t find a suitably obscure wine with a Latin name, there’s always cream sherry. It’s the tipple of Oxford dons, not to mention the centerpiece of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story The Case of the Amontillado.

8. Mail Deliverer: Go for a winery that’s consistent year after year in producing a wine that can be enjoyed in snow, rain, sleet or hail. Try an Australian shiraz or Argentine malbec.

9. Mechanic: Yes, there’s a wine called Red Truck, but try to be more imaginative. Why not give a wine made by Mario Andretti in California or Ferrari in Italy?

10. Online Date: So you’re on your second or third rendezvous with the person you met on eHarmony or Dating.com. If you’re not sure yet whether marriage is a possibility, try something middle-of-the-road, like merlot. Yes, it’s the soft jazz of wine, but until you know, play it safe.

And the bonus recommendation for Swelle readers:

2008 Little Black Dress Merlot, California ($14): A juicy, plum-rich red that will please both wine lovers and fashionistas. Generous and stylish, this wine deliver superb good taste.

Top me up!

For Natalie’s favourite wineries, tasting notes and recipe matches for all the wine types mentioned above, visit here. Trust her, she was named the World’s Best Drink Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia!

Thank you, Natalie!

In the spirit of the season, take a look at these holiday party supplies from PartyMart, a supporter of The Swelle Life.

Wedgwood's Beautiful Baubles and Blues

Let me preface this with something I hope I don't have to say too often: Don't get too excited. These are all sold out. But they are just so pretty and as this blog is a collection of beautiful things, well, I just want them on it. I'm like putty when it comes to powdery pastels and icy blues (our Christmas tree is white with arctic blue baubles) and Wedgwood is synonymous with slate blue pottery, hence 'Wedgwood blue', as well as Royal service and the Peter Rabbit dishes from our collective childhood. Wedgwood was established by innovative ceramacist Josiah Wedgwood in 1759. Can you imagine the pride in knowing that 250 years later your legacy would live on and flourish in the spirit in which it was conceived and nurtured? Except that I don't think he was doing designer collaborations back then.

I have three of their little dishes that I bought at the Tynemouth market for I think £1 each. At that price you can blow your nose on them, but that's not really good use now is it? Below are two of them along with a handpainted gold leaf Japanese dish from 1877 which is the thing that the younger children of friends feel compelled to run up to and slam with their fist. It's a miracle it's still intact. It only cost £2.50 but that's not the point. Pocket change for an antique and people still barter if you can believe it. I witnessed one woman trying to get a bargain on a figurine that was 50p. I'll pay 35p for that but no way I'm paying 50! Those vendors stand out there all day and may only make a few quid for their trouble. You might as well just steal it when she's not looking, that would be more dignified!

 

Okay, at this point I was going to show the Wedgwood teacups I'm in love with - collecting tea cups is a phase I've been going through for about five years now and I don't think it's a coincidence that it began when I moved to England - or go on about how I've brought blue into our house as it's the colour I'm most happy living with. I'm going to take photos of all the blue, in whatever form and do a show and tell. Seeing as it's an ungodly hour I'm going to save both for follow ups. Part two coming tomorrow...

But here's a preview in the meantime, I didn't stop until I found the exact blue I wanted for the walls:

Sweet Paul: The Holiday Issue

I was already feeling Christmasy thanks to the heavy blanket of snow we've had heaped upon us over the past few days, but today's browse through Sweet Paul's Holiday Issue has made me all giddy and wanting to run into the kitchen to bake gingerbread in a flurry of flour clouds. As you know, I absolutely adore Sweet Paul. The New York-based food and prop stylist and crafter extraordinaire from Norway runs a hugely popular blog that is pure joy, and now he's published his third issue of Sweet Paul magazine dedicated to making the most of the holidays, with an emphasis on making. Paul Lowe and his super-talented and surely just as sweet team of photographers, illustrators, stylists, and writers bring us recipes, entertaining ideas and crafts that have us taking inventory of our cupboards and drawers within seconds.

I think it's the personal, homey feel of the magazine and blog that gives that makes Sweet Paul such a delight to look at and to read. It's a little world where everything is simple, clean, bright, rich, colourful and tasty, altogether blissful, in home settings that are both aspirational to give us that wonderful daydream factor and attainable; you can make your space and your experiences at home this special, too. And that's what it's all about!

In September, Paul asked me to contribute some tips for the article No Pain Holiday which I was thrilled to do. See pages 29-30 for ways to keep your holidays as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. That one might come in handy.

The recipes in this issue are so good and there are so many that's it's almost overwhelming! I rarely want to make everything I see in a cookbook or magazine but Sweet Paul has a way of finding dishes and desserts that look irresistible and are also easy to make. If you love food and you can read, you can whip them up.

And that's what I plan to do for our Christmas dinner with my parents who are coming in from Canada. It's all laid out in the issue.

 

How does this sound:

1. Pumpkin soup with cranberry compote
2. Maple and apricot roasted turkey
3. Mashed potatoes with crisp parmesan
4. Olive bread and mushroom stuffing
5. Brussels sprouts with almonds and pancetta
6. Spiced pumpkin trifle

Now that's a dinner! And that's just one feature, for Thanksgiving, and I'll likely substitute the pumpkin trifle with chocolate pudding cakes - Sweet Paul knows chocolate. Watch for The Best Hot Chocolate Ever! in the Chocolate, a Passion feature.

There's so much more, including six pages of delicious winter cocktails; a gorgeous holiday brunch that I would love to have each and every weekend; charming gift-wrapping ideas; gingerbread, cupcake and potato pancake recipes introduced with sweet personal stories; how to decorate your table with an old sweater, scissors and glue gun, expert advice on wines, and there's always something for kids and doggie friends as well. And it goes on and on and on. We're having two wonderful friends for dinner soon, for the first time, and I now feel that we're going to be able to prepare something worthy of their company.

Go on, see for yourself!

 

 

 Fancy a printed issue? Sweet Paul is a definite keeper and you can buy your copy here.

All images from Sweet Paul magazine

How Not To Embarrass Yourself at a Party

 

1. Don't arrive at your holiday party going to town on a kebab.
2. Drink in moderation to later avoid needing and therefore asking your fellow revellers if they can lend you a Tena pad (or is that just me?)
3. Check that your new exorbitantly priced heels are not dragging half a toilet roll behind you. 
4. No matter how good you think you are at doing The Robot - don't.
5. And most importantly, make an entrance in a gorgeous dress that is guaranteed to bear no resemblance whatsoever to the latest high street window display, for there's a good chance if you do, you won't be the only one representing. You'll be spending the night hiding behind pillars and portly gents while guests are mentally comparing who styled it better. Who needs that? (And you had to pay for it!)

The charm of being an original amongst the identikit masses is one of the reasons I exclusively offer one-offs and limited edition pieces in Swelle Boutique, and luckily I know some very talented people who specialise in doing just that. The three dresses above, left, are one-offs from Rowanjoy, a long time Swelle favourite who uses new and vintage fabrics to create her enchanting, adorable pieces that make girls look dreamy. The Wrapped Up strapless styles are the perfect party dresses and the Obscura halter can go holiday soiree as well as resort.

On the right: It doesn't come more special than an original print created by an inspired and inspirational artist who is behind many of the prints from the London fashion week catwalks. Rob and Kate Burton are the duo known as embodied.creative, and Swelle Boutique is thrilled to have the opportunity to offer their exquisite, limited edition, made-to-order digital art print dresses to you. Thoroughly contemplated imagery is richly layered on fine silks to produce complexity and beauty in colour and texture, as seen in the stunning Babaji and Moonshadow dresses. A collection of gorgeous scarves in a choice of silks and sizes is also available.

 
Wholly Cow is an English label of one-off and limited edition pieces that have beautifully handmade touches such as contrasting crocheted collars and sleeves, and hand carved oak toggles specially made for the dresses, all seen above. Fabrics are luxe and include silk crepe and Italian tweed. The lovely tweed in the toggle wrap dress above has pretty turquoise flecks throughout the pattern, complemented  by the crocheted collar. The black shift can be made in a variety of lengths with your choice of colour for the mohair silk crochet sleeves. The cobalt version is a one-off that also looks great as a top with skinny jeans.

And if you're more of a smart top and skirt girl, there's Mitra's Victoriana mini-collection that offers a seriously figure flattering outfit of the Parlor Gathering top adorned with a list of sweet details, and its perfect accompaniment, the Promenade Pencil skirt with a lacey kick out the back which you can wear demurely or bold depending on your mood. Finish the look with the Victoriana Jacquard wool coat. All are one-offs.

By buying at Swelle Boutique you are supporting independent designers in the UK, Italy, Canada and the United States who personally create the high quality, original work that bears their name, from conception to final stitch.

The New Swelle Boutique has Arrived!

At long last, the new Swelle Boutique is here! As mentioned previously, the first version was a temporary look and format to get my first collections launched. The new site allows for more content and ease of navigation, and it's slicker but still embodies that dreamy Swelle aesthetic - of course it does! I can't do anything else!

More pretty pieces are on their way including dresses for holiday parties from Rowanjoy and Wholly Cow and gorgeous feather and chain earrings and neckpieces by Noémiah.

A Swelle label is in the works as well for spring with a few preview pieces coming in the next few weeks. I love dresses, coats and jackets so expect a lot of those!

Surprises at Chanel Cruise 2011

Nothing out of the ordinary here, 'proper' Chanel

I'm just not sure what to expect when I see what's come off the runway at Chanel these days (and this is fashion so that's probably the point). The fake fur extravaganza for fall and the previous spring hoe-down had me scratching my head. But the spring haute couture was an absolute dream, and I guess that's what I want to see consistently from Chanel, it's just too good not to want it each and every time.

As for the surprises, I know the whole '"Look! They used a 'normal' girl!" is a bit boring, like a girl with curves is a freakshow at the event. But having said that, "Look! Karl used a normal girl!" at his Saint-Tropez resort collection show. Plus-sized model extraordinaire Crystal Renn was one (looking not so plus-sized, actually):

But what is more confounding than Karl's love/hate relationship with body image (but why should that be exempt from his fickle tendencies) is his choice of outfits in some cases. What Crystal is wearing does not whisper 'Chanel, mon cheri' in my ear. It's more like a screeching 'CHANEL??!!' Is it just me? I'm going by my first impression, a reaction which caused me to sit back in my chair. Oh yeah, it was that extreme, it creaked and everything. And what about this one:

So is it just me or does this say early 90s to you? More importantly, would you spend thousands on this outfit? Would this really be the look you would take away from a Chanel boutique if you were about to fly off for a beachy holiday? I imagine one would have to be extremely wealthy to be willing to throw the plastic at stone-washed cropped and cut off denim.

And here we have Eniko Mihalik, who in flats, bikini bottoms and beach dress looks nice and curvy in all her womanly glory - where was she hiding that? She has the most endearing face, she always looks like she's smiling:

And then there was Georgia May Jagger who was tied in with references to Bardot (duh) and her dad. Some guy named Mick. He had some hits. I don't really want to show you but here you go anyway:

I can't not mention the men's outfits which are the gifts that keep on giving:

 

Come on, quit messing around. Just go full pirate.

And Chanel girl Vanessa Paradis who I'm including because, you know.

 

Photos: WWD.com

Cupcake Monday! The Biscuiteer Easter Tin Edition

If you're ever looking for some really special biscuits for a gift or to horde all for yourself in front of the TV in your pyjamas (there's no shame in that!), Biscuiteers makes some of the prettiest I've seen. All biscuits are hand baked, iced and crafted in their own kitchens and packed in a lovely tin specially made for the occasion.

It may be too late for Easter but they do biscuits for all kinds of occasions (I'll be featuring more later, there are too many adorable little collections) and they also do 'cards' if a whole tin is a bit much. (Hint: a whole tin would NOT be too much for me.)

 

 

A Happy Easter with Spring Butterflies

Happy Easter! Spring and Easter go hand in hand and butterflies are my favourite harbinger of sunny days and warm weather (well, in England we can at least hope). I grew up in Canada in Southern Ontario and when I was very young my family moved to a new town. The subdivision where we bought our house was still largely undeveloped, there were many wide open fields and those were the days where you could call on some friends and go off and play all day long and explore the neighbourhood. It was spring time and there were butterflies fluttering everywhere - in the fields, in our back yard, as you walked through the streets. My parents bought me a butterfly net and while I don't recall catching any (lucky for them!) I had lots of fun trying (or maybe I cried in frustration, that's more plausible).

Now, these may not be real butterflies as pictured above but they are beautiful all the same. This is a piece from Su Blackwell's breathtaking exhibit that I saw in Edinburgh a while back. (I've been holding off on posting in the hopes of interviewing Su but I haven't had the time!) She cuts from old story books and creates these exquisite pop-up vignettes that are just magical, you feel as if you've been drawn into a fairytale land by merely being in their presence. 

From the very talented Lenaah's Flickr

If you like butterflies, you can read a post from my trip to the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Ontario a few years back here

Good Friday, Great Fun with Easter Bonnets

My first parent project (those things you're asked to work on at home with your child but you end up doing yourself) was to make an Easter bonnet for my daughter to wear in her reception class Easter parade. (That's kindergarten for friends at home in North America.) They also sang Easter songs for the parents in one of the halls. It kills me how some sing their hearts out and others just stand there looking lost. They're only four and five years old so I don't think they need to worry about auditioning for Glee just yet.

There were some fantastic hats. One was a giant paper daffodil atop the little girl's head, a boy had piles and piles of bright yellow feathers with little chicks stuck all over and there were some huge nests with chickens sitting in them. At home in Canada my daughter's hat of giant flowers, ribbons and tulle (which extended like a train down the back) would seem ridiculous, but here it was rather understated compared to some! She loved it, wore it from morning until bed time.

After doing one proper English custom (they do love their ostentatious hats) my daughter asked me to take her to the tea room for hot chocolate, and she told me really wanted a scone. I only had my mobile to take pictures and it works not too badly when you have bright, natural light.

I'd love to see the big festive hats return back home. Anyone out there feel like starting a revolution?

Cupcake Monday! The Chocolate Teacups and Cupcakes Edition

I've been collecting Easter goodies for my daughter for a little while, trying to find some things beyond the usual chocolate bunnies (though I did get some of those, too, it's not Easter without bunnies!). Last year we were living in Paris at this time and her chocolates came from a place that is regarded as one of the city's best chocolatiers (I can't recall the name but it was in our neighbourhood near Jardin du Luxembourg on a street filled with specialty food shops and they had all kinds of neat confections).

While I'm sure my 4 year-old wouldn't notice the difference in the quality between Paris' best and regular store-bought just yet (or if she did she wouldn't care), she does appreciate the little details and will point them out so I do love indulging her. I found these sweet little cupcakes and teacups handmade with white and dark Belgian chocolate and dusted with a touch of edible glitter from Not on the Highstreet. They're made by Chocolate by Chocolate in Britain. It's a tiny box but I think the price of £6.95 isn't bad at all considering the substantial adorable-ness!

Speaking of Paris, the young, and a discerning palette, I have a friend who moved here from Paris a little over a year ago and she tells me that her four year-old can tell immediately whether the meat she's been served has come from the grocery store or the specialty butcher. And she eats her steak blue. Needless to say, that's not typical for around here!

 

I Would like Ladurée for Valentine's Day, Please

What a day of weirdness. It was productive, it was fruitless; it was happy, it was sad; it was sunny; I froze my ass off. So what better thing to look at than pastries and chocolates from Ladurée. For me, they are like a scrub brush for my brain, obliterating all the crap from the day and filling my head with images of pretty chocolates and cakes and packaging. They tell me "it's gonna be allllllright." (Expression courtesy Krusty the Clown.)

I've never visited the Ladurée in London but am making a point of it when I go down for fashion week next Thursday. Anyone in the city care to join me in a macaron?

Yum yum yum yum yum yum...

Castles, Grand Staircases and Treehouse Restaurants

Baby Swelle gazing at the sea

My parents came to visit for the holidays and despite our thorough and unrelenting dumping of snow, a true rarity in England, we managed to get out and see some things. It was their first time here so we wanted to give them a good sense of what our neck of the north east offers. 

As a Christmas gift me and my brothers gave them a night at The Grand, a 19th century hotel in our neighbourhood overlooking the North Sea. I was completely taken with the staircase which was grand indeed:

The side view from the room:

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the lamps in the room with my dad's camera. It all looked so film noir. I'm sure he's at home now looking at all of them thinking I've lost my mind. I...love...lamp.

Baby Swelle being shy. I bought her those boots for Christmas and wish I could get some in my size. She's wearing the black tuxedo jacket from Stella McCartney x Baby Gap. A friend was kind enough to pick one up for us in Toronto and send it over. No, I didn't try to get it on. There's not a chance in hell it would fit but I did hear that people were selling the XXL on Ebay for a mint and they were being snatched up. Sillies.

The Victorian restaurant where we had dinner:

 

We were on our way to Edinburgh, a city I absolutely adore and couldn't wait to show my parents, but we had to turn back because of the snow. THE SNOW! Since when do plans get cancelled in England because of the snow! Bad, bad luck. But we salvaged the day by stopping in Alnwick on the way back and having a fantastic lunch at the enormously charming Treehouse restaurant in Alnick Gardens:

Those things that look like wooden stalagmites are the backs of the chairs:

 

The fountains, which are amazing in the summer but still beautiful in winter. I just missed all of the them being on and caught the last one just going down:

Obviously, this wasn't taken during our trip! It's not my photo either and I've lost the credit so if it's yours please let me know! It's one of the foot bridges at the treehouse:

And I just had to show Alnwick castle. I'll get into the history of the whole grounds later when I visit again in summer (last time we'd just moved and I had no idea where my camera was) but it's such a breathtaking scene. It's only open from April to October so there were no opportunities to see it all snow covered:

High Price Tags Explained: Why a Hen in an Egg Necklace Costs Nearly 10 Grand

You can never be too educated about any one thing, and fashion is no exception. We should know something about how the goods we're buying are made and why they cost what they do. Prices can range from a £1 t-shirt from Primark (there's only one way those can be produced so cheaply, people!) to thousands of whatever currency you use to max out your plastic. The value of high fashion is largely subjective; for some the label alone is worth the cost and for others there must something special - even irreplaceable - about the piece to justify the spend, like haute couture for example. Or an expertly crafted piece of fine jewelry with a surprise inside.

And that takes us to Wendy Brandes, whose recent post, Get Smart (About Manufacturing) prompted this one. I featured Wendy last spring but if you're not yet one of her adoring fans and need a quick introduction, Wendy is a New York-based fine jewelry designer who tells a story with each of her wearable art pieces - usually a tale of a naughty, pious or tragic royal woman from the more fascinating and freaky eras in world history.

Wendy has, a few times now, written about how she prices her jewelry as she does, which is something that anyone who charges high-end prices for exquisite things should do - it lends legitimacy to the work and ultimately, fosters appreciation. Oddly, it's not the most common of practices and also, buyers don't always ask the questions; we can be a bit complacent when it comes to justifying our big buck spending (that's how the tightwads are balanced, I guess).

In some cases I think it's a lack of marketing savvy that causes a talented designer to undersell herself when her own enterprise is the point of sale. But usually it's a shop selling a range of designers, whether it be online or brick and mortar, that fails in its responsibility - I think it's a responsibility - to demonstrate why something is special, whether it be a great fit; a premium fabric; a story about what inspired the designer or a particular technique that was used to make this thing you're considering spending the rent on. We want to be convinced, yet so few actually play ball. Dumbasses. Let us assume then there is nothing special (which unfortunately is the case sometimes) and go to someone who has something to share with us.

So that's my thinking on the issue and it's no secret if you read this blog that I feel very passionately about contextual objects that are created with such love, knowledge, the benefit of a discerning eye and exceptional skill that they become art, and garnering support for the people - the independents who do it all themselves - who bring us these things (it figures into a project I'm launching in the spring).

Therefore I urge you to read Wendy's post and all of its links if you have the time, which explains in detail - you'll get an education - why her gold, silver and gem jewelry costs what it does. Once you understand how manufacturing works you can see how the processes and intricacies apply to just about anything with a price tag. And that's good information to have at the top of your brain whenever you've got your wallet in hand. And let's not forget the fun of learning why the golden egg that opens to reveal a diamond-eyed silver hen that sits on a nest with three golden eggs is worth $9,500. I certainly think it is.

You can browse Wendy's entire collection at WendyBrandes.com and be sure to read the descriptions of each piece for a tasty tidbit of delicious history.

  

 

Cupcake Monday! The Gift Box Cake Edition

Oh, the things people do! I cannot get over how adorable these cakes are, all made up to look like gift boxes from Hello Naomi. I really must take that fondant icing that's been sitting in my kitchen and my rolling pin (that I've never used) and start practising. I love the pastel shades and the preciseness of the details. Yet another gorgeous, sugary concoction I couldn't bring myself to eat (unless I was alone. In that case I'll eat anything).

If you want to try using fondant icing here are some tips on rolling it out. I think I'll start small and rejoice that I can eat my mistakes.

 

Happy New Year! London's Awesome Fireworks Show

Happy New Year! My New Years Eve here in England was a quiet one, my parents are visiting from Canada and I have a nasty cold so me and Mr. Swelle stayed in and we all ate lots of hors d'oevre-y type nibblies but had to forego the bubbly chilling in the fridge so it didn't clash with the Lemsip Max cold and flu caps me and my mother were eating. Oh yeah, I was livin' it up. We tuned in to the BBC at midnight and watched what was the most awesome fireworks display I've ever seen - London's pyrotechnic show on the Thames, with the London Eye at the centre. If I had been there in person I think my wide open mouth would have been frozen like this.

Here's the BBC video of the event. Everyone is reporting it was seven and a half minutes long which is odd, especially as it went to past 12:10 according to our clocks and the video is over 11 minutes long. The sustained intensity was just so exciting to watch, though the broadcast itself was shot straight on and I think I preferred that. The 'design' of the show is the work of 'firework prodigy' Christophe Berthonneau, a French pyrotechnician. That's one career we don't really consider when we're growing up, do we? I think school guidance counselors should encourage that more. If only I'd known.

Enjoy! ♥

Update: Oh, I'm such a dink! Reader Lauren pointed out this is last year's display. Well, that explains why it's longer and why the colours were different! Hey, I told you my head was full of mucous! Ugh. But really, when they say New Year's Eve 2009, they shouldn't be talking about New Year's Eve 2008! So here's what I really saw, but I haven't been able to watch it yet, it's probably getting too many hits. Enjoy the real one!

Ha, that's my first cock-up of the new year and it has been documented for all the world to see!

(Email subscribers - you have to click the title of this post to see the video!)

Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to my friends in Canada and the U.S. and Happy Christmas to my friends in the UK. Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël and Buon Natale!

Here's a little card I made from a photo I took in Edinburgh on Monday, it's the back of The Dome and their massive outdoor Christmas tree was just so stunning, everyone who passed by stopped to see it. Now, that's a tree!

And for a dose of Christmas cuteness, here you go:

 

Here's to great food and good times with family and friends. ♥

The Winners of the Fauchon Goodies Are...

Being out of commission this past week nearly put the kabosh on my giveaway - the Fauchon goodies were almost all sold out when I finally made it in on Saturday! Luckily, there were some great ones left and tragedy was averted. 

And what did I come home with for you lovely fans of The Swelle Life? First we have the pretty Fauchon heart box of 15 milk and dark chocolate hearts - the milk are filled with hazelnut praline and the dark have Gianduja (hazelnut chocolate) with splits of thin pancakes (do I have to give these away??).

Second is an adorable gold box of biscuits with an Eiffel Tower, ribbons and stars motif. Inside are three kinds of petit beurre: with pieces of Isigny toffee; crispy with pieces of nougatine and dark chocolate; and with Réunion cane sugar. Seriously, you wouldn't mind if I opened the plastic and had one, right? (You are so lucky it's wrapped in plastic!)

Third is a little heart-shaped box of my favourite truffles: Charbonnel et Walker Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles - little pink spheres of heaven!

And here are the lucky winners:

Vanessa Pepin: The heart-shaped Fauchon chocolates!

Kelsi Smith: The Fauchon biscuits!

Karen Laporte: The Charbonnel et Walker champagne truffles!

Congratulations! And a big thank you for reading The Swelle Life! Please leave a comment here with your email or send me a message at denise[at]swellebydenise.com with your address so I can send your treats to you! ♥

I'll be doing exclusive giveaways for Fans of The Swelle Life randomly throughout 2010 so stay tuned!

WhiteFly Casts the Past in Precious Metals

WhiteFly takes delicate and beautiful things like vintage lace and satin ribbon bows and flowers and casts them in solid gold or sterling silver to make gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. The Los Angeles jewelry maker cuts and finishes each piece by hand, creating a soft and elegant handworked effect that can be seen and felt. I'm totally smitten with the lace cuffs - how stunning are they?

You can view the entire collection which also includes several styles of beautiful earrings in WhiteFly's Etsy shop. Until the end of today only (Sunday) you can get free shipping by entering FREESHIP in the 'note to seller' at checkout.

 

And these are so simple yet so gorgeous - a bow bracelet and forget-me-knot ring in solid sterling silver cast from a piece of string. They can also be done in 18k gold vermeil or solid 14K gold.

 

Help for Boyfriends: Net-a-Porter's Gift Finder

From the Rock Star collection 

Some men are great at finding presents their wives or girlfriends will love, but many others are hopeless. Pour souls. A common problem is having trouble deciphering the subtleties of what she loves and why. But we can't blame you, sometimes it's not necessarily discernible what's great and what's meh, or God forbid - tacky! in our eyes. Case in point: Crystals and rhinestones can be beautiful in the right hands but when they're not you can look like a bedazzled nightmare. A Judith Leiber crystal embellished cupcake clutch is the cutest thing ever. The same idea from Wal-Mart is not.

So if you're finding yourself in panic mode - don't fret, there's still time! - you need help unless you want the holidays to be marred with side-eye stares and little, forced-out sighs that say "You really blew it, Dude. You've sent me into early PMS and now you're going to have to deal with it. Don't you know me?" (I wouldn't be so ungrateful of course. It's not like I've ever received a plastic turd or something. I'm referring to a friend's sister who did in fact give a plastic turd from a novelty shop to her mom on Mother's Day when she was a teenager. And that was with money her mom had given her. She bought the turd and spent the rest of the money on herself. Her mom cried. It was not a good Mother's Day.)

This is a dream list item but I had to show the girls. It's the adorable package clutch from Judith Leiber

You can't go wrong with choosing from Net-a-Porter (*nudge nudge wink wink*), they wouldn't dare try to sell us something naf. I could take any page in any of their Gift Finder categories, close my eyes and point at the screen and it would be a winner. Whatever you choose, be sure to get it wrapped! Their gift boxes are beautiful and they're keepers - exactly what you see on that magical splash page, bow and all. There are amazing bags and shoes of course, but I recommend that if that's what you're leaning toward you do a bit of sleuthing to find out what she's mad for - brand, style and colour. There's nothing worse than getting a great gift and feeling guilty about thinking 'But I wanted the other one!' We girls are very particular about what we carry and put on our feet. I don't know how you guys deal with us. 

Here are more of my picks, whittled down from hundreds (I tried not to go too crazy on the prices and included a wide price range):

These are from the Stocking Fillers collection which includes a Peruvian wool snood kit from Wool and the Gang (that's a loopy scarf you can pull over your head like a hood, guys); an Erdem and Globe Trotter collaboration vanity case (a bit big for the stocking!); Burberry heart-print umbrella and Stella McCartney knickers of the week!

And you might want to stay away from this one, guys. It's Solange Azagury-Partridge's Ballcrusher ring!

How to Have a Houndstooth Holiday

Once I saw houndstooth wrapping paper I wanted to shred and burn the aesthetically benign wrap I've got stashed in the closet. But that would not be very green, would it? I'm kidding of course, but the sight of a pile of monochrome checked presents under the tree would be a gift in itself. However, it's not particularly festive and would make a gorgeous birthday gift presentation. Bear in mind you'd be challenged to supply an item that wouldn't seem anticlimactic once opened! 

Here are places I found in both the UK and North America that sell houndstooth gift wrap (there weren't many) and that charming apron and oven mitt which would be perfect for hosting a dinner party (and which I would surely burn a hole into upon first use):

• Gift wrap - ErinRuth at Etsy. With a silk finish and printed with soy-based inks on 60% recycled paper on the thickest paper available - doesn't crack when creased. And it's on sale!
• Tissue paper - The Container Store
• Basket box, gift wrap, gift cards and tissue paper - Nashville Wraps
• Apron and oven mitt by Jesse Steele - Amy's Gifts

The photo in the collage with the pom-pom decorated presents is from a listing for the pom-poms from glitterforbreakfast on Etsy. They sell cute traditional Christmas ornaments.

And you can wrap your dog up in houndstooth, too! Woofy will suddenly feel undignified going to town on his nether regions while wearing this luxurious Chelsea houndstooth cashmere coat from ShopKCQ on Etsy: