Christmas shopping...

Yet to make any actual 'sale' sales ourselves (20%offbothshopsNOEL09inmessagetosellerforrefundpleasethankyou) here are some pieces that have caught our eyes over the past few days... and all of them are pre-Christmas bargains.

We've been following Silversmithy on Twitter for a while, and as suckers for anything chunky, hammered and silver, this ring, $70, was a top pick in her ktsilver shop, with free shipping until December 1st.


A rather fabulous notebook from Mrseliotbooks has already been safely ordered for a lucky list-maker this Christmas. We love these beautiful patchwork graph notebooks too, just $9 with super reasonable shipping and great service.


If this delicate dragonfly wing ring is not under the Christmas tree come December 25th, it will certainly have to be a present for self in the New Year. And we don't even have to choose between the ring, earrings and pendant - by Jessedanger, it comes with free shipping if you buy another item. A very reasonable $35.


Wings, twigs and feathers remind this city girl of home and this hand-pierced feather necklace by Samantharose is a reminder of wide open spaces, with free shipping.


Finally, the party season is upon us and to really turn heads you need elegant accessories, like our knight in shining armour vintage mesh bag, from the 1920s. A very special piece, take 20% off for a vintage bargain at $62.40.

Lafayette Maison Christmas windows

This year's Noel Gourmand Christmas retail theme at Galeries Lafayette, means Christmas windows that are good enough to eat, starting off with Liberty print cake and a silk chocolate log, studded with pearls...


... with a café au lait with a sausage of Liberty print whipped cream...


...a pièce montée of scrumptious silk macaroons...


...silken pineapple, draped with pearls...


...and silk and ostrich feather turkey, to be carved with the family silver.

More here (in French), including the fashion windows.

Far too excited

D- 3 days before two weeks off for Christmas and NY, and Kate and Dave buy their snowboarding gear.


... get so excited they try it all on at once...

... and wear their snowboots as slippers all evening.

Christmassy finds

After an evening of mulled wine and present-wrapping, a few Etsy Christmas finds... starting off with something of our own. Perfect for party dresses, Miss Lemon's dress clips:


Another party piece is the beautiful Audrey necklace by luxedeluxe, one of our favourites, who happily, is having a pre-Christmas sale. Lean prices for lean times, this is just $28.

Wrap up warm for your Christmas party in this vintage Princess coat. With the Audrey necklace, red and black have never looked better.

In the last-minute gifts department, newcomer Masquerades and Silhouettes by Joe Thomson has a range of retro canvases, featuring the urban and stylish Nightbus, great for a city loft:


Or jump on the owl trend with a vintage bowl, from Vintageworks. We love his cheeky wink:


Finally, treat someone to a cosy cuddle with a sock monkey from William & Hector, in luxe grey angora.

Cold outside...

When the Eiffel Tower has its head in the clouds and the trees are dripping fog, the only thing for it is a Christmas market. Followed by an afternoon on the Maxim's boat the next day, tasting wine and foie gras for Christmas. Sus à la récession!

Pretty Christmas lights around the corner from my office...

Ridiculously busy in the run-up to Christmas, what with buying presents, wrapping presents, sending presents, send fab Pepperina Press Christmas cards and keeping up with the Sex and the City film gossip.

After a long day at the end of last week, before going home to do more stocking of pink milk vintage, I fell out of the office onto the Champs-Elysées for a last dash to Sephora and got caught up in all the lovely Christmas bustle.

Ten days until we leave to go back for Christmas. And counting…