Merry Christmas / Feliz Natal!

My apologies readers, the last couple of weeks have been crazily busy with work and so I've neglected you. Rest assured that I'll be back next week but in the meantime, I just wanted to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! FELIZ NATAL!

The tallest Christmas tree in Europe landed in Lisbon

The recession has hit us all in different ways. This year, for example, my (real) tree is just four feet tall. However, the council of Lisbon has downsized in a different way. For years, Lisbon has played host to the biggest Christmas tree in Europe but alas, no longer. They are now giving up on the idea to save money. As someone that spent a large part of their childhood making a pilgrimage to see the tree being turned on in the square, clutching hot roasted chestnuts in my mittened hand and feeling that Christmas had only truly arrive at that moment, I'm disappointed. Take a look at the 2008 tree - wouldn't you be sad to lose something so magnificent?

Life in white: A Lisbon townhouse in Portugal

This Lisbon townhouse in Restelo is a great example of serene design. The overwhelming use of white with warm colours like deep greys and charcoals against bare wood is fantastic but extremely adventurous. Any clutter would ruin the effect and make it look bare and plain instead of airy, light and warm. What a great experiment though! Photos via Maxima.

Interview: Tiffany Wu from Wue

Tiffany Wu is the creative mind behind Wue. She sells her lovely creations both on her own website and on Not On The High Street. I first found her when I noticed her fantastic "London" series of prints and was so happy that she was willing to take time out of her busy pre-Christmas rush to talk to London Lisbonite about her work.
1. Tell us about your work – what do you do and how did you get started?I am the obsessive compulsive who runs Wue, an eclectic and dainty online store that hopes to bring whimsical fun and simple loveliness into shopping with all of our products being designed, made or found by us. I started Wue just a few years ago having studied law, worked in the big smoke and over a glass of wine with my ever-so-wise father decided to create this little dream of mine… from scratch!

2. What’s your favourite piece?
At the moment it has to be our London Prints because they were quite simply, born out of love. The first London print I ever designed was actually a Valentine gift for my boyfriend with all our favourite places, local haunts around the city and titled ‘Our London’. And to think our best seller has evolved from love makes the prints even more special to me. (yes… I am a bit of a hopeless romantic!)

3. What inspires you?
Words and wit. Little cleverness. Vintage and subtlety. The understated but oh-so-chicness. The beauty of all things dainty. And then there is my mum who has always surrounded my world with pretty packaging, ribbon and lace, Coco Chanel but most importantly her self-sufficient craftiness.
4. What do you do when you’re not working?
I am a wedding planner by night (!!) because I adore creating small details and adding personal touches to everything and watching the guests discover little subtleties all through the day is such joy for me. It is more of a passion than work but it is often a lot of work too!

5. What do you intend to work on in the future, any plans?
Keep creating and slowly expanding. And hopefully one day Wue will have sweet little bricks and mortar stores around the world where everyone is invited to tea and cake.

6. Any advice to someone just starting out?
Keep evolving. Keep learning. Keep believing. Keep those good moments and keep great feedback close to heart because they are what keep you going on the tougher days.

The London Lisbonite guide to Christmas: Christmas at Claridge's

Last year the Christmas tree at Claridge's in London, designed by John Galliano, did the rounds of all of the design blogs and rightly so as the "frozen" theme was astoundingly good. This year he's gone for an encore and chosen the somewhat surprisingly theme of "underwater". Which do you prefer? Call me a traditionalist but I'd go "frozen" all the way...