How do you say "diamond" in Elvish?

Blanca Monrós Gómez diamond studs, $190

Iwona Ludyga diamond studs, $210

I've somehow, willingly, gotten sucked into watching Lord of the Rings for the second time. I pretty much slept through the entire 9 or so hours the first go around, managing only to keep my eyes open for any scenes with Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler (my official high school style icon). They both glow to an insane degree, and make the idea of sprinkling wee, twinkling diamonds all over one's person (or elf) seem incredibly logical.

Time Wastes Too Fast.

Oh Maira Kalman, how I love thee. (And that Thomas Jefferson fellow wasn't half bad either.)

The Golden Bough

Sometimes fingers cry out hungrily: "Adorn me, Adorn me!"  Such greedy little beasts.  Satiate  them with these slightly dangerous looking branch rings from Brooklyn jeweler, Iwona Ludyga, available in blackened silver for $44 and 14k rose and yellow gold for $88.  

the best wedding present.

John Derian plate, $165

soap on a rope.

Now in the stock: Saipua soaps by the awesome Sarah. So fresh looking and smelling, they look as if they were born in the store. (Totally coincidentally, we sell some of the papers she wraps her soap in.) Soon also available on line.*

*The new website was supposed to be done in January. And I am really, REALLY not known for my patience. Aaagh.

Bearded Baby!

Species by the Thousands baby tee, $35

The must have tee, for every baby, from here til forever, if you ask me.  Available in 6 months, 12 months, and 2T in super soft, perfect gym-class heather gray.  

Freshen Up

Summer is not typically the stay at home, nesting season, but I've been dealing with this month of rain by pottering about my home, freshening up, clearing out, doing all the things I won't want to do when the sun remembers the earth and Bloody Marys need to be made and consumed.  In the meanwhile, these $4 sheets of gift wrap, amongst others, are perfect for changing out your wall art, or decoupaging some sidewalk treasure.  

Did you know?

The dove perched on the guitar of the Woodstock poster is actually a catbird. I just learned this tidbit from the book I can't put down.

A humble beast (both the pigeon, and an early morning stationer)

plaster pigeon, $26

This weather is for the birds. Weak, yes, but forgive a girl who's not yet had her morning coffee.

Kiss of a Spider-Bejeweled woman

Old Hollywood, $128

I'm a big fan of subtle nods to other seasons- shell necklaces in the winter?  Why not?  Noirish, deep autumn spiders in the summer? Please do!  I'm also a big fan of Old Hollywood, and if someone doesn't buy this necklace, expertly constructed from vintage pieces, soon, it might have to come home with me.  And, seeing as how I am accidentally responsible for having my brother's car towed this week, I don't think he'd appreciate me leaving it in hock, while I tool around town glittering with new, old jewels.  

Here's hopin' for you, kid!

Sweet little card cases ($30) from our gal pal, Shara Porter. Perfect for the recent grad, who might have to wheel and deal their way to employment a little more than those of us blessed to graduate in a flusher time.

Fear not!

slim Frenchie notebooks, $3.95

School is many months away. We are safely ensconced in the early days of summer, when even for those of us who have long since left school, there is an easier, breezier feeling to weekdays. We just got another shipment of these lightweight notebooks which are perfect tote around to jot down details for all your many summertime soirees.

Au revoir! Off to Paris!

Alright, that title is an untruth. Not really a lie, though. Look at this photo that Violette Van Parys sent us of the Mexican folk candelabra ($62 - only 2 left!) she bought from the store a few weeks ago! Look at this perfectly elegant, quixotic, breezy styling in her apartment! Now you tell me, does this not send you straight to the Paris? See! Such a pacific and soothing photo has elicited many an exclamation point from me, no?!

Pioneers

What's better than having beer on ice delivered to you at work? Having beer on ice delivered to you at work accompanied by a really nice, ego-stroking note. This scotch drinker can only hope that next year Dewar's is the sponsor of the Northside Festival.

best find ever?

My friend Susan did some thrifting in Memphis and returned home with this gift for Sylvie. It may just be the best thrift store find ever.

Behold: the 1978 McDonald's Denim Vest for Children.

What's this guy's name? It's not the Hamburglar.

Such attention to detail. Such branding!

My question (among many) is who was buying these? And where?
(By the way, it is really well made.)

I think she manages to pull off the fast-food-70s-rocker-toddler look quite successfully.

long shadows.

Walking home from the city pool with the kiddos on a hot afternoon last summer.

pictures taken with a Blackberry Pearl phone.

A neighborhood love fest

map by george boorujy

We're not kidding when we say our jewelers are locals. Every once in a while something is so crazy special that we stock the work of a West Coaster, but really, Brooklyn is represented all over our wee shop. Evidence? This weekend, at the Renegade Craft Fair, in addition to many of our vendors who were selling their work, Camille Hempel, Jessie from Barens & Belle, and Tiffany Porter of Old Hollywood, all swung by the canopy where I was selling Jezebel and Aaron was selling Digby & Iona. It was a grand old time.

Dear Sunshine,
Remember when we used to hang out? I really thought we were having a good time, but now you don't even call. Anyway, hope all's well with you. We'd love to see you again soon.
xo
Brooklyn

Pom, pom, pom.

Pompom garlands are back in stock. Eleven feet of sweetness for a mere 15 smackers.

john derian in da house.

Just a small selection from our latest John Derian shipment. Ferris wheels, artichokes, bunnies, well-endowed mutton...pretty springy, eh? More coming soon, including this alphabet one which I love extra extra.

p.s. Kwannam's beautiful blog leaves me a tad bored with myself and jonesing for some adventures. sigh.

Renegade!

Catbird has long supported local and independent designers and I was beyond excited the first year the Renegade Craft Fair come to Brooklyn. It was sort of a small, sleepy affair back then. Not so now. Come this weekend and visit our fair neck. Tons of my favorite people and designers will be selling their wares including Jezebel, Maggie Stevenson, Digby & Iona, Max Steiner, Sycamore Street Press, Ach Ach Leibling, Verameat, Foxy & Winston, Enormous Champion and many others who we have carried in the past or just plain love.

If you see me say Howdy. I'll be the one with the REALLY bad pedicure, shmoozing away while my bored husband and two littles relentlessly tug at my jeans.

And of course swing by the store to see what's up... it's just a smidge away. AND there are no cars on Bedford Avenue this weekend! It's eat-tacos-without-getting-mowed-down Saturday.

The woman behind the man behind the Taco Truck

Patience is not always a virtue

Rony's not one to toot her own horn, so I'll toot it for her. Check out this tote she designed for the store!!! Do you notice that Cat and that Bird?! She decided that Catbird needed totes, whipped this beauty together, and it was printed and delivered to the store approximately 22 seconds later. Our first customer to buy one was a blue-eyed, nail-biter, chain smoker from Paris. They're $10 a piece, or you just might find one slipped in amongst your purchases.

crimson & clover

I highly recommend taking three minutes and nine seconds to enjoy this. Do it!

(As a side note, my son was born to this song. Lucky little guy.)

Swiss Miss

Yoko Endo hat, $118

I challenge you to find a lady who did not love Heidi as a girl, and this hat will help you realize all your mountain girl dreams.  I think that our very own D. would take this hat to a whole other Alpine stratosphere, cycling 'round this town, and the other one she is sadly soon leaving us for.

In the den

new poppy candlesticks, $30-$38 each

Standing Woman, 1959, Alberto Giacometti

from the Wizard of Oz

I think that I should be making some sort of opium joke, but my punchy switch has turned off for the day. Instead, I present you with my FAVORITE new candlesticks. I normally find candlesticks somewhat fussy and precarious, but these spindly floral friends have an air of Giacometti about them that I just love.

SCENE: Red Hook waterfront

DAD: And see over there?
KID: Hmmph?
DAD: Over there, the big green lady. That's the Statue of Liberty. And over there is Ellis Island where people from other countries had to come before coming here. And those big orange boats? That's the Staten Island Ferry...and see that building...
KID, (screams with glee, pointing down to the detritus collecting amongst the rocks): GARBAGE!!!