Home.

I just got an email from the lovely Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown - her sister's home burned down to the ground this weekend. I cannot imagine. Luckily everyone was safe. Kim drew this drawing and is selling it on her site. All proceeds go to helping her family piece their life back together. It's only $50, with free shipping. Her work is amazing - you will cherish the print forever, and you'll be helping someone out. Get one for yourself, and a few for your friends, HERE. Pass it on.

I began working on this drawing on January 27th, immediately after I heard the news that my sister Julie's home had burned down to the ground. The old farmhouse had been in her fiancee's family for many years, and thankfully she and Robby got out of it safely. Though they have each other, they have no material possessions to their name. All proceeds from this product will go directly to Julie and Robby's paypal account, and they can start piecing their life back together one print at a time. We've thrown in free shipping too. I promise you'll feel good about being part of this project.

- with thanks, Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown

Love's sea, Lover's sea

ROSIE PROBERT (_Softly_)
What seas did you see,
Tom Cat, Tom Cat,
In your sailoring days
Long long ago?
What sea beasts were
In the wavery green
When you were my master?

CAPTAIN CAT
I'll tell you the truth.
Seas barking like
seals, Blue seas and green,
Seas covered with eels
And mermen and whales...

ROSIE PROBERT
What seas were rocking
My little deck hand
My favourite husband
In your seaboots and hunger...
When you were a boy
Long long ago?

CAPTAIN CAT
I'll tell you no lies.
The only sea I saw
Was the seesaw sea
With you riding on it.
Lie down, lie easy.
Let me shipwreck in your thighs.

Under Milkwood: A Play for Voices, Dylan Thomas

Catbird anchor necklace $226-324, Flotsam and Jetsam galleon necklace $150 - good for him, too

Closet Visit

It's days like today, and blogs like Closet Visit, that really make me wonder why I don't live in California.

Local Birds pt. 2

Here's Abbey Lee, neighborhood gal and a polite and lovely visitor to 219 Bedford, looking completely resplendent in yesterday's Chanel couture show.

Festoon!

We're totally wild for the new banners we just got in the store. I brought "Magic Surrounds" home with me, cause, duh, it does. Oh, I don't mean to sound flip. I really do believe; I've practically got stars in my eyes.

We plan on using the banners as a perfect addition to Valentine's Day presents for lovers and friends, an out-of-the-box baby shower gift, and a bit of art on a bare wall. We also plan on sending them to customers near and far, creating a metaphorical banner of dreamy good-will all across this fair land. And world! We ship internationally, you know.

Thanks for hanging in with me on this one. Twas a rambler.
assorted banners, $10 in store and online

Things She'll Love

Valentines Day is only 21 days away...

1. Forget Me Not Chione V scarf   2. Outfit by Steven Alan  3. Turquoise Filing Cabinet, photo via hello future house  4. Jean Paul Gaultier Guy de Jean Striped Long Umbrella   5. Twinkle Diamond Ring  6. Lily Leaf Ring with Diamonds   7. Fleurs de Nuit Candle   8. Encyclopedia of the Exquisite

Catbird Chameleon

I'd like to shriek and throw in some emoticons, and call it a day on this post, but I'll be more civilized than that. EEEEEEK, OMG :) :) :)! Oh, sorry, right. We're cooking up something crazy exciting. It's big, it's shiny, it's sexy, and eeeeeeeek! I'm sorry, I just can't help myself.

nighttime at Versailles, The Cherry Blossom Girl

Six Scents

Tarot Deck: incense, turkish rose & pencil shavings

Campfire: woodsmoke, saddle leather & honey

Fig Leaf: white fig, dandelion & cedar
Fleurs de Nuit: night blooming jasmine, honeysuckle & cactus blossom

Seven Seas: mint, sea spray & heliotrope
Pomelo Blossom: asian lime, ginger & eucalyptus

A signature matchbox tucked into the clever carton,
designed especially for us by our Brooklyn box maker.

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it's forever. - Carl Sagan
(Carl Sagan gave me a piggy back ride when I was in nursery school. True story.)

Also available in a generously portioned travel size.

The Catbird candles are FINALLY here. This project has been well over a year in the making and was an absolute team effort. I, for one, am pleased as punch-flavored soy wax. They smell and look uh-mazing. Designed, poured and packaged in New York and made with domestically grown soy beans. 

All six scents are in store now and will soon be are now available on line. Full size $32 / Travel size $10.

Wholesale available - as well as special pricing for restaurants. Please email with inquiries.

Woohoo!!!

https://catbirdnyc.com/shop/home.php?cat=410

how to beat the WINTER BLUES

1.) Interior styling by Stella Nicolaisen for H&M home (photo via Trendland)  2.)  Three Arrow Necklace   3.) Anthropologie Irresistible Maxi Dress  4.) Le Creuset Oval French Oven  5.) Bleu d'Auvergne from the Bedford Cheese Shop with wine pairing  6.) CB I Hate Perfume in Under the Arbor, Just Breathe, and Greenbriar  7.) Atlas of Remote Islands by Judith Schalansky  

 

From an oyster born

"All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography."--Federico Fellini

Tradition is the coolest, but traditional can get stale. We love pearls for their unbelievable origins and for their classic ways, but sue us for not loving a twinset and a little strand (except on Betty Draper, of course.) Have your old-fashioned cake, and eat the 21st century, too.

Elizabeth Knight frog pearl necklace $180, Linea Carta wishing bracelets in store and online $16, Bittersweets Delilah necklace in store starting at $395, Claire Kinder cultured pearl necklace in store $42, Yayoi Forest baroque pearl earrings in store and online $220, Jezebel pearl earrings in store and online $120

Catbirds in Paris in April

I'm heading to Paris for my honeymoon in the beginning of April, then Rony and family pop over for the best Passover ever. Friends, readers, Parisians: what are your favorite places in Paris? And, I quite clearly choose this photo because mirrors can only mean Versailles. Which is not in Paris, but I think I can be forgiven the ellipsis. Merci.

mirror coasters, $10 in store

You and Me

These matches are my new favorites. I want to scrawl names on them, bundle them up in a little brown kraft bag with a snippet of silk ribbon, and give them to everyone I know.

from/to matches, in store $3.50

Winter Solstice Flowers

Ranunculus. Such a clunky name for such a delicate beauty.

flowers by Saipua

Out with the Old, In with the New

New way to display books, à la Lagerfeld, (image via The Selby);  A new lid, Asos Catarzi Felt 1920's Hat; A new way to nail it, (image via Refinery29); A new way to think about diamonds, Digby and Iona Diamond Signet Necklace; A new, old language, S&H x Philip Crangi Class Ring; A new ride, (image via DesignLoveFest)

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

The snow is swirling in Brooklyn again; tonight's bounty adds to the piles left from our last storm. It's weather for steaming coffee, pinched cheeks, and lavish furs. All mine are thrifted or heirlooms, but if you've got a strict policy against it, we've got the solution to temper your moral compass and indulge your sartorial fancy.

Eugenia Kim knit fox stole, $232 in store and online

Faces

We are more than the sum of our parts, but each part, so beautiful, so weird, ours, and ours alone.

Jezebel evil eye ring $288, Yayoi Forest happy face necklace $330, Stephanie Simek single eyelash necklace $35

HHH's Acquisitions.

Our favorite whale (other than Fudgie, of course), looks proud to be in such esteemed company.
Whale Scrimshaw Box, $44

Star Wars Travel Posters

I'm not a major Star Wars geek (don't get me wrong, I like the first two as much as the next gal), but I am quite crazy about these minimalist Star Wars posters by Justin Van Genderen. 

via wide open spaces

Stop and smell the roses

My short stack, Teepee, turns three today. She's spent many happy hours at Catbird- here she is taking some time to appreciate the finer things in life.

The Dirt.

I have a confession. Between erudite mentions of independent films and Sylvia Plath quotes I have been very busy devouring some Serious Trash.

What We Love Today: Natural History of Birds blank book

One day, the world will want to know what you thought of it. Start scribbling, now. New year demands a bit of introspection.

Natural history of birds blank book, $12

Meryl

I really really didn't know it was possible for me to love Meryl Streep any more than I already did. But then I watched I Knew It Was You. Which you should too.

Alice + Olivia - are you PSYCHIC!?

A few customers alerted us to the fact that our Frenchy enameled lockets were on Alice + Olivia's 4 AM Finds. But here's the thing: we ordered them in blue for the first time YESTERDAY. Alice/Olivia - how did you know? And, also, ummm, what are the winning lottery numbers for tomorrow? 

Valentine's Day

It's comin' at ya like a freight train. Fellas - we've got your back. Look HERE. 

Swish Swish

I did done have my first pickleback (or two) this weekend. DO. IT. It'll scramble your grammar in the most delightful way.

models showing off pickles during National Pickle Week

Cat Calendar.

 Patootie, Mr. December, wears a reproduction M-65 fishtail parka.

Bruce, Mr. June, wears a sleeveless jacquardo shirt and suede shorts.

Oscar, Mr. February, wears a regatta blazer with striped trim and a white shirt dress.

The brilliant United Bamboo calendar is back.

Leonard C. & Sylvia P.

Happy 1/1/11.

Niagara Falls, 1911

Now THAT's a snow storm. Niagara Falls, frozen solid, exactly one century ago.