Dez'Mon Omega Fair, Our Honorary Bird

A few things about Dez'Mon: he is as sweet as they come, hails from the South, wears crowns on his head, layered First Knuckle Rings on his hands, clearly making him one of the most stylish gentlemen trotting around Brooklyn. He was also one of my very first introductions to Catbird and he happens to be one of my best, most talented friends.

On top of being an honorary Catbird, Dez also works for The Journal Gallery as well as our delicious neighbors over at Pies'n'Thighs and in his private time, he works with watercolors creating paintings that have their very own identities. We feel so insanely lucky to have two of his one-of-a-kind pieces hanging in our Cat Cave and we are extra excited for Dez's first solo exhibition! If you're in New York be sure to check out his pieces hanging at the Williamsburg Library, 240 Division, until April 6. xx coco

PS here is a lil' sneak peak of the work you'll see there!

Moon Child

We're just about to release something we've been working on for eons. We've sat, and we've thought, and we've thought some more, and I think the years of waiting have been worth it. We're so excited with the finished product. I hope you'll love these new pieces as much as we do.  

-Leigh

Jean Shrimpton by Richard Avedon, 1968

Dream Date: This Girl.

Yes, yes, smoking is bad for you, but I'm guessing that if this girl invited you into the woods, you'd follow.

-Leigh

photo by Stacey Mark

How We Wear It: Rosie

I am continually impressed the more I find out about our beautiful Australian bird, Rosie. When she isn't busy making Catbird dreams come true - this gal will find you the perfect ring to snuggle up in your stack OR the wedding band made to match your engagement ring, she is writing for Dossier Journal and putting the finishing touches onto her new love child, Brace Magazine. She is also a total dreamboat in the clothing department - she has a killer collection mini skirts and is always wearing the most beautiful blouses.

On Rosie's right hand she is wearing a Ruby Ring passed on to her from her mother, originally worn by her grandmother, a Mignon Memory Ring, $48, and an oversized Moonstone ring. 

On her left hand she wears a Classic Hammered First Knuckle Ring, $64, on her index finger, a Tomboy First Knuckle Ring, $138, paired with a teensy M Alphabet Ring, $96, a Threadbare, $44, with a gifted black diamond ring. She is also wearing a Mignon Memory Ring, $48, on her ring finger and pinky!

Also, if you're wondering just how cute Rosie is..the M Alphabet Ring Rosie wears is for her mum!! :)

xx coco

I Spy, with My Little Cat Eye

Keeping it close to the couch this (every) weekend, Alice Coltrane on repeat, a cracked, worn copy of Another Country in my hands, lots of baths, even more coffee, and some internet armchair travelling. Thus far, my wanders have confirmed my yearning for Stila's pale, rose gold Kitten gel liner: Into the Gloss tells me that it is Sofia Coppola's pot of choice.

-Leigh

Outtakes: On Set with Mr. Bonki

We had a VIF (Very Important Feline, bien sûr) visitor in our studio the other day. Mr. Bonki, a 9 week old Scottish Fold kitten with a penchant for playing soccer with piles of tiny gold rings, was kind enough to let us snap some (um, a few hundred) photos of him. Thank you, Mr. Bonki, for being a totally adorable delight that left us all weak in the knees, and thank you to your moms, Alyse and Karolina, for letting you come play with us. We love you, Mr. Bonki.

xo Leigh and the Catbird kittens

It's Okay My Dear

Ashley's fall 2013 lookbook is all I want (in terms of mood, decor, and apparel, that is). The black dress with a touch of sheer and cat face pockets is especially purr-worthy.

-Leigh

photos from It's Okay My Dear's Instagram feed 

Engagement Party!

We are tickled pink to be apart of T Magazine's incredible Engagement Party as we are big encouragers of unusual, non-traditional rings especially as wedding and engagement bands!

Elisa Solomon Ancienne Diamond Band, $2,840. Digby & Iona Atreyu Ring, $1,200. Satomi Kawakita's Black Diamond Eternity Band, $1,670.

Things I love: Maddy

Maddy, one of our master jewelers, is originally from California and loves apples but hates things made with apples (juice, apple sauce, etc).  She took ballet for most of her life (a jeweler and ballerina! swoon), likes bunnies, and loves stone setting.  Here are a few things she loves: 

• Hiking and camping in Big Sur
• Tree Houses
• Catbird Black Diamond Studs
• Traditional Indian Jewelry
• Casting
• Making Jewelry
• Napping in the sun
• Gems and Minerals!
• Dirty shoes
• Overalls
• Anything Todd Reed!
• Sidecars

Famous Lovers: John and Yoko.

Peace, Love, and the Perfect Bedhead. Happy belated birthday to you, Yoko Ono, and thank you for always fighting the good pacifist fight.

-Leigh

Lulu Organics hair powder - the best tool for the best bedhead. $30 in store and online.

Anatomy of a Stack: Iridescent Treasures

This stack has me dreaming of palm fronds and warmer weather.  I should have hopped in Rony's suitcase and caught a free ride to Mexico.  Or maybe I'll run down to Coober Pedy in search of some more sparkly white pebbles. 

Or not.  I'll just wait here for Catbird to dazzle us with another iridescent treasure (hint, hint)! 

1. Opal Teardrop Ring, $198

2. 14k yellow gold Classic Hammered Ring, $74

3. 14k rose gold Threadbare Ring, $44

4. 14k rose gold Heart Ring, $96

5. 14k rose gold Diamond Baguette, $320

6. 14k yellow gold Classic Hammered Ring, $74

-ak

The Best Bet!

First off, could Elle Fanning, be ANY cuter? We were delighted that the Equilateral Triangle Nails were included in the pages behind her for this week's Best Bet!!

Equilateral Triangle Nails, $28.

Lunch Lady: Sooie!

Oh haaayyy Kitty-Babes! So, Rony totally lit a fire under my ass for being the most neglectful Lunch Lady ever! And thankfully I have the perfect place in mind to start this romance up again...

Since we've got a new studio on the South Side I've been walking past a bunch of awesome places I've never seen before and one of them is Brisket Town! It's pretty great. And when I just told my dad about it the first thing he said was "Shit, I wanna live there." Which is basically how I feel whenever I make a trip over for one of their delicious Brisket Breakfast Tacos. It has pickled onions, brisket, cilantro, egg, some kind of bbq sauce (I think) and it's on a flour tortilla. I personally wish they could toast the tortilla a little but either way it's phenomenal. 

They're on Bedford and South 5th and you should all start joining me for breakfast there- which is normally my least favorite meal of the day but since I've found a way to incorporate Brisket into my morning schedule it's really upped my quality of life. Emotionally anyway ;-) So... yeah they serve Breakfast Tacos from 9am to 12pm and they have Blue Bottle Coffee and Orange Juice and a really nice waitstaff. It looks kind of like a barn inside and they always play awesome music as well. I'm even convincing the vegetarian Catbirds to give it a shot because, well it's just a good place. And they have veggie tacos that sound really delicious. Those have roasted brussel sprouts, eggs, cheese, potato hash, caramelized onions, peppers, cabbage slaw and homemade ketchup! :-) And I don't know where else you can get breakfast tacos around here, so they definitely filled an enormous void. As far as myself and a few other Birdettes are concerned anyway.

<3 Ash

p.s.

Here is a video for your viewing pleasure... Only Dale Hawkins can make calling your love interest a Little Pig sound even remotely cute.

Dream Date: Two Brides.

The only thing that could perfect this haunting perfection (3 weeks on, and it rattles, daily) might be the presence of some Small Velvet Pumpkins.  Confession: round these parts, I am known to be a bit of a Small Velvet Pumpkin obsessive.

-Leigh

Chanel Spring 2013 Couture, photo from style.com

Call of the Mild Wild.

It's a balmy 57 degrees in Brooklyn, but the weekend calls for snow flurries and rosy-cheeked winter walks.

-Leigh

A Man Feeding Swans in the Snow by Marcin Ryczek via AnOther Magazine

Thanks Refinery29!

Refinery29 put together a list of 18 knockout Engagement Rings that are sure to leave you lovebirds and or jewelry enthusiasts swooning.

Ila& I Baguette Eternity Band, $3,000.

Blanca Monrós Gómez, 14 Diamond Flat Band, $710.

Stack 'Em Up!

When Eva Chen says something, we listen, and when she says she wears delicate rings en masse, we follow suit. So, ladies and gentlemen, keep stacking! xx coco

Everyday Jewels!

It's no secret that we absolutely adore Kelly Framel and all the beautiful things happening over there on The Glamourai - but when we saw this post featuring her Everyday Jewels we were even more blown away with her creative eye! 

We like switching up our look by moving rings to different fingers but we work/sleep/live in our same staple pieces, too! And a big thank you, Miss Framel, for your extremely kind words on our Catbird jewels! xx 

Dream Date: Lee Radziwill AND Sofia Coppola.

I can't stop watching this frisson of steely, easy elegance.


-Leigh

Fine and Mellow.

Keep it gentle, kittens, but don't forget that touch of black.

-Leigh

Tim Walker for W Magazine, via This is Glamorous 

Things I love: Lauren

You can spot Lauren from her long mermaid hair and dreamy green eyes (that you will get lost in while having a conversation, I promise).  She is a master jeweler in the making, identifies closely with frogs, and is in the process of making a headdress adorned with everything under the sun.  Here are a few things she loves: 

• Readings spreads from The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck.
• Stacking catbird’s turquoise baguette and threadbare with my favorite antique rings.
• Peppermint tea & raw honey.
• The magical buffalo skull from my Southwest camping adventure.
• Cuddling with my cockatiels Dennis & Angie.
• Doodling in my planner with a million different colored markers.
• Long car rides on backroads Upstate & building fires.
• Bittersweets Small Skull Memento Mori ring.
• Making dreamcatchers for special people in my life.
• Woodstock Handmade Houses By: Robert Haney & David Ballantine.

Recent Press!

Here is some of our recent press: Entertainment Weekly, Teen Vogue, The Man Repeller, Daily Candy, ROOKIE! Majorly excited about each!! xx

Famous Lovers: Chris Issak and Helena Christensen.

I cannot promise that Captain's Blankenship's Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray will lead to the world's sexiest beach frolic, but I can promise that if it does, your hair will be tousled and world's sexiest beach frolic ready.

-Leigh

Captain Blankenship Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray, $22 in store and online

Dream Date: Isaac Mizrahi, circa Unzipped.

In lieu watching the half-time show, or either halves surrounding it, I watched (for the --- time) L'Amour Fou followed by Unzipped. Though Mr. Mizrahi was none too interested in me the time we rode silently in a freight elevator together, I unabashedly dub him this week's Dream Date. And, Mr. M,  should you ever put that faux-fur jumpsuit into production, perfect for slipping over a bra and underwear and taking the dog for the chicest walk in town, I would like to put myself at the top of the wait list. I'd also like one in a tiny size for Teepee, my long-haired chihuahua, to layer over her fur. Thanks for listening, Isaac.

-Leigh

Things I love: Rachel

A few need to know facts about our store manager, Rachel – she was born in France, raised in Burkina Faso and Nashville, she's got some fantastically bold eyebrows, and her kitten goes by the name of Sushi-Amadeus. She's also our shop mama bird making sure each and every single customer walks out smiling, oh and, she sometimes mispronounces Maureen as Marine (which, we think is really awesome). 

Here are a few things she loves:

• Bittersweets Pinky Club Rings (mine says Nashville in fact)
• Swedish Soap Facial Masks with my Roomie
• Big Big Trees!
• Nashville, TN
• My cat, Sushi-Amadeus
• Bedford Cheese Shop
• Banjo Music
• Phases of the Moon
• Fancy doors  
• Lauren Wolf Rings (Cleopatra especially! swoon!!)

What We Love Today: DON'T MESS WITH MY STUFF!

Seriously. Don't mess with me.
-Rony

John Derian Letter Tray, $165

Things I love: Courtnay

Courtnay is our sassy-sweet southern belle and ecommerce guru.  She is decked out in sparkles daily, knows every internet sensation and and has the answers to literally any question you will ever have (about anything).  Her tiny pup comes with just as much sass as her and we're all still trying to get on his good side.  Here are a few things she loves: 

• Magnolias
• Taxidermied birds
• Jezebel evil eye ring
• Tarot Cards and Book
• Good old fashioned Southern ghost story
• Giant Dwarf Hair Pin
• Spanish moss
• Boom Boom Pow Pow nail polish
• My sweet little man (choripan) 
• Frida Kahlo's amazing life and style