What We're Giving: Courtnay

Courtnay picks our sparkly and special gifts for her Grandma, sister and mom!

1. For my lovely gramamma, Yiye, Isa's Restoratives Lilac Rouge, $22.00, some of Catbird's Travel Candles, $12.00, for her porch (especially when the Southern Spring comes back) and finally, the Up in The Air Gold Bottom Dish, $42.00, so she can stow her finger's worth of amazing rings.

2. For my ever picky (yet classy as a mofo) younger sister, it's a grab bag of the Gold Sparkler Star Bobby Pin, $18.00, Roberts Florentine Rosewater, $10.00, and Deborah Lippmann's Cleopatra in New York, $16.00, a representation of her ever-evolving commitment to simple beauty.

3. I'd love to give my amazing momma John Derian's Rose With Ant Plate, $48.00 - a lovely reminder for when winter has taken all the flowers away. Add onto that, a dedication to my mom's spirit, the Slip Into The Darkness Gift Set, $132.00 (perfect for the gothic Southern narrative embedded in our veins).

Perfect Pair.

All the better to see you with, my dear.

-Leigh

Nebula tray by John Derian, $75 in store and online
telescope keychain, $8 in store and online

Strange bedfellows

I like to imagine Mrs. Mandelbaum and Mrs. Lipski running into this fine gentleman on their evening stroll. Perhaps they'd enjoy a nightcap and some talk about the good old times, in a smoky, forgotten piano bar.

Maira Kalman Evening Stroll card, $4.95
John Derian gentleman paperweight, $30

Happy Spring, Part Deux

Springy hummingbirds, à la John Derian.

Night watchman

Spooky, spooky: we got an email at 4 a.m. from a gentleman who wanted to buy the John Derian seance plate.  With the streamlined, magical brilliance of the iPhone he snapped this photo of our store window and sent his query into the late night air.  While our new customer has a taste for the occult, there was nothing spooky about him when he came in the next day to retrieve his wrapped & ready plate.  Our new friend also bought 3 more John Derian plates, and we sent him off to dinner at Aurora, with a little gift on the house: an antique bottle from our collection, that matched perfectly a cork he had excavated from the basement of a former abolitionist's home in downtown Brooklyn.

I just can't get you out of my mind

Chang & Eng Bunker, Chang & Eng figurines $33

Chang & Eng, the conjoined twins who spawned the phrase Siamese twins, also collectively spawned 21 children.  They were discovered in Siam, and while on the touring circuit, they became  smitten with North Carolina, where they settled, married 2 sisters, and had many, many babies.  These little statuettes are contemporaries of the twins, and were made in India. We suggest giving one to your other half. (Available in store and on line.)

Hats Off

John Derian mini-tray, $56

Thank you weather gods. You meandered, took your time, and shed angry tears over us, but finally you've given us summer.

the best wedding present.

John Derian plate, $165

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.

The Bard of Bedford Avenue

poem by William Chrome

John Derian tray, $78

One of the joys of propping the door to the store wide open on a nice day is listening to the clackity-clack of William Chrome's typewriter as he pens odes for passerbys.  Pay Mr. Chrome what you will, and be a patron of the arts and muse, in one pretty poem-worthy package.  

(speaking of clackity-clacking, Rony's been on a typewriter tin bender)

p.s. How amazing would it be to have William and his team typing away at your next party???  I've got a big birthday coming up- I might just need to send an inquiry...

Baby House

10" x 16" John Derian tray, $188

Were you as disappointed as I was not to acquire the Charlotte Bronte decorated dollhouse auctioned at Christie's a few weeks ago? Yes, yes, I know one cannot expect to win an auction if one does not bid, but when one loves mauve and the Brontes so, it is hard not to feel a totally irrational sense of loss. Chin up, darling! This new John Derian tray is awfully reminiscent of Charlotte's Georgian stylings.

my funny, and not expensive, valentine.

Dear Dudes,
You don't have to break the bank, or get super girly, to get a thoughtful Valentine's Day present. As long as it's thoughtful, it's a good gift. Period. It doesn't have to involve hearts and roses, although hearts and roses can be quite nice. Some ideas:

heart in hand bottle opener ($12)

an old-timey hanky ($4 / 5 for $20)

john derian plates (the three shown here are $88 and under)

an old-timey card, equipped with a hanky ($4)

Jewelry is always nice. St. Kilda pieces are consistent winners, as are Yayoi Forest heart necklaces. Check out that cute little frog with black diamond eyes!
(pieces shown here start at $100)

Terrariums and little vases ($28 - $90)

teeny heart studs (singles are $28 for silver, $40 for gold)

Or really, seriously, just get a card and write something heartfelt and true on it. Anyone worth their salt will love that the most anyway. (under $4)

Children of the Corn

I can't get enough of this totally bizarro new little tray from John Derian that just arrived at Catbird. Whenever I buy trays or boxes, I puzzle over what I'll use them for, and then they magically find the most perfect little home. Truly, trays and boxes can help make our little Brooklyn homes tidy, efficient, cozy, mean little machines. Did I say little???