Famous Lovers; Velvet Brown and The Pie.

This gold and diamond horseshoe ring would have been perfect for baby Dame Elizabeth circa National Velvet, before her tastes got rather, well, grander.

-Leigh

1909 diamond and 14k gold horseshoe ring, $500 available in store and online

Aili, meaning "light" in Gaelic

Introducing our newest designer, Aili! I love gold and turquoise together. It makes me feel like I am about to embark to the Greek Isles. In store and on line here.

New designer: Ila & I

We have been eyeing Ila's beautiful wares for years and finally decided it was time to take the plunge. She takes traditional designs and puts enough of a spin on them to make them discreetly luxurious and just a bit more dramatic. So very beautiful.

See here for Ila&I.

New designer: Fox & Thistle

We're excited about our newest addition - Fox & Thistle. Just look at that itty bitty fox face staring at you with diamond eyes! And some graceful architectural pieces, as well as an exceptional snake necklace. Brooklyn represent. 

Want to see something beautiful?

These new, slightly mismatched pairs of tourmaline earrings from Elizabeth Street just take my breath away. Each is set in 18k gold according to the natural shape of the stone. They. Are. So. Beautiful.

Elizabeth Street Tourmaline Earrings, $820-900

Ladies & Gentlemen...

We are pleased to introduce our new friends, Conroy & Wilcox, in store today! and online so soon, we promise. Online now!

Downtown. Remember Downtown?

Tuesday was a day for the joys of lower Manhattan. We visited the studios of Made Her Think, and then, in the shadow of the Bowery, we were lulled to pacific joy by the quiet of a line containing magnificent, refined, elegant jewels. We ordered, of course, and we are trembling to share with you. We had salads at Cafe Gitane and stopped at De Vera, an old favorite. Never have I ever, De Vera. What you do is magic incarnate.

images from De Vera Jewelry

Vision questing

Completely obsessed with these new astrological cuffs by the local and lovely Julie Nolan. We've had them for 2 days, and they are flying, for very obvious reasons, not limited to the $50 price tag. I covet the Aries bracelet for myself, and plan on giving them to all my special gals. Also would make a real great bridesmaid gift.

Julie Nolan astrological constellation cuff and bracelet, $50 in store and online

My funny Valentine

Our favorite little Liberace, she of the bejeweled fingers, Miss Elisa Solomon has restocked our shelves with a delicious array of St. Valentine worthy offerings. I'm particularly taken with her Love ring, which she's done up on 18k gold, smacked with diamonds, and kissed with a rose cut ruby. This ring has a sense of humor; I like a jewel that is beautiful and makes me laugh.

Elisa Solomon ring $156o in store

So so so Satomi!

We were so excited to get Satomi Kawakita's rings in the store, we were marking off the days in the calendar. Then, she turns up to drop off our order with her fingers looking like such. Suffice it to say, we are officially in love with Satomi.

rings in store now, online soon now

For Wife #1, or Wife #5. Whatever.

It's humid and blustery tonight. I'm reviving my love for The Tudors and thinking to myself, "I mean really, which one of Henry VIII six wives wouldn't have loved this ring?"

Empress ring by Polly Wales, 18k & london blue topaz, $1650

Knight Rider

One of the newest designers in the store, Elizabeth Knight, is quickly becoming a staff favorite. First off, Elizabeth herself is a ray of sunshine. Don't let the dark and slightly creepy jewelry fool you. My personal favorite is the finely articulated frog skeleton hand holding a pink pearl. Now available on line.

Say it like it is

Scosha "thou shall not talk shit necklace", 14k & oxidized silver, $194

This is not normally the sort of thing that I would go in for, but the scale of the text is exactly right- teeny, tiny, and really just there to burn a warm patch of love to the heart that sometimes goes off the righteous tracks. I'm a firm believer that there is idle shit-talkin' gossip, and there's another sort of talking that we do about each other which is a constructive means to understanding ourselves and our place in this wild world. Let's all try and walk the straight and narrow and honor the 11th, uninscribed commandment. Thank you, Scosha NYC, for keeping us in line.

Think your stuff is right for Catbird?

I am itching, (ITCHING I TELL YOU!!) for new stuff for my teeny shop. Trade shows are coming up, and Leigh and I are doing rigorous eye exercises daily in order to find great new things amidst the schlock. Me and my trusty team, we always do, but it's really not our favorite place to find stuff.

In that vein, we are always on the hunt for under-the-radar talent. Think you got the chops? Bring it on. I look at ALL submissions but I cannot respond to them all. Please see details here, but don't be intimidated by my blathering on and on.

In the very best way...

Candace Ang feather necklace $62

The 'stache necklace, unintentionally reinterpreted in a wonderful new Seussian way.

Forward Looking

calendars, $30

The Wild Unknown's 2010 calendars arrived in the store yesterday afternoon. Mine is already hanging in my apartment. Such a perfect perfect gift - they are both intimate and anonymous in a way I find completely fascinating. I bought my first calendar from them a few years ago at a holiday sale we both participated in, and I'm so pleased to be able to press them into hot, waiting hands at Catbird.

imPRESSed

It's a fine day when a stationer is induced to buy stationery from another stationer. Austin Press, today is that fine day. I want one of everything we just got in the shop.

photo by the selby

I've lately been inspired, afar, by Annakim Violette. Prepared to be inspired, nearer, by some amazing butterfly jewelry flying our way.

Labradorite, luminescence, light

katie diamond labradorite ring, $200

While writing copy for our shiny, new website (you're gonna love it! a billion times bigger than our current website!), I learned about adularescence, the milky glow that occurs in stones like moonstones, opals, and labradorite when light falls between the finest of layers that make up the gems. I might have gotten that not entirely right, but you get the idea. Real life magic.

like a knight in...melted plastic

"Hey! What's up? Oh wow - check out that awesome necklace! It's so big and abstract! Oh wait, are those...knights?? A jumble of knight melted together? No. Really? WOW!!"

Eden Miller Gold Knight melted plastic necklace, $32

(also available in Black Ninja and Silver Knight)