Shopgirl: November Picks

Where exactly did October go? And for that matter, where is November going? Before we go full Yuletide in just a few weeks, we're keeping the moody spirit of the fall season for a little while longer. 

Lately Sarah has been wearing one of my favorite jewelry motifs, the serpent. I love the Yayoi Forest Serpentine Necklace particularly for its coiled form and twinkling diamond eye. It can also be layered with something more delicate like the Chained To My Heart for an unexpected balance.

And almost all of us Catbirdettes have a few of these mini velvet pumpkins sprinkled around our homes. They serve no functional purpose but are entirely delightful in a sort of dark-oddity way that makes me think Tim Burton might own a few. Each is unique, with real pumpkin and squash stems. 

Of course, these pumpkins do best in a Tarot Deck scented environment. 

xo,
Sriya

Alternative Engagement Rings

We agree, Refinery29, this sparking ring is sure to make you one of the coolest brides ever.

Yayoi Forest, Lucky Seven Diamond Ring, $620.

A Love Letter to our favorite family: The Apatows!

Dear Apatow Family,

Let us be clear, we love you and it isn't just because you came to visit us..as an entire family. And it isn't because Leslie picked out the puurfect smiling stud or that Maude is so kitten obsessed that she couldn't possibly go a day longer without Sleeping Kitten Studs or that Judd was similar to most of the males who are dragged into our tiny shop (and often on the weekends a wee bit crowded) rolling his eyes in the corner unimpressed by our sparkles. It is because you wear matching Christmas PJs every year and that you can, without a doubt, together and separately always make us laugh until we cry.

So thank you, for being quite possibly the best family of all time.

With love,
The birds.

Photos via crushable.com.

Anatomy of a Stack: A proper topper

Like any great Christmas tree, sometimes a stack is just not complete without a proper topper.  

1. Growing Tree Ring in 14k rose gold, $560

2. 14k rose gold Classic Hammered Band, in regular ring size, $74

3. Speckled Band with Three Diamonds in 14k yellow gold, $400

-ak

How We Wear It: Ash

With too many positive things to say on the subject, I tried to keep it brief to avoid a novel! Ash and I became birds the same week last May and pretty much since day one I've had a lil' lady bird crush on her! How could you not?! She makes a mean playlist, a delicious peanut butter, pickle and hot sauce sandwich, rocks the best hand-me-downs from her mama, knows all the best places to eat in the hood, has hair to die for, can make anything more adorable with the cutest handmade signs, she owns her own tattoo machine annnnd! she knows just the right way to build a ring stack!!

Everyday Ash wears her stacks across her K I N S finger tattoos, the cutest nickname between her and her sister, and knuckle rings all the way across.

Each finger rings listed from top to bottom.

Pinky Finger: Catbird Heart Ring, Yellow Gold + matte, $92; Gifted J. Lingnau ring; Catbird First Knuckle Ring prototype in 22k yellow gold; Catbird First Knuckle Ring, $64.

Ring Finger: Vintage Ring; Catbird First Knuckle Ring, $64.

Middle Finger: Catbird Tiny Chain Ring, $64; One of a kind tear drop tiger's eye. Catbird Teardrop Ring available in Coral, Opal and Topaz, $188; Catbird Heart Ring, Rose Gold, $92; Jezebel. Evil Eye Ring, $288; Yayoi Forest Crossing Ring, $326.

Index Finger: Threadbare, $44; Gifted Bittersweets birdette a ring.

xx coco.

How We Wear It: Lizzie

I'd venture to say that Lizzie has four of the coolest stacked fingers I have ever seen. There isn't a metal, stone or texture that this gal doesn't wear and, as you can see, she wears them all effortlessly.

Index Finger: houses a Satomi Kawakita + Bittersweets New York Sandwich - closest to her knuckle she wears The Tiniest Diamond Ring, $230, by Satomi. Beneath that she is wearing two Bittersweets Famous Letter Rings, starting at $125, with The Tiniest Ruby Ring, $190 in between.

Center Finger: she wears the chain of her Finger Bracelet, $385, with a dreamy antique Emerald she received from her grandparents for her 16th birthday directly above, Blanca Monrós Gómez Seed Ring, $215, Katrina Lapenne Braid Ring, $33 in sterling silver, Twisted Stacker, $64, and a First Knuckle Ring, $64.

Ring Finger: Yayoi Forest Crossing Ring, $326 in store, Bittersweets Marquise Twig Ring with an Opal, $650, and a First Knuckle Ring, $64.

Pinky: Silver Chain Ring, on sale! $20.

I obviously also have to mention that her smiley face tattoo is totally the best.


xx coco

How We Wear It: Jules

Jules, photographed casually sunbathing with her chubby cat Lolo, is an expert at mixing metals as well as textures - she also has just about the cutest signature we've ever seen.

From bottom to top, her center finger stack is a Yayoi Forest's Belt Band in yellow gold, $860,  Katrina Lapenne's Braid Ring in sterling silver, $66 and the Adjustable Arrow Ring in brass, $32. All available in store and online.

She is also wearing a custom birdette j. pinky ring gifted to her by the lovely Robin of Bittersweets NY.

Have a stack you love? We'd love to share it, email your photos to correy@catbirdnyc.com.

Designer Q&A with Yayoi of Yayoi Forest

Who/what is your style inspiration? 

Women in Brooklyn, Kyoto and Paris.  

Who, living or dead would you most like to have tea with, and why?

Nate Russel.  I just love whatever he creates.  

What is your favorite part of making jewelry?

My favorite part is waiting for a new piece coming out from casting.  To see how my carved wax piece is turned out to be actual metal is exciting.

Do you have any other hobbies?

No, jewelry making is my only hobby and work.  Wish I could find something else.

Favorite NYC coffee shops?

Verb, in front of Catbird.  I feel like I'm in Kyoto when I'm sipping coffee at this gloomy, darkish store.

Favorite NYC restaurants?

Now I'm into "Hanco's" - the best Vietnamese sandwich shop in NYC.

Favorite NYC places to shop?

It's a men's store but I like checking Hollander and Lexer.  Their selections inspire me.

80s or 90s?

80s, because of its great music.

John or Paul?

John!  True artist himself and also John and Yoko - the best couple ever.

What do you covet at Catbird?

Beautiful girls working at Catbird!  Where and how does Rony find them?  

featured in this post: Star in the Sky Earrings, $190;  Happy Face Necklace, $398;  Lacy Hemisphere Ring in rose gold, $600;  Person Portrait 2 by Nate Russel;  Melting Love Ring, $160;  Growing Tree Ring, $560;  Negative Space drawing by Nate Russel.

Don't shop at catbird this weekend!

As much we would love for you to come see our new digs, look what two of our all-time favorite designers, Satomi Kawakita & Yayoi Forest, cooked up for this weekend:

Charity jewelry sale for Japan earthquake relief efforts at ABC Carpet & Home

Date: April 9-10th  2-6pm

Location: ABC Carpet & Home   

888 Broadway New York, NY 10003

 25% to 50% off from retail prices only for this event.

Jewelry designers have donated their pieces to support children who have been displaced from their homes because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Shop with us and show your love and support to Japan.

We will donate ALL PROFIT to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief.

More details here.

Today's Daily Candy (or Ice Cream)

Those smartypants at Daily Candy put these melting heart earrings in an article on ice cream. Truly inspired. And delicious.
Yayoi Forest Melting Heart Studs, $84

Aaaaaaw!!

This magical couple got engaged AT Catbird today!! He proposed with an absolutely beautiful Yayoi Forest ring - and as chance would have it, Leigh and I were with Yayoi at that very moment, who seemed quite moved when we shared the text with her. So sweet!! Congratulations guys! Thanks for sharing it with us.  xoxo

Hello!

Yayoi Forest 14k and diamond ring, $500

Good morning. Sometimes you just want to look at something wildly pretty.

A Fine Affair

St Kilda

Yayoi Forest

Yayoi Forest

I've been darting about the store, stacking rings upon rings. Very satisfying to come up with a mix that is at once casual, easy, and elegant.

pearl says: it's only a paper moon

Yayoi Forest baroque pearl earrings $200

Any jewelry that looks like it has been cobbled together from detritus from the sea is the jewelry for me.  I especially love a pearl that is gnarled, twisted, and lustrous.  Perfect for summer and slightly subversively unexpected in the dark days of winter.  

Dopey and delicious

14k and diamond single earring $220, necklace $320

A customer bought one of these necklaces a few weeks ago as a going away gift for her childrens' beloved babysitter. Lucky babysitter, I say. So sweet, so charming, so unexpected. If I didn't wear my own ants earrings every day, I would be wearing these. They're enough to make a girl consider re-visiting those decades old 2nd holes.

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)