New! New! New!

I know I've gushed about my love for The Wild Unknown calendars before, but now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I feel perfectly not even a little absurb hanging my 2010 calendar today.

Gift Guide #1: give with class

Give awesome gifts with style and class. Some of our favorites: {1} Secretary Pen, $22   {2}. Acorn Earrings (made from fossilized woolly mammoth and petrified driftwood), $210   {3} Pade Vavra Drusy Studs, $154   {4}  Jezebel Bernice Card, $4   {5} Leather Flask, $38.50   {6} Tocca Stella Solid Perfume, $68

East Side Bride.

A big thanks to East Side Bride, one of my favorite bloggers, for the awesome write up. There are wedding blogs, and there are wedding blogs. My wedding days are far past me, and I still read her blog religiously.

Mad Pen.

Secretary Pens, $22

I inherited a strong love of pens from my dear dad. I have many many. They are all over my house and in every bag I own. But where are they when I most need them? Full of betrayal, those pens. No more. Hanging around my neck on a nice long chain, it is close to my heart (to remind me of my dad), as well as at my finger tips, to meet all my pen-related needs, which are great. (Great in quantity, not so much in quality.)

Soooooon they will be available on line as well. The world needs to know about this.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have so much to be thankful for, but today I am mostly thankful that this site is live. It's still a bit kinky in places, so please bear with us! Most people seem to want to relax with their families instead of writing code and listening to me whine. Please let us know what you think and come back often. We will constantly be adding and changing things, as we discover more and more talented folks and secret treasures.

Beautiful hand turkey drawing by Lauren Naseff.

Gingerbread House

We LOVE Apak's cards- it's no surprise that their work space is an amazingly adorable cottage in the Pacific Northwest.

Stormy - Long Night

Saturn Press card, $3.50

It has been nearly a full moon cycle since we began work on our new website, and now we are so close, we're getting giddy! Cannot WAIT to share with everyone.

INSPIRATION: short, bright fall days

chunky sweaters + woolly plaids go hand in hand with long necklaces, ear-flap hats and the softest earrings: 1. Porcupine Quill Necklace 2. Stephanie Simek Pussy Willow Earrings 3. the amazing Olivia Bee 4. Butterfly Wing Necklaces 5. Tsuyumi Faux Fur Hunting Cap

Beauty Bar

J. Lingnau snake + anchor necklace, $880-$990

These two beauties are hanging out with us in the store today, waiting to be shot by our photographer, as part of the online exclusives of our new site which is so so so so close to launching.

Mix-masters

I meant to share this ages ago, but it was filed away in a nether region of the computer. An inspection of said electronic nether regions upturned the photo this morning, and I am so very pleased. I bring you back to months and months ago: an assemblage of some of our finest. Doug bought the grey Katrina LaPenne ring last week (she's making us another! congratulations Doug!) and the vintage rings that Rony brought back found new homes rawther quickly- one of them being on this hand above, nestled next to a glowing opal number that had me singin', a delicate gold band, and a deep funereal garnet. The art is in the mix, and our beautiful ladies of Brooklyn know how to mix like none others.

Dear Kwannam,
Thank you for visiting Catbird. Thank you for taking this photo of the Narwhal card you purchased from Catbird. Thank you for We Could Grow Up Together. I am quite disappointed to have been in absentia the day of your visit. Perhaps one day we'll meet in Central Park or at Joseph Leonard.

signed,
Jezebel

We Could Grow Up Together

Enormous Champion Narwhal Card, $5.50

Dear Kwannam,
Thank you for visiting Catbird. Thank you for taking this photo of the Narwhal card you purchased from Catbird. Thank you for We Could Grow Up Together. I am quite disappointed to have been in absentia the day of your visit. Perhaps one day we'll meet in Central Park or at Joseph Leonard.

signed,
Jezebel

In the very best way...

Candace Ang feather necklace $62

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

The triumphant return of the belt bag

belt bags, $42-54

Good lord, last week was a doozy. Our wee store is packed to the rafters- don't be surprised if you see merchandise hanging from the ceiling soon. Amonst the bazillion boxes were the belt bags that so many of you have been waiting for. We got three styles, in black and brown, and this time we wised up and only order them with clasps, rather than buckles. You'll be quicker on the draw when it comes time to pay for your friend's coffee, or tip the stripper. Hey, we just sell them. What you do with them is totally your business.

laundry wash $15

Raise your hands if you hand-wash at home! Raise your hands if you'd like your hand-washables to smell insanely amazing! Raise your hands if you're always at a loss for a pretty, inexpensive gift for a hostess, a pal's birthday, Secret Santa! Problem solved, friends. Please meet Tocca's Laundry Delicate wash. Beautiful-looking, fantastic-smelling, wallet-loving.

Stella!!

Tocca's Stella Laundry Wash, $15

Raise your hands if you hand-wash at home! Raise your hands if you'd like your hand-washables to smell insanely amazing! Raise your hands if you're always at a loss for a pretty, inexpensive gift for a hostess, a pal's birthday, Secret Santa! Problem solved, friends. Please meet Tocca's Laundry Delicate wash. Beautiful-looking, fantastic-smelling, wallet-loving.

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.

Making do

Austin Press card, $7.70

Really taken with the idea of framing this one for my powder room. Otherwise known as master bathroom and guest bathroom. Brooklyn's a one bathroom kinda town.

Halloween on Bedford Ave.

and the winner is...

M.J.!!!

All photos by the beeeyootiful and talented Clarissa Steed.