We love NY, too, YSL.

A big fat kiss for our hometown.

-Leigh

Yves Saint Laurent kissing a model of the Empire State Building, 1983, photo by Roxanne Lewitt via Pinterest 

Michele Lamy & Rick Owens

I continue to be fascinated my Michele Lamy and Rick Owens. Do you think they argue about who will take out the garbage, or whether to get skim or whole milk? On second thought, they probably only drink cream. 

xo

Rony

Catbird Pop-Up shop tomorrow!

Shop, drink, snack and mingle! We will come equipped with rings for all of your fingers and many of your knuckles - plus many other treats!

Tuesday, July 30 from 5 - 8.30pm

Bumble and bumble Downtown Salon 

415 West 13th St - 8th Flr

PS - the view is killer

P.S. - Did we mention there will be snacks?

Another Postcard from PEI

For Anne the days slipped by like golden beads on the necklace of the year. - Anne of Green Gables

Have a golden bead kind of weekend, full and round and nourishing.

-Leigh

Necklaces from left to right:
You Are My Moon and Stars
Chained to My Heart
Opal Teardrop 
You are My Moon and Stars paired with Dollhouse Locket

Holy WOW.

 

Michele Williams (a Catbird customer, btw) in the new LV ads made us all gasp. Wow wow wow.

x

Rony

Dream Date: Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena

In anticipation of Blue Jasmine, we rewatched Vicki Cristina Barcelona. To quote Coco Correy, "if you've got eyeballs", it's impossible to not be bowled over by Penelope Cruz's extreme beauty. Goodness gracious.

-Leigh

What We Love Today: Cold Bevs

The Lavender Ghost, or, What I plan on Doing When I Get Home:

2 oz. vodka
3/4 oz. Royal Rose Lavender Syrup
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Combine syrup and lemon juice in a pint glass or jam jar. Add 4 or 5 ice cubes and then the vodka. Shake vigorously and serve straight up or on the rocks. Top with seltzer water.

Or if that's too much work, I may just open a cold one with this cutie opener.

Stay cool Kittens.

xo

Rony

Postcard from PEI

I'm going to have a wreath of white roses on my hair and Ruby Gillis is going to lend me her slippers because I haven't any of my own. It's necessary for fairies to have slippers you know. You couldn't imagine a fairy wearing boots, could you? -Anne of Green Gables

Photo from NYPL - Denishawn Dancers (prancersizing?)

Hiya, goofy.

Turns out, I've got a real soft spot for ladylike ostriches. 
-Leigh
Ostrich and Flower by Kari Herer via Honestly...WTF

A letter and a public response.

We received this letter and print from what has to be the sweetest customer on earth. We were so touched that at least two of us (guilty!) actually had tears in our eyes. Here is the text, written in also the sweetest handwriting on pale pink paper.

Dearest Catbird,
My name is Elizabeth and I am simply a loving customer. On top of the fact that your shop is an absolute dream and that I spend nearly every spare penny I have on your pretty things, you have been perfectly sweet to me always, even replacing a first knuckle ring of mine when it broke. I saw this little print at an antique shop and thought you would think it was as cute as I did so I decided to send it your way.
Thank you for having such a perfect shop, stay lovely.
Yours
Elizabeth S.
xoxo

A public response:

Dearest Elizabeth,
Words can barely express how much your letter moved me. We all work so hard to make people feel as you do, and it absolutely fills our heart with joy to hear that you feel this way and that you took the time to write such a lovely letter and send this perfect print.
With the deepest gratitude,
Rony

Dream Date: Lou Doillon and Milla Jovovich.

Miss Lou, is that a Tomboy I spy on your pinky?! Wink, and I'll know the answer is yes. Wriggle your nose, and I'll know the answer is no, but I will pretend it is yes! Is that a wink I see?! Yes!

-Leigh

Summer Reading and Marble Halls of Moonshine

Last night, I started rereading one of my totems of childhood, the Anne of Green Gables collection. I've missed you, Prince Edward Island (or, PEI as we local armchair travelers - here's looking at you, Dwight and Jeanne - call it).

"I had made up my mind that if you didn't come for me tonight I'd go down the track to that big wild cherry tree at the bend, and climb up into it to stay all night. I wouldn't be a bit afraid, and it would be lovely to sleep in a wild cherry tree all white with bloom in the moonshine, don't you think? You could imagine you were dwelling in marble halls, couldn't you? And I was quite sure you would come for me in the morning, if you didn't tonight." -Anne of Green Gables

-Leigh

photo from Laetitia Crahay's Instagram feed

Tipsy Elixir Sue and Me.

I have a new friend. Her name is Tipsy Elixir Sue. You can have a new friend named Tipsy Elixir Sue, too. Here's how! Mix up some vodka (chilled), ice cubes, thinly sliced cucumber, a dash of sea salt, and a squeeze of lemon. Shake it up in a cocktail shaker, or if your cocktail shaker is currently packed away in boxes in a garage in the leafy-green suburbs, a tupperware works delightfully. Pour, top with ice-cold, extra-fizzy seltzer, and sail away.

-Leigh

Royal Rose Rose Syrup, $11 in store and online
recipe adapted from Royal Rose's Elixir Sue

Roses on the Beach

Breathtaking photo shoot from The Lane. (Via Honestly WTF.)

Made in the USA

Steff Yotka wrote a great article in Nylon illustrating why it's important to produce goods in the USA:

...Brooklyn-based store Catbird elects to craft their namesake line of dainty jewels just down the road from their store. "One of the many great things about making everything ourselves in Brooklyn is our access to such amazing artisans," Catbird owner Rony Vardi explained. "We have such a talented crew who make all Catbird pieces, and that is partly due to the draw New York has for artists." Turns out Brooklyn is just as artsy IRL as it is on Girls. 

Think about it like this: The decision to produce goods in the U.S.A. isn't only cool and patriotic, but it is also keeping the door open for young artists to be able to make and sell their designs in America. Every jewelry designer Catbird hires or blanket patternmaker working at Pendleton could be the next Dannijo or Missoni. We want to do our part to keep the American dream alive for the next group of creators and craftspeople, and if we can do that while looking awesome, well, we like that even more.

Dream Date: Pineapple Cucumber Gazpacho

As you may have heard, it was a bit toasty on the East Coast this weekend. Inspired by a recipe I made years ago from a Pure Food and Wine cookbook, I made a very lazy, very delicious gazpacho. My 9 year niece was my sous chef. You see? Lazy!

Here's what you do, lazybones. Chop (or, get your gastronomically inclined young relation to do so) equal parts pineapple and peeled and seeded cucumber. Pulse most of the pineapple and cucumber in a blender with a handful of cilantro, a seeded jalapeño, a pinch of sea salt, and the juice of half a lime until smooth. Add the rest of the pineapple and cucumber and pulse a bit. Top with chopped macadamia nuts. Game over.

-Leigh

Pina Colada from Sarah Illenberger via Pinterest 

Emily Didonato

Holy smokes! Those freckles! Those eyes! That watermelon! Those Catbird rings!

Pic snagged from Emily Didonato's Instagram Feed.

Stone Fruits of Summer!

Rings so delicious, you might want to take a bite. Go on, have a nibble...

Pictured from top to bottom, left to right.
Satomi Kawakita Rosecut Solitaire, $906, J.Lingnau Glynnis Eternity Band, $1,300, Elisa Solomon Ombre Eternity Band, $1,420, Satomi Kawakita Vertical Bar Ring, $390, Ila & I Nehra Band, $1,650, Katrina Lapenne Braid Ring, $121, Satomi Kawakita Circle Eternity Band, $1,860,  Polly Wales Medium Band - Multi Color Sapphires, $2,940.

Katie Diamond Suri Ring, $2,415, Bittersweets NY O'Big Twig Ring With Diamonds, $5,800.

Have a Happy 4th!

Sparkle it up, Kittens. 

Silver Sparkler Star Bobby Pins, $18

Chanel's Stacks on Stacks

Dear ITG, 

You seriously made our day. 

xoxo

Rony

(All images from the addictive Into The Gloss.)

We totes love totes.

(Shhh. Here it is in the wild.)

Do you know we send a free tote with orders over $100?* We are slightly crazy about our new totes with this magical swan - drawn by our very own, ultra talented Lunch Lady!

*This offer is subject to change.

Dream Date: Just a Girl and her Socks.

Now this is a lady who knows how to take a cat nap. OH, and?! She's wearing a Catbird opal teardrop necklace. Heavenly.

-Leigh

Photo by Lachlan Bailey, styled by Clare Richardson for WSJ Magazine