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"Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself."

- Mrs. Dolloway, Virginia Woolf

We asked our friend Karla Smith-Brown of Olivee Floral to show us the secrets to making your own flower arrangement at home with a few bundles of flowers & greenery from your local bodega / grocery.
You can watch the full tutorial here!

Join us in flowering at home! Or if you are in Brooklyn, swing by the Olivee Floral pop up this Valentine's Day at Sincerely, Tommy (343 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn 11216)
Karla will be there from 10am to 2pm.

Hometown: Toronto, ON Canada

How long have you lived in NYC?

8 years!

How long have you been working with flowers?

My earliest flower memory is being in the garden as a child, planting flowers with my favorite aunt. I will always remember how free it felt to move my hands in the dirt. After deciding to take my love of flowers more seriously, I took a course with Stems Brooklyn and AVS Flower School. Then I began working at Edelweiss Floral Altelier where I truly learned the most about all aspects of the flower industry. Working in the shop was like a crash course with so many invaluable lessons on best practices when handling flowers, and helping clients, along with foundation design techniques. I really admire their work and feel honored to have been part of their team!

Where did the name Olivee come from?

Olivee Floral is actually named after my great grandmother, Granny Olivee, the powerful matriarch in my mother's family from Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. I went back to Jamaica for the first time as an adult a few years ago, and my experience really inspired me to bring her energy and honor my heritage in my work. Olivee's wild, unyielding, natural style is a direct reflection of the lush, bountiful land in Saint Elizabeth and the resilience of its people.

Where do you look for inspiration?

Mostly contemporary art, specifically work that explores color theory and texture. Artists I love include Cassi Namoda, Chioma Ebinama, and Tschabalala Self.

What's a good tip for extending the life of your arrangement?

Keep it clean! Change the water in the vessel every other day to prevent bacteria from accumulating and bonus points if you give your stems a fresh trim after changing the water.

In your opinion, what are the elements of a good arrangment.

For Olivee's floral's signature style, I believe it's important to use a variety of greenery to create texture, fullness, and choose blooms from different styles, gesture, and size to create interest and use bold complimenting colors with a focal pop to mark the clear star of the show!  

Thank you for joining us, Karla! Be sure to follow along @oliveefloral, and don't forget to buy the flowers yourself.

Our friend and collaborator Leith Clark makes dreamscapes out of lots of work. We've asked her to share some of what she's been watching and thinking about this holiday season, so we can share them with you, our friends and collaborators. She also sent a list of her London and New York favorites - we'll send those along once London is back from lockdown. Until then, enjoy all of these, which can be enjoyed from wherever you are!

taken at the Ritz Paris, November 2020

1. Following @savefamilyphotos 
2. Your Silence Will Not Protect You, Audre Lorde published by Silver Press
3. Peaceful Girl with Fist Charm
4. Autumn Sonata, Ingmar Bergman
5. Art in an Emergency, Olivia Laing
6. After Hours Candle
7. Ribbon Ear Climber with Diamond

Mix old with new and high with low. And be sure to find, make or buy a beautiful home for it all

Wear with silk pyjamas or barefoot in dresses. Lately, I live in black Pierrot pyjamas from Sleeper.

Greetings from our jewelry experts! Our Catbird mavens who can deftly whip up the perfect stack (no matter the budget), find the perfect gift (no matter the budget), and generally make sure you walk away from your virtual styling session with a smile (no budget needed!) 

How would you describe your style?

It ranges from casual / fun to extravagant depending on my mood!

Your jewelry uniform:

Always earrings! I almost never take mine off but will change them up every once in a while. Also my welded bracelets and my Pas de Deux Ring.

Favorite pairing:

So many options to choose from! My current favorite ring pairing is my Pas De Deux Ring with the Beacen Ring, Mother of Pearl nestled on top.

At the top of your wishlist:

Snow Queen Ring in yellow gold

Any styling tips or tricks?

How would you describe your style?

Colorful & out there - a mix of Catbird and vintage pieces

Your jewelry uniform:

So. many. stacking rings. Top knuckle rings are a must!

Favorite pairing:

Grand Mignon Ring with anything: Twisted Stacker, Threadbare, and Classic Hammered

At the top of your wishlist:

Diamond Kitten Mitten

Any styling tips or tricks?

Fasten your necklaces a couple of inches in between when you layer them, like the 1976 Choker, then the Greco Lariat, then a longer one like the Adjustable Sweet Nothing Chain. This can help with tangling! 

How would you describe your style?

My style is colorful and fun, I like really classic yellow gold jewelry because it looks so good with all the bright colors in my wardrobe.

Your jewelry uniform:

My welded bracelets (1976 and Sweet Nothing) , my 1976 Chain, my Still Life stack (see below!) and my Tomboy thumb ring. Also I always wear my small Hoop Dream earrings with little YG chams :) 

Favorite pairing:

Twisted Stacker, Still Life Ruby Ring, Twisted Stacker, and Threadbare in that order :) 

At the top of your wishlist:

Beacon Ring Salt and Pepper by Laurie Fleming, Painters Blue Ring by Jennie Kwon, and the Met Button Charm

Any styling tips or tricks?

When my fingers get a little swollen in summer or in general, I put my Classic Hammered and Mignon Memory knuckle rings on my 1976 Chain as a cute charm :)  

How would you describe your style?

Colorful and fun but always comfortable!

Your jewelry uniform:

Lots of stacking rings and top knuckles, Diamond Kitten Mitten, Greco Lariat Earring, gold Ear Cuff, a tangle of welded bracelets...the more sparkle the better :)

Favorite pairing:

Pearl Buffet Ring with a Twisted Stacker, Baby Cygnet on top of another Twisted Stacker and Grand Mignon Candy Flower Choker with a Sweet Nothing and 1976 Choker.

At the top of your wishlist:

Celestial Rose Earring & a Diamond Baguette Hoop

Any styling tips or tricks?

I like to thread my Greco Lariat earring through a piercing that already has a stud in for an unexpected, fun look! My mentality is the more the better, I love mixing textures, lengths and materials to create the perfect jumbled, sparkly look depending on my mood and outfit!

How would you describe your style?

70s influenced! Love to mix my mom's vintage pieces with my Catbird collection

Your jewelry uniform:

My Sweet Nothing Choker and 1976 Choker never come off. Along with 3 Yellow Gold Threadbare Rings + my Famous Letter Ring with "Boone" engraved for my pup :)

Favorite pairing:

Dewdrop Ring paired with 2 Classic Hammered Rings and a Twisted Stacker

At the top of your wishlist:

Yellow Gold Diamond Pinprick Necklace

How would you describe your style?

Classic and a little edgy!

Your jewelry uniform:

Lots of stacking rings, my 5 gold bracelets (two on one wrist, three on the other), a 1976 Chain and a flurry of earrings.

Favorite pairing:

1976, Sweet Nothing and Tiny Corsage bracelets all together on one wrist - makes the most beautiful mess.

At the top of your wishlist:

The Caravaggio necklace and ring, both in ruby. Also, a Little Lift Diamond Stacking Ring to fit in between a stack of Threadbares!

Any styling tips or tricks?

Put two earrings in a single piercing hole (if there's space for it!) This works best when pairing a stud with some kind of threader earring.

How would you describe your style?

Neutral colors with cute accessories

Your jewelry uniform:

Sweet Nothing Choker, Bracelet, and Anklet, I love a sweet nothing!

Favorite pairing:

Greco Lariat with a 1976 Choker

At the top of your wishlist:

Diamond Baguette Hoops 

Any styling tips or tricks?

Don’t be afraid of mixing metals!

How did you know it was time to expand?

Great question. At critical junctures when you are experiencing different kinds of growing pains - that’s when it is clear that it’s time to make changes. When you need more space, or new software, or a big new hire… maybe things you can’t quite afford yet or don’t feel ready for - those changes are usually instigated by some sort of pain! You’re losing people, you’re working too hard, customers are mad, there are too many mistakes, etc - time to look inward and explore if there is a better way to do things. There was a period of time where space was a HUGE issue for us, so we made our plan to move our HQ to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where we moved in the Spring of 2018 - and we are still growing! We do tours, actually -- come visit us!  

Is deciding what to stock a gut feeling or more technical process of what might sell?

Both Leigh and I do tons by instinct but we also rely on data and information to backup decisions. If we love something and the data goes against us, we will do it anyway. 

Here is a great quote from the brilliant Mickey Drexler, “Instincts are knowledge, history, looking around and seeing what’s going on.” (From his podcast with David Chang.)

The dainty style Catbird brings is amazing, do you plan keep the style the same?

YES!! Always. 

How’d you START? Like what were your literal first steps?

Here is a really great article from Rookie where I talk all about this!  

What’s the proudest accomplishment in what you’ve done?

Building a company where people stay, for a long time, is the most gratifying thing. Everything else that I am proud of stems from that!

We made a lip balm with Stewart and Claire and it's an homage to Brooklyn bodegas and their roses and overripe avocados and plentiful seltzer options. Smells like roses, looks like them too!

xo Leigh

Bodega Bouquet $8