While I don’t reside in Brooklyn and would like to think it the bane of my existence having stolen the good restaurants, my close friends and even my sister away from me (and Manhattan!)! But, they do have some adorable shops and great local artists.
Small Business Saturday seemed like the perfect time to shine a light on three special Brooklyn-Grown artisans and their fabulous locally hand-made cat-themed wares. So get those PayPal accounts and credit cards ready and do a little shopping in the comfort of your PJs!
PS – All of THESE small businesses are cat lovers and cat parents! But of course! =^^=
MEOW MEOW TWEET: Vegan. Pure. Crafted by Hand.
I began seeing this brand around NYC a year or so ago and of COURSE was immediately intrigued! Not only because of the name, but because of the beautiful packaging that includes cats (of course!) and as a bonus extra, all products are vegan and they’re local New Yorker’s crafting in Bushwick Brooklyn.
The Meow Meow Tweet collection includes soy candles as well as personal care items including body oil, face and body tonic, face exfoliant, face oil, relief and a variety of lip balms. All products are free of carmine, beeswax, honey, palm oil, lanolin and tallow. Their gift boxes make fabulous gifts (hint hint!LOL!).
This year, to my excitement, this year I was able to get in touch with the founders Tara Pelletier and Jeff Kurosaki and they hooked me up with samples of a few of their fabulous yummy products!
According to Jeff and Tara, the products are developed as if they were modern culinary dishes, starting with a scent combination. And you can literally smell every ingredient they says is in there! It’s quite amazing
Jeff is the artist behind the adorable animals (including cats of course!) and the name of the company is derived from their two cats, Chester a big orange Polydactyl and Mochi,”a petite grey and white fellow,” as well as Jeff’s bird back in his home of Hawaii.
I neer knew I needed at body mist until I got one! I keep the sample size in my purse at all times and spray my face throughout the day to feel refreshed! Their walnut exfoliant is ground so fine you barely feel it…I could go on and on….
Sleep ginger President Chester, and VP Mochi (upper left); Chester eyeing a “tweet,” but not THE “TWEET”!
Meow Meow Tweet products seem completely indulgent but are reasonably priced and the scents are so pure you’ll be shocked when you smell what these ingredients they’re made of are really supposed to smell like in their purse state! Just don’t eat them! Though you probably could!
I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to find a product or two in their stocking or a box (even better!) under the tree!
Don’t miss out on saving 15% off site-wide with the code: BECAUSECATS from today, 11/29 – 12/5 11:59 pm EST. Last day to order to make it by Christmas domestically is Dec 18th!
SARAH HEALY: Handmade Jewelry
Those of you who read this blog regularly know I’m not big on cat-themed clothing and accessories.
But there was something about these cat rings by Sarah Healy that caught my eye. A simple, modern, clean and discrete cat design. Something I envision myself wearing. As an added bonus, 10% of proceeds are donated to the ASPCA!
Sarah, lives in Brooklyn with her husband and received her B.F.A. degree from The Pratt Institute in NY. Her her castings and molds made locally to help support NY merchants.
Given the rest of her jewelry is not cat-themed, I asked Sarah what inspired her to make these particular rings. It turns out she and her husband rescued two kittens, Wumba and Amelia, from their backyard in Brooklyn.
Wumba and Amelia, Brooklyn backyard rescues who inspired Sarah’s cat rings! How sweet are they! They’re not even related!
As Sarah explained:
“One of them had really bad conjunctivitis and we nursed her back to health…Both of their mothers had abandoned them… I was inspired to make the ring from my two cats,. They are so cute and bring us so much joy! Their ears are really cute and expressive and I wanted to make a ring like them!”
Sorry Sarah, your sis pinned a photo of you and I found it! Some of Sarah’s modern non-feline designs!
You can received free shipping from her shop for domestic US orders using the code CATLOVECHEER from today – December 8th!!! You can order as late as December 19th and still make it in time for Christmas!
KNOT & BOW: Curated paper products
Erin Ozer, founder and creative director of the Brooklyn-based paper company Knot & Bow has had her products featured in Martha Stewart Living, New York Magazine and Oprah.com among others.
One of her latest ventures was creating two sets of wrapping paper in collaboration with another Brooklyn artist Leah Goren (you may be familiar with a fabulous Picasso cat scarf she sells).
The “cat wrap” is printed on newsprint paper locally and comes with 2 designs in one pack, 2 sheets of each design (4 sheets total). The photo above shows al the patterns – the stylized cat head wrapping paper is in one pack, and the blue cats wrapping paper in another.
Erin Ozer, founder and creative director of Knot & Bow
And while I don’t know Erin’s cat’s name, he or she (pictured below), seems like one very well fed, loved and comfy tabby with a white belly that’s just calling out my name! Can you give a cat a raspberry??
From today until midnight EST on Cyber Monday you can save 25% using coupon code 25PERCENT. It’s Knot & Bow’s biggest sale of the year, so be sure to browse around the online shop! I can’t wait to pay a visit to their Brooklyn store in person!
Typical turnaround time on domestic orders is 2-3 days, but allow an extra few given the holiday rush! You always have the option to upgrade shipping for domestic and international orders.
LIFE WITH TIGERS: Unique catnip toys
I’ve featured Karen Brazell’s original (if not slightly grew some) catnip toys previously on this blog. But since she’s expanded her catnip toy line, I figured it was time for another shout-out!
Between us chickens, Karen confessed she recently moved to Manhattan, but let’s consider her an honorary Brooklyn resident for the purposes of this post! It’s where her first studio was located and where LIFE WITH TIGERS, because isn’t that how we all think about our kitties, began!
Sarah began making dolls, but one day while working she noticed one of her doll legs had gone missing. “The trail led to a small grey kitty, walking around with the leg in her mouth, like a mountain lion who just overtook a jogger. The idea of the severed leg catnip toy was born.”
But since not felines are “prowling pumas.” Karen expanded her line to include cats who see themselves as “King of the Jungle” with severed legs and tails from a variety of wildlife! The giraffe is her latest addition!
Karen’s staff, comprised of Shadow (right) the production manager toting his first doll leg, his twin sister and Art director seen here snatching a doll leg to “eat” under the bed and ” the intrepid intern and production inhibitor, Moo.”
I think we’d all agree with Sarah when she states, “Happiness is waking up to a warm cat…even it it’s on your neck.”
So be sure to check out these shops for holiday gifts – or perhaps a treat or two for you and your fur kids! You’re worth it! Do you have a favorite among these three Brooklyn-grown artisans? Know of any others? Leave their info in the comments section!
And if you haven’t yet done so, check out our HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE complete with DISCOUNT CODES and a GIVEAWAY valued at over $150+!!!
FTC disclaimer: I HAVE CAT received product samples for the purposes of this post.
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