Our Story + FAQ
Pop-culture and glitter obsessives making accessories, décor and apparel for fun people
We're a proudly indie multi-faceted creative duo bent on creating unique handmade accessories that share our love of pop culture and other weird and wonderful things. Since 1999, we've been blending together elements of pop indulgence, hands-on crafting and graphic design to create thousands of product options including rings, cufflinks, belt buckles, magnets, and home décor items like clocks, prayer candles, and more.
Our business and work has evolved and changed over the years. Perhaps you’ve known us as Barbie’s Basement Jewellery. Though it is still our legal name, we use BBJ Pop Merch to better represent the products we are making now. The last couple of years has brought some new techniques and products to our creative toolkit, and we're excited to move in this direction with a signature line of custom type-based tees and other apparel and gifts. We call this collection Glitter Garage inspired by our pretty and gritty downtown studio. Robin especially likes playing with words, and Glitter Garage seems like a natural progression from Barbie’s Basement to her. (Fun fact: she first used the Barbie’s Basement name in the late 1990’s while living in a high-rise.)
Still with us? Great! Here’s a few other things about us: We've also worked together as Trixie & Beever for many years, creating installations, performances, mixed-media art pieces and set designs. Ange has begun painting solo again with a series called Original Covers, using existing art/decor as a base for unexpected additions and absurd juxtapositions. Her salon shows have been great fun, and her work is enthusiastically received and collected. Some of her redirected images have found their way into BBJ fancy brooches and serving trays, and will be cross-pollinating other accessories and apparel soon.
What else? We are proudly queer women who believe in equality for all.
Thanks for being here. Glitter on!
Ange Beever & Robin Woodward
FAQ
Do you still make...?
Maybe. We've learned new techniques and introduced a collection of apparel and textile accessories, so we've trimmed down our older accessory line to a handful of best-selling BBJ Legacy products, and we’re excited to broaden our new offerings to keep things fresh. That being said, we've got a studio full of supplies, so if you want something we've made that isn't on this site, just ask!
Do you do custom work?
You bet we do. Many of our BBJ legacy products are designed to customize with personal or pop-culture images, and have upload instructions on the product pages. Customization is at the heart of our unique YourTen concept for tees, totes etc., and Use Your Words tees bring your message and our style together on premium quality shirts.
What about custom multiples and private label?
Yes again. Over the years we've collaborated with artists, retailers and events to create custom products celebrating the work of Tim Burton (tiff), Guillermo del Toro (AGO), Harold Town (York U, Town), and the CBC. We've also enjoyed making custom stuff for Pride Toronto, roller derby events, Newsgirls Boxing Club, drag balls and other community orgs. See our
custom collection page here for more.
Do you have a store or can I pick up my order?
We now work out of a supercool little studio near Yonge & Bloor - we call it the Glitter Garage! It's behind and part of
eleven/e2 salon. The location is tucked away in a laneway; it can be accessed via St. Nicholas Street, 1 block west of Yonge.
see map
We are open by appointment most weekdays and occasionally on weekends; drop us a line to make sure we're available before you come by.
Order processing times Most items in our shop are made to order, so we ask that you allow 7 days for custom products before shipping or pickup. We may have stock of things like ornaments, magnets etc. if you're thinking of a quick gift. And if you do have a specific deadline like a birthday, please let us know. We want to make you happy!
IRL Address:
BBJ studio (aka the Glitter Garage)
9 Irwin Ave
Toronto ON M4Y 1L1
647.458.2338
Social and site links:
