Movin' on up!

We have been getting harassed (and rightly so) over the last 2 months by our family, friends and even our lovely customers about our bare storefront. As if Sam and I didn't realize that we needed a sign. You didn't give us any credit that we were working on it (you should try applying for a sign in downtown Portsmouth!) and it had become an ongoing joke that we were just never going to get a sign. Well, Mom, Willie, A.K., Charlie... the list could go on forever here... WE HAVE OUR SIGN! Isn't she beautiful? Now you'll have to think of something else to give us a hard time about. I'm sure that won't be too hard.

pumpkin cupcakes and cream cheese frosting

STOP THE PRESSES! Yeh, I said it! And you can quote me on it: PUMPKIN CUPCAKES AND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING. Why am I mentioning these amazing little treats, and maybe teasing you with this picture? Because I want you to know that they will be available for the snacking this Saturday (September 25th) at Gus & Ruby Letterpress. That's right - just for you, you moist-cupcake eating, only-from-scratch treat loving enthusiasts! I promised Samantha & Whitney that we'd do cupcake Saturdays... you all are just so wonderful and spirited when you come by the store and I cannot imagine a better way to say thank you (except for maybe allowing Gus to give you a little kiss or two... and by kiss i mean lick... and it would probably be on your leg, he loves moisturizer don't cha know)! So here's to you - come and get 'em while the gettins' good!

Happy Monday - enjoy the fabulous weather and we'll see you soon.

A Big Hug and A Big Kiss,
Lizzy

Buy Cards, Save the Ocean with Smock!

All weekend, store favorite, Smock, is donating 100% of every sale from their Isle stationery collection to ocean conservation organization, Oceana. In effort to help continue recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Stop by the store, buy fabulous stationery, and help this noble cause.

Read all about the event, Oceana and Smock's continued commitment to environmental causes HERE.

For your favorite spaces...

What does an English beauty, a pair of lovebirds from Florida, and a New England native have in common? Guesses? Anyone? Anyone? No takers? Alright, I give in. These people are the fabulous artists who have designed some of our most favorite prints here at Gus & Ruby Letterpress. Each with an eye for color, a taste for sweet design, and a caring concern for the human condition, these designers manage to pull together goodies for us to drool over time and time again.

Numero Uno is by far a best seller for the G&R shop, not to mention an artist who each of us adores - her name is Freya and her beautiful illustrations and thought provoking little phrases have been a real hit with our clients. As she works and prints in the UK, we feel extra lucky to have found Freya's work and love the lively spirit it brings to the shop! Each print is carefully crafted and lovingly printed, and you will be sure to see our regular favorites as well as some special new designs from Freya in the store this upcoming season. Here are some of my all time favorites, as well as a few samples that can be customized for your loved ones.

(Photos courtesy of Freya Art)

Holy cow - it was much more difficult to pick those pictures than I thought it would be. All of Freya's prints are just so pitch perfect!

Next up is the work of Ms. Anna Bond and her husband Nathan of Rifle Paper Company. We couldn't wait to receive these sweet treats in the mail and nearly went into fits of hysterics when they arrived... literally, Gus got a little freaked out about it. But we think you'll be as in love as we are with these prints. If I could pick one word to describe their work, I think I would use the word 'lovely'. Or maybe 'nostalgic'. 'Adorable' would work too. Each piece manages to strike a chord, and I think they would be the perfect addition to a child's bedroom, or just a sweet something to frame for your bedroom or office.

(Photos courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.)

Yeh, I know... the little girl holding the furry bear's hand in the "Some Days Are Better" set of prints is so flippin' cute. And the little animal parade... so sweet.

The last fabulous designs I have for you are by Ink & Wit, a company that does simple graphics, clean lines, and impeccable color on a grand scale! The genius behind these illustrations is Tara Hogan, a native resident of Connecticut gained her sense of nature's intricate beauty along the state's coastline, and the modern twist to her work comes from her frequent visits to New York. Her designs are printed on 100% cotton paper made from tree fibers and 100% post consumer recycled paper, and the inks used are soy and water based. A lovely combo, don't you think - an eye on the environment and a pulse on all things beautiful and vibrant!

Check. It. Out.

(Photos courtesy of Ink&Wit)

Aren't you inspired to re-paint your office and hang up one of these fabulous prints? Oye, if only I had a home to re-decorate. While I figure out how to fit that into my agenda, I recommend you get yourself down here to Gus & Rubys for some lovely illustration therapy. We will see you soon, and I'll have news about the start of cupcake Saturdays here at the store at weeks end.

hugs, kisses, and oodles of love

Lizzy <3

A Sweet & Spicy Bridal Shower!

(Photo above by Brea McDonald)


We've been dying to share this lovely shower with you all, but our amazing friends at 100 Layer Cake (a daily must-read, if you aren't reading already) had expressed their interest in this project, so we had to keep it under wraps until it went live. Well, it's LIVE (go along, now, go check it out!).


We designed this beautiful bridal shower for my bestie, Lauren, to celebrate her upcoming (and now past) wedding. The idea behind the shower was that, like a good marriage, Lauren is both Sweet and Spicy. We asked all the guests to wear either sweet pink or spicy red - which was a fun detail - and all the food and drink followed in theme. Let me tell you, the spicy duck hash is seriously delicious!


(3 photos above by Brea McDonald)

Jenna of Love*Jenna did the calligraphy and we did all of the design and printing. The invitations were all 3-color letterpress printed (of course!) and packaged in individual chocolate brown mailing boxes that had each been hand lined with either dried chili peppers (spicy) or pink rock candy (sweet). While time consuming (I spent more evenings than I care to admit using industrial glue (sorry for the fumes, Gus!) lining boxes with chilies and rock candy), I think the detailing of the invitations was one of my favorite parts. I received so many RSVPs from guests surprised and delighted with the little package that had arrived at their doorstep.


At the shower, the ladies were treated to special "Lauren's Sweet Sip" cocktails, delicious sweet scones and fruit and then a scrumptious spicy brunch menu. During the meal, we read Lauren a sweets-themed poem that we'd written for her, played a sweet and spicy game and generally fawned over the radiant bride-to-be.


The real treat of the afternoon, however, was having the oh-so-talented Shyla Dalirifar of Shyla Photography (keep her on your short list of photographers, you brides-and-grooms-to-be!) on site to provide a mini portrait session for each lady. With a few fun sweet and spicy props, we had a blast hamming it up for the camera. This shot of Lauren's grandmother totally kills me.


All in all, the shower was a real hit. From the amazing flowers, to the delicious food to the fun portraits, we celebrated our beloved Lauren in sweet and spicy style.


Event Photography: Shyla Photography (all photos here by Shyla unless noted)
Flowers: Kate Martin of Beautiful Days
Invitations, paper and event design: Gus & Ruby Letterpress
Calligraphy: Love, Jenna
Venue: The Eastern Standard Kitchen, Boston, MA

Business Card Round-Up

In addition to designing wedding invitations, birth announcements and social stationery, we love love designing and printing business cards. From fellow wedding vendors to arborists, we have designed a variety of different cards. If you already have a design for your business card and are just looking for a printer to letterpress them, we do that too! We are happy to offer a designer's discount if you provide us with print-ready files. Take a peek at some of our favorites below:

{photo by Brea McDonald}

{photo by Brea McDonald}

{photo by Brea McDonald}

Printed on chipboard, this card was designed for an Arborist out of Gloucester, Massachusetts:

{photo by Brea McDonald}

We worked with Brea McDonald Photography on a redesign of her logo last winter and were thrilled with the final product. The business card was printed on Crane Lettra 220# fluorescent white paper, which is an extra thick, luxuriously soft, cotton paper that lends itself beautifully to double-sided letterpress printing:

{photo by Brea McDonald}

{photo by Brea McDonald}

When emilie inc. photography redesigned their business cards, they enlisted us to do the printing. I love the white space on the front and signature emilie inc. pink patterned backs:

{photo by emilie inc. photography}

{photo by emilie inc. photography}

Another emilie inc. design (note the consistent use of patterned backs):

{photo by emilie inc. photography}

Ned Jackson came to us a few weeks after we opened last year looking to upgrade his digitally printed business cards to something more substantial. He wanted to wow his brides and grooms when he handed it to them so we took his already beautiful design and printed it on Crane Lettra 220# stock in Pearl White. He was thrilled with the results and has been wowing his clients ever since.

{photo by Ned Jackson Photography}

Shop. Give. Get.

We have the great pleasure of being a part of a truly amazing, talented, inspirational community of retailers here in Portsmouth, NH. Recently we've been working with a committee of retailers (brought together via the Chamber of Commerce) to support our "Shop Portsmouth Friday Nights" initiative. You can read all about that program HERE and HERE.

Well, we're participating in a very cool SPFN event in the coming weeks called "Shop. Give. Get." On Friday, September 3 and Friday, October 1 - if you bring a non-perishable food item or monetary donation to donate to the Seacoast Family Food Pantry to any of the participating retailers (G&R included!), you'll enjoy a 10% discount on your purchase* in return. It's pretty easy, right? SHOP in some amazing store, GIVE to an incredible cause and GET a sweet discount in return! What's not to love?

So, join us this FRIDAY (Sept. 3rd - we're open until 8PM every Friday and Saturday night) or Friday, October 1, bring a donation (non-perishable food item or monetary) for the Seacoast Family Food Pantry and we'll give a big Thank You in the form of a 10% discount* on your total purchase. Let's all join forces to rally around a truly worthy cause.

We hope to see you this weekend!

*some restrictions apply. Discount not applicable for custom or special orders.