Kitchen Goodie Roundup - Holiday 2013

Morning Gang!

Hope this finds everyone well - stuffed and well slept after a day of feasting and a day of resting with family and friends. Today is another day of giveaways in honor of Small Business Saturday (read more about it here) at Gus & Ruby Letterpress so we hope to see you all downtown, strolling the streets of Portsmouth, shopping local today!

In other G&R retail news - with thoughts of the whole gang around the table eating a Thanksgiving meal together this past week, I felt as though today would be a great opportunity to show off some of our favorite kitchen-related, great-for-a-gift-basket wares that we're carrying this holiday season. We know that thoughtful, beautiful gifts for a group can be so tricky, so this should help get your wheels spinning on prezzies for those on your list who share a home and a kitchen table together.

Pictures from top to bottom: The Kinfolk Table Recipe book, AHeirloom handcrafted NH cutting board & box, DIY Farmer's Cheese Kit from Urban Cheesecraft, Claudia Pearson Season's Tea Towel Set, Chewing the Cud storage buckets, Canning for a New Generation, Big Picture Farm Goat's Milk Caramels

Now In Store: BKR water bottles

Hey there pals!

Needless to say, we have been inundated with AMAZING new product the past couple of weeks as UPS and FedEx shipments keep rolling in and piling up the boxes. It's holiday cheer time, and today we're previewing a beautiful, bright and eco-friendly line of water bottles (made in the USA, of course) that are just too pretty to pass up for your holiday gift list.

With a silicone sleeve (eco-friendly and no-slip grip) and a handle built for easy carry, BKR ("beaker") water bottles are the answer to old Nalgene bottles that smell like... well... that don't smell so fresh anymore. These water bottles come in a fun palette of neons and hyper-saturated colors that are the perfect match for ladies of all ages AND the bottles are made of glass so they're the BEST replacement for any plastic water bottles you may currently be using. Plus, because they're glass they're 100% re-usable, recyclable, BPA and phthalate free, and they'll never absorb the scent of what you put in them.

I love that BKR bottles are also a comfortable 16 ounce bottle - not too big, but not too small.

Tuck one of these suckers in the toe-space of some lovely lady's stocking and you best believe she'll be smiling this holiday season! Or fill one with candies and tie a bow on the cap for that special someone at the office who you love to lunch with! No matter the recipient these BKRs are a surefire holiday gift idea for 2013!

photos by emilie inc. photography

So much to be thankful for!

As we head into the afternoon, many of you are probably scurrying around packing for trips to family homes, baking the first (or 3rd or 8th!) of the treats for tomorrow and generally checking things off your to-do lists as you prepare for Thanksgiving. In the midst of all the preparing and task-checking, we wanted to pause to send our sincere and heartfelt thanks to you in this season of gratitude.

Again this year, we have so much to be thankful for: a vibrant, supportive community, the most amazing and dedicated staff (we love you guys!), and you - our incredible clients, friends and families. We are truly humbled by your continued support, interest, humor and inspiration. Our little shop would never be what it is without each and every one of you.

So, as you enjoy family, friends and good food tomorrow, and as you reflect on all that you have to be thankful for, please know that we will be thinking of you and feeling thankful for the many ways you've enriched our lives.

Have a most wonderful day and we hope to see you this weekend for Black Friday & Small Business Saturday and throughout the coming holiday season!

With grateful hearts,
Samantha & Whitney

PS: We will be closing up early today at 4PM so that we can all get on the road to our own holiday celebrations. But, we'll be extending our store hours for the holiday season to help with all your shopping needs starting this Friday! Please see the hours below and find them on our website. And, of course, we're happy to ship to you or run goods out to your car if you are unable to stop in.

HOLIDAY HOURS
Today - December 12th
Wednesday,  Nov. 27: closing early at 4PM
Thanksgiving: CLOSED
Black Friday (Nov. 29) and Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30): 9AM - 9PM

Sunday-Thursday: 10AM - 7PM
Friday & Saturday: 10AM- 9PM

Dec. 13th - Christmas
Sunday - Thursday: 9AM - 7PM
Friday & Saturday: 9AM - 9PM

Sunday, Dec. 22: & Monday, Dec 23: 9AM-9PM
Tuesday, Dec. 24: 9AM- 3PM
Wednesday, Dec. 25: CLOSED

For the Bitties: Finkelstein stuffies

Happy Monday gang!

Can you believe that Turkey day is only a few days away? My, how the days are moving right along!

Today I want to share with you one of our FAVORITE new lines in the shop for holiday gift-giving this year. Born and stuffed in the great state of South Carolina, Finkelstein's is a quirky, sweet, and stylish line of stuffed creatures (stuffies, for short!) handmade by the amazingly talented and oober creative Michelle Jewell. Apartment Therapy did a fab write-up of her, and her space that you can read here. Between her inspiring studio, and the quality and coziness of the handi-dandy creatures she sent along for our shop this holiday, you could say I'm a HUGE fan of Michelle's operation. I am sure you will be too once you hold one of the Fink's in your own two hands. They're the sweetest... and a great holiday gift for any little boy or girl this holiday season!

Have a wonderful afternoon, and come in to meet the Fink's soon, k?
xoxo Lizzy

photos by emilie inc. photography

It's almost time for Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Goodie Boxes!

On Friday, November 29 & Saturday, November 30 stop by and shop with us! Details include:

• We'll be open extended ours from 9am-9pm and will have coffee and treats
for the morning crowd as we kick-off the holiday season.

• Get 10% OFF your entire purchase when you mention this email or any of
our Facebook, Twitter or blog posts about the event.*

• The chance to win one of 15 goodie boxes BURSTING with some of our
favorite products from around the shop**. Each box is valued at over $100
and they keep getting better every year!

• As a part of their Small Business Saturday initiative, American Express has chosen Portsmouth as one of 50 cities around the country to sponsor by subsidizing parking fees for shoppers. This means FREE on-street parking for you from 11am-7pm (3 hour limit still applies; does not apply to garage parking). Find out more parking and AMEX Small Business Saturday details HERE.

We can't wait and hope you can't either! This year's goodie box is not to be missed and we've stocked up with all the best goodies to get your holiday shopping off on the right foot!



*Discount applicable on in-store purchases only. Excludes custom/special orders and gift certificates. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Be sure to mention the email/posts as this is only offered to you, our best customers!

**1 chance to win per customer, per day with purchase. 15 boxes will be given away each day for a total of 30 boxes and over $100 in product!!

(Photo courtesy of emilie inc. photography)

2013 Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffer

The stockings were hung, by the chimney with care...and full to the brim with the best little goodies around if we have anything to say about it! I have to say, I'm pretty pumped about this year's stocking stuffer / grab-bag table. We have delicious sweets (hello, Mast Brothers chocolate and Big Picture Farms goats-milk caramels!), fun accessories and the absolutely-perfect-must-have-with-you-at-all-times reusable shopping bag. So, it should be no problem stuffing those stockings with jazzy gifts or snagging the perfect holiday-party grab-bag goodie! Here's a peek at a few of our favorites:

1. Artisanal flavored finishing salts & sugars (various flavors, $13.50)
2. Hand-painted buoys (various colors, $18)
3. Letter opener ($18)
4. Kate Spade expletive paper clips ($13 for set of 12)
5. Be Brave, Be True pocket knife ($20)
6. To-do list (various styles, starting at $9)
7. Fold-able, re-usable shopping bag (various colors/patterns, $10.50)
8. Ban.do bobbi pins (various colors,  $11.50 for set of 4)
9. Relish jar soy candles (various scents, $11)
10. Soul Support deck of feel-good messages ($6)
11. Vermont-made goat's milk caramels (various flavors, $13)
12. Mini desk calendar ($10)
13. Felt business card holder ($22)
14. Mast Brothers chocolate bars (various flavors, $10)

2013 Gift Guide: For Her

While some of you have been planning your gift-giving for months and scouring the shops throughout the year, we know many of you (myself included and, might I guess, some of you men out there) find it hard to get ahead of the game. So, we've gone ahead and curated a list of goodies for the ladies that are sure to delight even the most difficult women on your list. Everyone needs a little inspiration to find that perfect gift for your gal pal, girlfriend, daughter, mama, aunt, sister...well, you get it and we've got it.

1. Gold-dipped ring dish (various colors/patterns, $28)
2. Glass travel water bottle (various colors, $30)
3. Kinfolk Table cookbook ($35)
4. Cell phone covers (various patterns/colors, starting at $25)
5. Oversized wall calendar ($70)
6. 2014 agenda ($30)
7. Paper to Petal paper flower craft book ($24.99)
8. Notebooks (various patterns/sizes, starting at $10)
9. Be Bright wall art ($52)
10. Aritsan tea (various flavors, starting at $18)
11. Small-batch, triple-milled soaps (various scents, $11.50)
12. Kate Spade travel mug (various designs, $19)
13. Tin recipe boxes (various patterns, $35)
14. Handmade vintage-fabric totes with leather detailing (various designs, starting at $170)
15. Organic, hydrating hand lotion (various scents, $23)

2013 Gift Guide: For Kids

Given that our Gus & Ruby family will be getting real kid-centric in 2014 (Hooray! Huge congrats to the mamas-to-be Whitney & Laura), we've spent lots of time this year scouting some incredible, FUN, new goodies for kids. From creative to cuddly, educational to inspirational, we've got all sorts of gifts for the tots and tiny ones in your life.

1. Wooden floor puzzle (various designs, $22)
2. Handmade book end (various designs, $54)
3. Handmade stuffed animals (various animals, $48 each)
4. Eco-friendly chalk ($16)
5. Jotters & notepads (various designs & sizes, starting at $9)
6. Organic cotton swaddle blanket (various patterns and colors, $24)
7. Confetti pop ($8)
8. Organic cotton stroller blanket (various patterns and colors, $40)
9. DIY homemade cheese kit (various types, starting at $17)
10. Juice glasses (various designs, $21 for set of 4)
11. Eco-friendly finger paint ($22)
12. Penguin Classics children's books (various titles, $16.99 each)
12. Felt crown (various colors, $14)

2013 Gift Guide: For a Friends & Family

Up next on our annual holiday Gift Guide, we're talking about the perfect giftie for your best pal, your Aunt Judy or your dearest neighbors. You know those people in your life that are close to you, dear to you and who you want to spoil with the perfect present? Yeah - we have those people, too. And we shopped for them and filled the store with fabulous things to make it easy for you to do the same. Here are a few of our favorites to get you inspired, but you know we have SO much more in-store:



1. Shake cocktail book ($26)
2. Mason jar cocktail shaker ($32)
3. Smitten Kitchen cookbook ($35)
4. Handmade NH-shaped wooden cutting board ($58)
5. Ceramic wine bottle stoppers (various animals, $20)
6. Pantone mugs (various colors, $17)
7. American Atlas prints & other wall art (starting at $24)
8. Humans of New York book ($29.99)
9. Desk calendars (starting at $18)
10. Box of Bad Advice game ($14.95)
11. Mason jar drink glasses ($7 each)
12. Wall calendars (starting at $28)

Remember, we are happy to SHIP worldwide - so just give us a call or shoot us an email if you'd like us to package anything up for you and yours.

2013 Gift Guide: For Him

It's time to kick off our annual Gift Guide! And what better way to start than with the guys. Shopping for your guy, your bro, your pops - really any man - well, it can be tough! But, don't worry, we've searched high and low for the best selection of gifts for him. From the practical to the fun and frivolous, we've got something for every lad on your list.

1. Incense (various scents, $17)
2. Atmosphere art print ($24)
3. Screen printed dopp kit ($30)
4. Shaving accessories bundle ($33)
5. Gentleman's manicure kit ($26)
6. The Ultimate Bar book ($19.95)
7. Cocktail mixes (various flavors, $14 each)
8. Handmade cedar wood 6-pack carrying case with bottle opener ($46)
9. Hand-poured soy candle (various scents, $27)
10. Felted credit card holder and wallet (starting at $21)
11. NYT 36-Hours books (various locations, $14.99)
12. Letterpress wall calendar ($28)

The Holidays Are Here!

Happy Friday Pals!

This weekend we officially close in on 6 weekends until the Christmas holiday. We also only have a week and a half until the start of Hanukah! It seems crazy (where did the time go??), but with our Holiday Wish List Event scheduled for next week I can say, personally, that it feels like the excitement and joy of the season is upon us! We've noticed this past week lots of visitors coming to the shop to get a head start on their gift buying, and we're sure the weekend will be bustling with people bundled up, visiting Portsmouth with family and friends enjoying the crisp air and the downtown shopping our little town allows!

As is always the case, we're hoping that our blog and Facebook page will be a great resource for you all in the next few weeks when it comes to new product updates in the store. Here on the blog we'll be posting amazing gift guides for everyone on your list, and will be sure to throw lots of good stocking stuffer and small-office gift ideas your way, too!

Lastly, before I sign off for the weekend, I wanted to share a bit about one of our favorite New England vendors who just shipped a beautiful new array of products to us for the holidays!

Some of you may have seen Alice's amazing handiwork here or here, or even spotted her bags for a hot second in our shop over the summer (we never had a chance to give her and her work the introduction it deserves with the rush of tourists who came upon us in June!)... but we are thrilled to announce that her line of handmade totes and over-nighters, Forestbound, are back in stock at Gus & Ruby Letterpress and we couldn't be more over-the-moon about each and every unique piece she's handcrafted for us.

Exceptional detail, utilitarian materials that are salvaged and re-purposed to make AMAZING, one-of-a-kind bags for people of all ages - these are the details that make Forestbound such a great fit for our shop and customers. Not to mention Alice dreams and operates out of the Boston area. (Gotta love those New England neighbors!)

We'll have 5 new bags arriving in December too - but here's a look at what's in stock now!

Have a lovely weekend pals, and here's to the start of a season full of excitement, surprise, good food, wonderful friends, loving family - and lots and lots of festive cheer!

Best always, and big hugs!
Lizzy

Wall Art Update: We Are Brainstorm

Happy Monday guys and gals!

Many of you may already be familiar, but we wanted to take a moment today to show-off the fantastic work of Jason & Briana, the dynamic duo behind Brainstorm Print & Design. This talented pair has traveled all over the country, attending craft shows and spreading the good word about fun design and a passion for all things hand-made. But now, they've settled in just across the way in Dover, New Hampshire and their illustrations and screenprints have made a real splash with all of our customers here at Gus & Ruby Letterpress. 

What I love so much about these prints is their quirky aesthetic and the fact that they make for such great wall art for classrooms, kids rooms and playrooms alike. Not to mention MANY of you have already snatched up their New England Atlas screenprint to add to your living room walls! 

We'll be carrying this fun assortment of pieces from Brainstorm this holiday season and can't wait to see what's next from J&B in the coming year! 

8x10" America Atlas prints - hang as individuals or as a grid of 4 

Everyone's favorite - 16x20" Northeast Atlas screenprint

8x10" Earth, Atmosphere & Ocean Prints

Seasonal Love: Smitten Kitchen

Afternoon gang - how is everyone feeling about the fact that it's Friday?!
I'm thrilled, I can tell you that much!

You may have seen a post on our Facebook page recently about The Smitten Kitchen cookbook - a beautiful new staple for any home whose residents appreciate the delicious simplicity of a home-cooked meal! And this time of year, when all you want to do is stay in and hunker down with a warm plate of - anything sweet or savory - it's a surefire hit!

Written and photographed by the amazingly talented and heart-warming author of The Smitten Kitchen blog, Deb Perelman has really outdone herself with this unique collection of recipes that are approachable, mouth-watering and sure-to-be favorites for you and yours. The premise of all of Deb's work comes from a true passion for the essence of cooking and baking - the enjoyment of consuming those things you make surrounded by the ones you love.

Cinnamon Toast French Toast.
Pancetta, White Bean & Swiss Chard Pot Pies.
Homemade Apple Cider Caramels.
Potato & Broccolini Frittata.

The list goes on and on!
Come by the shop and check out this beautiful publication for yourself (and keep in mind - it's an awesome holiday gift idea for anyone with a knack for whipping up mouth-watering meals!)

Let's talk custom holiday cards

(Photos above courtesy of Dauphine Press)

With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to get your orders placed for custom holiday cards. We have so many designs to choose from. From digitally printed photo cards to gorgeous letterpress and foil stamped options, flat and folded, sweet or silly - you name the style and we've got an option! And, of course, we're always happy to create truly custom designs for those of you with something special in mind.

Check out a few of our favorites and then stop in to look through the albums and craft something perfect for you and yours!

(Photos above courtesy of Smock Paper)

 

(Photos above courtesy of Page Stationery)

 (Photos above courtesy of Gus & Ruby Letterpress)