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)

Mark your calendars for our 2nd Annual Wish List Event!

Now that it's November, we can really start to wrap our heads around the upcoming holiday season. And, boy are we exited about it! All of us here at Gus & Ruby have spent months and months researching, scouring and ordering all sorts of new products for you to peruse. We pour our hearts into curating a store full of products that we think you will be inspired by and will bring you joy. It can be a tough job, but we love it. We can't wait for you to see all that we have in-store for this holiday season!

And what better way to preview and kick-off the season, than with our

Wish List Event

Thursday, November 21

6:00 - 7:30pm

Just like last year, we're holding a private shopping soiree for you, our fabulous loyal friends and clients, so that you can see all the new goodies and create a wish-list of your own that we can send to friends/family as a helpful hint. What could be better?

And, we'll have amazing cocktails from Art in the Age craft spirits, some nibbles and delicious babka (think a spin off rugelach) from Small Batch Baking Co. for you to sample. To round out the fun, we'll be offering 15% OFF your entire* purchase that night, too - just in case you want to get started checking things off your holiday shopping list.

Space is limited to the first 40 people to RSVP, so be sure to RSVP (email hello@gusandruby.com with "Wish List rsvp" in the subject line) right away! We can't wait to jingle and mingle with you as we usher in a joyous holiday season!

*Discount not applicable to custom/special orders, gift certificate or sale items.