Monday, December 30, 2013

The Home Stretch

I am a huge organization geek and as any of my line-and-row addicted fellows out there will understand, we are in the Season of the Planner! Whether you're an old hand at keeping that schedule in line or need to start up the practice of penciling in appointments and to-do lists, we have a planner at the shop to suit your style and needs. First up, the ever classic and reliable Moleskine options!

18-month planner in small - $24, large - $25 at Pickwick's Mercantile
This 18-month planner comes in two choices of soft-cover, a standard size and a large. Moleskine has plenty of practice in making wonderful stationery product, so you can trust that everything you might need can be found inside- pages to take notes, sufficient space, daily and monthly calendars. On top of function though, you really can't go wrong with Moleskine form. Simple black for the classy gent or dame.

12 little planners for $40!
 My co-workers call my bags "luggage", if that gives you any insight into the kind of space I employ- but if you're the opposite of me and carry a modest purse (or simply use your pockets to their potential), this 12-pack is perfect. Each notebook is a different color and serves as a planner for one month!
Moleskine pink planner - $24 at Pickwick's Mercantile
This goes out to all you pink girls, this limited edition planner is beautiful and comes in hard-cover, with all of the features of a tried and true Moleskine agenda!

Live Simply 2014 Planner - $12.95 at Pickwick's Mercantile
Here's one that is absolutely precious, but doesn't break the bank. The "Live Simply" planner is full of sweet little illustrations and has both day-to-day write-ins and monthly calendars.

Parisian Chic Planner - $19.95 at Pickwick's Mercantile
And finally, my personal favorite- the planner from Parisian Chic! Coveniently small, durable, and an eye-catching shade of red, it is full of tips and tricks to keep you stylish and well-prepared all year round! I love the interior- the whole package is tres parfait!

So, who's ready for 2014? This year I am beginning the new tradition of writing my resolutions in the front of my planner, so that I can't escape them! Start a new tradition or just get into a good habit and avail yourself of one of these little beauties as we roll into a celebration of new beginnings!

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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 
That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order
and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!


Saturday, December 21, 2013

A Very Merry Pickwick's Gift Guide: Volume III

Gift Guide 3

Gift Guide 3 by pickwickstyle

Last minute shoppers, we hear your cries and we are here for you until the very end! This final gift guide covers everything from essentials to stocking stuffers and there is still time to get in and make these pieces a part of your holiday giving! Clockwise, starting from the upper left-hand corner:

Lady Pickwick's Pick: Swing Design Lacquer Jewelry Box in Soft Pink - $130
     This three tier jewelry box was originally created by a group of brilliant design minds in Concord, Massachusetts and it is as timeless as it is beautiful. So immortal is its sleek lacquered look and pull out trays that the group's boxes were actually featured on Oprah's list of favorite things in 2012! We also carry a single-tier matching box for $70! Give them as a set or alone, with a single piece of glittering jewelry on the inside for her to stumble upon later?

Bronte's Pick: Joyeux Noel Elf Soap - $5
     Not only does this sweet little soap smell great, it is all natural and has a cheery elf stamped upon it to keep the holiday spirit by your sink-side for some time to come! This is one of our favorite stocking stuffers, brought to you by the company that makes the legendary "Egg White Soap". 

Jody's Pick: Baby Alpaca Blanket - $220
     These blankets are an example of what I like to call an "ultimate gift"- something that combines beautiful form and superior function. In options of light blue, cream, or saddle brown, imagine someone you love wrapping up in this throw-sized ultra-soft blanket. Soft enough for a movie night, a lay-down under the stars, or to swaddle a little one, these fine blankets will beat off many passing seasons of New England cold!

Brian's Pick - Aqaba Men - $85
     Perfume communities laud this perfume for being long lasting and possessing of a classic, desirable scent. Woody and green to its core, Miriam Mirani's Aqaba Men is also packed with such tasty overtones as cognac, Amalfi lemon, and leather. This would be the perfect step-up for that gentleman you know who is on the verge of outgrowing the tacky cologne baths of youth!

Thistle's Pick - All the Time in the World: A Book of Hours by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins - $27.95
     I could go on about this book and its companion, The Encyclopedia of the Exquisite, for hours, but I will abstain. All the Time in the World draws its inspiration from medieval books of hours, which imparted the most desirable and fascinating ways in which to spend one's time. A quote from Ms. Jenkin's website sums the impact of the beautiful little book as I never could:
All the Time in the World revives forgotten treasures, while inspiring a passion for good living in the present, and suggesting some bold and wonderful ways to spend whatever time we’ve got left.
Perfect for the eccentric, history-buff, or lord or lady out of time in the family!
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This brings our gift guide series to a close, but I'm so addicted to Polyvore now that you may yet some themed sets popping up of a sudden! Have the merriest of holidays, dear readers- may you pass it with good friends, good food, and good cheer. From everyone here at Pickwick's, may the days to come be merry and bright!
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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 
That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order
and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!







Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Very Merry Pickwick's Gift Guide: Volume II

Gift Guide 2

Gift Guide 2 by pickwickstyle

The big day approaches! Today and tomorrow we will have our final two gift guides- great to keep in mind if you've anyone left on your list (and personal experience tells me that you just might). Our staff helps you along with personal picks from around the store! Clockwise, starting from the upper left hand corner:

Bronte's Pick: Santa Maria Novella Melograno (Pomegranate) Perfume & Soap - $125, $18
      Did you know that many scholars believe that the forbidden fruit of the biblical tale was, in fact, a pomegranate? The monks of Santa Maria Novella have successfully captured the unique, powdery fresh scent of this decadent fruit for hundreds of years and bottle it here for your individual use! The matching triple-milled soap has been hand-made and packaged with care!

Lady Pickwick's Pick: Annabell Ingall Tote in "Buff"
     Our new Annabell Ingall totes are absolutely to die for- incredible quality and a flexible appearance that goes with every outfit, dressed up or down! This buff color is classic and workable and a favorite of Madame Pickwick, so you know it's chic.

Brian's Pick: Royal Apothic's Plains of Thistle - $55
     This soft scent is gentle but hard to forget. With notes including mint julep, white pepper, peony, and cedar wood, it is the perfect perfume to convert the newcomer to scent or the immortal perfume skeptic. Brian, one of our gentlemen on staff, is particularly fond of its unassuming and unique nature- if that tells you anything about the potential wearer!

Thistle's Pick: Line-A-Day Journal - $15.95
     I know, my pick should have been "Plains of Thistle", but I can't get over these little Line-A-Day journals. We have a pale pink mother's edition,  a classically bound Jane Austen themed option, the pictured blue standard, and an interactive Question/Answer offering. Each one has the date at the top of the page, followed by 5 years. It's a wonderful gift, particularly for someone in a period of great change or trial. They can see how far they've come!

Jodi's Pick: Charmeuse Pillow Case in Queen - $80
     These 100% silk pillow cases have more to them than just providing a wonderful and luxurious night's rest. Among their many powers? The ability to reduce facial wrinkles by caring for your skin, the fact that they add body and shine to hair by smoothing it at the cuticle level, and the reduction of hair loss and breakage! We often have customers tell us that once they started tucking in with silk beneath their heads, they never went back.

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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 
That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order
and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Holiday Lights


Let the countdown begin! I don't know if you've noticed, but it is the 15th, which means there are exactly ten days remaining to Christmas Day. Scrooge would be grumbling in full force by this time, I would imagine. Still, I'd be surprised if even he could muster a sneer while taking the lights display that is the inside of our shop right now. Our wizard of a decorator has taken some pictures so that you can share the light and warmth around!



It's a very Hogwarts Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

A Very Merry Pickwick's Gift Guide


Gift Guide 1


'Tis the season! As it is the 11th, I imagine that many of you are waist deep in Christmas shopping right now. The perfect gift is a tough and important decision point, but never fear, the Pickwick's staff is here to assist! There will be three of these little gift guides before the big day arrives, so keep your eyes on this space! Clockwise, starting from the upper left hand corner:

Brian's Pick: Santa Maria Novella Citrus "Relax" Wax Tablets - $34 
     These tablets are a wonderful gift for mothers and grandmothers. They are the best alternative to a room/linen spray, giving off a delicate scent wherever they are placed. Made the same way now as they were 400 years ago, their aroma lasts ages- the proprietress of Pickwick's has owned her own set of Santa Maria Novella wax tablets for twelve years and says they still smell delightful!

Rosamund's Pick: Rebecca Ray American Couture Bit Bracelet - $60
     Rebecca Ray celebrates women craftsmen and a dedication to quality. These bench-made pieces feature two sizing options on each leather and brass bracelet and are an ideal find for the equestrian fanatic or fearless jewelry lover.  

Bronte's Pick: Le Dame Aux Camelias by Jardins D'Ecrivains - $150
     This cologne was un petit discovery by Madame Pickwick herself. It is a muted, self-aware luxury. Designed to be worn to bed (ooh-la-la), it has all of the qualities of the Grand Dame reclining in silk after a night of dancing- elegance, simplicity, and class. Its notes contain cardamom, orange blossom, and rose with warm underpinnings of musk and juniper wood. Sweet- with a hint of warm spice, does that describe your lady love?

Douglas's Pick: Bar10der - $40
     The Bar10der is a great choice for the person who has everything, particularly suited for young professionals or the mixologist. Available in Edgehill's Common Threads, as well!

Thistle's Pick: A Matter of Fashion - $30
      I'm up! This book has been a matter of fascination with me for several weeks now. I often stop when there are no customers to chat with and flip through it's beautifully curated pages. A reflection on how culture moves fashion and vice versa, it is well put together, with great choices for the top style pushers in fashion over the years. I will be picking up a copy of this book and, if you've any style conscious types or historians on your list, this is a great volume for their bookshelf.

Jodi's Pick: Flex Bracelets - $24 (not shown)
     These slender, fits-all bracelets are such a simple application of sparkle to any outfit. Made in the USA, each miniature chamber carries a Swarovski crystal. These are the perfect gift for the young lady just beginning to graduate to adult jewelry pieces or the individual who brings their own sparkle to the room upon arriving.

Hopefully that covers all of the bases! Stay tuned for the next installment, up this weekend!


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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 
That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order
and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Mirror, Mirror


Pickwick's is pretty Portsmouth. If you're wondering what I mean by that, it's just to say that we do our best to keep the shop lively and timeless, a fitting tribute to the grand old city herself. A big piece of this is staying on top of what's shaking in town and if you want to be at the heart of the action, there is no better place to start than in the beautiful Music Hall, tucked away on historic Chestnut Street. We are so honored to have partnered with them on the installation of beautiful twin mirrors that we hope will reflect back the excited faces of theater-goers for many years to come.

Our gallant photographer
Wearing a Wool & Cashmere UK-made sweater!
 $75 at Pickwick's Mercantile!

We'll let the Music Hall introduce itself:
Important in history and in the lives of Seacoast residents for 135 years, The Music Hall has brought nationally and internationally acclaimed artists to this small city, making world-class entertainment readily accessible to the region. Since 1878 it has reflected and affected the growth of this bright corner of New England, serving as an important gathering place.  Its performers have ranged from Mark Twain to Wynton Marsalis and David Crosby; Vaudeville acts with elephants to RENT the musical and violinist Joshua Bell. (from their website)





When I asked her the "Why?" behind the mirrors, the proprietress of Pickwick's informed me that she has been attending events at the Music Hall since her childhood, and "we are honored to add to the magic The Music Hall bestows upon the city of Portsmouth." It's a wonderful thing to be a part of. This blogger has grown much taller over her many years spent in the Music Hall seats, as well (the Messiah Sing is an essential part of the Christmas season).

Take a seat; be swept away!
We are excited to announce that we will have a vendor space at several of the Music Hall's holiday performances this year. Come and let us know your thoughts on the mirrors and don't forget to give us your review of the show before walking back into the amber glow of a Portsmouth winter's night. Maybe we'll run into each other!


Explore what The Music Hall has to offer and book your tickets now!