Wandering around Portsmouth after lunch, my friend and I wandered into this store because she loves…read moreall things print-related. Me, not so much unless I'm in need of something, but I tagged along. So glad I did! This is a cute little store with lots of things to catch the eye. Not just the obvious--print services, cards, stationery, etc.--but also things like recyclable bags and other gifty items. I walked out of there with a small size (there was a large variety of bags for different uses) Baggu reclyclable bag I can fold up and pop into my purse for use when I need it. Handy for carrying leftovers from restaurants, quick trips to CVS/Walgreens or other places where you just want a couple of things. In fact it would have been handy for my trip to Gus & Ruby! Next time......

If Gus & Ruby Letterpress' high-quality products could be paired with high-quality customer…read moreservice, they would be great. Unfortunately, their poor customer service makes working with Gus & Ruby Letterpress frustrating and disappointing. We worked with Gus & Ruby Letterpress to create an invitation suite and day-of stationery for a formal wedding in Boston. It started out great with an initial meeting in the store. We looked through samples, felt the quality of the paper, and left with exciting ideas for the invitations. Little did we know this would be our last in person meeting, and that even reaching a live person on the phone would be extremely difficult as we moved forward. After our first meeting we submitted ideas and details for the first draft of the wedding suite. Then we waited 14 business days for a first proof. The proof was completely off the mark. The designers at Gus & Ruby Letterpress did not seem to read what we had asked for. For example, one envelope liner option contained fall-colored abstract daisies for a spring formal wedding. We tried to convey our ideas as clearly as possible but the communication channel from us, to our salesperson, to the design team, played out like a game of telephone with a tin can and a string. The message did not get through. After several weeks of revisions, we eventually arrived at a beautiful invitation suite that fit our vision. If communication had been better, we would have reached the final product a lot sooner. During this whole process we never felt like we were a priority, a valued customer, and we often felt dismissed. We continued to work with Gus & Ruby Letterpress for our day-of stationery because there was not time to search out a new stationer and because their products are high-quality. However, it was frustrating to only communicate through email. Our concerns never seemed to be acknowledged by our salesperson. No human ever answered the phone at Gus & Ruby Letterpress. Our overall experience with Gus & Ruby Letterpress fell far short of what we expected from a high-end, custom stationer. I cannot recommend them.

It's just the best place for fountain pens, paper, ink, gifts! Local owner. Great items for…read morereasonable prices. Love it!

Sweet little shop, just a bit outside Boston, but well worth the stop. I loved the sweet Japanese…read morestationery section, and the fountain pen case was beautiful with Sailor, Pilot, Kaweco, Opus 88, Esterbrook, and others that I hadn't yet come across.

Nahcotta is literally the cutest shop ever. They sell a variety of neat things such as prints,…read moreartwork, jewelry, stationery, small-batch treats (funky chocolates! cool jams! interesting hot sauces... ghost pepper-tequila-lavender sauce anyone?), and body care. Oh, there's also a small sales section tucked in the corner of the room! I had one H E C K of a good time browsing the stationery + prints sections where I picked out a peach gel pen, an adorable animal sticker sheet, and a fun pug print (which came with an envelope!). I'd highly recommend checking this store out for all things artsy, neat, whimsical, and fun.

This was a fun little shop! They have great items for kids and adults alike. They have a wonderful…read moreassortment of house warming gifts, kitchen items, and art...oh the fun art! My husband and I couldn't leave without purchasing some accessories for our office (click and felt coasters). When we got home from our trip, we were describing this shop to some friends that own an art gallery and they knew exactly the store we were talking about! Ha. Stop by and pick yourself out a little something.

Tucked away on Newberry a gem of an office supply establishment. A collection of the best of an…read moreassortment of items. Staff is professional and knowledgeable.

What a wonderful shop. Like a candy store for artsy folks and people who like quality every day…read moreitems. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It kinda felt like just seeing a friend. Definitely worth a visit and walk around.

This place is great. The owners are fantastic. It's family run, which we should all support more…read moreoften. It's got anything you could imagine, but the quality of all their products is just better than what you would find at Staples or OfficeMax. They accept all major credit cards and don't have a limit on how much you need to spend to use one. A Cambridge institution!

The nicest people in Boston that I've met!! Gale is such a sweetheart - never turning anyone away…read moreand always there with a helpful hand. They have a great selection of anything you need, the prices are great and the company is awesome. I would recommend this to anyone in a heartbeat - even if it was just for the conversation

All craft roads lead to Playtime--an unassuming yet remarkable arts and crafts supply store in…read moreArlington Center. As a gifter, I don't fully understand how I didn't know about this place before, but I'm so glad I do now. I went for a family project recently when closer craft shops didn't have what we needed. There's an abundance of arts and crafts supplies here, housed in two interconnected basement rooms, along with an impressive paper and picture frame selection (among other items) on the first floor. The atmosphere is one of a kind--more like an arts-and-crafts boutique curated by the owner, with items you won't easily find together elsewhere. Because of the sheer breadth, some categories (like fabrics, for example) have a smaller variety, which is just an observation, not a critique. Ribbons are unrivaled. If you don't have time to wander, ask--the best part of our experience was the owner, Carol, and the staff (thank you, Lilly). They are wonderfully kind, patient, and creative, offering thoughtful, gentle advice for your projects and genuinely care about their customers. Tip: There's a parking lot in the back or bus 87 drops you off right in front, literally. Highly recommended local business.

How in the WORLD have I lived in Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge for decades and not known about…read morethis place. A friend recommended coming here w/ my mom to look for yarn for her knitting projects and my friend prefaced that this place was the BEST for any type of arts, crafts, decor, etc. Well, WOW!! And funny enough, my mom used to go to this store when she was a little girl in the late 50s-60s to get Nancy Drew books. She said it was EXACTLY how she remembered as a kid. I was awe struck by everything this store had. I will definitely be making this place a regular stop for gifts for people and for fun. Forget going to places like Michaels. Come to this local, family-owned business which I guarantee will have whatever you are looking for. It's an incredible place.

Such a huge bookstore that has not just a wide selection of books, but also gifts that range from…read morethe quirky to traditional to Boston souvenirs. You can easily spend an entire day here looking at everything. Not a lot of places to sit, but there are a few chairs scattered about the space. It's in a neighborhood that has lots of eateries so you can easily spend an entire day in the Brookline area.

Love coming here to search for a new read, find a gift or fun knickknack for a friend, or honestly…read morejust spend some time in an aesthetically pleasing environment! They've got all the vibes and have a lot of hidden gems to be found. Some things can be a bit pricey especially on the gift side, but I would say otherwise on average for the type of items. I love that they always have bargain books and the whole used book section downstairs (that's where you can definitely find deals)! Worth exploring if you're checking out the area or a local who loves books and/or cute things!