Scents of the Season

Scents and aromas have the amazing ability to transport one back in time, recapture a favorite event or place, and soothe or stimulate.  The olfactory memory of something yummy baking in the oven, freshly laundered sheets, flowers you carried when you walked down the aisle, or baby powder can bring a smile to your face and warm your heart.  Nothing warms a home more than a beautifully scented candle during the cold winter months.  LUCKY HILL has a wonderful assortment of candles throughout the year, but an especially lovely selection for the holiday season.  

From the pages of Paddywax's Library Collection emerges the ultimate in Christmas literature:  Charles Dickens.  The quote on the candle reads, "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year".  Top notes of tangerine, clove, and juniper herald in the season.  Charles Dickens is available as a boxed candle ($25) or a 2-wick travel tin ($8).

Simpatico by K. Hall brings two holiday fragrances to their hobnail collection.  As with the year-round fragrances, Scotch Pine No. 26 and Reindeer No. 29, have an astounding 100-hour burn time and the option of re-purposing the hobnail glass vessel after the candle has finished surrounding you in scent.

Scotch Pine No. 26 is a warm, woodsy fragrance reminiscent of crisp winter nights.  The true pine scent is known for its clarifying and uplifting properties. ($29)

Reindeer No. 29 combines fall and holiday as red currants and cranberries collide with cedar wood, Frasier fir, and embers.  It's an exhilarating and cozy fragrance contained in a stunning cranberry glass hobnail. ($29)

And not to sound like a broken record.....but I can't help but once again utter that lovely name, Clive.  If you've read the post about 2550˚ candles entitled,  Hand-Poured Personality, you'll recall my desire to spend the winter months with Clive ($28.50).  No, not Clive Owen, but rather the candle that embraces you with fragrant tobacco leaves blended with rich black tea, followed with bright green notes of bergamot and earthy vetiver.  Sigh.  Simply brilliant.....and always the gentleman.  Where's the mistletoe?

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

LUCKY HILL is twinkling with little white lights and garland adorns the banister and armoire.  While I'd like to say the little elves came in one night and did all the work, unless the elves were named Dan and Kristin that wasn't the case.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE decorating for Christmas.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas.  I love the holiday so much Dan and I had a December wedding.

The interior was decorated just prior to Thanksgiving.  I've always been a stickler about not decorating for Christmas too early....it's always so disturbing to hear Christmas carols playing in shops before the kiddies have even been around for Halloween.  We have a rule in our shop....no carols until at least the day after Thanksgiving.

For the last few days, I've been wiring greens into garlands, swags, and onto the wreath frame for the front door.  This year they will be adorned with pomegranates, apples, petite pine cones, pods, dried hydrangea blossoms, berries, and cranberries.  Two small Christmas trees with white lights now grace the antique urns that flank the front door.

Last night after everything was in place outside, I helped our dear friend Michele carry packages out to her car.  As we stood chatting and laughing, it started to snow.  Truly....life doesn't get more perfect than that!!!

Here's a glimpse at what's in store for the holiday at LUCKY HILL

Maileg mice are nestled in their matchboxes for a long winter's nap while the juniper, clove, and clementine aroma of Paddywax's Charles Dickens candle wafts through the shop.

It wouldn't be Christmas at LUCKY HILL without a GurglePot or two....who would have thought they would be hanging on the tree?  GurglePot has created ornaments in Bright Red, Cobalt, and Kiwi to keep you smiling.

Maileg pixies frolic on the top of one of the garden half rounds......

and mice and a pig on the other

Sydney Hale Co. candles celebrate the season amid foraged berries and remind us that the holiday is about giving back as they donate 10% of their profits to animal shelters.

I grew up with advent calendars, but nothing as magnificent as this one from Maileg.

A rainbow of GurglePots are flanked by Oh, Little Rabbit organic cotton flour sack Christmas tea towels.  I especially love the one of the vintage Woodie with the Christmas tree on top.

The armoire is filled with bamboo nighties and PJs from Yala in silhouettes and colors perfect for Christmas Eve.   

Gift baskets laden with Big Paw olive oil and Mary Judge Designs dipping dishes are ready for holiday giving.

Our first holiday window with boxwood outside and glass icicles suspended from the famous white birch branch.

And finally.....my little elf who puts up with a lot of holiday decorating nonsense from me.  Doesn't his look say it all?

Keep Calm and Cozy On

The weather here in Castine has turned nippy and the Maine Fall foliage tracker is showing color in the Northern regions.  Monday we received yet another package of smile-inducing product.  This shipment came to us all the way from the Lake District of England.

Katie Mawson established her business in 1991 after graduating from Camberwell Art School with a degree in textile design.  She started with hand knitted sweaters (jumpers in England) and went on to create a children's wear collection.  Over time, her work has evolved to her current line of felted wool gloves, hats, scarves, and home accessories  Katie's husband, Chris, joined the business in 2000 and everything is made by them with the help of their knitters, Kerry and Norman.  Katie carefully finishes every piece, felting them for extra softness, hand stitching, and labeling them as genuinely made in England. 

Wide stripes, narrow stripes, and tipped solids in fun colors.  Thanks to Katie and her team we can happily say, bring on the cold weather.....and smiles!

A Little Piece of the Big Easy

We have New Orleans to thank for more fabulous things than I can even begin to count....gumbo, Mardi Gras, Po' Boys, the Sazerac, and a vibe that can never be recreated anywhere else.  One of the other amazing products of the Big Easy is Alexa Pulitzer.  From the first time I set eyes on her stunning line of notes and list pads I was smitten.  Lucky Hill is now thrilled to announce it is a purveyor of Ms. Pulitzer's magic!

Finding a new line is exciting.  Ordering a new line is like a kid in a candy store.  Opening the boxes when the new line arrives in the shop is nothing short of Christmas morning!  Sometimes, however, it's more like getting the shiny bike on Christmas morning as opposed to the flannel nightgown.  Yesterday was a shiny bike day here at Lucky Hill.  You always know you have a winning line when you are selling to customers straight out of the shipping box.  A King Kitty notecard set went straight out the door with our dear customer, Jody.

Our antique wire garden half rounds are now laden with notecards, long pads, sketchbooks, and mousepads adorned with the most whimsical of creatures.  All are fabulous, but the mousepads are simply ingenious.   The actual pad is comprised of fifty sheets of paper sporting either the Royal Tiger, Royal Elephant, or Royal Owl.  While working on the computer, jot notes, numbers, or doodles and when that sheet has served its purpose....off it goes to reveal a sparkling new one. 

Yes...I'm gushing.  My big quandary?  Which pattern will become my signature stationery?  It looks like the Royal Goldfish may be swimming away with the title.

Hand-Poured Personality

As I previously mentioned, we've been on a mission to seek out products that celebrate our male clientele.  Our newest candle line, 2550˚, speaks to the personal habits and tastes of men.  However, these are definitely NOT the "man candles" that smell like beer, pork rinds, locker rooms, and other things I refuse to mention. 

After tiring of heavy and uninspired men's home fragrance choices, Jason Linscott worked to create a line of products with more "personality".  The resulting line is comprised of four fragrances that are richer in character, deeply layered, and infused with scent aspects that more closely capture a very definite personality profile.

Joe  Whiskey & rocks, a smoldering bonfire & a well-worn leather jacket
Notes of whiskey, woodsmoke, and leather overlap to create a warm, rich scent with a kick.  Oakmoss and cedarwood help to round out this scrapper.

Clive  Black tea, a hand-rolled cigarette & a mossy windowsill
Fragrant tobacco leaves blended with rich black tea, followed with bright green notes of bergamot and earthy vetiver- a perfectly balanced gent.

Luc  Green absinthe, a cobblestone street & a dark velvet topcoat
Mysterious and deep, notes of absinthe, bitter almond, and oakmoss blend together for a multilayered experience.  Rich dark chocolate, amber and flig slip in for added dimension.

Kurt  A saltwater breeze, sun-bleached driftwood & a tropical beach
Smoky sandalwood and briny kelp interplay with notes of banana and coral flower.  Geranium and vetiver jump in- reminiscent of afternoons in the surf.  

The candles are prepared using an all-natural, clean-burning soy wax base enhanced with botanical and fragrance oils.  Each candle is hand-blended and hand-poured in limited production runs to ensure consistency and quality.  The packaging is fully recyclable and the glass containers and hand-roughed lids are intended for reuse as cocktail glasses or catch-alls.  All 2550˚ candles are produced and packaged in Portland, Oregon.

So which one do I like?  Let's just say I was quick to inform Dan I will be spending the long, cold Maine winter with Clive.  I don't think he minds....after all, it's just a candle....not Clive Owen.

To the Rescue!

In my search for new product lines, I'm always on the lookout for young start-ups and/or companies that give back to good causes and charitable organizations.  This week we brought in leashes from Resq/Co.  The "Resq" is actually pronounced "rescue" which leads (no pun intended) to the fact they really do rescue animals.

One leash equals one donation which equals one life saved.  Ten percent of every purchase goes to animal shelters and animal rescue facilities.  The company donates to a different shelter every month and asked me to let them know of any animal shelters that are in need of help.  Hint:  Seriously, let me know of any animal shelters that might benefit and I'm more than happy to pass the info on to Resq/Co.

But back to the leashes....they come in two diameters, 3/8" for the smaller pooches, 1/2" for the big guys, and the length varies from 4 to 4 1/2 feet as a result of being handmade (in the USA).  The three strand premium grade line features a five tuck hand spliced handle with secured ends. Each leash is outfitted with a solid brass swivel clip that will withstand the elements and evade corrosion, a hand-stamped leather tag, and a solid brass key ring for holding waste bags, tags, keys.  We currently have stock in the natural and navy colors. 

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Finn (and his Mom, Lyn) for posing as our poochi model (get it...poochi instead of Gucci...what do you expect?  I was a fashion designer for 25 years).  He's a very handsome boy, I'm sure you'll all agree!

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

All too often, in the world of boutique retail, men are....sadly.... forgotten.  Relegated to the "bored husband chair" or biding their time just outside the door, shifting their weight from one foot to the other as they periodically glance at their watch, they have accepted the fact there isn't anything fun or manly inside.  We here at Lucky Hill have set out to change that antiquated retail model.

 A few weeks ago I started to compile a list of products men use that might be appropriate for our little shop.  As soon as that was in place, I went to work scouring the countryside for the best products in those categories.  Trust me, men have not been forgotten when it comes to product development.  Shaving and grooming have been elevated to an art form and there are now candle lines with fragrances specifically tailored to turn any man's head....be it bald, bearded, or burnished by the sun and sea.

Over the course of the next month or so, we'll be introducing these new product lines.  The first one to arrive was Prospector Co. out of Savannah, Georgia.  I think it's fabulous that the company also embraces men who have chosen to limit their degree of shaving.  Having married a bearded man, I love the fact they carry a beard oil.  A few drops massaged into the beard moisturizes the skin, softens the folicles, and conditions the beard.  As an added benefit, it can be used as an oil-based cologne. 

The descriptions of each product reminds me of the J. Peterman catalogue, the best of which being the Miss Annie Jones Shaving Oil.  As the story goes, Miss Annie Jones was the foremost bearded lady who capitalized on her unconfirmed case of hirsutism.  Born in Virginia in 1860, her "affliction" was evident even at nine months old at which time she was being paid the hefty sum of $150 a week by P.T. Barnum.  By the age of five, the patches of hair had blossomed into a mustache and sideburns.  Absolutely priceless!

In addition to the Beard Oil and Miss Annie Jones Shaving Oil, we stock the Peary & Henson Aftershave, K.C. Atwood Aftershave, and Brummell Shave Creme.  If you're curious and want to try an assortment, we offer the Tester Vials Kit ($16) of all the products with the exception of the Brummell Shave Creme.  Products range from $16-$28.

 

Flying Fish

During a conversation with a sales rep regarding another line, she suggested we carry GurglePot.  Gurgle what?  I assured her I would check out their website and let her know if we wanted to place an order.  Based on her brief description, I couldn't imagine what would make this a "must have" for Lucky Hill.  On the website, there was a link to an audio clip of "the gurgle".  I played it once.  Then again.  And again.  I couldn't help but smile.  When Dan came into the room I played it for him.  Then again.  And again.  He couldn't help but smile.  We were hooked.

So what is a GurglePot, you may be asking.  It's a pitcher that can also be used as a vase.  You can use any liquids, with or without ice, and when you pour.....it gurgles.  In addition to the basic utility, it's a clean, modern design that would compliment virtually any decor or tabletop.

When the GurglePots arrived, they were fun, colorful, and perfect for our coastal town.  I sold two little ones.  Then a big one.  And another.  I quickly came to the conclusion these fish not only gurgle....they fly....right out of the shop.  At this point we only have one left.  A big white guy.  But have no fear!  Another order, chock full of fun colors, is due in next Tuesday.  Stop by for a demonstration!  Gurgle, gurgle.