Sid Dickens, sooooo worth the wait!

"Through the Looking Glass"

Sid Dickens, Spring 2011 Collection

{as well as some favorites from Sid Dickens past collections}

now at pepperberry's!

{photo of Spring 2011 Collection, "Through the Looking Glass" courtesy of Sid Dickens booth, NYIGF}

"This season Sid Dickens presents us with his playful side by welcoming us to a collection drawn from the magic of the imagination. Spring's Through the Looking Glass takes its inspiration from Lewis Caroll's beloved story while maintaining the artist's distinct signature.

Dickens' humor and love of the illustory shines through in this unique assemblage that seeks to delight and perhaps incite a touch of mischief in the onlooker. With a delicate but vibrant colour palette, pieces from Through the Looking Glass make an uplifting addition to any wall collection."

Along with the new spring collection, we included some of our favorites from earlier collections. I love the way our wall turned out. I was so happy to finally get them in! I pulled out my handy dandy level laser shooter gadget and went to town making my grid {that little tool makes life so much easier}! It only got tricky when the nail placement ended up on a knothole in the barn siding! Gotta love barn siding!

This is what we ended up with.

It's hard to pick a favorite. For now, I think mine is "Ha" simply stated on the back "Nothing in life is better than a good laugh." Ask me tomorrow! I'm sure I'll have a new fav.! What will your favorite be? Stop in to see them in person. You won't be sorry.

Carnivale of Colour, and you're invited!

Click here for a larger version!

John Wind Joins the Cast at Pepperberry’s {Part 2 of 2}

This is Part 2 of a two-part series in which I reveal some of pepperberry’s new debuts found at the Winter tradeshow. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.


Today the spotlight’s on John Wind Maximal Art, a line of heirloom quality initial jewelry with modern appeal.

photo courtesy of John Wind Maximal Art.

Though this line of gold and silver-plated jewelry is designed here in Pennsylvania, it’s captured attention far and wide. John Wind’s creations have graced the pages of InStyle and O Magazine, as well as the displays of Anthropologie stores nationwide. {In fact, I was lucky enough to get in on a special planned especially for Anthropologie – but John himself let me in on it when I met him at the New York show! Stay tuned for that story a little later.}

You’ll have to come in and see the delightful pieces I chose for pepperberry’s. Lots of charms, lots of initials. All wearable and giftable. These are the kinds of pieces your friends will ask where you found. And if you’re feeling nice, you might tell them!

I can’t wait for you to see and touch the John Wind Sorority Gal Initial Bracelets.

With cool, classic styling, these pieces mix well with jeans, a crisp white shirt, and heels, or with a silk suit. It’s an ageless, timeless look that we know will flatter our twenty-year old customers, their mothers, and their grandmothers. These are no lightweight pieces – you’ll feel the quality as you handle them. They’re available in 14K gold plated {it’s a burnished, antiqued gold} or silver plated over brass. Features include a lobster claw clasp, a brushed double link chain, and a solid engraved initial charm.

photo courtesy of John Wind Maximal Art

We find most people gravitate to their first initial, though some prefer their last. If yours sells out before you get here, we can always special order, though this line is so popular there’s a bit of a wait, so hurry in while the getting is good!

And now for the story I promised you about John Wind and the Anthropologie exclusive.


I got to meet John Wind at the show – so charming and engaging! {Not to mention handsome.} – and he offered some of us specialty shop owners a deal on an item that was until very recently only available to Anthropologie – and at the time of this post, hasn’t yet debuted in their stores! Love this. Can’t wait to show you.

Sid Dickens Joins the Cast at Pepperberry's {Part 1 of 2}

Sid Dickens booth at NYIGF winter 2011

I’ve been hinting at all the new discoveries I made at the New York Gift Show this Winter, and over the next two posts I’m revealing two of my very favorite new debuts!

I’ve had my eye on two special collections for a while and I decided that Spring 2011 was the perfect timing to bring them to the pepperberry’s stage and introduce them to you.

They’re both so great they each deserve their own post.

Today the spotlight's on the acclaimed Sid Dickens Memory Block collection.

This line of handcrafted plaster art tiles is made in Vancouver, British Columbia. Designed by artist Sid Dickens, they are 5 x 7-inch plaques featuring original art in styles ranging from classical to traditional, vintage to contemporary. Some designs will remind you of pieces found in the halls of the world’s great museums, other pieces could fit right in at chic downtown galleries.

Meant to be hung on the wall, you can display them in large or small groupings by theme, color story, or guided by your own whimsy and imagination. {A single block is also quite lovely on its own, although like potato chips, most people can’t have just one.}

photo courtesy of flickr

Most collectors are led by their personal taste and start their collection by choosing the block or two they’re most attracted to and building from there. The tiles are designed for easy hanging; they’re pre-drilled on the backside and hang securely with a single screw.

What I love about Sid blocks are their versatility.

You’re never locked into a look or a style like you are when you purchase other types of art. You can change your Sid Dickens grouping at any time just by rearranging, breaking up groupings, bringing solo-hung tiles together, or introducing new styles to the mix every season.

Also great about Sid: they’re highly {and addictively} giftable.

When you’re looking for a high quality gift item with great craftmanship that doesn’t break the bank – think wedding gift, anniversary gift, housewarming, special birthday – a Sid block fits the bill. Each style has a poetic statement printed on the back which deepens the personal meaning.

photo courtesy of Sid Dickens.com

I personally love this tile called ‘Union,’ which bears the word Marriage scrolled across it. {Ask for style T236.} I’m excited to see which of this year’s brides will unwrap this tile after the honeymoon!

Sid introduces two new collections each year: one in the Spring and one in the Fall.

He retires a number of tiles every year, which become instant collector’s items, impossible even for boutiques to order after the retirement date. True collectors know that the Retired Tiles increase in value because they are so hard to procure!

By the way: Sid doesn't let just any store carry his line.

Pepperberry’s passed a rigorous approval process and is now the exclusive Sid Dickens dealer in Lawrence County. We welcome Sid fans from throughout Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, and we look forward to shipping the tiles internationally to collectors who find us online. Oh, and yes, we special order. Come check out our color catalog of the complete Active collection and ask to take home a tear sheet.

Excited yet? I am, too! Look for Sid Dickens to start flying off the walls of Pepperberry’s in mid-March.

Meanwhile, sign up for our e-newsletter Communiqué to stay current on new Sid Dickens releases, upcoming shipments, and retirements. Look for the sign-up bar in the righthand sidebar of the blog.

Stay tuned for my next post, in which I reveal my next great Winter tradeshow discovery.