Holiday Gift Guide

There are only 9 shopping days left before Christmas - have you crossed everyone off your list?  If the answer is no, you're definitely not alone!  We're here to help with a handy guide of gift ideas that are sure to please!

For the cook - The chef on your list is sure to love our silicone lids.  Available in several different sizes and created to seal any smooth surface, these lids can be used in the oven, microwave, freezer and more. $9-18.

For the tech-obsessed - Our new Mighty Purse is the perfect gift for the gadget-addicted person on your list.  With a built-in rechargeable battery, this handy purse can charge your phone or other device up to two times on the go.  The interior compartments and wrist strap also make it a great alternative when you don't want to carry your big purse.  $99

For the sentimental - We just received a new shipment of our wood wall signs.  After selling out quickly the first time, we're glad this reorder arrived in time for the holidays!  All handmade in Wisconsin and available in a wide variety of sizes and sayings, these wall signs make a great addition to any home.  $26-115

For the VA Tech fan - This beautiful cookbook, written by a Tech alum, is full of great recipes from the dining halls at Tech and restaurants in Blacksburg.  A unique gift for the VA Tech lover!  $29.95

For the wine lover -  Our hand-painted wine glasses are all done by a local artist in a variety of motifs.  Add some of our wine chocolates or a fun stopper to that bottle of wine you've already bought.  Looking for something a little different?  Try one of our soy candles made in recycled wine bottles.  $8-28.50

For the artsy - We love these small art plaques that are all handmade in North Carolina.  With a wide variety of messages, there's one for every occasion!  Available in three sizes.  $14.50-37

For the reader - We think these letters carved from old Reader's Digest books make the perfect unique gift for the reader on your list!  A fun way to repurpose those old books and save them from just being discarded.  Numbers are also available.  $17

All this and much more is available now at the store, so stop by soon and we'll help you cross everyone off the list!

Thank You!

We'd like to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and shopped small this weekend!  Once again we were blown away by your support and it was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday shopping season.  We are truly thankful for each and every one of our customers.  It's because of you that The Picket Fence is a success, so thank you.

And thank you to everyone who brought books for our INOVA Children's Hospital book drive.  In fact, we had several requests to extend the collection period, so we will now be accepting donations of new children's books until Sunday, December 15.  Although the gift certificate has already been awarded (congratulations to Kathy M!), we will continue our pledge to donate $1 for each book received.  We hope you will join us in making the holidays a little brighter for some deserving children!

We wish you all the merriest of holiday seasons and look forward to seeing you in the store soon!

Giving Thanks & Small Business Saturday

At this time of year when we gather with friends and family to count our blessings, we wanted to take a moment to give thanks for all our wonderful customers!  We are truly blessed to be able to do what we love everyday and it's all because of you.  So thank you for helping make The Picket Fence a success!  We hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

After the turkey has been eaten and you've hit the malls for Black Friday, remember to "shop small" on the fourth annual Small Business Saturday on November 30.  Created to promote small businesses during the holiday shopping season, Small Business Saturday is all about supporting your local community.  In that spirit, we'd like to use the day as an opportunity to give back.  This year we've partnered with INOVA Children's Hospital to collect books for children who may need their services.  Simply bring in or purchase new children's books on Small Business Saturday and for each book received we will donate $1 to INOVA.  To thank you for helping us pay it forward, everyone who makes a book donation will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to our store!

Whether you shop with us or another local small business, we hope you'll join us in shopping small on Saturday!

Holiday Open House

 
The holiday season is upon us and that means it's time for our annual Holiday Open House.  We hope you can join us Friday, November 15 - Sunday, November 17 as we ring in the holiday season.  Enjoy some refreshments while shopping our latest holiday arrivals, register to win a festive holiday door prize and receive a free gift with any purchase!  And to get you in the holiday mood, here are some pictures of just a small sample of our holiday goodies...

Hope to see you this weekend!

The Smell of Christmas

Yes, we know it's not even Halloween yet, but we believe it's never too early in the season for a little Frasier Fir!  One of our most popular holiday fragrance collections is back and already selling fast. 

With a crisp pine scent, Frasier Fir is the perfect fragrance to get you in a holiday mood.  Their candles and diffusers are a great way to bring a little of the outdoors inside. 

  

Have an artificial tree?  Tuck one of their decorative sachets in the branches to add that fresh-cut tree fragrance. 

 
With the festive holiday packaging, Frasier Fir products also make great gifts.

Stop by soon to see the whole collection!

We're Turning 5!

Can you believe it's been five years since we first opened The Picket Fence?  The time has definitely flown by, but we are so excited to be celebrating our fifth birthday this weekend!  And while it may be our birthday, the presents are all for you!  Join us Friday, Sept 13 - Sunday, Sept 15 for goodies, giveaways and save 15% storewide!  Just our way of saying thank you for all the support you've shown us over the years.  It's because of our wonderful customers that we are able to celebrate this exciting milestone!  So thank you for helping to make our store a success - here's to five more years!

Last Chance Sale

In honor of this final weekend of summer, we've reloaded the sale shelves for our Last Chance Sale.  For three days only, take an extra 50% off all sale items!  That's right - stop by between Friday, August 30 and Sunday, September 1 and save even more!  We've also been busy unpacking new arrivals and getting ready for Fall, so be sure to check out what's new while you're here.  See you soon!

P.S.  We will be closed Monday, September 2 for Labor Day.  Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Put A Lid On It

After weeks of waiting, one of our most anticipated market finds has finally arrived!  When we came across these amazing silicone lids at market we knew we had to get them for the store.  Judging from the response we've had so far, it seems you all think they are as great as we do! 

Available in several styles and sizes, the lids are made of food grade silicone and will fit on any smooth-rimmed bowl or pot.  Simply placing the lid on the bowl creates an airtight seal to keep food fresh longer and seal in heat while cooking.

They are safe for use at high temperatures, including the stove and microwave, preventing stove-top splatters and allowing for quick cooking and reheating.

The reusable silicone is also a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

 (Do not carry bowl by lid handle. Shown to demonstrate seal strength.) 

No more searching for the right size lid or cleaning up plastic wrap leaks - just grab the silicone lid, set it on top of your bowl or pot and you're done!

Come in to try it for yourself and see what all the buzz is about.  But you'd better hurry - they're already going fast!

The Sale Continues

 

Just a reminder that our Summer Sale is in full swing!  Haven't had a chance to stop by and grab some bargains yet?  Don't worry - there are still plenty of deals to be had!  We've marked down items from throughout the store to make room for all our market finds.  We've even been adding items to the sale, so be sure to stop by and see what's new.  Here's a little sampling of our sale tables today - 

Tons of great decor pieces.

Fun canvas art prints.  

Small was $47.50, now $30.  Large was $95, now $60.

Great garden pots and decor.

Fabulous starburst mirror - was $145, now $75.

 We have several lamps on sale.  This one was $285, now $150!

Select party goods now 50% off!

Another great lamp - was $155, now $95.

 Wonderfully soft organic stuffed animals - was $26, now $15!

Fun serving pieces and kitchen accessories.

Don't forget to check out the dollar table!

The sale will run through August 12 so there's still time to check it out!  Hope to see you soon!

Summer Sale

Summer is in full swing and that means it's time for our annual Summer Sale!  After a successful market trip, we have tons of new merchandise on the way and we need to make some room.  We've been busy cleaning house and that means savings for you!  Beginning Friday, July 26 we're slashing prices on items throughout the store!  Of course, deals this good can't last forever.  The sale ends Sunday, August 12, so hurry in for the best selection.  See you Friday!

On Vacation

Just a quick post to let you know that the store will be closed June 29 - July 6.  We're sneaking off for a quick family getaway, but we'll be back before you know it!  Our normal hours will resume on Sunday, July 7.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to seeing you on our return!

Bright & Colorful

It's hard to believe that summer is almost upon us!  Along with the end of school and fun family vacations, the arrival of summer also means spending more time outdoors.  In honor of all the outdoor entertaining you're sure to do the next few months, we wanted to share some of our latest arrivals that will make those outdoor occasions even better!

These great serving pieces just arrived and we think the fun patterns and bright colors are perfect for summer!  Available in several styles and patterns, these pieces are sure to add a dash of color to your table.  The best part?  They are all made out of durable melamine which means no worrying about them breaking on the deck or patio!

Of course, they are perfect for everyday indoor use as well and a unique way to add some fun to your kitchen.  We love the new sleigh tray - prop it up on the counter for useful art!

The trio tray is perfect for nuts and candies or use it to serve condiments at your next barbecue.

 

Pair a tray with some coordinating napkins and you have a great hostess gift!

 

The uses for their storage containers are endless.  Beyond the traditional leftovers, we think they would be fun as desk organizers or a place to stash the kids' art supplies.

 

 

Stop by to see them soon - they're sure to brighten your day!