If you've ever shopped for a Mum around Mother's Day you can't have failed to notice the DELUGE of pink floral arrangements, gardening gift sets, or hand-painted tea cups. And whilst there are a lot of mothers who love pink flowers, pottering around their garden, or sitting down to enjoy a nice cuppa (and yes, I like all those things too) WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
So, for the sake of all unique, diverse, and wild mums and mother types out there, here is your ultimate guide to What A Mum Wants.
Gardening Mums
Okay, gardening is a big interest so I'll take that one! But if you have a Mum or favourite Aunty that loves digging, chances are she already has her favourite gardening gloves, some excellent quality tools, trowels, secateurs, etc. But if gardening is her love, then gift her something out of the ordinary that shows you've put a bit more thought into it.
These heritage veggie seeds make me smile so much as a fab gift for your mumma. Not only does she get a chance to grow something a little out of the ordinary, just LOOK at how beautiful these seed packets are. When someone has put that much thought into the design, I'm automatically on board. They just look so cool!
Team it with a Betsy Benn personalised notebook from our garden range so she can plan and plot to her heart's content.
Self-Care and Pamper Mums
Mums feel a bit conflicted about self-care gifts sometimes if I'm honest. Part of them will think OMG yes, this is just what I need and they will start mentally planning when in their week they can fit in a bit of "me" time. A bath is bliss, a facepack might be achievable at the same time as a bath so that's a win. Throw in a hair mask while you're at it and you might even manage to read a chapter of that book you started last month. But another part of her is also thinking, oh, I'm not sure I have the time for all that and she starts running through the mental load and the ever-growing list.
That's what I love a little bit of luxury on the go like this steamer gift set from only The Good Stuff. The shower steamers are just popped in the shower and they release their heavenly fragrances. Perfect for a taste of self care on the go and might even encourage Mum to indulge in some longer relaxation later on.
If Mum does have a bit more time to chill out and actually really enjoys slowing down, then pick her brains about how and where she does that. Is it a massage at a local spa or gym? Is it a yoga day that she would crave that's being hosted nearby and you just need to create the time for her to go (by taking some of the things off her ever growing list)? Or would she like something new to her like reflexology or cupping or a sound bath?
If you haven't experienced a sound bath, then you must. It's a wonderful way to spend an hour or two.
Cultured Mums
Fill her soul with gorgeousness with a year's membership to The Design Museum. At only £60 for the year it's and absolute bargain because then all exhibitions are free to attend and you can jump the queues and visit anytime you like - even if it says the event is sold out for that day. At the time of writing there are three exhibitions: Barbie, The World of Tim Burton, and Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style.
If your Mumma loves to listen to a podcast while she's on the move then this could be the gift of all gifts! I have these MusiCozy headphones and they are brilliant. It's essential a jersey fabric headband with very low profile speakers where your ears are. I've used it on plane journeys, to listen to guided meditations, to dance around the kitchen when everyone else is asleep, to walk the dog, and I have a friend who sleeps with it to block out her partner's snoring. The battery life is pretty good and there are lots of designs to choose from.
Alternative Flowers for Mum
Flowers are lovely, and if your Mum never treats herself to a bunch, they may be the perfect gift. Also, BUY YOUR MUM SOME FLOWERS JUST BECAUSE and don't wait for a "special" reason to cheer her up.
If you want longer-lasting alternatives to a fresh posy then we've got two bangers for you. The first is this lovely birthflower silver necklace. Also available in Gold if that's more her style. Made in England and cast in high-quality recycled sterling silver, this beautiful medallion necklace features a delicate, hand-engraved flower.
Make a flowery gift so much more special by adding the kiddos into the mix. An everlasting wooden flower, adorned with a gorgeous image of your child or children, makes an amazing Mother's Day gift, or any day gift for Granny and Grandad.
Choose from a selection of different flowers and upload your child's photograph and Betsy Benn will do the rest. You do need a full-length or at least top half photo of your child so that we can position them on the leaves! The results are gorgeous and often have Mums finding a little something in their eye - but definitely not crying. Yeah, okay!
For Smarty-Pants Mums
If your Mum loves doing Wordle or Connections every day, or is obsessed with a crossword puzzle then this is a unique gift she will love.
An Escape Room in an Envelope! An immersive mystery you can personalise. There are different themes available but we really like The Dupe. When a reputable Finnish Art Dealer brokers a deal that isn’t what it seems, he unwittingly puts his life at risk… now on the run, he’s hidden a secret message in an online vault and left a series of 7 clues to the passcode – who do you think can uncover the message?
For Mums with a lot of STUFF
How do we accumulate so many bits and bobs and yet never find anything we need when it's an emergency. Hair pins are my personal nemesis. I know I've bought thousands over the years. Hundreds must still be inside my actual house. can I find more than two usable ones when I need them? Well, I probably could if they were all stored in this bag!
The personalised pouch features a design reminiscent of a typical English Heritage blue plaque, on which you can honour all of her special qualities. The pouch is the perfect fit for her handbag, allowing her to keep all of her bits and bobs close by.
Mums who deserve a sit-down.
Whether it's to have a cuppa, catch up on some emails, or just chill out after a long day EVERYONE has their favourite spot on the sofa - including Mum!
Reserve her favourite seat with this plush velvet cushion. Available in a jewel-like array of colours, with playful pom poms, we can personalise this with any name you like. Mum, Mumma, Mother, She Who Must Be Obeyed, Queen, Goddess, Betsy... ;-)
I'm not such a fan of being told how happy or sad I'm going to be on any given day. I don't know about you, but I'm a little stubborn about my own emotions! I will admit to sometimes feeling a bit rubbish on Blue Monday though.
Blue Monday is touted as probably the most miserable day in the calendar. Normally on the third Monday in January, the general sadness can be attributed to the chilly weather, the post-Christmas blues, the fact that it's been a while since payday... all sorts of factors.
It's a temporary sadness thank goodness! And thanks to the clever soul that is Professor Hannah Fry, I've recently learned that it almost doesn't matter what happens to you, you always return to your baseline happiness.
Research shows that you can experience quite amazing events in life and blissful joy, but over time you dip back down to your baseline happiness. The same is true for the monumental lows in life. Over time you will rise back up to your baseline. I'll link to her telling you this exact thing here: Pop to her Instagram to see the quoted research papers.
However, what if I told you there was a scientifically proven way to raise your baseline happiness so that you would be forever just a little bit happier? Sounds good right? And it turns out it's not even that complicated.
There is a five-word sentence that you say as many times as you can, at least every day, and your happiness base will lift. Those five words are THESE ARE THE GOOD DAYS.
So, my brain decided to combat Blue Monday with these five words, and in fact every Monday. I've designed a free bright and cheery print with the magic words and you can download it right here for free. Stick it to your fridge, tape it to your mirror, cover the communal office areas with it, and say the words out loud every time you see them.
BOOM - slightly happier world. And who wouldn't want that right now?
p.s. - if you don't want the download, you can just write the words on a post-it. Works just as well.
For the record, over at Betsy Benn, we believe in the big guy in the red suit with the white beard. Wholeheartedly. But when you, sitting at your laptop, or making a cuppa in your kitchen, suddenly remember an important December birthday or someone who has been missed from the Christmas list - Santa isn't going to save your bacon.
Fear not, you have Betsy Benn in your corner!
We have years of experience in personalised gifts for Christmas and birthdays. When we first started (wayyyy back in 2010) it took us a few days to make many of our beautiful personalised gifts. Practice, does indeed make perfect, and we've refined our skills and reduced our lead times each year. So, what are the best gifts for speedy delivery and how soon can you get them?
If you've never thought about tree decorations as a brilliant Christmas gift, then let me inspire you! From their face with a Santa hat on top, to a family Christmas tree with everyone's names on the ribbons, or even their favourite car with a Christmas tree on the roof. These carefully crafted, hanging ornaments of dreams, are all personalised for individuals, families, pets, teachers, and those brilliant helpers that make our lives glow! Our super whizzy graphic design team can create something just for you in a matter of moments. We rely on you to provide high resolution images if we need them for certain decorations. That's a you thing. Other than that we can send most Christmas decorations on the day you order them. WINNING!!
We hold stock of our pom pom cushions all made up and ready to be personalised. You just tell us the colour you like and what you want your cushion to say. These "made in" year cushions are simply perfect for BIG milestone birthdays and we can turn that around on the day you order it. Send direct as a gift to your favourite human or have it posted to you. Express delivery is available.
Our travel memory prints have been a top seller for the last few years. A graphic representation of all your favourite places, holiday destinations, towns you've lived, countries you have explored. We have a design bank of over 3000 location images - if you've been there, we have a suitable image for it! On the off chance we need to design a whole new image, we can do that too. Personalised A4, A3 and A2 prints can all be printed and posted to you unframed on the day or the day after you place your order. Framing does add some extra days, but if you want to express that, we can get a framed print out to you within four days.
These prints have been huge hits for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Father's Day, and Christmas. So good for those traditionally hard to buy for on your list.
An easy and thoughtful gift, our range of keyrings are all available with same day dispatch. The gorgeous full moon keyring is made using a high resolution image of the actual moon and can hold an engraved message on the back. The constellation keyring is a perfect place to capture all your loved ones names, and the couples home keyring is the greatest gift for two.
Remember that fun and fabulous Royal Mail strike in 2022? So much fun for all! Well, that prompted us to create some digital download versions of our most popular prints and these represent the speediest of all options if you need a quality gift in a hurry. Once you place your order, the digital file will automatically be emailed to you within half an hour. How cool is that?
We have a number of print designs to choose from as well as a rather splendid penguin bunting and gift tag set that you can print and cut at home. If you have a colour printer then you're all set!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Our post is collected every day at 3pm. For same day dispatch, the order cut off time is 11am (but always call us if you need something urgent after that!). We post using Royal Mail tracked 48 which takes 2-3 days or you can upgrade to express delivery and we'll use tracked 24 delivery.
I feel there might be three kinds of people in this world. One that reads the sentence above in September and thinks "hell yeah, I've already bought three stocking pressies, one main gift, and a Christmas pudding. Let's go!". A second who thinks "Absolutely not, I'll do it after Fireworks night, thanks anyway". And a third who remembers the big, beautiful plans they've had approaching every Christmas they can recall, achieved maybe half of them, got frustrated and swore at the other half, and pledged next year to get a bit more organised a lot earlier on.
Our Practical Christmas Magic planning resources will help all three personality types, but if you fall decisively into category three then definitely read on. We're about to make magic together.
There is magic in a list, it's true. But not just any old list. A thoughtfully designed and dedicated task list can help you "Mary Poppins" the organisation of Christmas. There may not be actual spoonfuls of sugar (unless you raid the kids sweetie jar) but they really do help get the job done. Trust me, I know.
If this is the first time we've met then HI! I launched my business, Betsy Benn, way back in 2010. As a retail business that goes BIG for Christmas - we make about 12,000 personalised Christmas decorations each year - I soon learned the sanity saving benefits of getting on top of my own Christmas prep. Whether it was starting early on the DIY advent calendar, writing my Christmas cards in August, or stocking the freezer with batch cooks, I've tried everything! I've narrowed it down to a fine art and now I'm sharing those resources with you FOR FREE!
There are seven brilliant documents included in this free download.
And did I mention they are all beautiful? Of course, you knew we wouldn't design plain or boring lists didn't you?
Pop your details below to have the links pinged straight to your inbox. And happy planning!
Some of our favourite Christmas decorations have been inspired by classic Christmas films. It's A Wonderful Life actually inspired TWO of our most popular Christmas tree ornaments.
That moment when George tells Mary that he loves her so much he would give her anything she could possibly ask for, including the Moon. Yes, he'd throw a lasso around it and pull it down to Earth if she just asked. (Swoon)
The traditional 5th wedding anniversary is a gift made of wood. There's a beautiful idea that wood represents the strength of an established tree that has maybe weathered a storm or two and the roots have deepened. A marriage in it's fifth year certainly shares some of those qualities!
There are so many brilliant ideas for a wooden themed wedding anniversary gift, so here's a little inspiration round up for you.
Capturing your journey so far, this beautiful wooden artwork will be a great feature for your wall and a wonderful conversation piece. List out where you met, the places that were important as you fell in love, first holidays together, where you popped the question, where you got married, where you honeymooned, children's names and birthdates, ANYTHING is possible.
Such a unique way to chart your journey and remember the good times you've had so far (with many more to come)
We have some really beautiful wooden couples gifts that are always well received. Each person gets one of these keyrings and they always love the "togetherness" vibe. You can choose a house that splits into half for when you're both out and about, or joins together with interlocking hearts for when you return home.
The lobster claws are for true fans of "Friends" who believe that lobsters mate for life and hold "claws" underwater.
Coming to you live, three feet from the log burner, it's a very chilly Betsy Benn!
I am, what my Mother used to call, a chilly mortal. I feel the cold when all around me are toasty and peeling off their jumpers, so expect to see me in beanie hats and scarves 24/7 until the crocuses appear. Luckily, I know some amazing small makers who make very beautiful and very comfy winter accessories (looking at you Eka Wear.)
Don't feel too sorry for me - I am, at heart, a winter babe. It's my birthday next month and I'm one of those people that wishes for snow at every opportunity. And of course "Christmas Food" is now firmly on the weekly menu, so it's all good!
How about you, are you in the wintery zone yet? Have the blankets and slippers come out to play?
October was all about the photoshoots at Betsy Benn. Good product photography is an absolute must for an online business and whilst I'm reasonably confident with a camera, it pays to get the professionals on board quite regularly for an update. We sent our new gingerbread decorations to the lovely Tina Knowles to shoot remotely, and I went in person to see Yeshen Venema's new studio space in Hackney for a whole day with styling by Emma Shipley. Here's a little BTS for you!
Hey wonderful souls! Have you made any New Year resolutions? No? Me neither. It was a thing I did in years gone by, but they always fell to the side of life. When I think back to the kinds of resolutions I have made in the past they're very goal orientated. "Loose weight" mostly! Or "have an adventure" - without really specifying how or why. It's no wonder I fell out of love with the process, and found myself more attracted to choosing a word for the year.
As we embark upon another journey around the sun, let's pause for a moment to reflect on the magical potential that lies within us. The start of a new year isn't just about just flipping the calendar; it's about embracing the opportunity to infuse our lives with intention, purpose, and positivity. And what better way to do so than by adopting a "Word of the Year" – a single, guiding word that will serve as a beacon of light throughout the year's adventures.
Imagine, if you will, having a word that encapsulates your aspirations, nudges you toward all your goals, and wraps you in a cocoon of encouragement when challenges arise. It's your very own North Star, leading you towards the life you wish to create.
You may have sat and pondered, and chosen a very fitting word already. Or you may have let the universe guide you and purchased or been gifted one of our "chosen for you" word stars. Either way, now's the time to think about how to embrace your word and let it help you.
So, how can you infuse this word into your daily existence, allowing it to shape and enrich your life?
1. Sit with your word and hold it.
Better still carry it with you for a few days or weeks. The Word Stars are small enough to pop into a pocket, a purse, or a glasses case each morning. We like to think that being physically close to your word star will charge it up with your energy, especially at the beginning of this journey when you have boundless enthusiasm! Then, when you need it, you can hold your star again and reconnect with the energy of those moments.
2. Make it obvious.
From the moment you wake allow your word be an intrinsic part of your daily thought process. Hang your star somewhere obvious where you'll see it every day. On the bathroom mirror maybe, or near the kettle. Take a photo of it and make it your phone lock screen. Draw it out in the front of your journal (I mean, we do make name in star journals that could be adapted for this purpose - no pressure but here they are!) As you face the day's tasks, challenges, and triumphs, allow your word to gently remind you of your purpose and the energy you wish to channel. Whether it's Courage, Abundance, Adventure, or Balance, let your word echo in your mind like a mantra, steering your thoughts in a positive direction. Wherever you place it, every time your eyes catch your word, it's like a mini pep talk from your past self, cheering you on.
3. Look at what didn't work for you last year.
If your word is "simplicity" for example, what felt overly complicated for you last year or was unnecessarily hard work? If your word is "shine" what areas of your life need a little extra polish on them, or have been hiding in the dark and need to come out and glow, or how can you shine on others? Write down all the key areas in your life and the most important people that matter to you and reflect on how your word could apply to each. This is a pen and paper exercise really - you'll be amazed how much flows when you're writing it down.
Reflect on your:
4. Infuse Your Actions with Purpose:
Every action you take, no matter how small, can be imbued with the essence of your word. If your word is "Kindness," perform small acts of kindness daily – holding the door for a stranger, offering a compliment, or lending a helping hand. If your word is "Grow," dedicate time to learning and self-improvement. It might be time to get started on that duolingo app!
5. Embrace it all.
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, take moments to celebrate your progress. Reflect on how your word has influenced your decisions, perspectives, and experiences. Recognize the positive changes it has brought into your life. These celebratory moments will fuel your enthusiasm to continue your journey. Although we're all only human. You might hit a roadblock or have a "meh" day/week. That's okay! Your word isn't about perfection; it's about progress. So, be kind to yourself. Your word is NOT a measure or a stick to beat yourself with and will not judge you! And neither should you.
Above all, have fun with it, embrace what works and let go with grace whatever doesn't work 🌟
Oh, hello Summer - there you are!
This morning I went to the suitcases (sounds dramatic, no!) and pulled out some of the summer clothes I'd literally only packed away last week but I didn't mutter a single complaint under my breath. Conkers on the ground, the scent of suncream in the air, and queues for the ice cream stand at the Cheltenham Literature Festival have made my heart soar this weekend.
I hope you've made the most of Summer's last hoorah, Betsy, fall is falling next week.
It's been a full-on networking kind of month for me. Spreading the news about who we are and what we do is a HUGE part of it (more about that later), but also connecting with like-minded business owners and business support champions.
I've popped up all over the UK it feels and met with new and old business friends in Norfolk, Bristol, London, and Cheltenham. If you're local to me and would love to attend an event but would like a pal to go with then just message me.
Despite the summery vibes, Christmas is 100% still on the calendar and advancing at a rate of knots (77 days to be precise) and we've been putting the finishing touches on our gingerbread Christmas decorations. We've got a whole heap of dog breeds, some cats, some smaller furry beasts, and one or two with beaks. They are with our photographer as you're reading this and will be launching very soon. I hope you love them!
If you're sort of the same age as me, or maybe just a little younger, the advent calendars from your childhood were most likely a simple affair. Small, perforated cardboard windows that opened to reveal a wintery picture. A robin perhaps, or children playing in the snow. Chocolate didn't make an appearance in my advent calendar until possibly the last two my parents ever bought me. And then, poof, I was suddenly too old for all that joy?
I didn't give advents a second thought until I had my own child many years later and my oh my have advent calendars been given the reboot of the century! Think about it. Christmas dinner has remained largely the same, though possibly with a Jamie Oliver twist on the brussels sprouts. Christmas Crackers are essentially the same too. I'm pretty sure you COULD find a simple cardboard advent if you wanted one, but the humble advent calendar is now a mini adventure in gifting all on its own.
Boy, did I embrace this new advent(ure). Finding and giving the perfect gift fills us with indescribable joy. An advent calendar that presents the opportunity for 24 pockets of that joy? Sign me up! I'm here for it.
The first of the new world advent calendars I tried was from Hotel Chocolat. The chocolate, of course, was delicious, but after about 8 days I started feeling a little bored. It was just too much chocolate even for my chocoholic tastebuds. My husband had one too, and he's gluten free, so on some days he couldn't enjoy his chocolate at all and I'd end up with double. By the middle of the month I'd stopped opening the windows every day and my advent sat unloved on a shelf until one afternoon in late January when I'd finally had enough of helping the small one build the most complicated set of Lego in the world and polished off the lot in one sitting. Delightful - but not how it should have been.
Over the years I had similar experiences with advent calendars themed around gin, beauty, tea, stationery - it was all just a bit "samey". There were days when I'd open my advent and be delighted with my gift, and others when I'd feel kind of disappointed. Quite frankly, December mornings are already dark and cold, I only want to add things that bring joy and excitement, not a mild sense of "meh".
This started me on my journey to the DIY advent calendar. It became my mission every November to create the most perfect advent calendars for my family. One that reflected their likes and dislikes and not constrained by a theme. So there were mini finger torches, bath bombs, and gingerbread men for the small one. Artisan coffee, joke books, and miniature bottles of rum for the big one. Every day was a YAY.
Over the years we've created four different ways for our customers to create their version of the perfect advent calendar too. From balloons, to flying reindeer, to our oversized wooden letter advent hangers. More than anything we want everyone to experience the December full of YAY days. And we're absolutely still making our two best selling DIY advent calendar kits.
But in 2023 we wanted to go one better. We've had so many wonderful customers ask us if we would "just make one for me" and we looked around to see if anyone was creating the kind of magic we wanted in our Decembers, and no one was meeting our expectations!
You deserve an advent calendar that is truly great. The kind you would make for someone you love, full of goodness and joy. We couldn't find it, so we created it.
The 2023 advent calendar was released in September for a strictly limited run of just 40 and we sold out. We're beyond excited now for the 1st December and the joy we know they will bring. Did you get one? This is pretty much all we can say about these beauties for now, but pop back in December to see videos each day of the contents.
Well, HELLOOOOO Spring! This week has been just glorious hasn't it? A little sunshine just makes everything feel a lot more possible...
Yep, that was true when I started writing this email last week. However, today, as I'm putting the finishing touches to this email, I'm back in thermals with the log burner at full blast and a dusting of snow in the garden. Ah, Spring in the UK, how we love thee.
Wrap up warm / bring out the flip flops!*
I'm still a little bit in love with our wooden flowers and now my mind is all a-buzzing with new ideas and applications.
We're working on wooden flower bunting - maybe in birth flowers - definitely in daisies, roses, peonies, and dahlias. I'm thinking it will make a beautiful, letterbox-friendly gift and will be just the right size for draping across a large mirror, along the edge of a shelf, anywhere that needs a little lift.
I also mocked up this mini bunting daisy chain. It would have been a cute token gift for Mother's Day, but apparently, there are only 24 hours in the day, and all the imagining I like won't change that. The mini bunting would be great on a desk, maybe across a screen, or over a picture frame. What do you think? I'd love to know where you would put it.
I recently stumbled across this and it's one of those rare discoveries that needs sharing and sharing - so here I am, sharing!
This is Martyn Stewart. he grew up in Birmingham and used to record the blackbirds singing in his garden, aged 11. Fast forward five decades and he's one of the most prolific audio naturalists around, having amassed over 30,000 hours of audio from over 50 countries. His work has been used in over 150 movies, and hundreds of documentaries and podcasts.
Stewart was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer last year and has released 200 soundscapes, free of charge to the public, to inspire conservation and give a voice to the animals. His project - The Listening Planet - has me hooked. It knocks spots off any meditation app. I've only been to one of the places in this library, Costa Rica, and the sounds transported me back in an instant. I highly recommend a listen.
Read more about him here.
We've stayed close to home this last month, but nonetheless travelled around the sun one more time and, BOOM - Betsy Benn the business is suddenly 12 years old!
I really needed to celebrate our 12th birthday, I think we all did actually! We had plans to "have a bit of a do" on our 10th birthday, but, lockdowns happened. So we are going big for our 12th. We had cake and silliness in the studio on the actual day, and an actual in-person party is planned for June.
We sent out birthday boxes to our top 100 customers that included personalised notebooks, a Betsy branded chocolate bar (thank you Quirky Chocolate), a key ring and gorgeous copper star print. Did you get one? I'd love to know what you thought.
