Every year, as soon at it hits November 1st, I'm right there with the Christmas decorations, the Christmas lights, the Christmas cards, and yes sometimes even a Christmas tree. A potted one so I can take some last minute product images, or make videos or new personalised ornaments, but a Christmas tree nonetheless. It'll join the others in the garden very very soon!
I could tell you that the very first decoration I get out is the family Christmas Eve Box, but that would be a slight fib. Mostly because I never bother putting it away. This wooden Christmas house was a design out of pure love and I'm just SO proud of it. We extended the range to include two smaller houses and they are incredibly cute.
I like EVERYTHING. Want to get together and do something. Fabulous. Go on a hill hike, slob around in PJs watching Friends reruns, expand our brains with a lecture on sociology, go window shopping for things we can’t afford, hit the clubs, take a boxing class, whatever you want to do, I’m on board. Same with music. I can happily listen to the grungy stylings of my first love, Pearl Jam, or the soulful swoops of Bach’s Cello Suite No.1, the ditzy vocals of Dolly Parton, the super quiet and melancholic Lucy Rose and then jump straight into a hot Zumba track. If you want to try it I have a Spotify playlist here. I like EVERYTHING.
Which is handy – I’m unlikely to be disappointed with your choice in pretty much anything – but not so handy when you’re trying to actually make a decision on something like buying a sofa or decorating a whole room. There’s just too much choice, too many colours, so many gorgeous things and I was paralysed by indecision. It led to us being seduced by one gorgeous spread in Elle Decoration and painting the whole house white. No choice necessary between wall and ceiling (and no tricky edges) and it kind of worked but was not exactly deeply soul-satisfying and when we started playing with more colourful elements and added a bit of wallpaper here and there or committed to one actual rug (it took me weeks) it all just started to jar and I didn’t know why or how to fix it. Plus… kids, animals, white walls…
olourful interiors, Sophie Robinson, held a once a year colour lovers masterclass I jumped on board. Which is how I found myself rocking up to the gorgeous Regency Townhouse in Brighton with 15 other fine colour lovers to dive in and figure out the secrets. A quick side note about the venue – holy moly it was perfect. This amazing townhouse is mid-renovation and you can see the bare bones of the house in some areas – just plastered walls – and completely finished gorgeous original detailing in other areas – windows, painted coving and cornicing. Staged with some of the most colourful vases full of fresh flowers I’ve ever seen from Kate Langdale florists.
I’m not a colour virgin. I know what colours look great together on an art print – I kinda built a business around that! Beyond the colour wheel though I’m not sure why they work and why certain colours speak to me and why others don’t. (Apparently blue speaks to me a lot – which I discovered when I tried to find something colourful in my wardrobe before getting to Brighton – just a sea of blue with the odd bit of orange – complimentary colours on the wheel incidentally!) It was a joy to hear all about colour psychology beyond the basics of blue is calming and red is energising and really start to understand how colours in your environment make you feel, how colour families go together and the colour seasons.
We had a field day on the THREE WHOLE TABLES of colour swatches, fabric samples, magazine tear sheets, ribbons, washi tapes, buttons – a literal sea of colourspiration. You’ve never seen 16 grown-ups looking happier with a glue stick in hand and permission to just play! By the time we’d all done our three versions of mood boards of course it looked like a bomb site and I have visions of the lovely Luisa sitting and sorting through it all today (sorry!)
It’s clearly why I have a bloody massive bright turquoise velvet sofa covered in mustard, orange and pink cushions. I’m so pleased it’s one of our big purchases that I didn’t get wrong. I admitted in the group that I definitely would’ve been one of those people in the Seventies that bought an avocado bathroom suite as I know how swayed I can be by certain trends and images and the sofa purchase was absolutely a result of some excellent marketing by Loaf.
There was lunch – of course, there was lunch – and you don’t need a litany of the deliciousness but let’s just agree it was delicious and, of course, full of colour. There were edible flowers. Enough said.
Post-lunch our mission was to start pulling together a room board, having already found our true colour joy roots and created a vision board bouncing from that. And that’s where I hit a bit of a wall. I found myself back in the “but I like it ALLLLL” camp. Then Silva on our table turned to a double page spread that was all creams and washed out linens and off-white walls and hanging chairs and my heart leapt. If I could wiggle my nose and magic that room into my front room and be done with it, I would. In a heartbeat. Which was even more confusing. Those colours are absolutely what I would say fit into the summer theme, not Autumn. I went and pouted in a corner with a stack of magazines and a confused look on my face which was probably what drew Antonia - a seasoned stylist and official helper - to me. We talked over my earlier vision board and she gently reminded me that this whole process should be, and had that morning been, fun! And not to get too bogged down in the detail and logistics and maybe go and look at some fabric samples whilst she pulled a few more images from some magazines. It definitely helped.
And just like that, the day was done. With a glass of fizz in hand and new confidence in our heads, we thought about what we’d most loved about the day. For me, it was just the chance to be a bit self-indulgent and take a whole day to throw yourself into a skill set and really experiment and question and think. Because, really, how often do we get time to do that without our attention being pulled from one issue to another? (Seriously, this is the fifth time today I’ve sat down to finish this blog post!) I can’t wait to get started on my plans for my little room – stay tuned for a before and after at some point.
In the meantime, here are a couple of my favourite products that have an obvious root in the autumn palette and I never knew why I made them but now I do.
Personalised destination prints or bus blinds have become exceedingly popular in recent years with them making appearances in our kitchen spaces, living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms. We have created quite the trend for them, designing and making them from our small studio in Cheltenham since 2010! What makes them so cool and so meaningful is the bespoke nature and being able to capture particular places, dates and times. It all adds up to an artwork that is both beautifully stylish and sentimental.
They have quite the history too, you can learn more about the history of bus blinds and their journey on how they became one of the coolest and trendiest artwork pieces we know of.
Single destination bus blind prints – This type of bus blind features a single place or special destination. This could be your home city, home town, or a place that you treasure and love. Maybe something amazing happened there such as time spent at a university, a proposal or even a wedding.
Multiple destination bus blind prints – It’s in the name - you can list multiple locations which you feel are worthy of being on a print, framed on your wall! This personalised print is an ideal way to track a year of fun or a lifetime of adventures.
Metallic and Wooden Destinations – The evolution of the digitally printed bus blind, now available in several metallic finishes or in a wooden plaque. These beautiful engraved items are extremely popular for wedding anniversary gifts with wood being a traditional gift for 5 years of marriage and copper (7yrs), tin/aluminium (10yrs), steel (11yrs), silver (25yrs) and gold (50yrs) all being possible with the metallic finishes. Betsy Benn is the only company in the world creating these meaningful and heartfelt personalised prints in such a range of finishes.
Bespoke Destination bus blind canvases – the closest reproduction to the original form and nature of the bus blinds from the original buses. For a statement piece of art that has a real wow factor our bespoke canvases are just the (bus) ticket.
You don’t have to be a traveller to have at least a few favourite location spots or destinations. Whether it’s your favourite town, a beautiful city you visited and explored with a best friend or even a holiday with a significant other where all you did for a full week was sunbathe, drink cocktails and eat too much. A personalised bus blind does what it says in the title, literally! You can personalise your artwork with the places that are most important to you and show them off. They are a great conversation starter too so, pop the kettle on, everyone will have questions. Here are some ideas when it comes to personalising your own bus blind destination print.
For a friend – if you’re looking for an imaginative gift that captures your friendship, rather than simply list all the places you’ve visited together you could paint a picture of your friendship from the very beginning. You can do this by telling the story in chronological order listing places, events, hangouts and funny memories. For example, you could start off by listing your home city, followed by adventures you’ve experienced together, a specific date or time from an event that you feel was extraordinary and worth remembering, and you can finish the print off with both of your names.
For a love – being transported back to the first moment you fell in love is always a winner. A cheesy winner, but a good one at that. Many hopeless romantics personalise with the exact date so they can celebrate it but what could be more romantic than knowing every little detail? Not just the date but the time, location and the words exchanged. This can all fit on a personalised bus blind and we honestly think there’s nothing better. And why limit it to your own love story? If you know the when, how and why your favourite couple got together you could create the most amazing wedding gift for them.
For family – one of the very best stories to tell is the story of your family. From family trips to far flung destinations (or nearby ones) to your favourite restaurants and weekend hang out spots. Capture the essence of daily life and the fun you share together.
You can create a bus blind to reflect any story for any person, couple or family. We take all the meaningful and special places and design an artwork that’s completely unique to you. It can sometimes be mind boggling to know where to begin, what to include and what to leave out. We recommend starting with three or four big parts of someone’s story and maybe build chronologically from there. If you’d like any help at all, some advice or just a chat about the details, feel free to give us a call and one of the team can talk you through it and help with some suggestions.
Below we’ve handpicked some of our favourite bus blinds that you can personalise. Take a look and get your creative side to say hello!
The Destination Bus Blind Canvas
Mother’s Day is fast approaching and as it’s a day of honouring your mother, it should be done perfectly. Before we get started on spreading inspiration for gifts on this occasion, you should probably mark down that it’s Sunday 31st March you need to be prepared for. Got it? Fabulous.
Otherwise known as Mothering Sunday, it goes back as early as the ancient Greek times. The ancient Greeks dedicated an annual festival to maternal goddesses and ancient Romans also joined in on the celebration by having their own festival called Hilaria.
In the UK, this day is always the 4th Sunday of lent – the 24 hours marks the maternal bond that exists between a mother and a child. This also does apply to other maternal figures, such as grandmothers, step mothers and mothers in law. Now, although hosting your very own festival for your mother would be absolutely spectacular, it would take quite a lot of work – personalised gifts however, not so much!
More than 30% of us in the UK say that our Mum is the most inspirational person in our life. We know many mums receive the more traditional gifts such as flowers, chocolates, breakfast in bed and a card, but let’s be a bit creative this year, shall we?
There’s nothing quite like gifts that show someone just how much you know them, whether it relates to one of their passions, love of music or even treasured memories. These can all be captured in innovative ways that last for years (because let’s face it, the box of Milk Tray chocolates won’t last long).
It’s the perfect opportunity to show the mother of the family just how much you appreciate and adore her, and it’s our pleasure to guide you on your gift giving journey. This way…..
#1 Child Silhouette Modern Art Print
A personalised print is just one way of being able to capture something that you feel deserves to be framed and mounted on the wall. For Mother’s Day, our child silhouette modern art print can be created from your very own photograph. It is custom designed especially for you, so whatever image you have in mind it can be illustrated in a way that is captivating and sentimental to you and your mother.
You can also add your own personal message to make it a Mother’s Day to remember.
#2 Velvet Personalised Map Cushion
It’s no surprise that velvet has captured the hearts of many of us within the last few years, with it’s soft and luxurious touch we just can’t say no to a quick stroke! We have, however, created the perfect velvet personalised map cushion where you can choose a favourite location and map. The intricate detail of this can bring back memories and nostalgia and it’s one to treasure throughout the home.
Are you looking to bring your mother back to her favourite place of all time with the personalised velvet cushion? Or maybe you’re hoping to capture a particular place where you both made memories that brings you nothing but happiness. In addition to your own custom map you can add a line of text to make this extra personal. One of our favourite lines we’ve seen lately is “Home is where your Mum is.” This gift is ideal for those who can’t get enough delicious velvet on their sofa.
#3 Mummy and Me Photo Memories
Photographs are a snapshot of our memories and spark all sorts of joy and warmth as you remember the day, the scenario and the best moments you had together. Collate your favourite photographs of your most loved times with Mum in this gorgeous Mummy and Me personalised print. Mother’s are quite often the ones behind the camera, so if you can find any of her in front of the camera then that’s even more special!
Fill this personalised memory print for your Mum with your own family images, photos of places you have visited together and some occasional round pops of colour. A gorgeous and sentimental piece for your mother’s walls. Please note we cannot be held responsible for any “Mum tears” when she unwraps it but we will totally claim some of the glory when you reinforce favourite child status!
#4 Family Tree Paper Cut
An art piece for the whole family! If your Mum would love a statement design that celebrates her favourite people on the planet, this could just be the icing on the cake for them this Mother’s Day.
The personalised family tree paper cut is a creative family tree design based on the circles in the trunk of a tree. Betsy spent an eternity (okay – actually about a month) hand drawing the rings of this tree to create a spin on the usual family tree design. It is incredibly intricate and is precision cut by our super whizzy laser. You can customise this with the names of family members (people and pets too!) and choose from a range of divine colours. Mum’s going to love it.
#5 Leather Artisan Apron
The gift made for the chefs who just might be the next Jamie Oliver and the bakers who could maybe give Mary Berry a run for her money. The denim faux leather artisan apron provides practicality and the opportunity for personalisation, which is great if you enjoy funny one liners that you know will make your mum laugh, or potentially an inside joke that only the two of you understand.
This apron can be used in the kitchen to cook some magic up, or in the garden where you put your skills from Alan Titchmarsh to good use, or even an artists studio if you’re looking to get your paint game on.
You can add up to 4 lines on the front pocket of the apron, so we suggest you get your thinking cap on for Mother’s Day. You can always take inspiration from the one in the image below – “Greta’s first rule of cooking, add red wine, to the food or the glass, either works”.
There are days when serendipity seems to guide you to the perfect conclusion. A chance meeting, something in common, a shared interest, or just having the perfect colour of something that makes a product just sing!
We first met the buying team from Museum Of London at Top Drawer in September 2017 – our Christmas decorations caught their eye and we added them to our wholesale newsletter distribution list. We didn’t have anything that sparked their imagination enough to create an order right then – but we are patient humans (most of the time).
Christmas zoomed past us in a whirl of reindeer wooden tree decorations and we managed to raise our heads again in January and take a breath. Isn’t Christmas always like that? No matter how prepared you think you might be, you always feel like you come sliding in by the seat of your pants. But a new year is so full of inspiration and new ideas and time to create again, and this was the energy we took with us to Maison et Object in Paris – a gorgeous trade show that is definitely in my calendar again for next year.
And it was here that we started seeing the velvet trend embed itself from tentative emergence, to confident and bold newcomer, owning the show! It was everywhere we looked – or maybe it’s just what spoke to me – because we came home with a deep velvet love and ideas a plenty of what to develop and how to make it a reality.
Meanwhile, back in the City of London, the Museum was finalising their Votes for Women exhibition. A celebration of the centenary of the Representation of the People Act. And as any museum or gallery will appreciate, a new exhibition means a search for new mementos for the shop. A search that had started months earlier looking for the right style, the right price point, the right turnaround times and most critically low minimum orders. Because a temporary exhibition definitely needs stock. Not so much that you are still holding it 12 months after the exhibit has closed, but not so few that you run out of the popular items and lose potential sales. And the relevant colours for this particular exhibit are deep purple and emerald green – who on earth works in those colours?
Back to Betsy Benn and fast forward to Spring Fair in Birmingham (yes – a lot less glamorous sounding than Paris – but one exhibition hall is much like another and it certainly took less time to get to!) Plums, burnt oranges, deep blues and teals, mustards, blush pinks, jade and emerald greens – the rich jewel tones of the velvet cushions I’d just found from a supplier at Spring Fair were STUNNING. We’d spent three weeks experimenting on velvet fabric and what we might be able to achieve with our laser and got some great results with maps so now we hoped we could get the same results on cushions. Our own exhibition at Pulse in Olympia was coming up and we had some total wow factor products in mind.
Our stand was going to look totally different to anything we’d done before (including a whole wall of velvet!) So completely different that anyone who had seen us before might not actually recognise us. Just in case, we dropped a quick email out to all our wholesale newsletter gang to let them know where we were going to be and what delights they might expect to find. The team at Museum of London were one of the first to say they’d come to find us and that’s when something magical happened in the creative processes in the backs of our brains.
We redrew the iconic “Votes for Women” slogan from a photograph of suffragettes on a march and created the design on the purple velvet cushion JUST for Museum of London and when the team spotted it on our stand, they loved it.
We were delighted to develop the idea further and create a similar cushion featuring the slogan Deeds Not Words and are proud to say that both cushions are now available in the gift shop and to order online.
