Branding Up

Green, green where have you been? For six whole months you haven't been seen. Now you appear like a long lost friend, with us again until Summer must end. – Rhona Hartley, April 2017 I am reminded today with the sun beating through the window that spring has arrived. Looking out onto the little garden, that I can see from Branding Up’s HQ, I see suddenly how green the grass is looking. All the leaves on the various trees are starting to spring into action too, stippling the otherwise dull brown branches with green, glorious green!   Now why am I banging on about green? Well, last December, the Pantone Color Institute revealed that it's colour of the year for 2017 was Greenery.  For the past seventeen years the Pantone Color Institute has chosen a colour that encapsulates the current cultural climate. Historically this specific colour has influenced trends in all areas of design over the next 12 months – from architecture and interior decor, to fashion, graphi...

“Who are you?” asked the child, eyes as big as saucers. The Easter Bunny stood there, before him, dressed in a little suit and carrying a wicker basket laden with chocolates.  He plucked a little mug with a picture of himself branded on it. It contained colourful foil wrapped eggs and was wrapped in cellophane tied with a beautiful ribbon.  “I am The Easter Bunny” he said softly.  Then like a fine mist, on a March morning, he disappeared. – Rhona Hartley 2017 Do you remember the anticipation of what lay in store the night before The Easter Bunny hunt?? The fear of finding a giant White Bunny wearing a Beatrix Potter Victorian Style suit?? Surely it couldn't be true??? But who planted all those eggs all around the garden??  The excitement would build as you were handed a little decorated basket and set free along with cousins, brothers and sisters… What a racket!! Great fun though! But where did The Easter Bunny originate from??  ...

No sooner are the Christmas decs packed away and back in the attic, and it's time to start thinking about Burns Night on 25 January. After Hogmanay, this is Scotland's first major celebration of the year, and is an event that's commemorated by Scots around the world. Robert "Rabbie" Burns is regarded to be Scotland's national poet. Writing in the Scots language, a light Scots dialect and in English, his poems, writings, commentaries and songs became accessible to a wide audience. After his death his influence continued to inspire liberals and socialists. It wasn't long before he was considered to be a cultural icon of Scotland. Out here in East Lothian, Redside neighbours usually gather together for an informal Burns Night Supper when, like everyone, we celebrate the Bard of Ayrshire’s life and works. With this event in mind, I did a few clickerty-clicks online and found some gift ideas that may help your Burns Night go Scots Wha Hae! Rabbie Burns Mu...

I don't know about you, but things are starting to feel very festive down here at Redside. Advent calendar doors are being opened, the "Sleeps 'til Santa" list has several nights crossed off of it, and preparations around the steading for the big day are well underway. At this time of year my artistic temperament really comes to its fore. I just can't contain it! The abundance of natural materials from the surrounding woodlands, combined with found objects during walks with my pooches along the shoreline, are perfect for creating homemade Yuletide decorations. Something else that I like to hand make are Christmas crackers. These are relatively easy to put together, especially if you download and print out one of hundreds of templates that can be found online! The fab thing about making Christmas Crackers yourself is that you can stuff them full of your own festive goodies. I think it’s much nicer to put in bespoke gifts, rather than receive cheap offerings whi...

Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday, - both of which are US imports - there’s only one date between now and Christmas that really matters to us here in Scotland. That’s St Andrew’s Day, our national day on the 30th of November. Many people are unaware that in 2006 the Scottish Parliament passed the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007. This designated the day as an official public holiday. If the 30th of November falls at the weekend, then the following Monday is a bank holiday instead. Although most of us seem to go to work on St Andrew’s Day - Boo-Hoo! - there are still plenty of events taking place to entertain folk. Out here in East Lothian we’re home to The Saltire Festival from 24–30 November, which features a great selection of activities across the region. Do visit their webby for more info, and pop out if you can! All this chat about St Andrew’s Day got me thinking about gifts that incorporated a hint of Scotland. Here’s what I found: Tartan Hi-Tops ...

Remember, remember the fifth of November. Gun powder, treason and plot! However Guy Fawkes Night and fireworks isn't the only historical event we commemorate this month. November also includes Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. Often two separate dates when the nation, as a whole, stops for two minutes at eleven o'clock. Time to remember the servicemen and women who lost their lives, or have been injured, in protecting the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy. Tragically this includes my Uncle Ian who was killed in battle at the tender age of 21, so sadly I never knew him. He was a gunner in World War Two and his plane was shot down over the sea. I know that here in East Lothian many of our local villages will have a parade of some kind on Remembrance Sunday, and wreaths of poppies will be laid at their local war memorials. I've previously had the privilege of working with two major Scottish charities who support ex-service personnel. I've assisted both in sour...

Hello dharlinks! It’s Rhona Hartley, your promotional gifts and personalised incentives whizz here! Don't know about you, but we’re well and truly in the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness down here in East Lothian. So I thought I’d take the opportunity of the longer evenings to jot down a few lines and let you know what I’ve been up to. As many of you know, back in 2013 I decided to leave the glam world of promotional gifts behind me to join hubby Allan’s up-cycling venture. I’d reached a point in my life where I wanted to indulge my artistic talents again and get all-creative. And UP-recycling certainly provided that for me! Originally we were based in North Berwick, but relocated to the Merryhatton Garden Centre, where we had a fab time. Our bijou retail unit was divine, and we had such fun welcoming lots of happy visitors through our doors. However old customers of mine kept contacting me to ask for help with their branded gifts. So I had to make a decision...