Christmas has a way of slowing time. The world exhales, calendars loosen their grip, and the quiet hours between celebrations become fertile ground for ideas. This year, instead of switching off creatively, I leaned all the way in. Over the Christmas break, while the kettle boiled a little more often and the nights arrived early, I entered a deeply focused, playful, and productive creative flow. The result is a small but bold collection of brand new products, each designed with intention, humour, and edge. These are not mass-produced staples. They are limited runs, made in the spirit of experimentation and seasonal inspiration. When they sell out, that chapter closes. No reprints. No restocks. When they’re gone, they’re gone. This article is both a celebration and a gentle warning. A celebration of what can happen when creativity is given space. And a warning to anyone who likes owning things that not everyone else has. Creativity in the Quiet Season The Christmas break is usually framed as a time of rest. For me, rest often looks like creation without pressure. No deadlines breathing down my neck. No trend reports to obey. Just ideas turning up unannounced and asking to be made real. This creative window allowed me to design instinctively. I followed phrases that made me laugh, visuals that felt right, and products that I personally wanted to exist in the world. Some designs are cheeky. Some are minimal. Some walk a line between statement and comfort. All of them were born from genuine enjoyment rather than obligation. That joy matters. You can feel it in the final pieces. Designed to Be Worn, Used, and Noticed One thing connects all the new items in this drop: they are meant to be lived in. These are not novelty items destined for the back of a drawer. They are wearable, practical, and expressive. Each product was designed with three questions in mind: If the answer wasn’t yes across the board, the design didn’t make it through. Limited Means Limited Let’s be clear about something important. These items are not evergreen products. They were created in a specific moment, during a specific creative season. Once the stock is gone, the designs will be retired permanently. This approach keeps the collection special. It also means that owning one of these items puts you in a small club of people who were paying attention at exactly the right time. If you’ve ever regretted not buying something when you first saw it, you already understand the energy of this release The winter beanies were among the first items designed during the break. There’s something about cold weather accessories that invites personality. A beanie is practical, yes, but it also sits right at eye level. It’s a subtle billboard. These beanies strike a balance between warmth and wit. They’re designed to work with a winter coat just as easily as with a hoodie. The fit is snug without being restrictive, and the material was chosen to feel soft while holding its shape. They’re the kind of item people notice after a second look. Not loud, but confident. The kind of confidence that doesn’t need to explain itself. Statement T-Shirts: Saying It So You Don’t Have To Some thoughts live rent-free in our heads. These T-shirts give those thoughts a voice. Designed with clean typography and high-quality fabric, the new T-shirts are expressive without feeling disposable. The cuts are comfortable, flattering, and intentionally versatile. You can style them casually, layer them under a jacket, or let them stand alone. What makes these shirts special isn’t just what they say, but how they say it. The phrasing is deliberate. The spacing matters. Every element was adjusted until it felt effortless. They’re conversation starters, but they don’t demand conversation. If you know, you know. Tank Tops: Stripped Back and Confident Tank tops are deceptively difficult to get right. Too thin and they feel disposable. Too thick and they lose their ease. These new designs sit in the sweet spot. They’re simple, but not boring. Confident, but not trying too hard. Designed to move with you rather than cling or collapse, they work equally well as a summer staple or a layering piece. These are the items you reach for without thinking. The ones that always seem to be clean because you wear them constantly. Socks That Refuse to Be an Afterthought Socks are often overlooked, which makes them the perfect place to add personality. The new sock designs were created with comfort first and attitude second, but only just. They’re soft, breathable, and built for real wear, not just for show. At the same time, they carry enough character to elevate an otherwise simple outfit. They’re proof that small details matter. Especially the ones people only notice once you’re already standing confidently in front of them. Why These Products Are Different There’s a noticeable difference between something designed to fill a catalogue and something designed because it neededto exist. These products weren’t created to chase trends or hit arbitrary quotas. They were created during a rare pocket of time where creativity came first and everything else followed. That difference shows up in the details. In the spacing. In the fabric choices. In the fact that nothing feels rushed or overworked. A Word on Scarcity and Value Scarcity isn’t about pressure. It’s about respect for the creative process. By keeping these items limited, I protect the original intention behind them. There’s no temptation to dilute the designs or endlessly rework them. Each product exists exactly as it was meant to. When you buy one, you’re not just buying an item. You’re buying a moment in time. A winter break. A creative surge. A specific mood. That’s worth preserving. Who These Pieces Are For These designs tend to find the right people naturally. They’re for people who appreciate understatement with a twist. For those who enjoy clothing and accessories that say something without spelling everything out. For people who value comfort but don’t want to disappear into
Christmas Closure
We will be closed from December 23rd to January 5th. for Christmas and New Year. If you order during our Christmas closure or send us a email or text message, we will pack your order or answer your email or text as soon as we get back on the 5th of January. In the unlikley event that we should have hundreds of orders and messages we will take some time and respond and pack orders the way we have received them. We hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and a successful New Year.
From Ink to Community: My Whitley Bay Journey in Custom-Made Creations
Running a small business is never just about the products. It is about people, place, and the quiet promise you make to show up every day with care, creativity, and consistency. For me, creating custom-made T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, key rings, coasters, and many other personalised items is deeply personal. Every design that leaves my workspace carries a little piece of Whitley Bay with it, and a lot of heart. This year has been nothing short of remarkable. Looking back, I see a tapestry woven from customer stories, local events, late nights, early mornings, and that unmistakable feeling of pride when someone smiles as they collect something made just for them. This article is my way of saying thank you, reflecting on the journey so far, and sharing why being a local maker in Whitley Bay means so much to me. Why Custom-Made Products Matter In a world overflowing with mass-produced items, custom-made products offer something different. They pause the rush. They say, “This was made for you.” Whether it is a hoodie designed for a local business, a mug celebrating a milestone, or a T-shirt created for an event or gift, custom items carry meaning beyond their material. When customers come to me, they are often looking for more than just merchandise. They are looking for help translating an idea into something tangible. Sometimes they arrive with a fully formed vision, and sometimes with only a feeling or a rough sketch. Both are equally welcome. My role is to listen, guide, and create something that feels right for them. There is a particular satisfaction in seeing a design evolve from conversation to concept to finished product. It is collaborative, creative, and rooted in trust. That trust is something I value enormously as a small business owner. A Small Business with Big Heart in Whitley Bay Whitley Bay is more than just a location. It is a community with character, warmth, and an independent spirit that quietly encourages creativity. Running my business here has shaped how I work and why I work the way I do. Local customers often become familiar faces. Conversations continue over multiple orders. A first mug might turn into branded apparel, which later becomes a full set of promotional items. These ongoing relationships are one of the greatest joys of being a local maker. Knowing that something I have created will be worn, used, gifted, or displayed within the same community I live in brings a sense of responsibility and pride. It encourages me to maintain high standards, not because I have to, but because I genuinely care. An Incredible Year of Growth and Gratitude This year has brought an influx of wonderful new customers, and I am incredibly grateful for every single one. Working with customers connected to brands such as Weleda, Essens, and Avon has been a highlight. Each project came with its own requirements, ideas, and challenges, and it has been a pleasure helping them find exactly what they were looking for. From branded clothing to promotional items, these collaborations allowed me to expand creatively and professionally. They also reinforced something I firmly believe: when you combine clear communication, quality materials, and genuine enthusiasm, great things happen. Helping customers navigate choices around materials, colours, finishes, and quantities is all part of the process. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every order is treated as unique, because it is. Makers Markets and the Joy of Face-to-Face Connections One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been regularly presenting my handmade products at the Makers Market at Whitley Bay Big Local. These markets are vibrant, supportive, and full of creative energy. Meeting customers face-to-face offers something that online interactions simply cannot replace. Seeing reactions in real time, hearing feedback directly, and having spontaneous conversations about ideas all add depth to the work I do. The Makers Market has also been a space of mutual encouragement among local makers. Sharing experiences, tips, and support creates a sense of collective momentum. It is a reminder that small businesses thrive best when they are connected rather than isolated. Thinking About the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade As my business continues to grow, I have been seriously considering joining the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade. Being part of a network that actively supports local businesses feels like a natural next step. The idea of collaborating more closely with other business owners, sharing resources, and contributing to the local economy in a more structured way is exciting. A chamber of trade represents connection, advocacy, and shared ambition, all values that resonate strongly with me. Joining would not just be about visibility or growth. It would be about belonging to something that reflects the same care and commitment I try to bring to my own work. The Craft Behind the Products Every T-shirt, hoodie, mug, key ring, or coaster begins with careful preparation. From selecting quality blanks to ensuring designs are correctly aligned and durable, attention to detail is at the heart of everything I produce. I take pride in creating items that last. Products should feel good to use, hold up over time, and reflect the care that went into making them. This philosophy applies whether I am producing a single personalised gift or a larger batch of branded merchandise. Being a small business allows me to stay hands-on at every stage. Nothing is rushed. Quality is never compromised. That personal involvement is something customers often tell me they appreciate, and it is something I intend to preserve as the business grows. The Reality of Running a Home-Based Business Running a business from home and office space comes with its own unique set of challenges. While it allows flexibility and creativity, it can sometimes feel limiting not having a dedicated retail space where customers can drop in, browse, and experience the products in person. There are moments when juggling production, administration, and customer communication all from the same space requires extra resilience and organisation. That said, this stage of
Business Card Printing: My 3-Year Journey with the Magnum MCC35, Rhin-O-Tuff HD8370 and HD7700
By Mark Pammesberger/BROOLED LTD— three years owning all three machines, running a compact business-card printing setup alongside a Minolta Bizhub C450i with binder, puncher and folding add-on. Meta description: A practical, experience-led guide to using the Magnum MCC35 cutter and two Rhin-O-Tuff punch/bind machines (HD8370 & HD7700) for a small business-card printing shop. Troubleshooting, workflow, and practical tips after three years of ownership — with real photos of the setup. Introduction — why I bought these machines Three years ago I started a compact printing setup with the specific goal of producing high-quality business cards in-house. Space is tight and budget matters, so I chose equipment that fits my studio and my ambitions: a Minolta Bizhub C450i (with binder, puncher and folding add-on) as the production printer, and three finishing machines — the Magnum MCC35 cutter, and two Rhin-O-Tuff units, the HD8370 and HD7700. Compact print station: Minolta Bizhub C450i with Magnum MCC35 and two Rhin-O-Tuff finishers. The idea was simple: print on the Bizhub, cut/trim with the Magnum, and use the Rhin-O-Tuff for heavy-duty punch and bind jobs when needed. In practice, I learned that some machines are easier to integrate into a one-person workflow than others, that small missing parts can ground a machine for months, and that the right workflow saves hours. This post walks through what I’ve learned in three years. Quick summary of the three machines The Magnum MCC35 — my ongoing struggle (and a pragmatic workflow) Why I chose the MCC35 Space constraints drove the choice. The cutters I originally wanted were too large and expensive. The Magnum MCC35 promised compactness and reliability. Setting the backstop and blade depth on the Magnum MCC35. What I like What I don’t like Practical tips Registration marks guide precise trimming for business cards The Rhin-O-Tuff HD8370 & HD7700 — punching & binding made simple The missing handle story (HD8370) When the HD8370 arrived, it was missing a handle. Without it, I couldn’t apply the leverage needed for thicker stock. I’ve now ordered the part from a UK dealer. HD8370 before and after the replacement handle — small parts matter! Why I like Rhin-O-Tuff machines Punching test sheets on the Rhin-O-Tuff HD7700. Integrating everything with the Minolta Bizhub C450i Your print engine matters. The Minolta Bizhub C450i provides excellent print quality and integrates well with the bind and fold add-ons. Printing the business card sheets on the Minolta Bizhub C450i before trimming. Workflow: Print → Trim → Punch — the three-step finishing workflow. Troubleshooting Problem Fix Inconsistent cuts (MCC35) Sharpen blade, check backstop, use registration marks Thick stock won’t punch (HD7700) Reduce stack, use HD8370, check dies Colour shifts Calibrate Bizhub, test profiles Missing parts Order replacements immediately Design & production tips Final thoughts After three years, I’m confident handling small-to-medium card jobs. The Rhin-O-Tuff units will soon be fully operational, and while the MCC35 isn’t my dream cutter, it gets the job done with care and consistency. If you’re starting a compact business-card setup, choose:✅ Reliable printer✅ Practical cutter✅ Solid punch/binder✅ A methodical workflowFinished 350gsm business cards ready to ship. If you like to read more then I recommend About us page or the About Me where you find out more about me and what I do. There is also the Equipment page where I introduce the products and equipment I use Equipment I use. If you like what you read please subscribe to my blog, share it with your friends and comment on the post. I like to hear from you!
🎄 Visit Me at the Whitley Bay Christmas Market – Unique Handmade Gifts Await! 🎁
The festive season is here – and it’s the perfect time to find thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones (or to treat yourself!). I’m excited to invite you to visit my stall at the Whitley Bay Big Local Christmas Market on: 🗓 November 29th, December 6th & 13th🕙 From 10 AM to 5 PM📍 Whitley Bay Big Local, 158 Whitley Road, NE26 2LY I’ll be showcasing a wide selection of handcrafted and personalised goodies – perfect for stocking fillers, Secret Santa gifts, and unique Christmas presents. 🎁 What You’ll Find at My Stall At Brooled, I create custom-made and design-led products including: Everything is designed with love and made to order – whether you’re into cute, sassy, motivational, or minimal vibes, there’s something for everyone. 💻 Can’t Make the Market? Shop Online! If you can’t make it in person, you can still grab your favourites (and order custom designs) from my website:👉 www.brooled.co.uk I offer delivery across the UK, and online shoppers can still personalise most items – making them extra special! 🎅 Why Support Local This Christmas? When you shop with small businesses like mine, you’re not just buying a product – you’re supporting creativity, passion, and real people in your community. Every sale makes a difference, and every piece you buy comes with a personal touch. 📍 More Markets Coming Soon! While you’ll find me at Whitley Bay Big Local on those three festive dates, I’m also open to joining other markets in the local area – so keep an eye on my socials and website for updates!
Brooled.co.uk Has Reached Its Second Milestone 🎉
It feels really good to be writing this update. Brooled.co.uk has officially reached its second milestone, and while there’s still plenty of work left to do, I can honestly say things are really starting to take shape.
🕸️ Sip, Sip, Hooray – Our Spooktacular Halloween Mugs Are Here! 🎃
Double, double, toil and trouble… your coffee’s about to get a whole lot more brew-tiful! 👀 Our brand-new Halloween mug collection has just dropped, and it’s packed with pumpkins, ghosts, witches, and just the right amount of spooky charm. Perfect for your morning brew, midnight hot chocolate, or a cheeky pumpkin spice latte. 🦇 Whether you’re a lover of all things cute and cozy or prefer a dash of creepy-cool, we’ve got a mug that’ll make your cauldron bubble with joy. 👉 Snag your favorite now at Brooled Seasonal Mugs – before the ghosts do! 🎄 Pssst… Christmas is Coming! When the pumpkins fade, the Christmas lights start to twinkle. Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming festive holiday mug collection – perfect for cocoa by the fire or tea while wrapping presents. 🎁✨ 🖌️ Got Your Own Spooky Idea? Why settle for “just another mug” when you can have one that’s 100% you?Send us your own design, doodle, or idea, and we’ll turn it into your very own custom mug. These make fang-tastic gifts and are guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face (even the grumpy ghoul in your life). 🎃 Trick or Treat Yourself Today! Life’s too short for boring mugs. Give your cupboard a Halloween glow-up and sip in style. 👉 Shop now at Brooled Seasonal Mugs and get your hands (or claws) on your favorite design before they vanish into the night.
🌟 Exciting News – BROOLED is Now on eBay! 🌟
Hi everyone! Hope you’re all having a wonderful day. I’ve got some exciting news to share—BROOLED now has its very own online store on eBay! 🎉 This new step makes it easier than ever to shop our collection of unique handmade gifts, custom mugs, T-shirts, tumblers, sweaters, bookmarks, and calendars—all designed by MWP-Design with love and creativity. 🛒 What You’ll Find in the BROOLED eBay Store Our eBay shop is filled with the same creative products you already know from our website, including: In addition to our MWP-Design creations, we’re also offering quality products from trusted brands such as: ❌ Why I Left Amway Some of you may remember that I used to be an Amway Partner. However, I decided to step away when they made major changes to their product line. Unfortunately, many of the most-loved items were discontinued, including: With these changes, it no longer made sense for me or my customers. That’s when I decided to focus fully on BROOLED and MWP-Design—brands that bring creativity, quality, and originality to every item. 🚀 Expanding Our Business Opening our eBay store is another exciting step in growing BROOLED. It helps us reach a wider audience and introduce our products to people who might not usually find our website. Whether you’re looking for a personalized gift, a custom mug, or a stylish T-shirt, our eBay store is designed to make your shopping experience easy, fun, and convenient. 💬 Check Us Out on eBay I’d love for you to visit our store, explore the collections, and maybe discover your next favorite gift idea. If you’ve supported us before, you already know how much care and creativity goes into every design. And if you’re new—welcome! I can’t wait for you to see what BROOLED is all about. 👉 Visit our new eBay store here: eBay Shop Thank you so much for your continued support—it truly means the world as BROOLED continues to grow! 💙
First things first.
Welcome to my new website. We have finished the migration of the website from our old hosting provider to spaceship our new hosting provider. Our website has had a much needed upgrade and received a new design and layout. I have decided to bring all my different websites and offers together in one website. Now you find: all together in one homepage. So instead of having different websites offering different things I have thought about it and it is best to have all together so you can see the full variety in one place. The Blog has also been fully migrated and is again available, and will of course be updated again on a regular basis. At the moment the website has no online shop! The reason for that is, that we have been unable to migrate the store. We are however working hard to re-establish our own Webshop again and it will take some more time, for us to finish this. The other thing that is still missing is our own online designer where you could design your own business card and flyers on your computer and send it to us pretty much like the designer you know from other branded printshop like vista print for example. We are working to bring this online designer to you again, but it might take longer for us to accomplish this probably by the end of the year. At the moment you find all the important information on the website and we will continue to expand and upgrade the site so you can get the most out of it.
Website Update in Progress: MWP-Design.co.uk
We’re making improvements! We wanted to let you know that MWP-Design.co.uk is currently offline while we make some exciting updates to the website. This temporary downtime is to ensure that when the site is back, it’s faster, easier to navigate, and packed with new features to make your experience better than ever. ![Website Under Maintenance Graphic] What’s Happening During this update, we are: ![Website Redesign Concept Image] What This Means for You While the website is down, you won’t be able to browse our full range online. But don’t worry! You can still: We are working hard to make the website live as soon as possible and will keep you updated with progress. ![Countdown or Coming Back Soon Image] Thank You for Your Patience We appreciate your patience and support while we make these updates. Our goal is to give you a better browsing experience, more inspiration, and easier ways to get exactly what you need. In the meantime, if you have any questions or want to discuss a project, please contact us directly. We’d love to hear from you!