Welcome to Bethlaubraille. We are based in Hackney, East London where Beth designs and makes all our unique Braille greeting cards with her Perkins Brailler in our little studio especially for you.

Our aim is joining both visually impaired and non-visually impaired communities together, our design could be experienced both as Braille and geometric embossed pattern - an innovative way to challenge the traditional print-making. My mission is that everyone can perceive and enjoy the embossed design visually and tactually - without the need of an interpreter.

All the designs are fully personalised and could be customised, and we welcome your input too. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information, wholesale quotation or to discuss any special requirements.

 

ANECDOTE

It all started in winter 2009, when Beth received a German text book for Swedish blind children from a friend of her as a gift, who was teaching in a blind school in Finland at that time. It reminded her when childhood lies are so believing told by the parents. Therefore, she started to learn Braille by translating this German book.

Little she knows any Braille or German, yet she is fascinated by the pure idea of translation, or rather, transcription. The gesture itself became translating an unknown language to another language unknown. Influenced by Lindsay Seers, she turned herself into a human decoding machine.

 
 

MACHINES

Speaking about machine, there is a certain beauty about human relationship to machine since the invention of typewriter. Apart from Braille materials and publications, Beth started to collect Brailler (Braille typewriter) from all over the world. She currently owns five Braillers - one English Perkins Brailler, one English shorthand Brailler, one German Brailler, two Japanese Braillers.

In the beginning, she wrote poems in Braille, designed geometric embossed patterns on old Braille paper. After that, she moved onto making patterns onto thin aluminium sheets and coil hence develop art installation. This resembles typewriter art back to the old days, also ASCII art derived from obsolete computer aesthetics. In addition, the work challenges traditional printmaking, as the Braille is produced from a manual Perkins Brailler into tactile images.

Her favourite is still Perkins typewriter, which is the most common used and popular one around the world, "Because it is bulky, practical design and emboss well." She comments, all of her prints are made by this amazing machine.

PAPER

Our luxurious craft papers are supplied by FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified paper card suppliers. Products with the FSC trademark do not exploit resources but promote socially and environmentally sustainable forestry.

THE STORE

The store's idea was came up at Christmas 2010, when Beth was very broke and decided to send all of her friends handmade Christmas cards, instead of buying expensive stuff they rarely use and stress about giving back something similar. She sent her first Braille Christmas card, a Christmas tree-shaped embossed with Braille Christmas message. She received a lot of positive feedbacks and improved her material (i.e. paper weight) and designs.

SALE, STOCKISTS AND CRAFT FAIRS
With a huge success in the following year, her cards are sold in craft fairs and several independent bookstores in East London. She sold over 50 cards around the world online (England, Spain, Belgium, Norway, Iceland, US and Hong Kong) during the Christmas period. Beth is hoping this year she will spread out her "Braille business" and perhaps try to be less lazy and make more new designs focusing on different occasions.

She also offers customised Braille message for those who purchase her card and would like to put personal Braille message inside the card for their beloved one. It is unique, enciphered, minimal and touching!

Now everyone can perceive and enjoy the pictures visually and tactually - without the need of an interpreter!