Have you seen one of these?

[Freogirl]

I was reading this forum the other day and saw an ad from a company selling Vintage bus scrolls. I absolutely loved them and was all set to order one but then saw the price tag!! I found them at whiteport.com.au
I was shocked to see they were $880 each and that they charge $110 as a fixed postage charge, which was way above my price range and a ridiculously high amount to charge for postage. My question is - has anyone seen these for sale at a lower (much lower) price?

[Julie-Ann]

Hi Dixiemum
Is this what you saw on the internet.
It is gorgeous but a little too expensive for my budget as well.
I'm afraid I have only seen a London one before and don't think that was cheaper.
Hopefully someone else know where else you can buy them- apart fromthe Fremantle Bus station:D

[cupcake wrapper]

Julie-Ann
Try here - a bit cheaper I think and still the same look. :)


http://www.trambanners.com.au/

[jennymbutler]

Having done the research just a few weeks ago, I know a little bit about the prints that you saw at Whitport. They are printed by a Sydney company called Printdolls (http://www.printdolls.com.au/) and the quality is honestly fantastic. They are screen printed instead of digitally giving each print a really crisp image, see the difference between the two here http://www.printdolls.com.au/page/screenprinting.html. The set price of $110 for shipping is because the 1830mm by 840mm canvas comes pre-stretched so that's quite reasonable.

Personally, I'm impressed by the quality and the size of these prints and think it's worth paying a few hundred dollars more for a product that's of a much higher standard. I wanted to buy a bus scroll back in November but after finding these I decided it was worth saving up for and will purchase in the new year.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do.

On a side note, I think these are brilliant if you have kids (http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/artwork/bedtime-bus-roll-poster-etsy-find-102675).

[jennymbutler]

Just got an email from Whiteport promoting free shipping for all of their bus scrolls until midnight Thursday 17 Dec.

[Susie]

I love these, i ve seen them in a store in Bangalow, near Byron bay for $450, with Aussie stations. I was really tempted to buy it, but didnt.

[Freogirl]

Wow! Thanks for everyone that replied. I will probably go ahead and order one through the Trambanners company. It was good to see what great quality the ones from Whiteport are and despite this and the great offer of free postage, it is still a little pricey for me. I can choose a smaller size and save some money, I will let you all know what the quality is like once I do get one.

[Julie-Ann]

I'm glad you found one you liked. They all looked really fun. I was wondering if Whiteport heard you complain about the postage:D - the power of the internet perhaps. Send us a picture when you get it so we can all see how it looks.

[Lanne]

Just a thought (and I am sure the originals are fantastic) but if you just want the look you could make it in Photoshop and have it printed and stretched on a canvas. Word of warning - use a quality canvas maker and not Harvey Norman etc.. I would think about $300 - 400.

As the visual shows at http://www.printdolls.com.au/page/screenprinting.html
the screen print is a lovely finish but a quality canvas print should be good too (not the same) but a lot cheaper.

[Julie-Ann]

What a great idea Lanne. There are some very reputable companies that do good work with cancas art and who could do the photoshop part for you if you need. We featured a company that might be able to help you called Kanvas Interior Art. Here (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/create-your-own-96.html?t=96&highlight=canvas) is the thread about them. Give them a call and see if they can help. I was very impressed with the quality of their work:)

[tryingtodecorate]

I bought my canvas off ebay and had it stretched over a frame. Cost me $150 all up so an inexpensive way to do it. It's one of my favourite things in our home :)

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/house-to-be/Photo0766a-1.jpg

[Julie-Ann]

Hi
Your bus scroll is gorgeous. Do you happen to remember the name of the seller on ebay? Or if they were in Australia or England?
Thanks for posting the picture:)

[tryingtodecorate]

Thanks Julie-Ann :) I just checked ebay and found the seller, the canvases have gone up considerably since I bought mine almost 12 months ago. She has a few different cities, just click on the photos to see them. I'd love a NY one ;)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SELECTION-OF-REPLICA-VINTAGE-BUS-DESTINATION-SIGNS_W0QQitemZ110480383538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_A rt_Prints_Posters?hash=item19b924de32

[Freogirl]

These look great -still wish they had the Freo version but perhaps I will settle for one of the others. I also recently saw these on a tea towel but when I went back to buy one they had all sold . The most difficult thing is to decide which one!

[Lanne]

This post has me thinking. I am working on a custom piece that the canvas people we use can make for us... and listing all the places we have lived.

In looking for font references..i came accross this.. it might suit some more than others but the prices are fantastic.. http://www.poulierandpoulier.com.au/elephantprint_stkilda2fitzroy.html

[Julie-Ann]

I thought you might like to see this gorgeous bus scroll that our member Abeachcottage made herself for $10. Now that is my kind of budget.

You can see several pictures on her blog (http://www.abeachcottage.typepad.com/)

But here is 1 to give you an idea:)

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab86/jamhind/bus.jpg

Sarah also has a tutorial on how she made it available here (http://www.abeachcottage.com/my_weblog/beach-cottage-behind-the-scenes-vintage-bus-blind-destination-how-to.html)

[Freogirl]

Well I've finally made my choice who I am going to buy one from. After much investigating I have contacted Trambanners and spoken to a lovely girl called Tracey, who will custom make one for me. I was very impressed with the $10 home made version but have no faith in my ability to do this successfully! Trambanners prefer not to do my Freo version exactly like the Printdolls one but this leaves me with another choice to make. I am thinking of getting one with all the train stops from Perth city to Fremantle as they are now or another choice is the beaches from Freo heading North. I am fairly certain that the Printdolls Freo version was not based on any actual bus or tram route as I certainly have no knowledge of a route with those stops. Which one should I choose?

[Lanne]

I am working on one with all the suburbs we have ever lived in (personalised :) I think you could do a search on google and do an actual route easily or maybe design one based on your fav beach names etc?

[Lanne]

Well the bus sign .psd file is sitting on my desktop calling to me each day - so I have finally finished it. It isn't exactly what I imagined but I think it is a good mix of vintage and a modern take on it. I am being super cheeky and getting for my husband as a v day gift ;)

It lists all the places we have ever lived, both separately and together. It tells the story of us, for those who know us and there is a lil humour in it too.

I have made the places we lived longest, the largest, and where we lived in one suburb, moved to another and back to the first I have done a VIA statement. We were very pleased to move from one to another and so I added EXPRESS TO. :D

It is 38 x 59 inches and has been custom sized to fit on a wall in our living room. I have the most fabulous canvas maker for all of our client work and so I have asked them. They rock and after some discussion on the best outcome we agree that a cotton sheeting, rather than canvas will give the best end result. It wont be a solid black, more a charcoal and it was be as clean looking as a canvas. They will stretch it over their fab kiln dried bars tho and do all their usual work. Not sure what the end price is but I assume sub $500. (I will update when I find out LOL)

http://yfrog.com/333zcjj

[Lanne]

Now hung on the wall.. :) We bought the new TV cabinet yesterday and have to wait to install the drawers on the base. We got the glass doors you can add photos too (of course!) and so I have to wait for the images to come back from the lab.

LOVE the bus sign .. and that the TV now doesnt feel so HUGE. (42 inch plasma is a design challenge).

http://yfrog.com/3lta3pj l

[with2ns]

That looks fantastic on the wall! What a brilliant idea!

[anastasiaC]

yeah they seem quite cool but i think a little bit 'fadish' dont you think?
ive seen them in many interior mags - i think Ebay had some too but even then they went for quite a bit...still its a fun idea and reminisant of bus trips going to school or to the beach!
there are lots of graphic design prints on Ebay
i love this new design b by Jennifer Ramos - Made by girl
http://decor8blog.com/2010/01/29/made-by-girl-new-prints/

[Julie-Ann]

It turned out fantastic Lanne and it balances out the black of the tv very well. I love the concept of it being places where you have lived - such a personal touch:D. Thanks for showing us.

[Lanne]

I imagine it could be quiet fadish.. It had def occured to me it might be a bit like joining the keep calm and carry on army ;)
I figured if it was places we have lived it would be personal and of meaning to us.. .long after the fad has faded..

LOVE the new made by girl stuff.. she is always so cool.

[Freogirl]

Lanne, I love the finished result and the fact that it means so much to you both and is so personal. I should be getting mine this week and are really looking forward to hanging it up.

[tryingtodecorate]

Lanne, I love it! Looks fantastic and it will be such a focal/talking point in your home. My visitors love our one. Oh and I see some familiar places on there I used to live in Alexandra Hills (been in Melb for the past 9yrs).

Enjoy!

[Lanne]

Thanks everyone I am loving it :)

We bought the new entertainment unit on the weekend as well (Besta range from Ikea)..perfect because we could design it to fit our needs .. so much in the range.

I loooooove custom pieces rather than store bought. I bought the drawer fronts you can add photos to (seeing as I am a photographer I thought i could easily fill them!) not so much... they are 10 x 24 inches which is a weird ratio with lots of cropping..even from a landscape shot, which i shoot very few of.

Instead I decided to add some whimsy... something to compliment the bus sign - and have decided on an inch ruler... Each drawer represents one inch on the ruler, so the drawers are effectively numbered 1 - 4.. it is a bold simple design, replicating a traditional ruler. Hoping to get it back from the printers on friday and installing. I will be sure and add photos when we are done :)

[Julie-Ann]

I loved the Ikea Besta range. That was one of the entertainment units I was also talking about the other week (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/ikea-entertainment-units-223.html). I can't wait to see the photos. The ruler idea sounds like lot of fun:D

[Lanne]

I will try and remember to snap a proper photo but .. iphone snaps for now because i just twittered them...

http://bestc.am/mzv5
http://bestc.am/r6i

I like how it looks.. lil whimsy and a bit playful. it looks a lil stronger in the pics than it does.. (i guess because they focus on it).. customisable furniture is always my pick!

[busscrolls.com]

Hi there

We use only the best quality canvas and inks. We do not screen print so they are cheaper and yet look extremely legitimate.

The best part is you can create your own! Relevant to your life, location... for $400!

The National Gallery of Australia just commissioned us to create scrolls in association with their masterpieces of paris exhibition!

We also do tea towels, marriages and birth scroll and often do interior design.

Bus Scrolls is trade marked to our company. No other company can use the term. We created them.

We are cheaper than print dolls too.

We sell wholesale and we will not be beaten on price.

Just email us sales@busscrolls.com

As seen in Inside Out, Wentworth courier, Daily Telegraph Vogue Nov/ Dec 09 /Jan 10 / Feb 10

With Love, Bus Scrolls xxx 0412 135 091

[Lorraine]

Far out, I have seen them on another site for $880.00 plus $110.00 for shipping.

[tryingtodecorate]

I love all of them! Going to check out Bus Scrolls website now and Made by Girl. Thanks for those links :)

My canvas was cheap, not sure how long it will last. It doesn't get the direct sun and I lightly dust it. Don't care about fads either, love it and when it does fall apart I'll have to buy a new one :)

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae250/ourphotos20/canvas2.jpg

[ROC]

Hello,

Just a quick note as I thought some people might be interested.

I run a canvas printing company for photos on canvas (http://www.rocgallery.com.au/). I have recently set up a new website especially for bus and tram scrolls (http://www.busandtramscrolls.com.au/)/ destination scrolls with a custom ordering system for personalised scrolls.

We will design your personalised scroll and email you a design proof for approval.

We have 3 standard sizes (small, med and large) with prices starting at $315 for canvas (we also have cheaper options on different fabric).

Our prices are based on our standard print your own photo prices, with a small design fee.

You can check us out at www.busandtramscrolls.com.au (http://www.busandtramscrolls.com.au/)

We work to the highest canvas print quality and if you want to check out our main website head to www.rocgallery.com.au (http://www.rocgallery.com.au/)

Thanks everyone
ROC Destinations + Scrolls.

[Lanne]

ROC Destinations + Scrolls.. is the company who made my 'bus sign'. I did the artwork but they would have done a brilliant job of it (and how much easier that would have been! LOL) - the pricing for these is exceptionally good!

I have used their services a few times and they are hands down AWESOME. Not only is the product the perfect every time but the customer service is outstanding. It can be really hard to tell by looking online which company is a good one to go with - if you are looking at getting images on canvas or looking for your own bus scroll... this is def the way to go IMHO. I wouldn't go anywhere else now :)

[silkinteriors]

I saw these bus/tram scroll canvases at the HIA home show in Melbourne recently. The company with a stand there was Johnson Waters Interior Design (http://web.me.com/johnsonwaters/johnsonwaters/Home.html).