A woman has turned her love of anagrams into a business.

Jules Kent, from Hanover, Brighton, has launched her own greeting card and gift company called Anagram Works based on jumbling up everyday words.

One of her biggest sellers is a risqu card with the word Brighton rearranged to read: "orb thing", "bring hot", "throb gin", "ring both", "rib thong" and "nob girth".

Her work is being displayed at two Brighton Festival Open House events; The Hanover Arts Trail in Holland Street and The Old Church Hall in Ditchling Rise.

One of her most popular lines, a birthday greetings card, is decorated with the words: "day birth wishes", "a shy british dew", "with shy seabird" and "a shirty bed wish".

So far, Jules has designed 20 cards, a mug and a more expensive product called Anagram Art, where words are digitally printed on to canvas.

The former librarian and business researcher has always loved working with words and started her own business with the help of EDEAL, the Eastbourne Development Agency She said: "The idea behind Anagram Works originated with a one-off design for a moving house card I made when I relocated to Brighton a few years ago.

"I wanted to capture the essence of Brighton, something quirky, a bit risqu, amusing and also intelligent, and the idea of using anagrams spiralled from there.

"It takes a long time to come up with the anagram. I do have a special technique but that's a trade secret I am afraid. You have to maintain some mystique."

Jules uses Imperial Litho, one of the biggest commercial printers in the UK, to produce the cards and is in talks with a Lewes-based distribution company.

She is already selling her cards in Malarkey in Bond Street, Brighton, and says she has received positive feedback from visitors to the Open House events.

Jules said: "One of the reasons I started this company was to make people laugh and when people walk in and see a canvas with nob girth written on it that's what they do."

At the moment she is operating as a sole trader, but, should things take off, the 39-year-old has plans to convert to a limited company.

Jules can be contacted at jules@anagramworks.co.uk. Alternatively, visit her web site at www.anagramworks.co.uk
May 25, 2005