Macarons & Mirrored Reflections

So it's been a long time since I've wrote a blog post, due to my lack of creativity and being busy with every day things. Sometimes I feel like plans just take over and there's never enough time to do everything on my to-do list. But last week I was down in London for a few days just exploring and visiting places that I've never been before. I've always loved the night-time atmosphere of London and how it's so lively and energetic, but I've never actually viewed it from the top. I also really wanted to visit the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Victoria Miro, after seeing continuous Instagram posts on my feed I was determined to do that first thing even with the half an hour queue in the heat.

So I thought I'd write up a post about what we did, the new restaurants we tried (even if we were a little late to the party) and the things that we saw. As this was a midweek trip, it was a lot quieter than usual, which was actually better as I sometimes get a bit overwhelmed when there's too many people around me. On the day that we got there we had a quick bite to eat and then made our way to the Victoria Miro museum which was so packed but definitely worth it! I was quite surprised that they only allowed each pair in for minute in each of the rooms, which I don't think is enough time to take everything in as I could have literally locked myself in those boxes for the whole day! The exhibition is still on for a little while so if you're a fan of her work it is definitely worth going. To be honest the rooms seem a lot bigger in photographs because of all the mirrors, so I was pretty surprised at the size of them, but at the same time the photographs don't do them justice as everything was just SO SO beautiful.

We then went to Dishoom in the evening for dinner where you get THE most tastiest Indian food EVER! Along with a little stroll through the markets in Covent Garden as strangely every time I've visited Covent Garden the markets have always been closed. The next day we decided to go to Laduree for breakfast and I chose the fried eggs with tomatoes and crispy bread. I've only ever tried macarons and a few cakes as every time I go I just can't resist the temptation of the pretty desserts on display, but the breakfast was really yummy and I'll definitely be going back there.

After that it was the usual trip Harrods and shopping on Oxford Street, which always includes a visit to Lush and Topshop! The evening was spent getting dressed up and going to Sketch for dinner, which I will write up a separate post about later on. I'd love to know if any of you guys have favourite spots in London or if you know of any good restaurants etc, drop a comment below and let me know. I hope you enjoyed reading this post, xo

Craftisan Bay Spring Fair 2016

Can't believe we're already into the month of May, this year is just flying by! Spring has just sprung and it'll nearly be summer soon. Am I the only one that hasn't yet planned a summer holiday?! Well anyway as you'll find out in this post I've been very busy with events such as the Craftisan Bay Spring Fair, which took place a couple of weeks ago at St Martin's House in Leicester. It was their first event of the year, with the summer, autumn and Christmas fair taking place later this year. I've only recently just started doing fairs so I guess I'm still learning about what is selling, who my market is, and how to improve my setup.

I've found days like this really helpful as I not only get to showcase my products but I've also met some lovely people who hold stalls, and other designers and crafters. As I'm quite new to this I've had a few of the stallholders giving me advice which I've found has really helped me. Having other people who show you confidence and support is probably one of the best things about doing these events as it can get quite lonely sometimes when you're so caught up making new products and getting your name out there.

It's normally a very early start for these fairs so I'll be up bright and early with everything packed up and ready to go! For this event I had my lovely friend Prim helping me, and you can read his blog here if you want to know more about him. He does a lot of beauty/skincare/lifestyle/food posts on the blog. The location was in the city centre of Leicester, and the day turned out to be warm and sunny which was definitely a bonus! It did take quite a while to set up as I can be very indecisive about how I want everything laid out haha. You can see my stall setup below and if you do see anything you like you can pop over to my Etsy shop www.sukisaburdesigns.etsy.com or my website sukisabur.co.uk to purchase any of the products.

It's a Colourful Spring!

It's that time of year again where Summer is just around the corner, but with all those April showers the days just seem to be dulled down. The pink skies in the evenings and those bright sunny mornings are taken over by midday showers and grey clouds. You've got so many exciting plans for the summer and cannot wait to get your hands on the latest summer trends for your holiday. But the long days of waiting are sucking that energy out of you. Yes I pretty much feel like that at some point during the Spring months, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

So I wanted to brighten up those dull Spring days with a few colourful accessories. And so I thought about making more of my makeup bags in lots of lush colours. Of course the colours I've used go perfectly with my silk scarves as I wanted all of them to match. I've put these new bags up on Etsy, which you can find here. I also feel like these would be the perfect gift for bridesmaids or as travel accessories for your summer getaway! and They are now available in a rainbow full of colours! You can also find them on Depop if any of you girlies use the app, just search 'sukisaburdesigns'. xo

www.sukisaburdesigns.etsy.com

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Business

In no way am I saying that I 100% know what I'm doing, or that I've gone about doing things the right way, taking a straight path. But if you read my last post about diving in and going for what you want, you'll know that I mentioned not knowing what to expect and learning along the way. There are a few things I wish I'd been prepared for in advance.. although I'm not sure if that would have put me off before starting anything? But I guess I've learnt a few massive pointers as I've gone along.

Make sure you've saved enough money to live comfortably for the next six months.. maybe even longer. You've got to work out a personal budget of what you'll need to save extra money for and what expenses you'll need to account for monthly. Always remember to leave a little bit extra for going out and enjoying yourself, and also emergencies.

Don't mix your personal and business expenses. Even though you might be so involved in what you're doing and you don't feel as if it is necessary, TRY to keep them both separate. It'll probably save you a lot of confusion in the long run when you're trying to work out your expenses.

You've got to put in ten times more than what you'll get out of it at the start. This may be for the first year, maybe longer. This includes not only investing your time, but energy, ideas, and most likely even money! (Unless you're starting a business that doesn't require much spending and investment.) It will be so draining and exhausting at first, especially when you feel like you're putting in so much of your time and not seeing any results. But everything takes time, and you've got to build a strong foundation.

Don't listen to all the advice you get. Everyone will want to share their opinions with you and tell you what they think is best. Thing is, all businesses work in different ways, and there is no right or wrong way. Listen to what other people have to say but don't feel as if you have to take any of it. Don't think too much into it as most of the time people will either tell you not to take such a big risk or they will tell you to go for it in kind of a fake way. Follow your heart and trust your instincts, as this is YOUR adventure, no one else's.

Plan. Plan. Plan. You'll of course have a long list of things to accomplish, some which may not seem within your reach. But until you write it all down on paper and have something to compare your successes to, you won't be following a proper plan. Nothing will go to plan. You'll come across new obstacles and face difficult decisions. But unless you've been mentally prepared for it and thought about it beforehand, you'll be completely knocked off your feet.

Don't be overwhelmed by your competitors. There are already SO many people doing what I've set out to achieve. But a little competition is always healthy. Yes you may want to start a beauty blog or a graphic design business. And yes there may be a million other people writing about the same product or using a similar colour palette to yours. But what's different is that you're putting your own spin on things. If you're passionate about something then don't be scared to take that risk and be worried about other people doing it better. Your work and your project will be different because it's YOUR opinions, YOUR designs, YOUR thoughts and YOUR brand! And that's something you can transform into your own, with your unique touch.

I hope this advice has helped, I'd love to know what you guys think. If you're planning to start your own little venture, I'd definitely say the advice above would help, even if it's a few of the most obvious points. Let me know if you want to see any more posts similar to this, and GOOD LUCK! xo

Starting a New Business Venture

We've all got dreams and goals, no matter how different they are. We all have so many different things that make us happy and make us feel content. Some of us may plan these things with to-do lists, little sticky notes, making mental notes, and even crossing these things off. But how many of you actually complete the tasks you've always wanted to do? Maybe some things you can't complete, if they are long term goals, maybe they could take months, even years to build up.

Isn't it such a scary thought? To go after something you've always dreamt off and wanted, yet knowing that you could simply fail and lose it all. Maybe you feel as if not going after it will be better, as you won't be defeated and be disappointed. Thing is, if you don't ever go after your dreams you'll never really know. And those hopeful dreams will gradually turn into doubts and regrets and you wondering about what you could have done better, more of or just simply DONE.

After finishing university there were so many things that I wanted to do, but I just didn't really know what direction to go in, what to do first, or what I'd really love to do and enjoy. So I procrastinated for a really long time. I carried on with my day job and being completely unhappy every single day. I thought about all the things I could do and what would make me happy. Yet I did not do anything about it for a really long time. I guess I had the same worries so many other young people have. Money and finance, failure, not being fully clued up, getting stuck, feeling alone, there's just SO many things to think about.

And then one day I just decided to go for it and dive into the deep end. I didn't really have much to lose and if I was already completely unhappy there was no point carrying on the same way. So I put more time into designing and planning a collection. I sat for hours sometimes just procrastinating and planning, feeling lost. Yet every single time I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere, I was moving one step forward. I was definitely the most nervous and worried I'd ever been, yet I was so excited for this scary, unknown venture that was giving me butterflies.

I read a pile of books on branding, building a collection, and starting a business. I searched for suppliers and decided what products I wanted to get made with my designs. I got clued up on how to build my own website and planned how I wanted it to look. There was so much planning to do, so many decisions to make, and of course I'm still making them as I go along. I spent most of my time trying to get one step further, and by doing so I realised that sometimes the place you think you want to get to isn't actually where you want to be. But the more you research and the more chances you take, the more you will discover about what is the best route to take.

Once I'd completed some of the things I was previously scared of, I realised that I felt so much better. That it wasn't actually as nerve wracking as I thought it would be. And I realised that I had learnt something completely new and grown as a person. I've come to realise more of my strengths and weaknesses, I've found out how I work best and what I actually like doing, and what I despise but I am actually quite good at. I've still got SUCH a long way to do, SO much more to learn and SO many goals I've not yet achieved.

But if you've been thinking about doing something you've always dreamt off but you're not so sure, just take a chance and just go for it! Of course there will be things that will get in your way and obstacles that you've not expected. But if you don't atleast try you'll never really know what you're capable of. There's so much help out there you've just got to look for it and ask for help as you go along. Maybe you don't see it know but you'll learn so much about yourself and even if the end goal changes, or you don't get there, you will definitely get something positive out of it! xo

Colourful Patterned Mugs

Hi guys! Hope everyone is having a great week so far! I've started off the week by being super busy on my laptop.. lots of new products have been photographed and a thousand emails have been sent! I've added me printed mugs to my Etsy shop now which you can view here. I've had these for a while now but I guess I was just being lazy and not photographing them. I think I wasn't really sure how I wanted them to be photographed and whether I wanted squeaky clean images or detailed ones.

But I finally have the four designs available on Etsy. So if you're looking for a girly birthday gift, housewarming present or even just a small treat for yourself, these would brighten up your kitchen (or your desk)! And of course there is still 10% off all products with the code TREAT10 at checkout. If you're tempted to make a purchase then you can visit my Etsy shop on www.sukisaburdesigns.etsy.com to read the products' information and shipping info! I have left a few photos for you all to see the range of designs. xo

Treat Yourself with 10% off!

Hi guys hope you've all been having a good week. Although it's kinda dull and drab outside right now, the thought of Spring being right around the corner makes me so happy. I love this time of year as it just makes everything seem a bit brighter! The days get a little longer and the mornings a little bit warmer, but you still have an excuse to curl up on the sofa with a hot drink and a good book.

So I felt kinda generous and decided to add an offer to my Etsy shop, which you can find here. There will be 10% everything when you spend £10 on any of my products. Just enter TREAT10 as a coupon code. This offer is available for a few weeks until the 7th of April, so there's plenty of time to go through and decide on the perfect makeup bag or wall art.

I find myself going out a lot more as soon as the weather turns a bit warmer and if you're anything like me you'll need a snazzy pouch to keep all your makeup bits in. Or if you tend to have a bit of a clear-out during Spring and you want to brighten up a plain wall in your home. My A3 prints are under £30 and add a lovely girly touch. So take advantage of the offer and nab yourself a little treat! xo

The 'Enchanted Darkness' Scarf

Happy Friday Everyone! Hope you've all had a great week and have got something exciting planned for the weekend. I'm going to see Breakfast at Tiffany's in theatre tomorrow, which Pixie Lott is starring in. (And if she's anything like she is during her concerts she will be totally amazing!) Well anyway whether you're a creative soul or not, or maybe you sometimes like to see how designers/makers start a piece of art, I've got a lil surprise for you.

Over a year ago I started my first few paintings based on the sealife collection which you can now view on my website sukisabur.co.uk. At the time I was kind of going along with my sketches and very first ideas and didn't really have a complete idea of what the collection would include. I didn't even have a title! But whilst I was designing and painting I was documenting my progress with each new design. As I'm kind of awkward and like to do things the hard way by drawing everything to scale and painting it by hand rather than using technology that would be much more efficient, it takes me a couple of weeks to finish a painting. (Baring in mind that I still have the editing to do on the final design which can take up to another week.)

So I thought it was time I revealed my first ever scarf for the 'Underwater Escapade' collection! Yes I finally thought of a name for my second collection. Even though I've currently decided that this one won't be getting made as a final product as I felt that the colours weren't quite suited to the rest of the collection and I wanted to refine my designs, I still wanted to share my progress and show how it all began.

I wrote a similar post back in January about the third scarf in the collection, 'Storm in the Sea' which you can read here. I hope you enjoy looking through the pictures and let me know if you have any questions. Happy weekend! xo

Sew Much Crafting

So you may have seen my new listings on Etsy/my latest Instagram posts/Updates on Twitter or maybe read my previous blog posts. A while back I started making these cute makeup bags (they can be used as a clutch bag, coin purse, storing your phone etc) as my plan was to make them with my own printed fabric. It turned out that the plain ones actually looked really pretty and so many people told me they loved them. So I decided to make a few more in different colours, and I've since been keeping busy by making a batch of them for a craft fair I have coming up next week.

They are now available in two sizes, the small ones come in three different colours of satin, and the bigger ones are available with three different velvet fabrics. I chose a collection of colours that I felt would go with my new 'Underwater Escapade' collection of silk scarves and pocket squares. If you have read the stories on my website sukisabur.co.uk then you'll hopefully get the mood I've tried to create. And if you haven't paid a visit then by sure to check it out here!

So I wanted to keep a brief photo diary of these bags whilst I've been busy making them and I decided to add this as a post for anyone who wants a sneak peek of the materials I use/how they're made/what I've been doing since I've been pretty quiet on social media recently. And if you're looking to make these yourself I'm sure you can find some great tutorials on Pinterest or YouTube. xo

New In: Velvet Make-Up Bags / Clutches

So my last post was about the satin zipped pouches I've been making, and I did mention that I'd be making some bigger ones. Well here they are! I decided to make a few with some polyester velvet fabric I've held onto for so long, and I'm so pleased with how they've turned out. They're slightly bigger than the coral and green ones I made, and they would make great clutch bags for the evening or even make-up bags.

The magenta ones would look amazing with an all-black outfit as they're so simple but definitely stand out in the light. And I think the gold ones would make perfect bridesmaid gifts. I might soon be expanding the range and making them in more colours and sizes so keep an eye out. These are available to buy on Etsy and are £10 each, bargain! Make sure to visit my Etsy store and see what else is available! xo

New In - Zipped Pouches

As a creative soul who sometimes gets bored so easily, I always have new ideas that I get excited about. And I'll be the first to admit that I don't always finish a project if I feel as if it's not right for me. But this week I decided to make these zipped pouches as I've been itching to get back on my sewing machine after spending so long designing and painting. I've not worked on a project like this in such a long time, and I really don't remember the last time I even sewed a zip.

So as you can imagine the first one was a bit tricky as I had to double check that I was following all the steps correctly, and I felt like I'd been sewing for aaaaages. But when I made the second one I realised that it didn't take half as long, and I quickly got the hang of sewing and putting in the zipper. To be honest I just wanted to try them out and get used to sewing again as I'm planning to make a few of these with my own prints, but I actually really love these two colours. I think they'd go really well with a lot of things, and can be used for both daytime, evening and even just for storing makeup and jewellery in.

These are available to buy in my Etsy shop here. I am planning to make some bigger clutches soon, so let me know if you have any requests. I'd love to make these in a variety of colours but I am taking it one step at a time. If you like this product then make sure to purchase before I nab one for myself (highly likely). xo

Announcement!

Hey guys. Hope you've all had a great weekend. I've had a very busy and productive past couple of days. I have finally opened up an Etsy shop. This was something I had wanted to do for such a long time, but something I just never got round to. A few of my limited edition art prints are available here. Although if there is another illustration you fancy on my website sukisabur.co.uk you can email me sukisabur@hotmail.com or drop me a message and I can get it made in the required size.

I have also added some plain greeting cards which come in a pack of 3 and feature a selection of my illustrations. You can view my shop here. These would be perfect for your little girl's bedroom or in your corridor. As art that adds a girly touch to your home, no matter what age, I'm sure you will know atleast one lovely lady in your life who will love this!