InStudio at Decorex Cape Town 2016

I am absolutely overjoyed that Decorex has invited me back this year to take part in their InStudio series. Last year I partnered with them to develop the first Creative Business Exchange and thoroughly enjoyed the process. Here are this year's details... hope to see you there (the event is free for registered trade professionals - click here and scroll to bottom).

New to this year's show and a highlight for industry professionals is InStudio, a day of design talks on interior trends, commercial design and creative business taking place this Friday 29th April. This free-flow forum exchanging fresh insights, trend observations and creative business ideas for Trade Visitors which brings together a line-up of outstanding design minds.

There is a wonderful selection of fellow speakers - click here to see the line-up. Scroll to the bottom to register. It's such a lovely opportunity to connect with awesome creatives!
Somewhere along my creative journey I haven't managed to learn how to sew. I can do the odd thing here and there, or add a button when needed. I have a fabric collection and a rather lovely sewing box, but to date no major project has been made. Never mind powering up a sewing machine (I tried once - ended with a bobbin hitting my head). With that thought in mind I have created three super easy and fun "no sew" craft projects with Skinny laMinx's DIY Squares / Fat Quarters (best word combo ever). 

It's Making Friday and the ideal day to push aside the norm of desk work, shake off the bore of digital and get your mind engaged in a colourful and creative way! Let's make...

Three Super Easy "NO SEW" Craft Projects:
Square Gift Wrap:
No cutting required - add your gift and fold it, lastly secure with a pretty pin or brooch.
Wrapping on the run!
Gift or Decor Bow:
This is my personal favourite (totally bias). It is so easy - I cut the size with pinking shears (so fancy) and cut a thin piece of fabric and tied it around the centre. You can add a dot of Sew Simple glue from Bostik if you want to secure the pieces in place or add a stitch or two to secure it.

Brooch Hoop:
Embroidery hoops are available from most haberdasheries or hobby shops. This is beyond easy - you just secure the square within the hoop, tighten it and cut off any excess fabric. You can add ribbon through the top to hang it up. Ideal for showcasing your favourite pins or brooches.
With your little scraps from the above - thread them through large coloured paperclips which are lovely as bookmarks or keeping your place in your diary. Works very well in my Filofax. Or perhaps even cut a tag to add to a gift. Once you start cutting, sticking and having fun - you really can come up with so many ideas. Now, just imagine if you can actually sew!

Skinny laMinx is one of my favourite local creative businesses and I admire Heather and her team's work so very much. In fact... I use the business as one of the branding examples at my creative business workshops - the team kindly sent over a range of elements to showcase their inspired look and feel. Additionally, Making Friday (or any creative time) is key to innovation and development within business. It enhances your thought process and allows your mind to break free from the parameters we face daily. I truly suggest freeing up time to MAKE... you might just discover your next best seller or if all else fails you will get to enjoy some time out and who can argue with that!

Making Friday has taken on a range of shapes within the Skinny laMinx brand - from inspiration through to products... just take a look here or here.

Checking In

Hello dear readers...
I wanted to check in and give you a few updates. Things are on the go as always in the NvdM office. Consulting session bookings are going wonderfully well, which makes me so happy as it means business owners are empowering themselves to build better brands! I was in Cape Town in March and connected with clients there and I am heading back for a partnership with Decorex at the end of April. I will be sure to share the details with you very soon!

In other news I have now officially been in my office for over a year and how it has changed my business. I think there is a blog post somewhere in there. 

I am currently consulting to corporate businesses too which is really interesting. One is a marketing company and the other is an agency. Their work is vastly different, but it is so inspiring to be able to contribute to large campaigns, but in a really creative way. 

I have some additional plans for both my brand and office, along with this here little blog. Now... to make the time for it.

If you are missing regular blog posts - can I invite you on over to Instagram in the meantime while the changes take place...

You can follow me here:

nadiavdmescht: Business updates about my brand, the experience I offer clients and things that are part of the consulting element of things.

nvdmpersonal: A personal glance into my life. This shares the moments that are just as the name states - personal. Family, friends, home, husband and anything that touches my heart.

nvdmcreates: I am not crazy in having various accounts - I just really like to keep content very focused and need to respectful to my business and not clutter it up with too much fluff! This is where I get my planning on paper done. It shares a look at my stationery obsession (it's dangerous) and a peep at my Filofax. I have also started a local community so feel free to join - just tag your photos using the relevant hash tags: #filofaxsouthafrica, #plannersouthafrica or #snailmailsouthafrica

Chat soon and even sooner if you want to pop me an email (click here).
Here is a look into my office - my happy (tidy) space which I just love welcoming clients into. It is located in the Station Drive Precinct which is evolving almost overnight. Wonderful for Durban and SA as a whole. Beautiful photo by Eileen of Brightgirl Photography.