​The Beauty Brand is the brainchild of Maureen Grobler, image coach and makeup artist. Linking together a host of products, services and suppliers, Maureen's ultimate goal is aimed at developing her client’s beauty and brand to unlock self-confidence.
 
Approaching image and style with an ethos of authenticity and deep-seated value, The Beauty Brand services and products look much further than skin deep, offering longevity to your personal brand, born from understanding and embracing who you are.

I have known Maureen for many years and it is truly her passion in life to unlock self-confidence in the female sex.  You will not leave a session with her untouched, inspired by her zest for life and va-va-voom.  

Remember to enter our give-away on our Instagram Page 

A friend in London called me a few months ago. "Please can I visit this artists who will be exhibiting at Tierlantynkies, and buy her something beautiful?" Said friend is a big art collector and she wanted to support this creative lady - Makkie was her junior in res years ago (how is this for supporting local!) .

And that is how I met Makkie (Maricke) and fell in love with her work.  It just touches something in my soul and creates happiness within. And on top of it all, just such a wonderful, fun, unique person (character), I could drink coffee with her all day long (she even served my chocolates and biscuits because she knew I had had a really crazy day and thought I needed them!).

Thank you so much Maricke for chatting to me and this lovely prize - Love your work!  

PS** Winner announced at bottom of post.

At the beginning of this month I was lucky enough to sit down for a cup of coffee with graphic designer, Tharien Strydom, mastermind behind creative design company, Swagger Collective. 

Tharien was to be my 'Vendor Spotlight Subject' for the month of February.  While chatting away to get to know Tharien a little better and find some inspiration from her for our readers thinking about starting their own businesses, we decided that it would be great to team up for the month of February and spread some love by giving away something pretty to one lucky reader.  **Competition details at the end of this post.

I was amazed by this lady's creativity and the uniqueness of their products.  Their business consists of four departments:  Object, Babble, Construct and Events, with their specialty being custom decor pieces.

Tell us a bit more about who you are and your background?
I grew up in Vereeniging and moved to Pretoria when I started studying at Design School South Africa in 2006.
I finished my interior design degree in 2008.
I loved making things for myself and friends since I can remember.
Things that make me happy: my husband, our home, walks with our dogs, art galleries and pizza.
 
When did you start your business?
Swagger was born in 2009. First as a part time business and I went all out in 2011 when I decided to quit my day job and focus all my time and energy on creating products that I love.

Why?
I started Swagger as a creative outlet on the side. I started making accessories that I wanted to wear but couldn’t buy anywhere.
My business evolved from accessories into home décor, as well as doing custom products to match client’s needs. Planning and organizing is one of my best assets, so when I combine these with creative elements I love the end result. I started doing events for friends and family, and realized that it really makes me happy, so I added it to my services.

What products and/or services do you supply?
Services:
Events coordinating, designing & styling. Making each event unique.
Interior Design/Decorating & Space planning.
Product design:
Existing range and custom/personalized items.
 
Where is your business based?
Pretoria, but we do post products all over South Africa, and events anywhere in Gauteng can be managed.
 
Advice for others wanting to start their own business?
Don’t be scared to take chances. If you believe in your idea, then everything else will fall into place. Hard work pays off, but it takes time. You are only as good as your last products so always make sure that you deliver your best product/service. “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.”
 
Biggest highlight since starting your business?
When your products are featured in magazines and when events that you were part off are featured on blogs that you admire.
Also the moment a plan comes together and the end result is exactly what you imagined.
 
Any low's and biggest lesson learned so far?
Saying yes to a job that was too big for my company at the time. Disappointing the client and learning a very expensive lesson.

How can people get in contact with you?
You can contact me directly on email: hello@swaggercollective.co.za
or on my cell phone 082 876 9357
My website has a contact page: www.swaggercollective.co.za
Facebook message me via my page: Swagger Collective

And lastly:
Most recent function you attended, theme, color scheme and venue.  What was your favorite detail?
A carnival themed year end function. Red, black & gold.
Kleinkaap Venue, Centurion.

Favourite detail: Gold animals stacked onto each other as part of the centre pieces.
​
​Best Cake & Coffee spot anywhere in South Africa.
Best carrot cake: Tribeca Standard, Lynnwood Bridge, Pretoria.
Best coffee: Carlton Café Delicious in Menlo Park, Pretoria.
 
What was the last present that you bought and for whom?
I bought an indoor plant, which I paired with one of my steel planters for a friend’s new home.

Everyone loves to discover something new and pretty. As if, we become a little bit more special by default, because we discovered it!
So when I stumbled upon this baby shower I am featuring today, beautifully put together by the lady behind
'Ever After', I was so excited! How could I not have know about this Melissa Madsen and her company, based right here in Pretoria? 
Anyway, long story short, I am very excited to share this stunning baby shower with you today as well as some other pretty work by Melissa.  Enjoy!

From Melissa

And below just a few highlights of previous work of Ever After that I love.

CONTACT MELLISSA,  EVER AFTER
e: mel.everafter@gmail.com
fb: facebook.com/everafter101
instagram: @ever___after

Today I am very excited to introduce you to the very talented and bubbly lady behind DeerlyStudio, Monja.  
Designer, creative, painter and photographer with stylish framed glasses and modern, blonde bob to match.  Her style is unique and clean, with a touch of romance that I love. 
She recently launched her online shop that sells a range of greeting cards, prints, vinyl stickers and stunning hand dyed ribbons.  I share some of my personal favorite Deerly Studio works below.

Tell us a bit more about who you are? When did you start your business?
Why?
My name is Monja Viljoen, and I recently decided to open Deerly Studio. I have always found inspiration in my surroundings and this has translated directly into my business ethos. I studied Visual Communication at the Open Window, and this also led me to follow my passion for beautiful designs and creations. My husband and I recently had our first son, Jean. The fact that I am a mommy helped me to open Deerly Studio from home, where I can still spend enough time with my son and husband and also create pretty paper goods.   

What products and services do you supply?
Deerly Studio is a boutique paper and design studio that focuses on creating unique stationery for events such as weddings, baby showers and bridal parties. We also launched an online store where there are greeting cards and all sorts of paper loveliness that we have lovingly created.

Advice for others wanting to start their own business?
Follow your passion. I know it sounds really clichéd, but with hard work and a strong support network it is possible to start your own business. Be true to yourself.

Prettiest venue in Centurion (or Pretoria) to host a girly party/ get together?
I recently had my own baby shower at River Meadow Manor in Irene. The venue is surrounded by beautiful old trees and they have the most amazing food.

Your favorite chill-out Cake & Coffee spot
I recently discovered Die Broodhuijs, located in Brooklyn. The café bakes all their own bread and deli fare.

Highlight since starting your business?
Deerly Studio recently collaborated on a styled shoot with Hanri Human Fotografie and Bride in Bloom for the current Miss World, Rolene Strauss. Deerly Studio created all the beautiful stationery with custom calligraphy that celebrated the bride to be.  

Any low's?
It gets difficult to have enough hours in the day to do everything that you want to.

How can people get in contact with you?
Anyone interested in stationery or designs can contact Deerly Studio at info@deerlystudio.co.za. Or clients are more than welcome to contact me, Monja, at 082 554 6584 to arrange a cup of tea. 

Connect:
Facebook:  Facebook.com/DeerlyStudio
Pintest:       Pinterest.com/DeerlyStudio
Twitter:       Twitter.com/deerlystudio

Pictures:  Deerly Studio
Picture of Monja was taken by 'Hanri Human Photography'

Being an entrepreneur myself, I love chatting to other small business owners.  It is nice to hear what inspires other small business owner's, how they got started, invaluable lessons that they have learned and the high's and low's of running your own business.  

So I thought that maybe our readers would also like reading about these gutsy creatives listed on Plan Me Pretty.  Let me know what you think and if you would like to see articles like these on a regular basis.

Today our Vendor Spotlight is on Sumari Brits, owner at Sweetly Detailed Bespoke Sweet and Dessert.  A very talented lady with a special talent to create beautiful candy tables and a smile that lights up a room.  
 
Tell us a bit more about who you are? When did you start your business?
Why did you decide to take the leap?
My name is Sumari, I grew up in, what used to be a small town, Rustenburg. After high school I had this dream of making people happy and feel good about themselves. I went and studied 3 years at Tina Scholtz Potchefstroom Academy where I got my diploma in Somatology, SAAHSP, CIDESCO and CIDESCO SPA, thinking that I would go and work on the cruise ships. Until…I met the most important person in my life, which is now my wonderful husband!

What products and services do you supply?
At Sweetly Detailed our services include the following:
-          Dessert tables for any occasion
-          DIY dessert tables, we courier nationwide
-          Wedding and gift favours
-          Cake, dessert and treat orders

Advice for others wanting to start their own business?
Most important of all, believe in yourself!! Don’t let others opinions get to your head. Take that leap of faith and believe in what you do. Support suppliers in the same industry as you. Always be kind to others, and it will come back to you in the most amazing ways

Your favorite venue in Pretoria/Johannesburg to host pretty events at?
We’re doing a dessert table at Happily Ever Laughter later this year, and when I saw the venue it was so cute and cosy. It has this modern, yet shabby chic feel to it.  It’s the perfect canvas to create something special.

Your favorite chill-out cake & coffee spot?
One of my dear friends introduced me to a very interesting café in Pretoria called Karoo Café.  They have the most delicious cake!! And there is a few craft stores surrounding the café. Definitely worth visiting when you are in Pretoria. 

Highlight since starting your business?
We were so blessed in being invited to do a pretty pastel coloured theme dessert table for Great Expectations TV show on e.tv for their 9th birthday celebration. Sharing in their special memories of the last 9 years of having the show. This experience just brought me back to what life is really all about.

Any low's?
Drinking A LOT more caffeine, constantly having a dirty kitchen, less sleep and almost always having rainbow colored hands from all the baking, but in the end all of it is worth it when you share in so many beautiful memories being made and seeing your clients faces lit up with happiness at the end result. 

How can people get in contact with you?
Future clients can email us on info@sweetlydetailed.co.za or contact me, Sumari on 082 553 0471. They can also go and have a look at our Facebook page : Sweetly Detailed to see some of our recent work.

I am a firm believer and activist of preserving the environment for ourselves, our future generations and the beautiful animal life we have on earth.  Sometimes I take a few seconds to look around me and just try and grasp at the amount of rubbish we as humans create on an hourly basis - it is shocking if you really think about it.  This is how I keep myself motivated when I am very tempted to just throw recyclable items into the normal trash.

This festive season I would like to urge everyone to try and limit their carbon footprint as much as they can - make it a challenge for yourself and your family.

To give you a bit of a helping hand, I would like to introduce you to a Johannesburg and Cape Town based business, GREEN HOME.  
WHY?
Because all GREEN HOME products are made from:
Plant starch, sugar cane, bamboo, wood, corn starch and recycled paper, wow!  And all of these products are 100% biodegradable.

See some of the stunning products from the Green Home range that you can use in your festive season entertaining, below.  From picnics to formal dining, there is something to add a bit of 'green' to any function.

From Green Home:  

When Catherine Morris originally saw compostable food packaging in Thailand, she wondered why we weren’t using it in South Africa! In less than 1 year she made a radial career move and started GreenHome 

GreenHome is a biodegradable packaging supplier providing an eco friendly alternative to polystyrene and other non-biodegradable food packaging in Southern Africa.  
Our Vision:
Our vision is to reduce the pollution and waste caused by food packaging through supplying eco friendly packaging and education and means to effectively dispose of it.

Disposable Food packaging should be made from renewable resources and should only last for as long as it is needed.  

The bagasse products can go on your home compost heap. Tear them up or soak them in water if you'd like them to break down more quickly. The CPLA bioplastic ( the clear plastic products and the cutlery) needs to composted on a well managed compost heap or sent to a composting service. It needs optimum composting conditions. 

Website: http://www.greenhome.co.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenHomeSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenHomeSA