Features

inkhearts, ink hearts, ata ashiruJune 14 2011

Launched in January 2009, Inkhearts is a business involved in creating bespoke invitations  with an added touch of class and elegance.
Coined off their website: " At Inkhearts, we want your guests to be as excited in presentation and delivery of invites as they would be at your event"


Ata Ashiru is the lady behind the business and here she tells a little about herself and shares her lovely ideas with us

Prior to leaving the Big 4 company where I worked full time late last year in Atlanta, Georgia, I was also juggling Inkhearts on a part time basis. Naturally, I am a very disciplined and organized person so I think this had a lot to do with how I was able to manage a full time job, my business on a part time basis and still have time for my family. I am very optimistic about the future of Inkhearts. I am constantly seeking for fresh ideas and design inspirations that will put us on the map. Sky is my limit and I am reaching for the stars. I love shopping, enjoy traveling (even though I hate to fly) and do not compromise my family time, especially with my twin boys who are quite active toddlers.

Q What made you decide to start up the business? 
Ata I started off designing invitations for family and friends who wanted more than the cookie cutter invitations they found at paperie stores. They wanted options to choose from a variety of paper, fonts, envelopes and embellishments and I was able to provide just that. In 2008, I designed a masked theme invitation for my thirtieth birthday party and the feedback and inquiries I received from people plus encouragement from my family gave me the extra push I needed to start off the business officially.

Q Have you taken any design courses or is this your inner creativity at play?
Ata I do not have any formal training in graphics neither have I taken any design courses but I knew from the onset through research what programs and applications I needed. However, I plan on taking some graphic design courses this summer to brush up on my skills. On another note, I owe many, many thanks to Timi Majekodunmi of SkratcHaus Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. She was gracious enough to show me the ropes with some necessary applications I needed to start off the business. You don't find too many people like that these days.

Q The business caters for invitation cards are there any other stationeries or services you offer?
Ata In addition to invitation cards, we design and create accompanying stationery such as menu cards, table numbers, escort cards/place cards, event programmes, guest books, and the like. Down the road, service offerings in the pipeline that I think will appeal to our clients will include bespoke services such as custom gift wrap and the chance to purchase lovely paperie items for DIY lovers





Q I coined this off the website " Ever received an invite and thought - wow, I have to be at this event..."- what do you consider when putting the WOW on the design?
Ata Each design we create is different and uniquely crafted to suit the client's need. More often than not, we consider the budget, the style and theme of the event and possibly the location of the event when designing an invitation suite for the client. A client once said to me, "give me anything with lots of BLING." Now, that was her WOW!!!

Q What would you call a lovely invitation?
Ata Gone are the days of blah invitations. Invitations these days reflect the personal style of the client. A fabulous invitation could be anything from an understated but elegant design or over the top WOW. 


Q Back to Inkhearts - What have been your most rewarding aspects?
Ata Money is a plus but I get butterflies and a real cozy feeling when I see the joy and smile on a client's face. That truly is the most rewarding aspect of what I do. It keeps me going.

Q What challenges have you had so far in running the business?
Ata As I mentioned earlier, I had to do a lot of research and work with people in the business to show me the ropes with the sort of design applications I needed to succeed in the business. I also had to source for reliable vendors who were efficient and would deliver as promised. So far, I have been blessed to work with such a great team of people who believe in me and do what it takes to make sure I succeed.

 Q How do you build your clientele?
Ata Referrals from past clients, family and friends have been my lucky charm so far. However, you will notice that our website is now more socially interactive and we have been getting a couple of inquiries via facebook and twitter.

Q Do you accept international orders?
Ata Certainly! We have designed invitations for several clients from all parts of the globe.

Q How much notice would you need for a job?
Ata I always advise clients to start off with the process earlier than later. Typically a good 4-6 week timeframe will be appropriate for custom orders. On occassion, we run into clients who request rush orders and we are able to honor these sort of requests if we are not swamped.

Q You have produced a number of lovely invitations - which ones are your personal favourites -can I see some samples please?
Ata Thanks so much, means a great deal to me. Why don't I let you decide on your fave...Lol!


Invitations by Inkhearts





Cakes by Cynthia May 26 2011

Another inspiring business, this time centered on cake making is Cakes by Cynthia - a cake design outfit based in Hertford. I admire her work and how she sets her pace on what she wants, steadily building an enterprising business. A recent supplier at The Brits 2011 and The London Clothes Show this cake shop has been featured in enterprising magazines. Here the lady behind the business shares her ideas.....Enjoy :0)


Cynthia Stroud of Cakes by Cynthia
Q: When  did you start baking and how did you develop your skills
Cynthia: I started baking at the age of 10 when my mum taught me how to bake. I always enjoyed watching my mum make these fragrant cake mixtures that have the loveliest aromas coming out of the oven. So as soon as she felt it was safe to teach me, I caught the baking bug. I spent all my pocket money buying baking ingredients and creating new recipes. The sugar craft came much later when I moved to a new area. I decided to take an evening class in cake decorating in order to meet people as I didn't have any friends in the area. It turned out that all the other students in the evening class were much older than me but I then developed a passion for sugar craft.

Q: What keeps you inspired and how do you enhance your creativity?
Cynthia: Like any other job, you have to keep your eye on the market- I subscribe to the cake decorating blogs and in the studio we sometimes put on the cake decorating competitions on the screen to watch what others do.



Q: What are some salient dos and don’ts when making a cake?
Cynthia: Do sketch out the design- it helps you visualize your plans and shows you any glaring errors. Don't attempt to cut corners or cover up errors- it is always easier/cheaper/quicker to scrap a bad cake at the start than attempt to cover it up further down the line.

Q: How do you build your clientele and get people to notice your brand?
Cynthia: I do lots of wedding shows and wedding fayres. I'm also a recommended supplier at lots of wedding venues local to me. Doing the big shows - London Clothes Show, BRITS etc, also got me noticed in certain quarters.

Q: What is the best way to store a cake?
Cynthia: A cake covered with sugar paste should be stored in a cool room away from sunlight- never in the refrigerator.




Q: When playing with colours, what is the best way to get the right shade?
Cynthia:  When mixing colours, always have the  colour swatch in front of you as a guide. Also, start by mixing in the colours in small quantities- you can always add in more colour but its hard to take colour out if too much is added.

Q: What have been your biggest challenges so far in the business?
Cynthia: Finding good staff has been a challenge as I have very high standards but I have the most lovely team now.

Q: What do you love most about the cakes you make and what has been your most rewarding aspect?
Cynthia: I love that every cake is different- designing a cake for a bride allows my creativity to come through. It is always a heartwarming feeling receiving a thank you letter or card from a bride. I cherish each one and now have stacks of them

Q: What would be the first step for those aspiring to go into the cake making business?
Cynthia: Start by baking for friends and family- you can do this at a cost and it allows you to explore whether you actually enjoy it, that way you can build up a portfolio at your own pace.



Cupcakes and Cookies by Cynthia Stroud








House of FiFty May 17 2011

A couple of days ago I talked about an online magazine that caught my eye and turned out to be an interesting read - House of Fifty. Well I asked the lady behind it if she could take time out of her busy schedule to give us some tips on decorating and inspire the newbies among us, and she promptly responded with a yes.

Thanks for doing this Janell. Here are her responses. Enjoy.

Q: How did you realize your passion for decorating and how did you get started?

Janell: I didn't become interested in interior design until we purchased our first home, moving from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon. We had very little furniture and I found the process of selecting furnishings, paint colors and accessories, as well as the best use and layout for each room so much fun and rewarding that I got hooked!

Q: Your profile on Isabella and Max rooms mentions some education in Arts, would you say this has been a key factor which contributed to your success in design?

Janell: I first studied painting and later fashion design, working in that field for several years. These fields teach you to have a sharp eye, to be able to size up a design quickly, and I think that has certainly been beneficial.

Q: What keeps you inspired to create new ideas and enhance your creativity?

Janell: I love solving problems, finding a way around an issue, and design is full of problem solving. I find that challenging and rewarding.

Q: When you walk into a room, what factors do you consider when designing the layout and the pieces that go in?

Janell: How the room is to be used is the key factor to consider first. If the room functions well, it will be a success. After function, it's finding at least one thing that you're very excited to have in the room; a color, a fabric, a piece of art or a special piece of furniture. If there is excitement about an element of the design the rest will usually fall into place.

Q: On the first page of the new House of Fifty magazine you mention how it started, how did you decide the talented crew you put together to add value to the publication

Janell: I reached out to the people in my blogging community I most respect, as well as key people in my personal life. I had a number of stories in mind to include in the first issue, so in many cases it was a matter of finding the right contributor match for the topic.




Q: Page 64 mentions Christiane Lemieux’s no rules approach to decorating – would you agree every space is unique or is there one rule that must be adhered to?

Janell: There is one rule I do firmly believe in. It goes back to a previous answer; function. If a room doesn't provide the needed function, it really doesn't matter how pretty it is.

Q: What challenges did you have with the publication of House of Fifty?

Janell: I'm not the most technical person, so learning about the "behind the scenes" elements of an online magazine and the technology behind the subscription campaign has been new territory for me. Luckily I have great people leading those areas!

Q: What do you love most about House of Fifty and what has been your most rewarding aspect?



Janell: I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to work with a team on a common goal. The most rewarding aspect, with the magazine only out just a few days, has been the tremendous response. I've received a large number of emails and comments from women saying how happy they are to have found a publication that speaks to them, is relevant with valuable and useful content.

Q: I enjoyed the feature on kayce Hughes, I think real world experiences from other people gives better inspiration and a more practical advice to others looking to startup a business. Can we look forward to this in future publications?



Janell: Yes, for the next issue we will feature two woman who, through two different approaches, are embracing and making opportunities for themselves, in ways that I think readers will find both thought provoking and inspiring.


A lovely response from Janell, we are looking forward to the next publication of House of Fifty. I wish you all the very best and thanks again for your feedback.

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