Tired and cranky and but trying to be productive and happy April 4, 2009

I have been feeling quite tired lately. Maybe because we haven’t been eating the healthiest food. We have been eating out a lot. And too much ‘mamak’ food can make me feel rather sluggish.

Despite that, I have been working my hardest to complete my To-Do lists that is getting longer every day. OK, maybe now my hardest as I have been watching Biggest Loser, America’s Next Top Model, Celebrity Apprentice, UK Apprentice, and a few more reality shows that are clogging my brain cells.

On another note, I just finished reading ‘I am not sick, just a bit unwell, Life with Neurofibromatosis’ by Yvonne Foong. I bought this a book a few months ago directly from her. It was out of stock then and I only recently received it. She was conducting her fundraising by selling this book and t-shirts at one of the events that I attended. I was really touched by her condition and inspired by her strength and spirit. Reading this book, it gave me more prespective of her condition, and it also made me appreciate more of Almighty’s gift for me. The book is now selling in MPH.

Business-wise, I started my Teacher Training sessions for potential MED teachers.*hurray!* I am still behind with picking up new stocks and marketing for Elwarda Accessories. I am feeling rather lousy because of that. *bleargh*

It was quite an emotional roller coaster these past few days. Result of unhealthy eating, lack of exercising, and also by the lack of spiritual work. These what happens Naziehah, if you lose your life’s balance. *need to sort self out now*

Elwarda @ Emila March 24, 2009

I have always loved this blog, Emila’s Illustrated Blog. Ever since I get to know about it’s existence, I kept coming back for more of it’s beautiful paintings and illustrations. Whenever I look at those amazing creation of hers, I will always felt this deep sense of peace and happiness. Great beautiful paintings always did that to me!

But Emila is not only a talented artist, she’s also an excellent blogger! Another reason why people kept coming back to her blog

So when she asked for a gift sponsorship for the competition in her blog, how could I resist to be a sponsor!

I sponsored 2 items, one from each of my Elwarda.

From Elwarda Dance, I sponsored an Elwarda Gift Certificate worth RM35 for the winner to experience an MED (Middle Eastern Dance/Belly Dance) class with me.

Fom Elwarda Accessories, I sponsored one piece from Elwarda Asal.

Read more about it here!

In return, I get a banner space for a whole month! Look at my new banner, isn’t it pretty and blinky?

Thanks Big Z for the banner

I feel very happy to be getting more opportunity to expose and market my Elwarda. I am even happier to be able to work with somebody as nice and as talented as Emila!

Women Entrepreneur’s Carnival 2009 February 23, 2009

Elwarda will be exhibiting here this Saturday the 28th. Spread the word and come visit us!

New business cards, new business and seminars February 23, 2009

1. I just finished printing my new business card! Weee

2. As I am slowly but surely working on the new business, Elwarda Accessories, I realised quite a few thing. While Elwarda Dance is very niche and relatively easy to market, EA are a bit more tricky. My sales are moving at the rate of a snail pace and I am quite unhappy with myself because of that. I think maybe I am lacking in direction with EA. I gotta sharpen a few edges here and there.

3. Meanwhile, I am working really hard to prepare for this Saturday’s Karnival Usahawan (Entrepreneur’s Carnival) . For the first time ever, I will be doing an offline promotional booth. I am quite excited and nervous at the same time. If you have time, come and look for Elwarda there! . I will update the poster and location in the next entry.

4.  I wanted to go to this Branding seminar early March, and I invited a few entrepreneur’s friend of mine. It costs quite a bit but I knew that when it comes to investing in yourself and your business, you can’t be too skimpy. But I am working on to gather a group so that we can get a Group Discount. Let’s see how that will work out.

5. Suddenly I got an sms saying that I can get sponsorship to another branding seminar tomorrow. Full sponsorship! Wohoo! Alhamdulillah. So tomorrow I will be in a seminar the whole day learning about branding

Earth Brown February 5, 2009

Trendy Thursday: Earth Brown

Earth Brown – by Elwarda on Polyvore.com

This set reminds me of my sister whose whole wardrobe is almost brown in colour!

I kinda like the print of the dress and put the whole set together because of it. If you are like my sister, and loves the earthy brown hue, do check out my Elwarda Asal collection in my blogshop, Elwarda Accessories. You might find something that you like there

More than profit December 16, 2008

Trading Tuesday: More than profit

The term ‘entrepreneur’ has been tainted with many negative connotation. Greedy, irresponsible, money-orientated, blood-sucking evil – was among the not-so-nice names we’ve been called.

People always think that all we care is ‘the bottom line’. We will stop at nothing to make our profit. While there are people like this who dabbled in business, there’s an increasing number of entrepreneurs that seek ‘more than profit’.

Ever since I read ‘Banker to the Poor’ and ‘Creating World without Poverty‘ by Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and the founder of Grameen Bank, I was introduced to the concept of ’social entrepreneurship’. A  truly eye-opening and inspiring concept.

For years we were taught to define ourselves in one dimension while the fact is, human is multi-dimensional being. We love money, but we also love people. In fact, most of us actually love people more, but we were not given an avenue, a workable concept to operate ourselves. That’s why when I came across social entrepreneurship concept, I feel like a part of me is finally at home.

For me personally, I would  adopt some of the concept and applied it in my conventional enterprise. That’s why I started the Elwarda Asal collection in my Elwarda Accessories business. Through Elwarda Asal, I am able to work on an enterprise that is ‘more than just profit’.

I always feel very strongly about  people working hard to make their own living. I found it very humbling that these Orang Asal (indigenous people of Peninsular and East Malaysia) would find things in their environment and use it to create beautiful crafts and accessories. They did not have the same opportunities as us, to be born in the land of gadgets and trinkets.

I hope that by selling some of their products, they will be even more motivated to work harder and smarter to sustain themselves. I hope when I am able to sell their handmade accessories, they will realise that there are more than one channel of ‘rezeki’ for them. I hope they will realise that there are many people out here who cares for them and who loves them and who will support them in more ways than one.

(suddenly I became a bit emotional *sob-sob*)

I am still very early in my venture. I may make many mistakes but I aim to keep improving myself and work on creating a truly workable system for Elwarda Asal. I also aim to keep on adding a ’social entrepreneurship’ concept to all my future businesses, Insya-Allah.

********

Image from here

Image from here

NEW Stocks! December 16, 2008

Finally, I managed to get new stocks for Elwarda Asal collection. More of the collection here at Elwarda Accessories.

I received some unexpected news about the studio I am renting for my Elwarda Dance business. I need to do some adjustments for the year 2009. I am already behind so many things that needed to be done.

(pressure slowly creeping in)

(inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale)

(happy thoughts. happy thoughts)

Ah, but this exquisite necklaces! They are so beautiful it lifted my mood up immediately

Quick, go and take a look for yourself  here!

Elwarda Accessories October 10, 2008

Alhamdulillah, yesterday we went for our first meeting with the Maharisi team to discuss about the product lines for Elwarda Accessories. I am so grateful to meet with a bunch of like-minded young business people like us!

I came to their place with completely no clue on how to to go about it, and with their expert advice and help, we managed to come up with several great ground-breaking ideas. But, now the hardwork will come next. I have so many things to do and follow up I am going to be pretty busy this coming months.

I also in the middle of picking up new stocks for Elwarda Asal line. I am really loving their products! I really admire their effort in preserving their tradition but also making their jewellery so cool and contemporary for us.

These Orang Asal, they collected all their materials straight from their local surroundings. They collected them, selected them, and turn them into beatiful accessories. Since their source of products are all natural, the stocks are not as readily available. They need to search for them and including the shipping and delivery time, it can take a few weeks for it to be ready.

It’s one of the ways how they earn their living. From my readings and meeting with Orang Asal activists, I came to know that they have a lot going on against them. They are constantly fighting for their rights. It must not be very easy on them. I hope Elwarda Asal would be able to be one of the channel to ease their burdens. It might not be a grand gesture, but I hope this will help them a bit.

Do keep checking on us yea!

Women and accessories September 22, 2008

Women loves it when we were given accessories as gifts. So when hubby handed me that small colourful bag last 2 days, I am all smiles and jumping up and down happy! Of course, it also depends on that particular women’s style and taste. One style that is fast emerging and I am foreseeing that it is going to last for long, is the handmade jewellery!

For me, I am always into handmade jewellery. I don’t know, I always feel like it’s more special and it has more ’substance’. That’s why it’s a headache for the hubby to choose any for me. But I think he’s picking up real quick. So, as you can guess, the pictures below is a handmade jewellery.

So, if you are a man, and looking forward to please the wifey, or the gf, or the secret-admirer (eh, ade lagi ke orang guna perkataan ni?), do head to Elwarda Accessories for a few options! And if you are a woman, sila lah tunjuk website ini kepada husband/bf/not-so-secret admirer anda supaya mereka dpt membelikannya kepada anda

New Collaboration September 21, 2008

Alhamdulillah, I am just back from meeting with my *new* collaboration partner for Elwarda Accessories. After sorting out some ‘techie’ stuff, my brain felt rather tired so I went to blog instead. Yes, setting up an online venture, one has to stretch their tech capabilities. It’s even more challenging if one has the tendency to confuse anything with more than 2 buttons, On and Off. (oh that’s not true, I am sometimes confused with On and Off buttons too!)

However, I am very excited about this new collaboration. As I start my Elwarda Dance business out of my passion for Middle Eastern Dance, I am now starting Elwarda Accessories out my love for beautiful handmade jewellery!

Stay tuned for updates!