Showing off

CareSA Designs had a lovely experience showing off all its crochet craft at the five day Kwa Zulu Natal Christmas Craft Market this December.

In the spirit of entrepreneurship more than 150 traders gathered at the City Hill Church auditorium in Hillcrest to show off their creations and hard work done during the course of 2016.   Certainly a work ethic is being developed to combat poverty.

As I quietly observed the people and their displays for progress I could not help ‘seeing’ an informal economic pillar being built for a better future.   Yes, not all will make the businessman or woman of the year, but there is resilience and resolve, and if perseverance is thrown in with good measure, it could make a small dent in poverty, and lay a foundation for a better future.

Entrepreneuring runs on Hope, develops imagination – where anything is possible – builds a necessary work ethic, releases expression and God given creative potential.

The other side of the coin however is getting to know the nuts and bolts of running a successful business.  This is another story altogether, yet has to be embraced by the budding entrepreneur,  if good  lasting results are to be obtained.  So the next phase would be to get business savvy, and look for mentors willing to take a walk with ‘the future economic builders’.   It may be a long walk, but a start has been made, and as they say … Rome was not built in a day.

Have a look at some of the 2016  CareSA Designs crochet craft range that was on sale at the Christmas Market this year, and feel free to leave a comment or two on new additions, improvements, or add some new ideas for developing a small enterprise.

The Brand

Part of the table display

Everlasting flower hair clip

Butterfly head bands

Kids sling bags

Kids sling bag

Sling bag

Tourist shoulder bags

Tourist sling bag

Tourist sling bag

Shoulder wrap

Mohair shaw

All it takes is some pretty yarns, hooks, needles maybe a button or two and a little imagination to make a happy hobby – that one day will grow into a budding enterprise.

Here’s to diligence and to hope, and may the work of our hands prosper.

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OFF TO THE MARKET PLACE

December 2015

Building an entrepreneurial enterprise is a very slow business indeed.   I suppose something like eating an elephant, you have to do it bite by bite !
Look out for the opportunities that come your way, and always be ready to go off to the market place.
The Christmas season is a time for giving gifts and sharing love, and that is why there are many craft markets being held all over the country.    And I suspect it is also a sign of the times we live in, as  many are seeking to make ends meet with their creative talents and innovative ideas.

CareSA Designs found itself at two markets.  One, the Hope Christmas Market, organised by Soul Action here in Durban.  It is rather a unique market in that its aim is to give opportunity to  Non-profit organisations, Community projects and individual entrepreneurs to show and sell their products to empower people economically.  This year’s theme was  “Buy and Uplift.”  And the Buyers did just that, and made the market very successful.      Here is a picture of the CareSA Designs trading table.

CareSA Designs at the Hope Christmas Market

The other market was the five-day KZN Christmas Craft Market Festival, held in the lovely setting of Hillcrest.  Much preparation was needed for this event, as vendors were provided with printed bar codes, and each and every item had to be individually priced.  With five days of marketing, more stock was needed, so I have been very busy indeed preparing for this amazing opportunity that came my way.

CareSA  Designs  at the KZN  Christmas Craft Market Festival  

And here are some pictures of CareSA Designs new creations, with a graphic message tag, to stir up people to be pro-active in making the new South Africa  work   viz. Kids of Africa, and Love SA.

Medium Purses

Mini Purses

Flower Alice Bands

Kiddies Sling bags

I suppose it was a kindred spirit, who wants to see  the new South Africa work out well, and had two posters made with these words on the road poles: It won’t work ….. and a few metres away the other with: Until you do. We can all make South Africa work !  We can all do something positive.

I have to keep reminding myself that although the rewards for all my hard work may be small, I am colouring in the blocks of a much larger picture, and that persistance, and consistancy will bring the greater reward;  and to ever keep in mind  Matthew 13:31,32
Another parable He put forth to them, saying  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which is indeed the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

So then, to continue to work on in Faith Hope and Love, these three.