One of my images from the photoshoot I did with the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurs in Braamfontein is now gracing the cover of the November 2011 SA Express in-flight magazine.  I took photos of Lesego Malatsi just before he left for London Fashion Week.

I’m thrilled of course my first print cover image!!

Tribeca PR asked me to take photos at the Whisky Live Festival in Johannesburg this evening.  After a few discussions with them, I decided that it would also be a good idea to have someone else second me… so Alana Meyer joined for the evening too.  Thankfully I wasn’t alone for this event, because my word, there was a lot going on and such a lot to cover!!

I joined these guys at the Compass Box Art of Blending zone, where they had to blend a whisky.  They had to produce 100mls of a new blend, and write the recipe on the bottle too.  Apparently the best blend over the 3 days of the festival wins a prize.  The Thornton brothers were definitely more scientific in their blend than the Robertson brothers, writing down formulas as they went and using the calculator on their phone to work out their blend

Then I popped in a the Pick n Pay canape and whisky pairing zone

… before I headed over to the GlendDronach and Ben Riach stands to watch a bit of tasting, and for the filling of bottles from the cask containing a 21 year old whisky.

Then I bumped into Mike Sharman and Melissa Attree at the Bunnahabhain tasting session

At the Penderyn stand, Gillian MacDonald from Wales, was doing a tasting with visitors and teaching them a bit of Welsh in the process

The Whisky Live Festival is on at the Sandton Convention Centre until Friday, and if you don’t have tickets yet, do yourself a favour, and get some.   I’m not a big whisky drinker, in fact, I think I have only ever had it a few times in my life… but I must say… this Whisky Festival is awesome!!

I attended the opening of the new bigger and better premises for the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship in Johannesburg this afternoon (after taking photos of Lesego’s studio for the centre).

The Branson Centre was opened in 2006 in Johannesburg, and they’ve just moved to bigger premises on Melle str in Braamfontein (right in the heart of where all the regeneration is taking place).  It’s going to be a gorgeous place once it’s been properly kitted out, but you can already see the potential with spaces ready for an internet cafe and meeting rooms and training facilities.

The event was also held to introduce the new CEO, Tracey Webster, to the entrepreneurs.  After listening to her talk, and the talks given by her team, this is going to be one exciting place to be a part of in the coming months.

All the entrepreneurs were given baby indigenous trees to plant… as take home gifts.  LOVE that idea!

Tracey Webster, the new CEO of Branson Centre and Virgin Unite Africa (she’s the ex CEO of the Starfish Foundation), spoke about the plans for the centre in 2012.

This guy, Yashwin Mohan, owns a company called Game Over, and he’s developed new games arcade machines… and he was telling me that his new dance machine for kids is going to be installed in the Virgin Active gyms!!

Blessing is also quite amazing… he has his own clothing label and also manufactures a range of soft home furnishings

This lady, Lorcia, owns an events and catering company… and she organised all the food and drinks for this afternoon’s event.  During the presentation we watched a video about her, and she lives in Meadowlands in Soweto and is involved with a group that are trying to organise a tourism route in Meadowlands.

There was such a buzz of energy in the building, with all these people with wonderful ideas and plans… and they’re actually living their dreams.  Such an inspiring bunch of people.  As for the new location… it’s absolutely perfect and is so close to the new markets and redeveloped parts of the city… this is going to be a place that everyone will want to be.

If you were at the event, these photos and a few more have been put into a Facebook album.  If you “like” the Facebook page you’ll be able to tag yourself there.

Lesego Malatsi is the MD of Mzansi Designs, and has his design studio on the 10th floor of an office building in downtown Johannesburg and a store in Mopane Mall… and he’s headed for the big time!!  He’s been invited to showcase his designs at the Fashions Finest London Fashion Week Show in September (which is a recognised off schedule show).

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship asked me to take photos of his studio and part of his collection this afternoon (it was a huge pity that all the dresses he’s showing are already in London), as well as the hats (made by ex-Nigerian Folake Adejuyigbe) and accessories made by Freda Sebolai (who originally comes from Koffiefontein in the Freestate).  These hats and accessories are the ones that will be used with Lesego’s outfits on the catwalks in London.

Freda is not only a jewellery designer (whose jewellery is being used in the wardrobes of some of the local soapies, and she sells them at local markets), but she has her own youth marketing company and she’s also a model.

As for Folake’s hats… how amazing!  Folake is originally from Nigeria and has lived in South Africa for the last 10 odd years. Her hats are made from a netting type of material… and she handmakes them!

And I just LOVED the fascinator she wore on her head!

And lastly a few photos of the man himself… Lesego… wearing one of his own shirts I might add!

I wish these 3 all the very best of luck… I think it’s awesome to see South African designers on an international stage!

I went to a Girlguides event tonight hosted by Sony.  It was held at the Ten Bompas hotel in Dulkeld… what a stunning venue and the little snacks were awesome!

It was awesome to meet up with the Girlguides bloggers again, and meet some new faces that I’d only conversed with on Twitter before… and to combine that with finding out about the cool new gadgets on offer by Sony!! I particularly liked the digital frames (especially the 10 inch frame which also played video and music!) and the point and shoot cameras on offer… and was most impressed with the digital HD camcorder with built in projector!! What a cool toy that would be!!

You may think that this photo isn’t in focus… but actually… the TV is a 3D TV attached to a 3D video recorder… in which I did a self portrait.  LOL what fun.  I did like this gadget!

This digital frame actually has a built in printer! Very cool! Although, I did ask whether you’d be able to remove the printer from the frame because I’m not sure I’d like the printer on display in my house all the time… and apparently it could be.

And you know I mentioned the food being so good… please note how Jessica was hogging the desserts again…

More of my photos will be on Girlguides in a while, so I’ll update the post with the link when they’re up.