Our Debut Range

8 designs in the debut Christmas Range were launched at Autumn Fair NEC.

Yesterday, I was having a massive office clear out and whilst emptying out some storage boxes, I stumbled across these cards. I designed these christmas cards for our very first trade show in Autumn 2004. As I was fairly new to the industry (and quite naive) I exhibited with just 52 designs and the card ranges did not even have names!

I remember driving up to the NEC in Birmingham for the show thinking to myself that if I get two orders I'd be happy with myself. Little did I know that by the end of the week I'd be driving back home with a big grin on my face and an order book filled with orders not only from around UK, but also from a distributor in America and a posh department store in Japan. So that was the begining of Sabah Designs!!!

Although the company and designs have evolved in so many ways since then (we try to learn something new everyday!!), the ethos has remained the same. We thrive in creating unique and individual greeting cards and offer the friendliest service possible.

The art of henna

As it was the festival of Eid-ul-Adha last Friday, I tried to put my artistic talent to good use and...... this is the result!!
My two daughters Zainab and Aneesa were very pleased the next morning when they washed off their henna and unveiled their brightly coloured patterns to me, which so happen to match their pretty outfits !!
Hope everybody out there celebrating Eid had a good one too.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

This weekend I got to enjoy a girly weekend in the west end off London. I managed to squeeze in quite a bit of shopping, some very lovely food and also got to watch one of my all time favourite plays, Breakfast at Tiffany's which is showing at the Haymarket Theatre until January.The show was very enthralling and I absolutely adored Anna's stunning cocktail dressess.

Skates on!!!

Unfortunately, my goals for November so far have not quite been achieved. Last month I said I'd set aside the first two weeks of November to research, design and draft out new designs for the all important January launch. I'd say that I'm 45%ish there which is not good enough. I've sketched a handful of new designs and am bursting with some very creative ideas........... so now I really need to put my skates on!!!

The making of Precious Pearls

Precious Pearls - The Collection


The complete range of 12 designs.


Initial samples arrive by post!!

Selection boards with colours, shades, sketches and fabric samples.

As a designer I often get asked how long it takes to design a complete range of cards. Well.... it's really quite difficult to generalise as some designs are simply an extension to existing bestsellers and at other times I start from scratch!

Precious Pearls our new range of printed cards with a hand-finished element was designed only weeks before its launch at Harrogate this July.

The idea was to incorporate our trademark embroidered embellishments and set them against a brighter more vibrant background.

Lots of hours doodling and colour selecting, lots of hours on the phone to paper manufacturers and printers, impatiently waiting for the postman every morning to bring in the proofs (alot of consumption of coffee) and hey presto Precious Pearls was born!!!

Facebook Entry

I've spent most of the day in front of the computer trying to get our company profile on to various internet business listings sites. It's something that needed to be done for a long time. I've just been putting it off - until today. Finally we have results!!!
I've also managed to get a Facebook group going for Sabah Designs which will keep members informed about news and events. Anyone interested in joining the group can simply click on to: http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?eid=152458114582&step=2#/group.php?gid=153811819882
Please feel free to leave your views and comments which are always appreciated.

Christmas Pearls

Our new Christmas card range 'precious pearls' has been appearing in gift and greeting card magazines since August. There are 9 festive designs to choose from. If you would like to request a copy of our brochure, please call the office on: 07734 156200 alternatively you can make an appointment to see one of our agents who would be happy to show you all existing ranges.

Ameen Invites - Ameen Cards

Shazeel's Ameen Card






Recently I was asked to design and create a special invitation package for a boys Ameen party. The colour scheme requested was a mid-nightish blue. I had just a weekend to complete 400 invitations of Ameen cards and a table plan (that went horribly wrong half way through!) As you can see from these images, there was not an empty surface in my office and dining room all weekend, just lots and lots of glue everywhere!

New Reps

6 cards exclusive to the Isle of Wight tourism.


I'm really excited to announce two new additions to the Sabah Designs team. Jeremy Cangialosi is our very first Isle of Wight distributor who we've been working very closely with on some designs exclusive only to the Isle of wight.
Also joining the team is the lovely Chris Middleton who shall be repesenting all our card ranges throughout Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome both Jeremy and Chris on board and look forward to a long and mutally profitable relationship.

New Eid Cards

Our very first published range of Eid Cards - 'Festive Glitz'






Eye catching Arabic Typography


Embossed and flittered on smooth velvet fabric.

The festival of Eid is fast approaching ..... just two weeks left for Eid! So we here at the office are in the process of dispatching our last lot of Eid Card orders.This striking new range called 'Festive Glitz' is Sabah Designs foray in to the wonderful world of published cards with an abundant use of embossing and flitter techniques. A big leap from our trade mark embroidered designs!

If you are a shop or stockist and would like to stock up on our gorgeous, scrumptious, velvety Eid Cards then please do hurry and give the office a tinckle on: 07734 156200

Fashion Illustrations

Big Book Of Fashion Illustrations.



I'm loving the bold black, white & reds !!

and the gorgeous crimson dress.....oh so amazing!!

I want that BAG!!!

The BIG BOOK OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION is my current book of the month and I can't seem to put it away for too long. The book contains some very striking images of modern fashion in digital and free hand form. It's a great source book for fashion designers, students and practically anyone with a keen eye for style.

Happy Anniversary

I could not resist taking photos of these gorgeous flowers that my husband Zahir gave to me today on our thirteenth wedding anniversary. I absolutely love the way the colours and textures in the gerberas and roses have come out in these shots and am feeling quite experimental with the camera. More photos will follow....Watch this space!
Happy Anniversary Zahir xx

Spotlight in Greetings Today

I was up in Manchester last week, where I enjoyed a lovely little break at Mums. On my return I was delighted to discover that our new range of printed cards has made an appearance in the 'Spotlight' of the GREETINGS TODAY magazine, which runs features on new and innovative new design releases. I met up with the editor of Greetings Today Lewis Eckett at The Home & Gift show last month who asked if I could send him some images of the Precious Pearls range featured above. This is SABAH DESIGNS foray into printed cards with 12 very girly birthday designs and 9 christmas designs.

Betty's Tea Rooms

The very elegant menus...


Katie from The Lighthouse Drawing Rooms


Elegant display of tea cakes!


A selection of their yummy scrummy chocolates !!


Last week during the Harrogate show my very good friend Katie and I enjoyed a lovely evening meal at the renowed Betty's Tea Rooms. They have an amazing choice of over 300 breads, cakes and chocolates (oh yes 300!), as well as 50 different types of teas and coffees.
I've just ordered the Betty's Family Recipe Book and can't wait to recieve my copy and experiment their mouth watering dishes.

The Harrogate Show

My Teeny Tiny Stand!!


Sabah Design Cards selected for table display in the cafe area.

I got back from the Harrogate show on Thursday and boy what a show its been! Although the drive up to Harrogate, preparing, building and setting the stand was quite exhausting, the show itself has bought some extremely good business my way. Thank You all so very much for visiting, enquiring and ordering at the show. I met some very interesting people, made some lovely friends and took some much hoped for orders!
Our two new printed ranges Precious Pearls & Precious Pearls for Christmas (which I was very stressed about ) did really well. Lots of distributor and agent offers ........So it's all good stuff for now!

Silver Lining

Cards from the 'Silver Lining' range featured in this months GREETINGS TODAY.

Apart from being our best selling range so far this year, 'Silver Lining' is one of my personal favourites. There are 12 elegant designs to choose from covering births,weddings and romance. Cream organza fabric, silver hand stiched detail and sparkly diamantes brings a touch of class and sophistication to this collection. The cards are sized at 155 mm square and are complimented with a pearlescent envelope.

Hot Off The Press

GREETINGS TODAY Issue July 2009

Harroagte Preview in GREETINGS TODAY

This morning the postman arrived with a glossy copy of Greetings Today, the magazine in which we have ran an advertisement in with our new card collections. To my surprise our cards have also been featured in the Harrogate Preview which was a real bonus! And to my further surprise we've already started getting inquiries about the new Christmas range so now I think I should stop panicking about feedback on new designs and how little time is left for the Harrogate show and actually start looking forward to it!

HARROGATE ...HERE I COME!!!

Harrogate Preview

Harrogate Home & Gift is just a week away. I'm soooo excited and can't wait to get the show on the road even though there is absolutely tons to do before I leave for Harrogate next Saturday. Two fabulous new Greeting Card ranges are to be launched at the show and here is a sneaky peak of some of the new Christmas 2009 cards. Its our very first printed range adorned with our trade mark embroidered embellishments. A brochure and price list should be available by next week.

Book Launch

Yesterday I was kindly invited to the much awaited book launch of Design Leicestershire in which Sabah Designs has a company profile inclusion! Design Leicestershire is a beautiful assemblage of design and architectural practices based in Leicestershire and Rutland. The book looks remarkable and I for one was utterly amazed by the exceptional talent within the Leicestershire design network. Oh! and the Canape's were great too!

Harrogate...Here we come!

Next month we will be exhibiting at Harrogate Home & Gift 2009, which opens its doors to trade buyers from around the world on 19th -22nd of July. So for the largest selection of greeting cards and gifts to entice your customers in store this Christmas, a trip to Home & Gift, Harrogate is a must. With over 900 exhibitors showcasing their latest products in this beautiful town, this show is crucial for securing the latest Christmas stock and maximising profits. We will be exhibiting at Stand F41a in the greetings hall with 2 stunning new card launches. Hope to see you there!

Summer Catalogue

Hi everyone, sorry havn't been able to post much in the past few weeks as I was away on a much needed two week break. I'm back in the office now and apart from the usual mayhem, I'm also preparing some new designs for our forthcoming trade exhibition - Harrogate Home & Gift to be held in the middle of July. Our new summer catalogue is back from the printers, so if you are a retailer and would like to receive a copy, then please call the office on: 07734 156200 and we'll be glad to pop one in the post for you!

Polka Tots are in!!

Just been going through last months order forms and it looks like our top selling range of greetings card for March has been the POLKA TOTS range. In particular the pink and blue rocking horses, the ballet dress and the rocket have done very well. These cute and vibrant coloured embroidered cards complimented with a matching grosgrain ribbon can also be personallised with the childs name.