I know it's hard to believe, but the festive period is upon us and we have just over 4 weeks to go until the big day! This year has been a challenging one in lots of ways, and the added pressure of buying gifts and making Christmas enjoyable can be a daunting prospect. If you're not in a particularly strong financial position (and let's face it, the cost of living crisis hasn't helped most of us), I'd like to remind you that you're far from alone - you don't have to take part in every (or any!) part of Christmas if you can't or don't want to. You could say this is a bit controversial coming from someone who's trade relies so heavily on the gifts we buy each other, but honestly I often find this time of the year really difficult. I truly believe that the most important thing to do during these winter months, is to make it meaningful for yourself and rest / spend time with loved ones. I came across this really supportive info from Mind charity recently that I found particularly helpful - I hope that it brings some relief to you too.
For those who are in a position or the right mind-frame however, there are lots of great alternative ways to find thoughtful gifts for loved ones We’re fortunate that Bristol is full of inspiring independent makers, shops and markets that can make the experience of gifting a real joy. Here are a few of my personal recommendations:
Bristol Market – unique gifts that have been hand-selected by the founder Geraldine, she is always thinking of how to bring the creative community together, and runs this wonderful directory of local artists to bring the best of Bristol to you.
Bristol Pop-Up Shop – A fantastic little gift shop that has been run by local artists for 6 years now, they go to a lot of trouble to make sure that the gifts you get are second to none.
Sparks Bristol – A truly unique experience with a charitable aim at its core – this unconventional shopping experience is not to be missed and can be located in the ground floor of what used to be M&S in Broadmead.
There are also a few local festive markets that really help me get into the winter spirit, including the Frome Independent – with its truly special selection, Estate of the Arts - which only opens its doors a handful of times a year, and the Frost Fayre in Glastonbury – you can't miss this magical event!
And of course, my personal favourites, from which I will be trading on the following dates:
Sunday 26th Nov -Tobacco Factory Market - 10am - 2:30pm
Friday 1st Dec - Stroud Goodwill evening - 5pm - 9pm
Sunday 10th Dec – Tobacco Factory market - 10am - 2:30pm
A little update on me:
I’ll be trading as usual until Thursday 14th December, and after this I will stop for the rest of the year and enjoy a well-deserved break for my birthday. You’ll be relieved to hear that you will find my jewellery at the Bristol Pop-Up Shop in the galleries as well as Diego’s wonderful independent shop - Artigo on Gloucester road.
That's all from me for now, remember to be kind to yourself, and I hope that you experience many moments of wonder this winter, full of rest, connection and joy.