The rather silly thing I did...

Having run my Etsy business for over a year now, I had begun to think of myself as a bit of a dab hand. Last Christmas, my first one, proved a massive shock in order volume and I found myself frantically rushing to Wilko to buy bubble wrap and leaving dubious notes on the oven saying 'back in an hour, don't take them out'.

All in all, it was a bit of a shambles.

Not this year, I told myself. This year I am going to be prepared. And it was that thought that led me to a decision that has left me a laughing stock.
My warning to all of you: know your proportions before you order online.

Being British and therefore somewhat backwards I tend to work in feet rather than metres. I always order my boxes online and, with more orders going to America and knowing that parcels don't always get handled as carefully as they could be, I figured why not bulk order bubble wrap too. I found an Ebay seller and in a couple of clicks I had spent £14.79 on packaging materials. With hindsight, I probably should have realised  that this was quite a lot of money: clearly my ineptness for conversions extends to finances.

Having completely forgotten I'd ordered it I was slightly disgruntled when the doorbell was rung by the deliveryman at 9am. It was only when I opened the front door and saw him holding a box large enough to carry a crouching man that I realised something had gone horribly wrong.

50 metres of bubble wrap is a lot of bubble wrap. And I mean A LOT. I think I now have sufficient packaging material to wrap everything I own twice and maybe outline the perimeter of my flat for good measure. My flatmates (both engineering students, WHY didn't I ask for their help in the first place?!) decided this was the funniest thing they'd ever seen but at least helped me stuff the monstrosity in my wardrobe.

It's safe to say that I think I now have enough bubble wrap, and have given my friends enough to mock me about, for the rest of my natural life. All in a day's work. 

With love,

Kati

Tobacco Factory Market: Bristol Hotspots

As I have no doubt made clear in previous posts, I am completely in love with Bristol. There is something about the art, the independent businesses and the tree lined streets that give it that wonderful combination of metropolitan hub and homely neighbourhood. In recent years it has become a hipster paradise where an avocado brunch comes as standard and handmade products flourish.

There are few places where this is easier to see than at Tobacco Factory Market, epitomised in its motto: 'strike a light for independents'. Saved from demolition by George Ferguson, this quaint meeting space becomes a bustling trade-spot every Sunday from 10am to 2.30pm. It offers an array of vintage clothing, art prints and jewelry; with enough choice of food to satisfy even the most discerning palette. There are also dogs in abundance and owners who are very happy to let you pet them which is an obvious bonus.

For us, the weather was beautiful and we decided to use our time in the market to source picnic foods. To say we were spoilt for choice is an understatement and we spent a lot of time sampling the various delights that were on offer. The stall owners were all friendly and enthusiastic about their products: wanting to get them the following and the acclaim that they deserve.

We eventually settled on a loaf of bread from Bordeaux Quay bakery as our starting point. All their breads are baked overnight and made from strictly organic ingredients. We settled for a large half sourdough, half yeast loaf which, for £3.00, was more than enough to feed all three of us. Price aside, the bread was light, airy and the stall owner even sliced it up for us so it would be easier to eat on the go.

As an accompaniment, being in Bristol, the only fitting choice was hummus. While circling the stalls we found 'Moist': a dips specialist with multiple flavours on offer. For someone who had no idea that multiple flavours of hummus even existed, this stall was quite the revelation. We settled on a mix and match policy: carrot, bell pepper and baba ghanoush (aubergine, onion and tomato). It was £3.50 for a generously filled pot and, as none of us knew what baba ghanoush was, we got more than our fair share of samples!

Armed with these purchases, it was impossible to walk out of the market without passing the cake stands. 'Absolutely Cakes' offered a variety of brownies (including Malteaser Tiffin which was to die for), cupcakes and also multiple gluten and wheat free options. We ended up circling back twice having tried and failed to convince ourselves that we didn't need to buy any and then saw their three for £5 deal. At that point, as their poster candidly pointed out, resistance was futile.

Purchases in hand, and cakes in mouths, we headed out in search of a sunny spot to picnic. The Tobacco Factory Market is a refreshing and interesting way to spend a Sunday morning. Not only do you get to sample delicious foods and treat yourself to beautiful handmade products, you also get the satisfaction of knowing you're helping small businesses. These independent traders deserve acclaim, not just because they turn up stupidly early every Sunday morning (rain or shine), but because they are trying to make something unique. And if there's one thing we could all use a little bit more of: it's unique.

What are your Bristol hotspots? Any places you feel deserve a wider following? Let me know in comments!

With love,

Kati