Seasons Greetings!

New Exhibition in the New Year!

Simon will also be hosting an exciting 24 hour drawing event which anyone can get involved with and a whole host of extra special things besides. More information in the Newsletter soon....

How to build the most perfect snowman......

New Christmas Stock!

SHOP has been treating itself to Christmas presents this week with all new kinds of wonderful.

Men's and women's jumpers and cardies; lovely homeware (including, no less: orginal 60s wallpaper, knitted tea cosies, tea sets, tins and other lovely gifts) and accessories (bags, brooches gloves for wimmin and hankies and hats and some other bits and pieces for blokes) have all made a little nest at shop - but not for long I'm sure!

See SHOP volunteers attempting to wear a bit of everything all at once ... here:

Wallpaper, cardie, hat and bag

Cardie, tea cosie, cup set, clutch bag and stripy cardie

MotherSHOP: Christmas Cafe is here!

The Christmas cafe has snuggled in to the corner of SHOPs lounge for the day and is proving very popular with all our customers! Make sure you don't miss out on this MotherSHOP and all the cakes and treats.

Christmas Party Season!!

I was treated to a festive feast courtesy of local food and drink heroes last night when I played host to local foodies and their non-staff, staff Christmas party.

Those people who work for themselves don't get to have an office Christmas party, so Elly at Pear Cafe and Jess at Trethowan's Dairy organised some over drinking, over eating and snogging innapropriate people under the mistletoe at SHOP instead.

Christmas Artisan Market!

The third and final Artisan market of 2009 went down a Christmassy treat last Saturday the 5th December. The Christmas lights were twinkling, the smell of roast chestnuts was in the air and the wonderful buskers in attendance sang carols to thaw even the most anti-Christmas humbug-er, to make no mention of the beautiful artisan wares.

It was the final market of the three that had been given the initial go-ahead by Bristol City Council and everyone in the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter is keen for it to be given the permanent green light in 2010.

All in all, the markets have been deemed a massive success for the area. The market has grown consistently over the three months, showing that not only is its popularity growing already in just three short months, but also that there is demand from residents, traders and indeed shoppers for a market of its kind in the area. The area is so lucky to have the prefect location, as the steps are not only beautiful, charming and unique in a way which reflect and compliments the artisans at the market, but it is naturally pedestrianised.

Keep checking the blog for more news about the future of the market in 2010, or to submit ideas - for example, should the markets be seasonal, April to September with special occasion markets like Christmas and Easter? Should the association invest in gazebos to combat the British climate? We are keen to hear your thoughts.

It's Chriiiiiiiiiistmas SHOP!

Now the date has ticked over to December that Jayne and that Brett got all overexcited - just like small children and have literally decked me out so that I am now the cosiest little Christmas wonderland. I suppose it's a shop's equivalent of a Christmas jumper...