Pop-Up Christmas

A lovely Pop-up shop has, well, Popped-Up in Cabot Circus this month...

This year, the run up to Christmas has seen over 100 local artists come together as part of ‘Pop-Up Bristol’ - a new initiative from Made in Bristol that has showcased a diverse range of independent galleries and creative talent on the high street for the first time, adding a new dimension to Christmas shopping at Cabot Circus this year. The pop-ups offer the opportunity to purchase quality gifts and one-off pieces by up-and-coming artists.

Drawn in Bristol is a newly formed, locally focused illustration collective which hosts regular events & shows in the city. The collective has 50 members and celebrates the work of Bristol based illustrators by providing them with a platform to showcase their work. Their stunning shop can be found in Quakers Friars and features original illustrations, prints and cards, handmade toys and locally designed T-shirts.

‘Upfest’, established in 2008 and now Europe’s largest graffiti art festival, adds a new dimension to Level 1 of the Glass Walk in Cabot Circus with an urban art and graffiti gallery, ‘POP-UPfest’. As well as urban style artworks, the gallery will feature Bristol street art photography and weekly live drawing events.

Along with these, the ‘Smithson Gallery’ pop-up provides a platform for a variety of talented artists and styles, offering original art and prints alongside great cards and original gift ideas including bags, cushions, tea towels, ceramics and decoration.

Pop-Up Bristol will be hosting a party to celebrate the one-month countdown to Christmas on Thursday November 24th at 6pm across their three temporary festive galleries at Cabot Circus!

The event will offer guests a fantastic opportunity to see and purchase all the brilliant artworks the shops have on offer and will also feature live drawing and music. There will also be a chance to meet all of the diverse and talented artists involved in the project along with some exciting special guests.

So if you are around in Cabot this Christmas season make sure you Pop by! They will be open as follows:
POP-UPfest: Open now - 24th December (level1, Glass Walk)
Drawn in Bristol: Open now - 3rd December (Quakers Friars)
Smithson Gallery and Gifts: Open now - 24th December (Level 1, Glass Walk)
Bristol Creatives: Open now - 24th December (Quakers Friars)

For more information check it out here!

Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

P.S I am really excited about Christmas! :)

Elvis isn't dead...

Hello Strangers,

It is crazy to think that this time last year I was enduring the long bus journey from Oxford to London and then an hour long underground trek - enjoying an internship at French Connection!It was an interesting experience but it already feels like it was a million years ago. What I really enjoyed was being able to help out with print a bead work. It is very strange to see some of the pieces I helped with sitting in the shops waiting to be bought. Gives me a little skip in my step when I see an advert for a garment I saw at it's beginnings. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed it! Thank you to the people who helped me get it and who taught me a great deal about what the industry is like.

Anyway the reason I rave about some of the garments is because I have recently purchased one. It was in the sale but £325 reduced to £150 I think is still fair :). It is the Broiderie Brogue dress in cream leather with a laser cut pattern. I can tell you the silly thing I get excited about is I remember photocopying the pattern and trying to make it match at the seams and also drawing the pattern on to a working drawing. Silly but it gives me a little thrill.I did have an occasion to splash the cash and get such a statement piece - it wasn't just for wearing round the house! It was Mr FF's Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September = A big deal! A lot of his relatives were there, some travelled from Italy and America to come and celebrate. It was lots of fun with a five course lunch and a Dean Martin impersonator serenading us all and in the evening there was a hog roast and an Elvis impersonator. It was so much fun!! I have added some pictures in this post so you can see mine and Mr FF's outfits and some of the crazy shenanigans!

Mr FF and I
Mr FF and I with Mr FF's Bro and GirlfriendThe Grandparents = awwwAnd a rather close call with Elvis!

Anyway speak soon!!
Fashion Fantasist xx

(Thank you David D'Elia for the event photographs)