Well it was a week full of rain, wind and cold so I didn't hold much hope for the weekend but the weather held out in the end and it was a rather nice day in all. Several visitors commented on just how lovely all the food and design is in the schoolyard area and I totally agree so I'll just get straight into some pictures of fellow stall holders and their wonderful bits and pieces.
First up is
, greeting cards and stationery. I simply must get that owl card next week! They are all fantastic and I wonder if there is a fox card to match Oboe proprietor Emma's amazing foxy hat...?
Next is
, handmade jewellery by Natalie Reed. Natalie trained and worked in Madrid before returning to London. These photos do not do Natalie's work justice so you will just have to come and see them.
I've featured the brilliant designs of
before. I love their graphic black and white t-shirts:
I am also a fan of their line of colorful t-shirts:
All their items are made with bamboo which is soft, strong, ethical and sustainable. I am even a fan of their fliers!
I've also featured
before, but who wouldn't want second helpings of sweets? And not just any sweets but sweets that you can not often find and sweets that take you straight back to childhood and make you happy. Everybody loves sweets and you can find something for everyone inside Primrose, the beautiful 1974 bay window VW campervan, converted into the finest old-fashioned sweet shop.
Primrose may like a map for Christmas that she could then use to traverse the country or globe. If she did then she would definitely want one from
. These are stunning maps that anyone would want hanging on their wall. You can get these here on a Saturday at the market or at their new shop
open every Sunday during the Columbia Road flower market at 148A Columbia Road, E2
.
I am very excited about the addition of
to the playground. Everything is made from recycled natural fabrics, organic and traditional herbal block-printed cottons and off-cuts. Their motto is, "Life is more fun when you're wearing a playsuit!" The pieces are stunning and so affordable you would be daft to not come and peruse the parlour.
Next up is Betty's Attic which has different little treasures each week including jewellery, ceramics, paper treasures and much, much more.
You'll never believe who I bumped into at Betty's Attic.....only Paddington Bear! Anyone who knows me knows that I have a Paddington Bear who I have had almost my whole life. Paddington and I do not like to think of age in numbers but let's just say we've known each other over thirty years and he has been with me through thick and thin. Now he'll be crazing me to come down the market to meet this P Bear but I know Paddington and he's much better off cozy and warm on a Saturday while I am flogging my homemade chutney, jelly and jam.
Speaking of Smy Chutney, we now have homemade Mincemeat available, it is delicious and has the not-so-secret ingredient of Smy Chutney plum gumbo and Smy Chutney brandied cherries and accompanying Smy Chutney cherry brandy added to it to take it to that next level - boom! We're making mincemeat so that you don't have to. Come down and try a sample!
So if that hasn't given you loads of ideas of things to come and see down the market, there's also the live entertainment! Next week I will have the name of the drummer and double bassist who really liven up the Market with their outstanding skills and wonderful set lists including lots of songs from the Jungle Book (yay!) and they even squeezed in a favourite of mine from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The picture below captures their special guest star, Haysie, who briefly sat in for a spell on backup vocals and triangle. Haysie, I wasn't teasing when I said you have a wonderful voice!
See you next Saturday.....
and remember...it's not your chutney...it's Smy Chutney