BAKE MY CAKE - BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE WEDDING CAKES!

We are excited to have Emma of Bake My Cake back with us at the vintage fair as her designs and skills have to be seen (and tasted) to be appreciated! 

Emma admits that she was baking obsessed from an early age, baking all kinds of goodies, mostly sweet, from puddings to pastries. With a degree in Catering and Hospitality Management and further work as a commis chef through to a kitchen manager, Emma knew that food was where her heart was!

Emma became self taught in creating sugar flowers and these have become a bit of a trade mark on her cakes. They are incredible and so delicate that it's hard to believe they are not real sometimes! 

Emma can create beautiful dessert tables with cake pops, iced biscuits and cupcakes that will wow your guests and be a photographers dream to capture! She holds consultations at her kitchen studio where you can taste different flavours as well as gluten free options. 

Emma will sketch out the design for your wedding cake, working with your ideas, designs and budget. Your cake can be contemporary or traditional, grand or elegant, one flavour or different flavours on every tier. We are big fans! 

W: http://www.bakemycake.co

E: emma@bakemycake.co

T: 07980 981 890

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EVOKE PICTURES - BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

With over 15 years experience as professional wedding photographers in Bristol and the surrounding area, Fran and Chris work in partnership as Evoke Pictures, offering a unique service on your wedding day.  They limit their wedding bookings to 25 a year, meaning you get a totally bespoke and personalised service and, on the day, they work unobtrusively in the background, capturing everything naturally and recording the day as it unfolds.  As you have two photographers, your wedding is captured through both their lenses so they never miss a moment of your day!

Your guests won't spend hours standing in groups as they aim to take the pictures as quickly as possible so you can get back to having fun, but they'll be there in the background capturing all those wonderful instants that you might miss.

Happy to travel far and wide, as well as documentary wedding photography, they offer a range of other services including family portraits, contemporary head-shots, lifestyle, corporate, interior and event and food photography.  In fact they took the stunning photos from last year's Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair, which we adored!

Evoke Pictures

Email: info@evokepictures.com

Tel: Fran 07979 551580/Chris 0790 7722555

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CHRISTMAS IS COMING ...

Today I received my long-awaited book order through the post and it occurred to me that it would be a perfect Christmas present for anyone who loves Bristol Vintage so I thought I'd write a quick post to let you know about it in time for Christmas ordering!

To give you a bit of background, several years ago I read about someone who was putting on a 'market' in her flat in London.  I was intrigued, signed up and that's how I met Kerstin Rodgers, aka Ms Marmite Lover.  I loved her instantly - she is one of those people with a big personality - fun, feisty, bursting with ideas and not afraid to put those ideas into actions.  

At her first market I sold my vintage wares from her bed and shared her bedroom with several fascinating stallholders, including a cocktail bar on her ironing board!  Sadly, she's no longer able to hold the at-home markets, but her last 'night market' will be one of my enduring Bristol Vintage memories - I was based in her gorgeous garden shed-cum-guest room, surrounded by fantastic-smelling food stalls and a piano-accordionist playing Radiohead's 'Creep' with barely a free inch to breathe, the evening was so popular- a surreal, fun and inspiring night to remember!

Kerstin launched the supper club/pop up/underground movement in the UK in 2009 with The Underground Restaurant and her Find A Supper Club website is the major online resource for supper clubs to advertise their dates and locations.

Her first book 'Supper Club: Recipes and notes from the underground restaurant' is one of my favourite recipe books (and, according to my husband I have far too many!) and has proved a really popular gift amongst my friends.  It's also stunningly beautiful, fabulously innovative and the sort of book I like to just sit and read in the evening.

My copy of Ms Marmite Lover's Secret Tea Party arrived this morning and immediately fell open on one of my all time favourite sweet treats - Pasteis de Belem (Portuguese Custard Tarts). I'm ashamed to say that, what was supposed to be a productive afternoon working, has ended up with me salivating over glorious photographs of divine afternoon tea recipes, from the obligatory Marmite Sandwiches, through fabulously simple Olive Oil & Chocolate Crostini, naughty Magic Meringue Mushrooms to the wonderful Outrageous Multi-tiered Raspberry Pavlova as well as teatime cocktails!  Including tips on furnishing and setting the table, making your own cake stands and reading tea leaves, the result is another beautiful, imaginative, inspiring cook book that anyone who loves cooking, baking AND eating will adore!

Right - had better get back to work ... but think I'll just make a Ginger Hot Chocolate to keep me going!

WE'RE SUPPORTING CHELTENHAM OPEN DOOR

As I'm not local to Cheltenham, I asked The Daffodil to nominate a local charity for us to support and they suggested Cheltenham Open Door.

I did a bit of research and chatted to some of the volunteers there and I'm really impressed by what they do and hope our contribution will help in a small way.  £1 of every £2 entry fee will go direct to the charity.

They don't just help the homeless but a myriad of people with different social needs but all are vulnerable, disadvantaged or lonely.  The charity, which was founded in 1992 by Flip Thornett-Roston and initially based at Grosvenor Hall, works to relieve poverty, hardship and social or emotional distress.  In 1988 the charity moved into 39 Grosvenor Street, where they're now open on all year round on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm serving tea, coffee and a hot meal at lunchtime.  They also open on Sundays from 9.45 to 11.45 to serve a packed lunch takeaway. 

At Christmas they open as a 24 hour shelter and move to St Luke's Hall, where they're open from lunchtime on the 24th, Christmas Eve, through to after lunch on the 27th.

Open Door are a drop-in centre where everyone is welcome and they don't judge or ask questions.  They deal with people with mental health issues, eviction problems and any social needs people have.  They have shower facilities, an area where people can get clothes and food stores distributing food parcels.  They also link to other organisations, so can point people in the right direction for where they need help, including Cheltenham Housing Aid, Turning Point, CCP, meaning they can help individuals find help where they need it.

Everyone working at Open Door are volunteers, working on different shifts.  They cater for about 50 people a day and have shifts of 3 or 4 each day.  They are totally reliant on voluntary donations and, if you want to help they always need donations of soft food, clothes, bedding, tents, sleeping bags and anything they can pass on to people needing help. 

If you want to donate, volunteer or help in some other way, why not call them on: 01242 577418.

Pretty Nostalgic

Bristol Vintage is proud to present our sponsor… Pretty Nostalgic.

Pretty Nostalgic is a bi-monthly vintage home and lifestyle magazine that celebrates all things brilliantly British.

Championing traditional and sustainable living, each issue is packed full of original, well-researched content, specially commissioned artwork, illustrations and photos and many gorgeous items of vintage loveliness.

It's so much more than a magazine… it's a book full of advice on how to spend wisely, waste less and appreciate more; a book you'll want to hang on to.

Founder and Publisher Nicole Burnett says: "Pretty Nostalgic is delighted to be a sponsor at this years Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair, and we are very excited to meet the wonderful British makers, crafters and sellers who will be attending; this is just our cup of tea!  We will also be supporting the fair's charity The Alzheimer's Society by donating £12 for every annual subscription we sell on the day."

We at Bristol Vintage love Pretty Nostalgic and we know you will too. You can find out more on the website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest but come and meet Nicole and her team at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair. With articles on home, food, fashion and community… go on, get up cycling and get creative with Pretty Nostalgic!