HELLO THERE YOU FABULOUS PERSON…
Soooo, you want to know more about me? Let’s start simple and go from there….
I’m Catrin and I’m not ashamed to admit that I am a Quirky Shopper!
I have been on this planet for four decades, it doesn’t seem real, it’s weird to be this old and still feel like I’m 19! I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but what I’m doing now is pretty cool!!
FAMILY…
My immediate family is very little, only the three of us, but my extended family is very big. We are both one of four siblings so I am gathering nieces and nephews like you wouldn’t believe, I’ve even got great nieces and nephews on my in-laws side…that is just bonkers!
MY WHY…
It is mostly down to wanting to support our nine year old boy. Despite being a huge pain in the bum, he is the absolute best, he is my “why”, He is the reason I keep on trying to succeed, doing this means I don’t have to miss any of his milestones, his concerts, his sport days etc, this allows me to be “Mami”!
WHERE AM I BASED?
I live in West Wales, UK on the outskirts of a market town. I really do get the best of all worlds here, I can walk to town but I have country fields behind the house. A very short drive will take me to the nearest beach! I am very lucky.
But I am seeking world domination; so wherever you are in the world, stick around and let’s see what happens!
MY BACKGROUND…
I have a degree in being creative and dramatic! I worked in the Wales Millennium Centre during it’s opening. I worked as a researcher for media companies. I was also a Publishing Team Leader and Welsh Language Officer for the Wales Audit Office before becoming self-employed to run my own gift shop online, which I did for over ten years!
I am 100% pure-bred Welsh (I think!!) and I’m proud to be a Welsh-speaker, it is my first language, it’s beautiful and precious.
SOCIAL MEDIA Q&A…
How did you get started as a quirky shopper?
I have always been good at finding things other people couldn’t online…that goes back to the days when I had a “proper” job. I have always tried to find interesting and unique gifts. I did run an online gift shop for around ten years, and as I was trying to adapt my business, I had a light bulb moment that I should try my hand at blogging, and promoting products that I love whilst I write. I set up this website within a week of getting the idea, it was a no-brainer for me, being able to work whilst window shopping, it’s a dream come true!
Which quirky items do you love?
I love practical items that are shaped in a quirky way. My favourite quirky item is my teapot on a stove oil burner. I love things that just make my heart sing when I see them, normal and plain doesn’t do much for me, I want colour and a theme, they make life a little bit more exciting!
Why do you love what you do?
I love that I am still able to be my own boss, I am still in charge of my hours which means I have flexible hours to be there for our son when he needs me. I also get a massive buzz when I see people buy the things I share, it makes me feel like what I do is worthwhile.
Who did you want to become when you were younger?
When I was little, I wanted to be a nurse, I think I was quite taken by the stories of Florence Nightingale! But then I wanted to be a popstar, I love singing, I love writing, and I wanted to make the world a better place and I wanted to use my “fame” to help create world peace. My dreams have changed since then, yes, I would love to have the courage to be a singer/ songwriter, but I don’t want the fame anymore, but the world peace bit? Yes please, I’d love to help create that!
Do you have a gene called OR6A2 which makes coriander taste like soap?
I do enjoy fresh coriander in salads and curries, and my favourite naan bread is kulcha-e-lasson which is garlic and coriander…I do not enjoy soapy naan breads, so I don’t think I have this gene!
What is your favourite quirky find?
This is probably the hardest question to answer, I love a lot of the quirkies I find. The massive bookshelf with a ladder stands out in my mind, but I have found so many beautiful things over the years, from artwork to teapots, I have found some special pieces. This has given me an idea, let’s see if my technophobe brain can work out how to put a star or something on my favourites! Watch this space!