Shop Local!

You might have seen various calls this Christmas urging you to shop local and support local and independent businesses (Shop Local Saturday this year is taking place on December 7th.) If you’re around the West End of Glasgow, there are loads of opportunities to do this. The area has just won the Great Neighbourhood award from the Academy of Urbanism, praised in part for its community spirit and the wealth of creativity in the area.

It’s no surprise then that independent retailers, bars, restaurants and designer-makers and artists across the West End are banding together to put on Christmas events to give residents the opportunity to shop local, support independent businesses and have a great time! Here’s a quick round-up of the events we know about; they’re all on different dates so you can go to all of them if you so choose!

First up, quite shamelessly, is an event we’re involved with: Yuletide at Cushion & Cake. It takes places on November 28th from 6-9pm and will be in the Cushion & Cake tearoom and across the road at the new Cushion & Cake Too function room (where the C&C Crafternoons are hosted). Sellers who’ll be joining us include Glasgow Craft Mafia alumni Pumpkin Sputnik, Ding Dong Designs and Make Stuff With Us, as well as A Canny Squirrel, Jill Kirkham and loads more! Keep an eye on the Cushion & Cake website and Facebook pages for details of more sellers as they are confirmed.

You’ll also be able to buy from Cushion & Cake’s lovely selection of regular suppliers, including Lovely Pidgeon, Cherith Harrison and Herb Lester. Local traders on Old Dumbarton Road have chipped in to sponsor the event, Duke’s Bar are hosting carol singers and serving mulled wine, and the Old Dumbarton Road Cake Club will be selling cakes in aid of Yorkhill Children’s Hospital.

A week later, and a bit further down the road Festive Finnieston is happening (5th December). Artists and makers based in the Hidden Lane including Finch & Fouracre, Shona Jewellery and Pink Grapefruit will be taking part in a pop-up shop in the Hidden Lane tearoom, and other laners will be welcoming the public to an open studios event.There’ll be lots more happening; follow @festive_finnies on twitter to keep up to date.

The Shop of Interest is also participating in Festive Finnieston- but if you’re about this Sunday, 17th November, they’re hosting their annual birthday sale.

Up at Queen Margaret Drive, the Queen Margaret Drive Winter Festival will take place on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December between 12 noon and 6pm. Queen Margaret Drive is home to lots of independent businesses, including Ae Fond Kiss, the Black Orchid florists and the North Star Cafe. There’ll be a brass band, DJs, stalls, and a whole lot of fun to be had.

Finally, we have to mention ethical fashion retailer Think Boutique and Rapa Nui Gallery, who are once again teaming up to open a festive Pop Up Shop on Byres Road from 21st November to 21st December.

We’ve only mentioned a few of the businesses involved here;  if you’re taking part in any of the above events, please leave a link to your business in the comments. Likewise we’ve listed West End events because that’s where we’re based. If there are any similar events happening elsewhere (Glasgow or other cities and towns), please stick a link in the comments.

A little update – and lots of action!

Inver Cottage

So we’ve been a little bit quiet around these parts for a couple of weeks, but here’s what we’ve been up to:

• Received, quality checked, folded and squirreled away 80% of the t-shirts you ordered via our indiegogo campaign
• Had our first public appearance with actual t-shirts at Inver Cottage – thanks to their lovely patrons we are currently out of all additional stock of the Treehouse design, and down to very limited stock of Puffer
• Finalised the last two designs of our original collection and continued working with exciting new designers behind the scenes for next year’s collection
• We’ve been in talks with potential stockists of our collection and put plans in place for our first trade fair
• Worked on the packaging for our first orders, which will be shipping soon (once said packaging and remaining 20% of orders arrive in the post!)
• Discussed arrangements for the colouring books and badges so they are ready to ship with the t-shirts at the end of the month
• Planned for our next event, at Yuletide in the West End of Glasgow on 28 November – there’ll be reindeer and everything!
• We’ve also eaten A LOT of chips and drunk A LOT of coffee in the interests of getting things done and we also spent a couple of weeks slowing down and generally being kind to ourselves so we didn’t get ill or burnt out.

We can’t wait for the next step – to send you your packages and hear your feedback, too.

Find us at Inver Cottage – this Sunday, 10 November

Inver Cottage really is one of the West Coast of Scotland’s best places to visit.  A restaurant, a visitor attraction, a cosy (and well-stocked) bar, a view you could bottle, space for events both public and private, and home this weekend to the annual Christmas shopping event, which we’re proud to be a part of.

An independent, family-run business, Inver Cottage is one of the UK’s top restaurants for ethically-sourced fish, including local hand-caught scallops and langoustines.  You can have a delicious lunch then take a walk to the ruins of Old Castle Lachlan, to build your appetite back up for scones and tea.  Although you should definitely bring your wellies, we’ve seen hardier locals swimming in the bay just outside the picture window at the front of the restaurant at this time of year!

All the information can be found on the Inver Cottage website, and facebook page.  We’ll see you there with a small selection of our t-shirts, which are being couriered direct from the printer as I type.  We can’t wait!

Winter wrap up

Did anyone else have to scrape ice from the car this morning?  It’s getting chilly out there.  Our thoughts have turned to getting cosy, and we’ve found some very nice things out there to warm up your day.

We want to snuggle with Mabel the Hedgehog, available from Sara Carr on Folksy

 

As t-shirt makers, we are also big fans of the winter layer.  This basic but stylish pattern for a cover up is available from The Velvet Acorn on Etsy – crochet versions are also available, and patterns for all kinds of winter woolies come in styles which work for boys or girls.

One for the mums and dads, here.  Cashmere socks are a staple of my winter evenings.  This oatmeal textured pair are from Toast, which is a fine purveyor of all things toasty-making.  

Although Brora.co.uk is new to me, the brand has been making fine cashmere products in the Scottish Borders for more than 200 years.  They also have a very generous sale right now, with this traditional blanket for children reduced from £72 to £45.

Be warm out there!