Wee Birdy

Wee find: Ella Doran for Glasgow School of Art

One of the wee finds I stumbled across in the Glasgow School of Art shop is this collection of stationery and homewares by London designer Ella Doran, whose shop I reviewed a few years ago.

Capturing some of the more unknown details of Mackintosh's building in her inimitable photographic style, Ella's produced a range of notebooks, mugs and coaster for the shop. Apparently she used the student tour guides' list of favourite 'hidden' spots for inspiration.

Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew Street
Glasgow G3 6RQ
Tel. 0141 353 4526
Nearest underground: Cowcaddens

A wee trip to Glasgow, Part 3

Willow Tea Rooms
Take tea in Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed splendour, surrounded by wooden lattice-style screens, iconic high-backed ladder chairs and incredible leaded glasswork. There are several Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, but the Sauchiehall Street location is the best as it retains most of the original architectural details.

Designed by Mackintosh for Kate Cranston in 1904, every detail was considered and carefully planned, right down to the teaspoons and the waitresses’ uniforms. The afternoon tea includes shortbread alongside the usual suspects of sandwiches, scones and cake, and is reasonably priced at £11.95.

Or you could go for the more traditional Scottish option of haggis, neeps and tatties.
The Willow Tea Rooms
217 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow G2 3EX
Tel. 0141 332 0521

Timorous Beasties
This local design studio has reached legendary status in the interiors world, with their fresh and subversive take on traditional wallpaper.

You might recognise their French toile-style London and Glasgow designs, which portray gritty urban scenes of homeless people, muggings and a dude pissing in the park. Great stuff.

If you’re not in the market for wallpaper, you can still get a piece of Beasties brilliance, with an excellent collection of lampshades, mugs and cushions.
Timorous Beasties
384 Great Western Road
Glasgow G4 9HT
Tel. 0141 337 2622
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10.30am-6pm
Friday 10.30am-5pm

Voltaire & Rousseau
The sheer volume of higgledy-piggledy stock in Voltaire & Rousseau can be quite overwhelming, and it’s the book hoarder’s answer to Relics (complete with shop cat and dog).

It’s well worth spending some time to have a poke around – I picked up a wonderful old book, The Scottish Clans & Their Tartans, featuring 96 colour plates of Tartans. A wee gem.
Voltaire & Rousseau
18 Otago Lane
Glasgow G12 8PB

Click here for a Wee Trip to Glasgow, Part 1
Click here for a Wee Trip to Glasgow, Part 2

A wee trip to Glasgow, Part 2

Glasgow School of Art
Considered to be one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s greatest masterpieces, Glasgow School of Art is a living, breathing, working campus, but it’s the building itself, and the painstaking attention to detail, that is most impressive. It's seriously glorious, and I had to stop myself from squealing in delight at every nook and cranny.

Showcasing Mackintosh’s progressive approach to architecture where Arts and Crafts meets Art Nouveau via traditional Japanese design, there are loads of hand-made details to admire. I really loved the organic motifs of birds, flowers and insects, which are repeated throughout the building.

The school isn’t generally open to the public, but I thoroughly recommend that you pre-book one of the daily guided tours. Make sure you pay a visit to the excellent School of Art Shop, where you can buy all manner of lovely Mackintosh-themed paraphernalia, as well as the latest collections from the School’s graduates.

Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew Street
Glasgow G3 6RQ
Tel. 0141 353 4526
Nearest underground: Cowcaddens
Images courtesy of Glasgow School of Art

Che Camille
Sprawled across the sixth floor of the historic Argyll Arcade is Glasgow’s most progressive retail destination for young and emerging fashion designers, with an emphasis on local talent.

Here you’ll find some really lovely limited edition Harris Tweed bags (the satchels are superb) from £160, as well as Harris Tweed and velvet shift dresses by Scottish designer Nelfin.

Paul Cassidy’s Tunnocks Glasgow Tenement tees make a perfect souvenir for £20.

Also keep an eye out for luxe feather headpieces by local milliner William Chambers, and Dana Finnigan’s vivid digital print designs.

Che Camille Showroom and Studio
Floor 6, Argyll Chambers, 34 Buchanan Street
Glasgow G2 8BD
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

The Glasgow Vintage Co
A new addition to Glasgow’s vintage scene, this spacious two-level boutique stocks a wide selection of clothes for men, women and children.

I found some real bargains, and the hat section downstairs is not to be missed.
The Glasgow Vintage Co
453 Great Western Road
Glasgow G12 8HH
Tel. 0141 338 6633
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday 11am-5.30pm
Friday to Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday noon-5pm

Deep Fried Mars Bar from University Cafe

Oh yes, I went there. And it was disgustingly delicious, too. The University Cafe is also home to traditional Fish Suppers and all manner of deep-fried food (they can do deep-fried Cadbury Creme Eggs on request).
University Cafe
87 Byres Road
Glasgow G11 5HN
Tel. 0141 339 5217

Part 3 coming tomorrow.
Click here for a Wee trip to Glasgow, Part 1.
Click here for a Wee trip to Glasgow, Part 3.

Wee find: The Cat in the Shoe

Just wanted to show you more of the whimsical work by The Cat in the Shoe, which I discovered at The Maisonette in Glasgow. Based in Hackney, East London, The Cat in the Shoe hand-stitches totally original fantastical creatures using vintage, recycled and new fabrics.

The long-necked stripey pie girls remind me of Alice in Wonderland (apparently Lewis Carroll was inspired by the long-necked figures on the brass fireplace in the main hall at Christ Church College), whilst the furry deer girl is a little more Where the Wild Things Are. Delightfully quirky and original.

A wee trip to Glasgow, Part 1

The Maisonette
Tucked away upstairs on Cresswell Lane, this relatively new addition to Glasgow’s shopping scene is a veritable crafty delight. The brainchild of local craft collective Made in the Shade, the boutique showcases a beautifully-edited selection of pieces by local designer-makers, as well as crafts from around the UK.

Look out for knitted creatures by ex-local Donna Wilson, screen-printed totes by Show Pony and 'pie girl' by The Cat In The Shoe. I loved Angharad Jefferson’s hand-embroidered cushions and framed artworks, which feature her own illustrations of UK TV soap legends as well as portraits of her old school teachers. 

And for something a wee bit birdy, don’t miss Clare Nicolson’s vintage fabric lavender sachets, £7. I was also rather charmed by Ding Dong Design’s hand-knitted finger puppet – I spied Bjork in her legendary Marjan Pejoski swan frock, for £8.
The Maisonette
Upper Floor
De Courcy’s Arcade
Cresswell Lane G12 8AA
Opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-7pm
Friday to Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday noon-5pm

W2 Store
I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised and excited to stumble across W2 in the middle of vintage shop territory.

The former Commes des Garcons guerilla shop has been reinvented as W2, stocking the likes of Margaret Howell and Adam Kimmel alongside quite a few of the Commes lines and Junya Watanabe. Keep an eye out for Commes wallets, fragrance and some lovely pieces from the PLAY line (I loved the cheery red and white polka dot macs). The shop's manager, David, is also really nice and welcoming, and extremely knowledgable about all things Commes. A real delight.
W2 Store
10 Ruthven Lane
Glasgow G12 9BG
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday noon-5pm

Starry Starry Night
One of Glasgow's best vintage clothes shops, Starry Starry Night offers a vast selection of well-priced gear for both men and women.

Best for glittery costume jewellery (I found some really lovely brooches) as well as vintage kilts (around £55) and argyle jackets (around £45).
Starry Starry Night
19–21 Dowanside Lane
Glasgow G12 9BZ
Tel. 0141 337 1837
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am–5.30pm

Relics
This over-stuffed hoarders’ haven is more car-boot sale explosion than shop. But tiptoe carefully around some rather precariously-placed vintage wares, and you’ll find quite a few well-priced gems.

I managed to find some very sweet Danish Nymolle plates, as well as some old British children's annuals, postcards and a fantastic collection of vintage glassware. 
Relics
Dowanside Lane
Glasgow G12 9BZ
Tel. 0141 341 0007

Kember and Jones
A cheery deli and cafe nestled in the heart of the West End, Kember and Jones is crammed with all sorts of foodie delights.

The upstairs loft cafe boasts an impressive daily specials board with seasonal produce (the curried parsnip and apple soup was doing a roaring trade on my visit), alongside a hearty breakfast and lunch menu. I couldn't go past the heart-stopping display of cakes, especially the carrot cake with a generous slab of cream cheese icing. Drool.

Kember and Jones
134 Byres Road
Glasgow G12 8TD
Tel. 0141 337 3851

Click here for a wee trip to Glasgow, Part 2.
Click here for a wee trip to Glasgow, Part 3.