As far as craft fairs go in Glasgow, I quite like this one. It's a handy location in Merchant…read moreSquare and runs every weekend on Saturday and Sunday. During December, it's also on a Friday. I visited this weekend after brunch and was impressed by the range of stalls. There's always lots of nice artwork here and there was quite a few pieces which caught my eye. There was stalls selling nice pieces of glasswork (I got a couple of pieces which look like Clyde from Glasgow 2014), cute baby gifts, jewellery and tea-cup candles by Made by Suzi. Most stallholders are pretty friendly and chatty and generally, the fair has a welcoming and chilled out vibe. There's a cash machine right on Merchant Square too so you can top yourself up with cash.

I absolutely adore this fair as it has some of the most brilliant crafters, photographers and…read moredesigners I have come across. It runs every weekend right in the middle of the square. I was on the look out for a wee birthday present for my auntie especially as she and her son hadn't been keeping well. I fortunately came across some beautiful glass work and to be honest I wanted it all. My purse told me otherwise. Haha! I got a beautiful angel made from original 1970s perforated glass. I was so pleased with it and I knew she'd appreciate that it's also hand crafted. I picked up a couple of other bits and pieces, there really is so much good things to choose from as the standard is high. If you're stuck for that something a little different I would definitely pop in and have a wee browse. It's set in a lovely area and if shopping goes well you can always stop off at one of the many surrounding bars and restaurants for a wee congratulated schwally.

Ae Fond Kiss, if anyone's familiar with the Burns poem, is very, very sad! It makes me cry!…read more This shop, gladly, does not. What it does do is sell quaint, comely little household decorations that look tailormade for gifts. It falls into the more sophisticated category of quirky wholesalers, with a lot of plaid patterened doorstops on offer in the shape of animals, not to mention fabric covered magnet boards for your kitchen. It's got a very country kitchen feel all over, from the decor to the items, all wound up in ribbon or made out of leaves. There were a wide range of curiosities on offer, most seemingly made by original designers, and all looking very organic. They also do gently humourous cards, kitschy wrapping paper, a small range of sale stock from previous lines, and a selection of handmade jewellery from independent designers. The jewellery would be a great gift for anyone who likes simple, elegant and meaningful designs. Not to make any rash suggestions ladies and gents, but if you fancy getting your partner something different for a birthday then definitely come here for a browse. The one-of-a-kind rings engrained with sections of poems and graceful, romantic prose would make you swoon. I almost bought myself one because they are so unique but I might drop some major hints for my birthday...which is in six months time...a girl can only wish! It's always refreshing visiting a shop which strays away from the main market, and this one's whimsical offering certainly does. 5 minutes away from Byres Road and in the middle of the student thoroughfare coming from Murano St, you can't miss this place if you're looking for a present or indeed to treat yourself with something that's not cynically designed by big brands.

The title is Burns, but the contents are definately not!…read more This crafty little gift shop is the one-stop shop for the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Some people are just plain hard to shop for, so if you're having trouble, stop by Ae Fond Kiss. It's full of 'country home' decorations. Some quirky, others quirky AND useful. There are a lot of great bric-a-brac (that's 'knick knacks' to you colonials), but better than that, it's got a unique flavour and style which will make your decorations stand out from everyone else's 'I shop at Ikea' tastes. Little trinkets, teacups and saucers, tea pots, cozies, and some very appealing fairy lights. Hand-knitted treasures as well, which are always a hit. The back corner is a treasure trove of interesting toys for children, the sort of toys which don't necessarily run on batteries, which, in this day and age, is a nearly-forgotten pasttime. The staff are very friendly, ready to chat about anything in the shop and it's once again a champion for the independant shop owners! Stop in for a last minute gift and as Chris D mentioned earlier, it'll look like you've spent ages searching for it.

A hidden gem! Two small seoerate shops. One selling her own pottery and a general gift shop. Prices…read morefir her handmade pottery are reasonable, but the prices for general gifts are VERY cheap. Scented candles with 80hr burn around £2 - other shops for similar candles £8+ The handmade pottery might not be to everyones taste but it is well worth a visit if in the area. It's also well signposted for such a small business.

Great little shop, pottery from the shelf or made to order. Gift shop too.read more

A trip to Helen's Haberdashery is like rummaging around in the dressing up box when you were a kid,…read moreand provides endless entertainment. A longstanding addition to the In-Shops in The Forge Shopping Centre, this has always been the place to head for Halloween, Fancy Dress Parties, Friday nights...Any excuse! They have reels and reels of gorgeous fabrics, for the keen clothing maker, as well as lots of tubes of lovely buttons, thread, needles, wool, knitting needles - the lot! This place has saved me many a time for last minute costumes, selling ready made entire outfits, at a snip of the price of their city centre competitors. I particularly enjoy paying a visit to have a giggle over trying on their silly wigs and transforming my 'do to all manner of ridiculous new looks. A marvellous little dressing up box of a shop and one that I visit time and time again. Highly recommended for fans of dressmaking and dressing up.

This is a little Aladdins cave if you are looking for ideas for an outfit for a fancy dress party…read more they have an array of ready made proffesional looking outfits and masks if you are not that creative. Prices are really reasonable and much cheaper than you would pay elsewhere. If you are handy with a needle and thread then you can buy all the items to make your own items as they have a huge amount of different fabrics, trims and buttons etc. Staff are really good and if you need a bit of advise about what you need they are more than happy to help. Loads of goodies packed into quite a small space. Best thing is value money.

This is one of the few shops worth visiting in the Quadrant as they often have unusual little…read moregifts. They sell some really nice candles including Yankee Candles which I love and also other items such as handmade soaps and bath bombs. They also sell a large range of vases and artificial flowers. They have a good selection of costume jewellery and it is good for Christmas as they do some nice brooches and scarf pins. Staff are really good and are happy to help you pick out items if you need help with specific colour schemes etc.

It's a shame really because I like this shop and it stocks a lot of lovely jewellery, etc., but I…read moredid get the feeling (and I'm pretty perceptive) that if you don't go in all trendy-west-endy in your pearls and tweed the assumption is you're a shoplifter. Got followed around with chit-chat today under the guise of interest in my upcoming holiday with my sister, but really the underlying message was: "I think you're dressed way too shabby for us, so you must be a shoplifter"... I've bought from here in the past, but I won't be doing so again and this kind of experience only pushes me more towards online shopping.

I've been in this wee gem of a shop loads of times, and always enjoy having a gander around it…read more Reasons I love it: I had an awesomely super, wee old Aunt called Nancy. I went to the same school as Carol Smillie. It's a much bigger shop than you actually think - ever inch of it is covered and piled high with all sorts of awesome nik naks. Think Tiger (see other review) but of a more classy and personalised nature - everything you didn't realise you wanted or needed but absolutely do! Seriously (if the Mr would let me), I could totally kit out the entire flat with stuff from here. The staff are just lovely. In that inimitable West Endish kind of way. What I don't like: It's incredibly cluttered. Making your way through the shop can be treacherous. Especially if there's other cusotomers there. Most of their stuff (as awesome as it is) is very pricy for what it is. Bring on the next sale!

Not being particularly arty Cass Art probably isn't a shop I would have gone into. But I'd booked…read morea place on the Tatty Devine Bunting necklace workshop and so off to Cass Art I trotted. Being a little excited I arrived mega early so had plenty of time to wander round the shop and kick myself for not having been in before. This place is amazing, and whilst I have no need for a sketch book, water colours or charcoals. They do amazing notebooks, a great selection of pens, all the glitter, a huge selection of colouring books and lovely craft kits that are now on my radar for smudge's Christmas. It's spacious, light and airy. Things are tidy and organised methodically so even without the friendly staff it isn't hard to find what you are looking for or what you didn't know you were looking for but now need. The workshop was held in a great space at the back of the store, decorated in a really fabulous graffiti style and making me feel uber cool and artistic - which is quite an accomplishment really! I adored making my own piece of Tatty Devine and getting to chat to the amazing Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden and their equally awesome staff. It was also lovely getting all fangirl with the other workshop participants, it also made me feel like my addiction is much less of a problem than my husband claims and that it could be so so much worse - challenge accepted. I won't wait for the next Tatty Devine visit to head back to Cass Art, like I said I can see some serious Christmas shopping happening in here and obviously I'll have to sneak in a few utterly selfish purchases into the basket.

I'm not artist but that doesn't mean I can't pretend, and after visiting this shop I kind of want…read moreto be one. It's slick, it's new and there's lots of shiny things to stare at in disbelief. Like a Posca fridge. YES, it's a fridge and it has Posca pens in it. Oh my days. So, what kinds of things do they stock? Spray paint (behind the counter so they can check you're legit), artist paints and paper, calligraphy pens and ink, gifts, kids ranges, craft supplies, drawing stuff, Posca pens in a fridge (did I mention that already?!) and they're also going to start doing events and workshops soon. This is definitely a shop worth visiting, even if you don't consider yourself the arty type. There's super friendly staff scattered all through the shop to make sure you can find what you're looking for, and even if there is a queue at the checkout it's because the staff are interested in what you're buying and why. I left with new gold calligraphy ink and my name on the mailing list for upcoming events, and was just £3.50 lighter.

Clearly there is some confusion with this listing, as the Maia I went to was a wee basement shop…read morefull of knick-knacks and quirky gifts on Bath Street, not the huge glass-fronted expanse with coffee shop that people talk about in the reviews... the Buchanan Street one closed in 2011. Anyway, I was on the hunt for a particular 'Glasgow Patter' tea towel and was guided here by my online personal shopper Briony (that's Yelp for you!). Sadly, they only had a Scots patter one, not the Weegie version, so my search continued. But it looks like a nice wee store if you're looking for a gift or greetings cards. It's easy to walk past though as it is in a basement. (Didn't this used to be 23rd Precinct?)

Love this wee gem of a gift shop. Could have spend a small fortune but am trying to be very…read morerestrained, only buy for other people and not be a selfish mare like usual. An eclectic mix of moomin candle whirlers, ipad desks, quirky jewellery, amazing cards and everything in-between. Well worth a wander if you are searching for the illusive gift for that hard to buy for sod at the bottom of your Christmas list who wants for nothing. I was in for stocking fillers for the girls and did not leave disappointed. Smudge is going to be utterly delighted with her scarf wearing panda necklace and Santa was pleasantly surprised at the less than terrifying price tag. With the additional 10% check in discount I felt positively virtuous and absolved of all the sinning I had just been committing in Waterstones. Where my restrained buying for other people plans had failed spectacularly. By the time I had reached the till I had already decided this was going to be a five star review but then the wonderful staff at the till tried to help me lug the buggy up the stairs. I say tried because I may have been using the handy basket at the bottom of the buggy to hide all the books bought in Waterstones, meaning that the buggy weighed more than a family hatchback and actually couldn't be lifted even by two people and Puff just had to suck up bumped up the stairs. A great wee shop that I'll probably be back in again before Christmas. If only because I need some of the amazing Christmas cards with huge Rudolph noses and really my tree isn't going to be finished until I have a rocket decoration hanging from it. I didn't even know I needed a rocket tree decoration, well now I do...