Isabel's Supasew is a great little knitting and sewing store just round the corner from Patrick Bus…read moreStation. It's not a huge place but it's amazing the selection of yarn they manage to pack in. It's not full of the expensive Alpaca and cashmere blends you might find in John Lewis but it does house a staggering range of colours and textures and all at a decent price. I first discovered the place when looking for yarn to use at a Yelp arm knitting get-together organised by Lucy B. I hadn't been able to find anything I liked elsewhere but there was a great choice at Supasew. I ended up choosing a felty blue and white yarn with a leopard print. I knitted up wonderfully and was so soft and snuggly! I was also tempted into buying a gorgeous random yarn that ended up becoming a lovely hat for my friend. My most recent trip was to buy some yarn for Christmas knitting projects, I knew exactly what I wanted and was pleased that they not only had what I needed but that there were different options to choose from. A fluffy white yarn and a sparkly red are now mine and will soon be transformed into lovely Christmas themed bits and bobs. I was running in and out tonight but I spotted about 10 other yarns I want to go back and have a look at. As well as yarns the shop also stocks a good variety of knitting needles, buttons, ribbons and other haberdashery bit and bobs to help you finish your project. So if you're looking to do some knitting and crochet and don't want to break the bank then head down to Supasew soon!

What a wonderful shop with a great range of wool and other lovely little things, and the lady who…read moreruns it is so helpful. It's a pleasure to shop there :)

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.

Hidden gem art shop in a quaint wee lane in Glasgow's West End. Went in for some notepads and…read morepencils to organize for school and got to meet the shop dog, Marcie. Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. Has art supplies too!

On the last Sunday of every month, the Argyll Hotel on Sauchiehall Street plays host to the 'Granny…read moreWould be Proud' vintage fair. Round about the week before, you'll probably encounter a few well dressed vintage-y looking ladies handing out flyers on Byres Road. I usually completely ignore the flyers that people try to give to me in the street, but luckily I did take notice of this one! The fair is held in the bar of the hotel, as well as in a few of the larger rooms upstairs. It is a bit of a squeeze all round -especially as it's usually really busy - but it is worth battling the crowds. At the fair you'll find mainly vintage clothing stalls - at all price ranges. Some are authentic vintage, and some are handmade in vintage styles. I also fell rather in love with some handmade patchwork pillows and checked bunting. There was some extremely cute handmade baby gear on sale too which is definitely worth a mention. As well as clothes, you'll find stalls and stalls of jewelry. Most of it is handmade; my two favourite jewelry stalls were selling painted glass pendants and necklaces made out of old clock cogs! If you're feeling a little peckish after all that vintage-rummaging, the fair has its own little teashop in the seating area of the bar. Here you'll find lots of tea and dainty cupcakes. The Granny Would Be Proud craft fair is definitely worth a visit. There are some real bargains on sale (I got a sequined belt for £1, yes, £1!). It's also just a great outing on a Sunday afternoon - perfect for if you fancy doing something a little different.

I love Granny's Fairs!…read more I have been first as a buyer and more recently as a seller. Its a amazing wee hove of crafty treasures. As a seller the organisers are so helpful and have a genuine love and interest in all the stalls. I felt totally relaxed in the laid back environment they create. GWBP is more than a vintage market, it is a amazing little platform for independent designers, makers and crafty folk to get their good's out on display.

EEEEP! new yarn shop in Glasgow :)…read more I spoke to the lady and she said she had been open for a couple of months and she is just about to start doing lessons, at first push of the door you might think its locked but its not - its just a bit sticky - it caught me and another customer out :) I wasn't in very long but there was a good selection of drops yarn and some other lovely yarns too - this is not a shop to pop in for your acrylics etc. they sell knitpics needles and the owner is lovely and friendly. its a good location just at the end of Trongate and you can walk to in in ten minutes from central station.

Great little shop with a nice selection of yarn, buttons and knitting supplies. Plus, major points…read morefor having local yarn. I love getting yarn while traveling and it is always nice to get something that you can't find anywhere else. Very friendly service as well.

Opened online 2013-same great selection and a really easy to navigate.read more

It's hard to get excited about a stationers (well, it is for guys at any rate), but this is one of…read morethose 'essential' shops that is good to have in Byres Road and I'm glad it's here. If I have a lot of stuff to buy, I'll get in the car and go to Staples, but for the odd file folder or pen, it's easier to come here. Mostly I buy printer ink when my cartridges are beyond the point where they can be recycled at Cartridge World down the road, and for that alone, I am grateful for the presence of Ryman. Incidentally, did you know that printer ink is the most expensive fluid on the planet? After purchasing a couple of XL cartridges here, you will soon appreciate that fact. Although they do have a 25% off the second cartridge, so it's worth stocking up if you can afford to take out a second mortgage to do so. The staff are always helpful and cheery at making sure you can find what you're looking for, although I suspect this might be more of a tactic to deter shoplifters to be honest. For a relatively small shop, they do have a good stock of pretty much anything to fill your stationery requirements, and since the demise of the John Smiths bookstore (which had a great stationery department), Ryman is a welcome addition to the Byres Road shopping scene.

There's some strange phenomenon which means whenever I'm on Byres Road, I need to get stationery…read more Whether it be a notebook for a meeting, packets of blu tack or clipboards (sometimes all of these things at the same time), I'm always glad that Ryman is in a great location and has a good range for the size of this shop. It's not on the same level as other stationery shops for an exciting shopping experience. There's not many cute notebooks, fun novelties or drool-worthy pens (I love stationery, big time!) - but what they do have is a good selection and not bad prices. The staff are ok, not overly friendly and always on the upsell but it doesn't hurt so that's fine. Thanks Ryman for being so handy when I need you the most!

A cool new addition to Old Dumbarton road. Ideal for statement pieces of art at affordable prices…read moreor a unique card or small gift. The owner, Amy, was very welcoming and introduced herself to me and I met an artist visiting for the opening with her lovely hairy dachshund (who I got a wee cuddle of!) I love the minimalist decor and it smelled lovely with a gorgeous scented candle in the background. I look forward to a longer browse when I have more time.

You've got to love Papyrus really. Occupying a prime corner location near the top of Byres Road,…read moreit's always there when you need it for a last-minute gift or eccentric knick-knack when you can never think of anything suitable to buy for that special (or even not-so-special) person. Papyrus are past masters at this game; they've been at it for much longer than any of the younger upstarts on Byres Road, and deservedly so. You're practically guaranteed to fulfil all your gift needs in here, including a nice card. After a fruitless search in the city centre for a particular item, I eventually Googled it and Papyrus came up right away, which was both satisfying (that my search was over) and irritating (I could have saved myself the £2.70 return on the subway into town). Yay Papyrus! As it happens (so I was told), they have a sister store called Illuminati in Princes' Square in town, which I didn't know, and they also had the item in question in stock. Too bad they didn't come up in the Google search I did when I was in Buchanan Street then - maybe they need to work on their SEO a little, hmmm? The other great thing about Papyrus is their downstairs collection of kitchenware. Now I can't profess to know what's in there these days as I haven't felt the need to indulge my kitchenware fetish for quite some time, but if you're the sort of person who can't resist the next 'essential' kitchen gadget, you'll love it.

I cheekily headed out to the West End on my lunch break, I was dropping off some leaflets though so…read moreI did kinda have an excuse. I wanted to get a card that was a bit different but that's me though I'm always looking for something on the whimsical scale. Papyrus is guarenteed to give you that something a little characteristic, although a little bit dearer than a normal card shop it's definitely worth the few extra pennies. As my best friend's recently gave birth to the most adorable wee boy I wanted a card to reflect that. I found a beautiful card by Five Dollar Shake that said it all, 'Beautiful Baby Boy, Welcome to the World'. It explained on the back how every card's unique and I was just so inspired as her little baby is a wonderful unique little person. Awww! I know getting a bit soppy but it hit the right note. I knew I would find what I was looking for in Papyrus. They also sell kooky kinda gifts so I thought they might have something a little offbeat for a wee present. Nothing was jumping out at me at first but I came across a cracking wee book 'Your New Baby: An Owner's Manual' by Martin Baxendale. It's so funny I'm going to check out more of his books as it's hilarious. I thought this is ideal and would be appreciated by my friends. I just knew I would get what I needed from here. It's a wee shop that's bright, cheerful and colourful with unconventional funky goods. Well worth the look around.