I think the previous reviewers have given pretty good descriptions as to how weird this shop is and…read morethe variety of things you can buy from it. However, there is one thing neither of them have mentioned. The absolutely massive section that is bizarrely dedicated to all things dog related. Goodness knows why this is. Maybe Bottega has a deal with some dog goods supplier firm in China. Anyway, if you are looking for something, anything, do with dogs, you will probably find it in here.

While I agree with much of what the previous Yelper said about this place, I have to take issue…read morewith the assertion it's "hard to define". To me, Bottega is an unashamed junk shop. Good and bad. On my visit, I spotted: Celtic and Rangers Meerkat t-shirts. Build your own model of the Petronas Towers. A blanket with sleeves. A Loch Lomond fridge magnet. A pencil drawing of Henrik Larsson. Yup, this is junk alright, although given its size it's better than your average proprietor of such nonsense thus increasing your chances of unearthing a hidden gem. Not the worst in this genre.

This little gem was here for about two years before i even noticed it existed. Motherwell isn't…read moreexactly a Mecca of shopping excitement, but this little place is a welcome addition to an otherwise uninspiring experience. I went in one day looking for a card when i happened to be passing. It is down next to a sunbed shop, a housing office and a pub so i imagine it doesn't get too much passing trade. It is so cut inside; bright, white and airy and smelling of all the gorgeous goodies on the shelves. I spotted loads of things i liked. Cute little teapots, Arran Aromatic style toiletries, wicker baskets, glittery gift tags and a gorgeous wee range of baby things. There are a few really unusual wedding gift ideas and other gifts for all occasions including birthdays, christenings and engagements. I bought a friend's baby a little ceramic letter 'J' for his bedroom door, adorned with a cute mouse in a Green jumper and she loved it. It was a really unusual thing to find! I also ordered a handmade ceramic glittery name plaque for a little girls first birthday, which i had personalised and ready for me to collect in two weeks. They even have a Yankee Candle stand, which i adore! The staff are lovely, inviting and very helpful and they always seem to have time to chat. This is a mother-daughter business and their passion for the place really shines through. Lovely little shop perfect for all occasions, and Motherwell's saving grace! Gorgeous gifts

Wow - what an Aladdin's Cave this place is! It's like a cross between Ikea and Poundshop. The range…read moreof stuff they carry is bizarre and hugely extensive - everything from kitchen spices to craft jewellery supplies by way of vinyl records (!), kid's toys and executive desk knick-knacks. All (well, most) nicely packaged in that inimitable Swedish minimalist style and very competitively priced. Which is the whole marketing plan, I guess. It certainly works as we were passing and just popped in for a quick look and of course ended up spending about 20 quid! Favourite buy - a Hallowe'en cat head with colour changing eyes and an LED multicoloured light bulb with rotating prism lens - instant disco ball in your living room! If you're looking for cheap and unusual toys for children, it's definitely worth checking out Flying Tiger. Even if your children are well over 40. :)

I actually forgot that Flying Tiger had opened in Buchanan Galleries but spotted it when we were on…read moreour way out to the carpark so I had to pop in for a quick visit. Now I love Tiger and I'm not totally sure why this is called Flying Tiger but it's pretty much the same as every other Tiger I've been to - cheap homewares/stationery kind of stuff which is really cute. This time I didn't actually buy anything (how's that for self restraint) but I'm sure I'll be back as I love their stationery and they had some really nice glassware too.

Misty Glen is a gift shop located in Loch Lomond Shores. They stock an assortment of gifts…read moreincluding bath and body products, mirrors, home ware and jewellery. Given it's location and as Loch Lomond Shores is mainly aimed at tourists, most of the jewellery here is Scottish themed such as Rennie Macintosh or Celtic themed. I really liked the home wares and they had really nice mirrors and vases all at reasonable prices. Overall a nice shop to browse, the staff are friendly, it's well organised and it has a nice, reasonably priced selection of gifts.

It's places like this shop that lend weight to the claim that 'Hyndland Street is the new Byres…read moreRoad'. Fifteen years ago Byres Road was full of individual wee shops like this; today it's all coffee emporiums and charity outlets. I discovered Owen Bissett when doing my Christmas shopping in December. It's not the sort of place that would normally attract me, but I was looking for a nice present for my sister, and their window display looked inviting, so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I made that decision. The place is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of jewellery, bijoux, craft wares, designer knick-knacks and generally precious things (preeeeccccciouuusssss!). I soon found a lovely bracelet and necklace combo that my sister was delighted with, and would probably have ended up spending a lot more than I wanted to had not common sense kicked in. There's such a wide range of really unusual things in here, it is ideal if you're looking for that 'special gift' or just want a thing of beauty for yourself. I think my favourite items were the glass bowl sculptures with the natural wood stands - these large thick glass works appear to have been melted and poured onto driftwood or tree-branch tripods, so that they have flowed into the perfect shape for the support. I have no idea what I would use one for (and I couldn't afford one anyway), they were just lovely pieces of craftsmanship. A definite thumbs-up for the most original and unusual shop in Hyndland Street, if not the entire West End. Check it out - you're sure to find something you like.

I love, love, love this shop!…read more There are far too many beautiful things in stock, be it little trinkets, unique and interesting jewellery or gorgeous ornaments (and everything else in between), meaning that you'll be tempted to clear your bank account buying everything in sight! There's something here for all budgets, which is a bonus. I bought a gorgeous necklace for myself a while back that people always comment on, and it only cost £10. Regardless of price, you can be assured that whatever you buy will always be top quality. Owen's window displays are always eye-catching and well thought out; I defy you to walk past and not at least stop for a good look! Displays are changed regularly, which is a great way to showcase the wide range of what's on offer. I highly recommend liking the shop on Facebook too, as it's an extension of the window displays. The service is always fantastic, and everyone there is so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They'll point out things you might like or will leave you to browse the stock without being over-bearing. It's customer service done correctly, and it's refreshing to behold. It's a great place to go and treat yourself or a loved one, be it Christmas, birthdays or just for the sake of it. It's a truly unique store, and it's wonderful to see such a vibrant independent business thrive. I really can't sing the praises of this shop enough!

*This little place is an Aladdins Cave full of wonderful things to explore that transport you like…read morea time machine to your chosen pieces. Ali and Bobby have created a must see place when your in Glasgow, come and find your own treasure that lights up your eyes and doesn't burn out your wallet. I saved up during lockdown, waiting eagerly for the stores lights to spark back on. £90 spent on two wonderful big pieces, Mums Wicker Chest and a Queen Anne Stool and then a wee Tenner Bag of bric a brac for personal gifts. Oh I do like a good wee barter. Boys my £100 of savings will go a long way to raising more smiles of others, because C & A helped me achieve more than my preset goals I thought they deserved a wee mention for their 100% welcoming service* Thanks Lads. The number never stored on my phone, too busy enjoying the banter we were to press save. See you both soon for some more of my bargains identified and set aside.

For the last six years, C & A antiques have had a lovely wee Princess Jasmine ornament dancing in…read moretheir window, and I am on the verge of buying her before she gets left on the shelf forever! It's quite a wee grotto but it's always worth browsing. From time to time they get some desirable crockery sets in and the occassion spot of Americana diner paraphrenalia. I do enjoy their recurring Betty Boop collection, especially the big waitress Betty they had in the window a while back which was half the size of me! You could easily have put your cutlery on her. There's a little spattering of everything in here but it's worth a look if you're in the area and looking for a new print for your living room, or a little piece of history for your mantlepiece. I think Jasmine will soon be joining my collection of oddities, and I might perhaps begin a brass collection. They always seem to house an ecclectic selection of the latter, from boot polishers to an enchanting wee art nouveau carriage which looks like it's a candle holder. I'm almost tempted to buy it but since it has real working wheels I'm scared I'll set my house on fire. Next time you're passing through, stop in for a nosey.

A beautiful card shop which sells cards and gifts for every occasions. Special gifts are on sale…read morehere including the me to you range. Within the shop they also have a great selection of Thornton's chocolate. The shop is lovely and bright and very clean and the card displays are lovely. I love the way the windows are dressed up for special events. The cards are lovely but I feel some are very overpriced and with a few card shops in Motherwell there is a lot of competition. The staff are extremely helpful and pleasant. They also sell lovely soft teddy bears.

I said to the shop owner, "Your shop is very spangly", and I wasn't lying!…read more La Coco, a few doors down from the thoroughfare of Partick Station is great if you're needing a wee last minute nick nack for a birthday. There's a wide selection of jewellery, from bangles to sparkly beads and diamante necklaces with shoe charms to make the lady in your life smile. There is a section dedicated to gifts for new mum's, including cute wee silver trinket boxes with "Baby's first curl" etc inscribed on the lid. There's also a variety of quircky gift ideas, from embroidered photo frames to quaint little owl ornaments or bookmarks or car themed photoframes or mugs. There's even a pin cushion in the shape of a cake! The selling point of this shop, however, is its sparkle. Although there's a few gorgeous wee flowery purses to satisfy your indie tastes, it's a diamond studded wonderland. We were very bedazzled! But there's a good range of goodies in here - it reminds me vaguely of a silver studded Papyrus. And the shop keeper is very bubbly. Good to know about if you need a wee extra present for a loved one!

La Coco is a very cute gift boutique just off Dunbarton Road…read more Currently decked out with all things Christmassy, I was in heaven. From stylish wrapping paper to Christmas decorations and back again - I was genuinely surprised at the range of things crammed into this tiny shop! If you're after a gift for someone girly, then this is definitely somewhere you should be heading. At the moment they have sparkly mugs, jewelry, home decorations, baubles of every description and really good quality cards. Although it's not as conveniently placed as Papyrus on Byres Road (and about five times smaller!) it has gifts along the same vein - but quite a lot cheaper. Quick warning, as this shop is so stuffed full, I was quite terrified that my clumsy self was going to knock everything over and end up in a huge pile of girly gifts on the floor. I wouldn't recommend a trip if you're weighed down with bags!