I'm a crafter! I needed a hobby to get into as I've been unemployed, so, I've turned to making…read morecards and scrapbooking. It's going well so far... I always though Hobbycraft at the Fort was the go-to place for all my crafting needs. But, living in Paisley, that can be a little difficult to get to (though I'll probably just order online if I need anything now...). I did a basic google search for craft shops in Glasgow, and this was the only one that suited my needs, so off I went to Craft World! From Hillington West train station, it's a bit of a walk, but I was so excited to be going there, I didn't really care. So anyway, I get there and it's an Aladdin's Cave of wonderful crafting goodies. Christ I could spend all day and a whole lot of money in here. It has everything you could ever hope to need. Rows and rows of scrapbooking paper, embellishments, punches, cards, die cuts, things to stick stuff together, paper...I could go on. The staff are really nice and friendly too. They also have a loyalty scheme where every £5 you spend, you get a sticker and when you fill the card, you get £25 to spend in store! Believe me, it's easy to rack up lots of stickers in one visit...

One Saturday, a very long time ago, all the girls in my familia were going into the city centre for…read morea shopping day, and my wee cousin was at a party at Busy Bees. After the shopping, the eating and the constant shrieking of nonsense that is a girly shopping day, my big cousin and I went with my aunt to pick up my wee cousin from this party. See managed to talk even more than us. Her party was brilliant, so she said, and she thrust forward the flower-shaped mirror she had decorated. All her little pals had had a great time too, and what more could you ask for from a kids' party?

Craft activities for children. Paint ceramic ornaments, wooden jewellery boxes, glass clocks and…read moreloads more. Check out http://www.busybeescraftstudio.com for more info

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.

When my mum comes to Glasgow there is always one place we have to visit without question every time…read more- Millers. As a craft obsessive she is like a child walking into a toyshop. This place has everything you could ever want in terms of craft, art and technical materials and I even find myself feeling all creative as I wander through its two floors. The thing that my mum raves about is the 'fill a box' which allows you to fill a rectangular box full of all different types and colours of card and paper to suit your needs. As long as the box closes then you get it all for £7.25 (or £5-odd for a smaller box). The concept is unique and it is the only place in the vicinity that I know of that does this. They also do a 'bonus card' - you get 10 points for every £1 you spend which you can later redeem against some of your favourite goodies. 1 point equals 1p so you are essentially getting 10% off every time you spend. My only qualm? The prices. A lot of their products could be found online on crafty websites for about half the price.

A cracker of an Art Shop that is particularly popular with art students in the many surrounding…read moreUniversities and Colleges in Glasgow. There are alot of things in here, including a great range of inks and paints as well as paper and pencils. I recently topped up on good high quality paper (with high quality prices!). The selection is excellent across the board with alot of stuff that I don't even know the name of so I won't even embarass myself by trying to find appropriate labels for them. 'Crafty stuff'. The staff are friendly and helpful and the place is always busy which is a good sign, particularly given there is another rival store just up the road that is also excellent. Well worth a look.

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!

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 :)

Showcasing the work of local and international artists, Art Forum is something of an institution in…read moreMilngavie having first opened its doors in the area in 1992. Barely big enough to swing a kitten in, visiting here with a rucksack on your back is akin to a bull in a china shop as I learned the other day. With works of fine art placed in every nook and cranny, one wrong turn and you could find yourself with a fairly hefty fine to pay. In saying that, staff here are overwhelmingly friendly and obviously very proud of the business they have helped create. Best of all, if you do buy yourself a painting from here, you can even try it out in your home first before completing the purchase.

Art Forum sells a selection of paintings on print and canvas of many different scenarios, both home…read moreand abroad. For example, when I visited, I saw a painting of entitled "trees of Carbeth" as well as a painting of Uluru in Australia. The prices are not cheap. Most of the paintings I saw were over £100. However, I'm not much of an art expert so I can't confirm if this is good or bad value for money.

I happen to love craft cafes. No matter when you pop by you're sure to find a helpful creative type…read morejust waiting to engage you in enthusiastic banter about anything fun and arty, and the team at Make It Glasgow are exactly that - they're keen, they're friendly and they love all things crafty. They are first and foremost a sewing/knitting/spinning cafe as they have machines for hire in case you don't have your own, but they also run a huge variety of craft classes including cupcake decorating, spinning on a drop spindle, making cushions and a whole host of other fun things. I first encountered Make It when I popped along to their Sock Monkey class with a friend last year. We spent the afternoon sewing by hand, sewing with machines, cutting, stitching and stuffing some awesome little creatures, and came away feeling very pleased with ourselves and our recycled socks and very full of hot chocolate and cakey things. Come for the class, stay for the hot chocolate (mmmmm!) and the banter says I! Whether you want to try out a fun activity for the afternoon, meet some fellow arty types or even just hire a sewing machine for a few hours to magic together that fancy dress costume you've been thinking about for months, Make It is a little haven for crafters in the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

From the owner: One person businesses providing community arts and atelier craft services to the creative sector.read more

What a lovely shop! I'd been watching the progress of Sunshine No 1 via facebook, and was excited…read moreto pop in now that it's open. I actually visited by accident though as I was driving past and noticed it was open, so I popped in for a quick visit. This is a gift shop focussing on selling items made in the Glasgow/central belt area, which I think is a really lovely idea. I am forever buying presents for Aussies back home and it's always nice to be able to get something really local. I had a bit of a browse and saw at least 35 things I would love to own - there's really nice jewellery, mugs, felted animals, tote bags, candles, tea, prints, tea towels, cards and lampshades. There's stuff for babies but not too much stuff (sometimes nice gift shops get overrun with baby stuff!) - bibs etc. I picked up a little iron-on kit (see picture) for £5, there's matching badges to go with it too. Suzi who runs the shop is super sweet and welcoming, and will help you find whatever you need. She mentioned she is going to be hosting small classes (max 6 people at a time) in the shop - crochet, calligraphy, screen printing etc which I think is a great idea.

I can't believe I've not reviewed this wonderful wee shop! I love it :)…read more I'm a fan of all things crafty and gifty so I was very happy when this little spot popped up round the corner from my flat! Their motto is all about selling products created by local people around Glasgow and central Scotland. What a wonderful idea! It's a great wee shop for cards and gifts, there's some lovely hand crafted items. The stock changes all the time which is great, you never know what you'll find! I have a beautiful Glasgow skyline necklace the mr found in here. And the sell ovenbird coffee beans! Which was great to find out :) They also run classes and work shops some evenings, although I've not made it along to one, it looks like a lovely space to work in. And Suzi is lovely! I lost half an hour last time I popped in just browsing and chatting. :) just wish I was about when it's open more often!

Woohoo! A real yarn and stitching shop, this is a real Aladdins cave of all things squishy and…read moreknitty. There is an enormous selection of both yarns and cross stitch kits, needles and accessories and a HUGE selection of patterns. The owner is really helpful and patient and will give you advice when you ask but is equally happy to let you potter around just having a look. There are some tables for sitting at and having a browse and I doubt anyone would come out here empty handed. Even if you live a few miles away, get yourself on the plane, train or automobile and get yourself to this glorious crafty shop.