Make & Flourish's Glasgow Adventure

The Hidden Lane, Glasgow

A few months ago, my small-business buddy Zoe Brennan got in touch.  She's recently opened a fab little shop (Hell Yeah) in Glasgow's Hidden Lane, and she was wondering if I'd travel up there to deliver some Etsy Workshops to her local Etsy colleagues.

I jumped at her proposal - I've been wanting to try the idea of travelling to deliver workshops for a while and this seemed the perfect opportunity to test it out.  I'd have the chance to catch up with Zoe and see her shop, and also a bed for the night!

So we set to work - Zoe took bookings from fellow Glasgow Etsy Team Members and I got my travel arrangements sorted.

The Hidden Lane Tearoom provided delicious refreshments of tea and cake on this beautiful vintage crockery (photo: Laura Bremner)

On 4th September I got up to Glasgow - and, after a quick diversion to see the famous Duke of Wellington and his ubiquitous traffic cone - I got a taxi up to the Hidden Lane, just off Argyle Street.  And what a treat it was - a colourful collection of buildings hidden away from the hustle and bustle of inner city Glasgow, all housing a selection of artists, designer, makers and musicians round a cobbled courtyard. 

After a quick nosy in Zoe's gorgeous shop - filled with products from some great designer-makers - we walked across the courtyard to The Hidden Lane Tearoom, to get set up for the first workshop, before welcoming our first attendees.

It was a great session, with a diverse mix of really talented makers and sellers.  From vintage jewellery to tweed bags, intricate illustrations to knitted scarves - we had a great range of beautiful items represented.  Some makers were based in the Hidden Lane itself, but some had travelled much further... including a familiar face in Laura Bremner (of Juniper Press), the Captain of the Aberdeen Etsy Team, who'd made the two and a half hour journey to Glasgow!

Our evening workshop attendees, including Laura (from Juniper Press - in the spotty top), and Lynne (from Squinty Stuff and Glasgow Etsy Team Leader, in the grey jumper).

We were treated to some amazing refreshments (with gorgeous vintage crockery) by Kirsty at The Hidden Lane Tearoom.  That carrot cake was something else...

The following morning (after a very good night's sleep in Zoe's spare room), we welcomed another group of Etsy sellers - including more Hidden Lane residents.  We had another great mix of jewellers, illustrators and sewers.  More epic refreshments (and another piece of that amazing carrot cake), and a whole heap of Etsy chat - including loads of really good questions - and we were done.

My two workshops flew by, and it was so exciting to meet so many new folk who were all so keen to learn all things Etsy.  Zoe and I have had some great feedback - and we are already talking about me returning to Glasgow to deliver more sessions.  I'm dreaming about that carrot cake already.

Our daytime workshop attendees, including several Hidden Lane residents (Marion of Marion Made Jewellery, second from right; and Ailsa of Jewellery by Ailsa, far right).

Huge thanks to everyone who attended; and to The Hidden Lane Tearoom who provided such a lovely venue for us.  Also thanks so much to Zoe, without whom these workshops would never have happened!

For more details about my forthcoming Etsy Workshops in Liverpool, see this link (though please don't expect carrot cake!).  If you are interested in future Glasgow workshops please contact Zoe ([email protected]) to express your interest.  And if you'd like to chat about me coming to your city - and you're happy to help organise this - then please get in touch.