Articulate Cultural Trust has been collaborating with the Battlefield Rest Restaurant that has been undergoing refurbishment and the iconic columns from the rooftop of historic Glasgow landmark, the Battlefield Rest are being saved from landfill. They have worked with various local artists to upcycle the columns and turn them into beautiful works of art for sale, the proceeds of which will go directly to supporting their work with the next generation of young creatives.
You can bid for the works on the facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/brxact
Well Jesmonite is a type of resin made up of gypsum, acrylic and water. It was first created by Peter Hawkins, originally a joiner turned concrete technologist, in the early 80s. It is a really versatile two-part system product (powder & a liquid) which when mixed together can be used to cast pieces, and which various pigments and components can be added to to create a range of finishes!
It will also stand the test of time, as it is very durable and resilient.
It has been hugely popular with artists, crafters and designers including prop makers during the creation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
I only discovered Jesmonite at the end of last summer, although I was aware of it had never given it ago until I bought a starter kit and made my first coasters. Since then I've been having lots of fun experimenting with different pigments and moulds, so far I've created coasters, earrings, tea-light holders and have some planter moulds I can't wait to try out once my fractured wrist has healed!
One of the techniques I started with was Terrazzo effect, which you can see loads of on Instagram/ Pinterest. But what is Terrazzo? Well it is an Italian word that literally translate to 'terrace' as it was hugely popular paving used for Italian terraces. To create the Terrazzo appearance in paving, the method consists of taking an aggreated material composed of fragments of glass, stone, marble of different colours to created an interesting pattern when light reflects off the surface.
We recreate this process in the workshop through creating our own colourful fragments using the Jesmonite and colour pigments, before adding it to a plain Jesmonite base allowing it to set, before sanding the surface to reveal the beautiful colours and patterns! Making each piece completely unique!
It is also an eco-friendly craft too due to gypsum occurring naturally and being water-based
It is more eco-friendly due to gypsum being a naturally occurring and plentiful material, and it being water based instead of oil based. It will also stand the test of time, as it is very durable and resilient. You can also minimise waste as leftover materials can be broken down and used to create more unique pieces.
Fancy trying out this fun workshop then visit our Braw Wee Craft Club page!
]]>As you know the world has changed, how we shop, consume and spend is different these days. And as a small business we've done our best over the past seven years to keep up with these changes and keep our customers happy, and for the most part, we have got it right however the bit I'm not getting right at the moment is earning enough money to pay all the bills on time and that is stressful!
Why am I telling you this - well transparency, I've always been open as I can be about what is going on with the business, our community and sometimes even my personal life it is affecting the shop. Some of you know that we have been here before, we've done crowd funders to dig us out of holes and you've supported that - eternally grateful!
Things I've done already to get us back on track:
What is left to do?
But the big one for the moment is cutting the amount of discounts we offer, so we are removing our 2-8 person workshop vouchers for our public classes. They unfortunately just aren't sustainable for us at the moment and we love doing our workshops so need to make sure they are profitable! You can still get a discount for hosting a private Braw Wee workshop session - more details coming soon!
However I am giving you the last chance to buy before I remove them from the site on Sunday evening! So get over to the website and grab one before they go https://braw-wee-emporium.com/collections/workshops
Thank you for your continued support of Braw Wee, it is a small family run business that works with other small family-run businesses and we want to continue that!
Take care,
Jennifer. x
]]>Then when the first Lockdown hit, I started to explore some longer routes round the city, and then after the second lockdown decided to escape the city a wee bit to discover new walks and the crazy idea to walk the WHW without much experience.
On preparation for walking the West Highland Way I discovered a few fab walks round Glasgow that I thought I'd share with you. Most of these are starting in the East End but easy to adapt from your bit of the city and to suit your needs if they are a bit too long (or you want to do longer!).
1. Clydewalk Walk Way - Glasgow Green to Uddingston. 11 miles.
This is part of the Clyde Walkway which is about a 40mile route between Partick and New Lanark. I started it at the People's Palace and took a beautiful wander along the Clyde on a mixture of paved footpaths and more dirt paths, but with some lovely scenery, wild life and peace although the whole time you are just minutes from houses, shops etc. When you get to Uddingston, there are a couple of lovely bits to sit next to the Clyde before jumping the train back to Glasgow! Click here for the route on Komoot.
2. Glasgow Green to Dumbarton. 16.5 miles.
This route was to help me practice doing longer distances, originally I had planned to get to Balloch but I started to get really sore feet about Bowling so decided to cut it short by 5 miles and get the train back from Dumbarton. This is a beautiful walk weaving in and out the city, a brilliant wee pit stop at Bowling for a seat and coffee from the wee shops at the Bowling Basin and then jumped the train back to Glasgow. The route is really easy underfoot, mostly along a walking & cycle path. Click for the route on Komoot.
3. Balmaha - Conic Hill Loop. 9 miles.
Realising that my experience of city walking probably wouldn't cut it for the training for the West Highland Way, I decided to try short sections of it and had a hill in it. I parked at the car park in Balmaha as this is where the route starts and ends, you walk back towards Milton of Buchan where you can join the WHW route coming from Drymen which loops round the back of Conic Hill taking you to the summit (and not as steep a climb as going straight up from the Car Park) where I sat for a good hour or so, and then back down the front of the hill to the car park. There are some amazing views and a good beginners hill walk. Click on the link to view the route on Komoot.
4. Glasgow Green to Canal Loop. Aprox. 10 miles.
This is a fab wee city walk that takes you through town up to Port Dundas, all the way to the back of the Botanic Gardens through the West End, down to Clydeside and back to Glasgow Green. Lovely easy long walk, with lots of stop off points for food, drink or just a wee rest. Click the link to view the route on Komoot
5. New Lanark - Falls of Clyde Loop. 7 Miles.
Many years I worked for South Lanarkshire Council as Trad Music Officer (yip there was such a job & I loved it), and had the pleasure of getting to travel round such an amazing area. One of my favourite places to visit was New Lanark World Heritage site, and the Falls of Clyde. Again not far from Glasgow, you can actually jump the train down and walk to the site no bother. This walk is a stunning route that takes you past the World Heritage site, along the side of the Clyde, up and behind the Falls of Clyde which are stunning. It's a bit hilly at parts and the path could get a bit muddy if it has been wet. Lots of wee spots to sit for a minute and take in the beautiful views. Click the link to view the route on Komoot.
I hope you've found this helpful and gives you a wee bit of inspiration for new walks, leave a wee comment and let me know how you get on or if you fancy more of these!
Cheers,
Jennifer. xx
]]>For those that don't know, the West Highland Way is a 96 mile route that goes from Milngavie (to the north of Glasgow) to Fort William, and I'm planning on doing it over 7 days stopping in some magical places along the way.
WHY?
Well the full story is on my fundraiser page but it has something I've always wanted to do since doing a bit of it for a Sponsored Walk for Easterhouse Arts Project back in the 90s. The past few years and then the pandemic has really limited my travelling, and at one point I was always dotting about the country for work. I've found walking has really helped my mental health recently (again if you've followed us then you'll know it's been a stress filled few years). And finally I'm in my 40s now so I'm ticking off some of those bucket list things because I can!
Fundraising
As it is more than a wee dauner round the park, I thought it would be a good opportunity to fundraise for two amazing organisations that have been working tirelessly for years supporting young people and families in the place I grew up and the one I now live in. FARE Scotland and PEEK are both charities that work with families and young people locally providing them with youth clubs, holidays, employability programmes, food parcels and so much more.
I'm aiming to raise £10 for every mile of the walk - so if you can spare a few pennies, it will most definitely help with my motivation!
Why is it important to me?
I was lucky enough to have the support of amazing local organisations when I was growing up, who provided me with great opportunities and experiences in the creative world and confidence to go to Uni. That was the start of an amazing adventure into working in community arts, music and the wider creative industries - I have met amazing people, travelled to places I never thought I would. That is because I grew up in an area where the community fought hard for their young people. People and organisations that work hard to show young people that they are more than their postcode, just because you grow up in a certain area, or have family circumstances are difficult that it doesn't mean you can't have ambitions and do what you are passionate about.
Follow Me
I'll be documenting the journey on our Instagram and other social media platforms, so if you fancy keeping up to date with my progress then follow us over there https://www.instagram.com/brawwee_/ (Remember we had our original account disabled a year ago - so if you think you are following us, you might not me.)
Wish me luck!
Jennifer
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]]>It has been a long seven months since I last did a blog update on the Braw Wee Covid plans and thought it was time to give you another one now that Glasgow is going into Level 4.
Looking back on the info we provided then, lots has changed and I've found a way of working through the madness! 2020 was always going to be a strange year for BW as a business, making the move to being online and not having a physical shop, in many ways it has made dealing with the pandemic much easier.
I'm lucky enough to be in a building that I had 24/7 access to through this period, so have been able to continue trading once I worked out could get to work safely as it is close to where I live so no need for public transport, I have two spaces in the building - one I share with the amazing Cotton Candy Interiors and the other just to myself. Our big making space I share with Clare is massive so we have no trouble with 2 metre distancing and handily I have a fab HEPA air purifier that was given to me in the old place, so we've got that running while we are in the studio....as well has hand gels, antibacterial sprays and wipes everywhere.
So here is some updated info on how things are working at Braw Wee:
When I wrote the last blog post, I had no idea if I would survive the lockdown, and like everyone its been a rollercoaster. Our income for the year is definitely down a significant amount, and there has been very stressful months but if we can keep pushing forward over the next few months then we'll be fine! I've been able to use the resources and help round about to pivot how we do thing, like learning to make Face Masks and taking our workshops online!
So the next 7 weeks are absolutely crucial for small businesses like Braw Wee, so I appeal to you to shop as local as you can - buying from places like Braw Wee or other small gift shops you aren't just supporting them but also the small businesses they buy from. Your tenner can go a long way!
I hope you are all staying safe and thank you for your continued support!
Jennifer
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]]>You can sign up for a one off box or monthly subscription!
Each box will be themed with the greeting cards from our in-house and guest designers with blank insides so you can write your own message and use them for a variety of occasions!
September's theme is Inspirational Women - women who have done great things for the world!
The September Box will be shipped no later than the 18th September!
Due to Covid advice we are limited in the number of people and households we are able to deliver these workshops to at the minute, but will be constantly reevaluating this as we get more guidance from the Scottish Government!
We can also host these workshops for your business too, if you are looking to do a fun team building activity with your staff or have a space that isn't being used and think there would be a demand locally!
Drop us an email if you are interested enquiries@braw-wee-emporium.com
FAQs!
How many people can take part? We need a minimum of 4 people for a private workshop.
What do you need for the workshop?
What does it cost?
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So when Covid-19 hit I made some changes as soon as I could, I feel lucky that for the first week the disruption was minimal as there is no physical shop and I work alone, with postal pick ups from our studio building. I had to postpone our workshops until after lockdown which was hugely disappointing after just getting them back on sale.
This past week has been much more difficult, as the guidance was that we were allowed to continue to trade online so I moved some bits of stock that would fit in the post box at the corner of our block and reduced visits to the Post Office to once a week. I set up a working space in our tiny flat and started to make plans to do workshops online. The sales disappeared dramatically last week with only 6 orders coming in, and the materials for the workshops only arrived yesterday.
Although Braw Wee provides many a giggle and joy for me and our customers, it isn’t an essential service, so until we have further guidance I won’t be posting out anymore orders no matter the size. All orders made last week have either been sent or collections organised.
Financially this is a very difficult time for the business, I have no financial buffer or savings as what I had was used at the beginning of the year to move studios and take time off to be with Ross after his surgery and for me to recover from burnout. There does look like there is help coming from Government but again it isn’t 100% guaranteed - I have applied for the Small Business Grant, but as I hadn’t had confirmation of the Business Rates Relief I might not be eligible - so I’m looking at a loan and I might be able to apply for the Employee scheme but that doesn’t pay our studio, website or supplier bills.
I am lucky that I have already reduced Braw Wee’s outgoings to a minimum, and I have started to pick up little bits of freelance creative consultancy work that was my bread & butter before Braw Wee
So here is what I plan to do with the resources I currently have.
I am confident with a little bit of help from our community of fab customers and with some determination then I’ll come out the other end of this stronger and with some exciting ideas for products, collaborations and workshops.
So if you would like to help Braw Wee navigate this latest twist in our journey and are able...
Here are three things that would really help us:
I hope you are all staying safe and thank you for your continued support!
Jennifer
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]]>It was not our plan when we shut up on the 24th December but personal circumstances meant that I had to have a serious look at the business and what I could continue to do. It is no secret that 2019 was a difficult year for retail of all sizes, I could spend ages trying to explain why I thought it was difficult for Braw Wee - there are many many reasons that were completely out with our control. I was also trying to juggle the running of Braw Wee and the start up of Creative East End, taking on our first employees and trying to learn how to manage a team. In many ways 2019 was an incredible year of growth for Braw Wee, we had more workshop participants than ever before, launched our own product range and welcomed so many lovely people through our doors!
So why the sudden decision to close? In November, my partner - Ross - took ill and it turned out to be Endocarditis with him being hospitalised the week before Christmas and having a heart value replacement on Hogmanay. At the same time - I was physically and emotionally knackered - for the the past couple of years, I have worked relentlessly on trying to keep Braw Wee open and then for the past year setting up of Creative East End as a new business.
With Ross taking ill and me It became very clear at this time that I could no longer commit to managing the shop and Creative East End building seven days a week, and that I wanted to prioritise my family and home life again. I was suffering 'burn out' from working constant long days and under stressful conditions for the past year with no sign that it was going to get any easier. Hence, the lack of social media or general communications - I had to just stop and rest, and prioritise my personal life.
Good news is Ross is now out of hospital and making good progress, and I'm now gently getting back to work. I have moved the shop out of the Gallowgate and into a new studio space just 10 minutes away in Bridgeton, which is our next challenge to get unpacked and caught up with enquiries, orders and admin! There will be more workshops and new products in the coming few months. I hope to still have a physical presence at stalls, increase working with new designers and continue to promote other fantastic small businesses!
I'd like to thank all of the amazing customers, suppliers, staff and friends that have supported us over the past 5 years and hope you'll continue to do so while I work out a new way of working. Massive thank you to all those folk who have checked in with me while we've been closed, it is lovely to know that we have built up a supportive community!
Thank you!
Jennifer
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We have loads of other ideas to develop the Braw Wee Craft Club but you'll need to wait until the new year to hear about them. In the meantime, we have launched our Braw Wee Craft Club Vouchers just in time for Christmas for all those creative individuals in your life that are looking to learn new things - Vouchers can be used at any of our Braw Wee Craft Club Workshops taking place at our space on the Gallowgate or at certain pop-up we do in other spaces across central Scotland.
Starting at £30 our vouchers can be used to pay for the full workshop fee. If the recipient wishes to attend a higher value workshop they can pay the difference or if it costs less then the voucher can be used to attend further workshops or can be spent in the Braw Wee Gift Shop! The vouchers are valid for up to 12 months and are emailed directly to you with a code which is used at checkout. If you'd would prefer a paper copy you just email us back the voucher, and we'll send a lovely gift card out!
Braw Wee Gift Vouchers are now available on the website - so get crossing off that Christmas List!
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However, our new 'Fuck Boris' t-shirt upset one of our followers so much it prompted them to send us a private message which said that as a small business we should be politically neutral and that we could lose custom due to us promoting the products.
Now we absolutely understand and respect that not all of our followers or customers will have the same viewpoints as us and will disagree with our political views. But as a small business one of the real advantages is that we can be vocal about injustices and policies that we feel have a direct impact on our community and business.
We are seeing and feeling the damage that the current Westminster government's actions are having on our community and local, small businesses on a daily basis.
Brexit has without a doubt affected so many of our customers, suppliers and us. From people being unsure if they can stay in the country post-Brexit, small businesses outside of the UK, getting supplies from Europe not available in the UK or our customers having less money to spend due to the economic downturn!
We are based in an area of Glasgow that rates pretty high on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation - we have a high percentage of our local community live in 'Working Poverty'. A recent report showed that the Calton had child poverty rates of 49%. The changes to the benefits system that have been put in by this Government have absolutely contributed to this.
The reason we started Braw Wee Emporium wasn't because we wanted to have a wee shop with pretty things to sell to lovely people (although we do love that). It was because we wanted to be part of the regeneration of the area, to encourage local people, visitors and others to spend their money in this area so that there is an increase in local jobs available, that people have affordable places to shop locally and have the opportunity to support other small local businesses. We absolutely believe this quote -
"Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world."
This is the reason why we think it is important for small businesses to use their platforms to speak up on issues that directly affect them and their communities. We will continue to do so and from the conversations we have in the shop it does in fact brings us custom rather than loses it, even if the customer has a different view of the world to us.
We also try to make sure when we are selling products with a political message that we do something to support the people who are on the ground helping people directly affected - so a portion of all sales from our Fuck Boris Range are currently going to the amazing Refuweegee!
You can shop the range here http://bit.ly/protestbraw
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Our Bottle Lamp parties are perfect for an alternative night out, hen do for all ages or just an excuse to get your pals together. Plus summer is nearly over and soon it will be Christmas! Our parties make a great festive night out too. Pick your favourite boozy bottle and fabric and we'll teach you how to make a unique lamp, great for a special gift or just to make our own home look amazing! If you aren't into the boozy lamp trend then no worries you can make your very own 25cm Lampshade instead!
We take bookings of 5-12 people, and you can pick a date and time to suit you!
Each workshop includes a glass of fizz (or similar refreshments), soft drinks and sweet treats! You are free to bring your own bottles to make it a proper party.
We provide the equipment and materials, you just need to bring your fabric of choice and favourite bottle!
We've compiled a list of dates until the end of the year. Book your date here.
September: 3rd-5th, 8th (evening), 9th, 10th 11th (daytime), 13th (evening), 14th, 18th, 20th-22nd, 25th, 27th-29th
October: 2nd-4th, 15th - 20th, 22nd - 27th, 29th-30th
November: 1st - 3rd, 5th - 12th, 15th - 22nd, 25th - 30th
December: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th - 22nd
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We had a few folk get in touch saying they loved the idea and wanted to contribute but lived too far away to come to the workshop. So we got our thinking caps on and came up with the Pay it Forward section of the website where we will run regular campaigns that will allow us to give back to the local community that supports us!
So for the month of July, we are launching two Pay It Forward initiatives - the first is a continuation of the Bottle Lamp/Lampshade Workshops and will run until at least the end of the year! We are aiming to provide at least 120 free places to organisations and individuals around the Glasgow area over the next year.
The second campaign is running only for the month of July. We want to team up with local organisations that work with families who are struggling financially to provide their children with stationery, school bags, and P.E kits without having the stress of the cost. We have identified several local organisations that work with families in a range of situations to support them, supply the basics and get help to improve the family situation. We are aiming to get together 100 school kits to donate to these organisations at the beginning of August.
If you'd like to get involved then visit our Pay It Forward section of our website!
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The Braw Wee Team give a run down of what they’re loving in (and out) of the shop!
This week we’re enjoying...
Jennifer
We've designed some new mugs this week with 'Grit Conquers All' on them, this has been on a post-it note above my desk for the last couple of years - get's me through the small business challenges. I'm also loving all the new books we have in - just wish I had a bit more time to enjoy them. To be honest, I've not had much time for fun stuff outside Creative East End and Braw Wee Emporium, but I am really looking forward to using a wee spa voucher I got for my birthday celebrations - 6 weeks of bliss at the Blythswood Hotel! And I've been making my way through the Holly & Co 'Conversations of Inspiration' Podcast.
Siobhain
The new Kate & The Ink prints are so lush. I used to fall asleep listening to the shipping forecast every night so all those areas seem so familiar to me. I also love Nasty Women, a new book we’ve got in the shop which has a selection of essays about what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. Outside of shop life I love the karaoke night Bum Notes at the Flying Duck which is on the last Friday of every month. Fellow Braw Wee team member Molly and I did a beautiful Girls Aloud rendition there once. I’ve also been watching a lot of Stath Lets Flats - a Channel 4 comedy show about a crap estate agent.
Jasmine
Quaderno No. 1 Notebook by Risotto Studio is the loveliest shade of pink with very visually pleasing graph paper pages and just makes me want to be productive. I also have been eyeing up the Glasgow East End Map Tea Towel by Nebo Peklo as I’m moving away soon and know I’ll miss Glasgow loads! Outside of work, I’ve recently visited the DJCAD Degree Show in Dundee which was so great this year. I’ve also been crying over the final episode of Game of Thrones and eagerly anticipating the Ru Paul’s Drag Race season finale.
Molly
I’m loving the Risotto Studio prints we have for sale - I’m moving house soon so I’m probably going to get the banana one to hang on my wall. The 111 Places in Glasgow You Shouldn’t Miss guide book is a fascinating look at our amazing city, which you might think you know like the back of your hand. However, each page is filled with interesting facts and landmarks that you probably had no idea existed, such as the skull that sits across the road from us at The Saracen Head pub, said to have belonged to the last witch burnt in Scotland. Outside of Braw Wee, I’ve been loving the parathas and incredible curries at Glasgow’s west end South Indian institution, Banana Leaf. Plus the new Elton John biopic, Rocketman, which has had me listening to Tiny Dancer on repeat, and Booksmart, Olivia Wilde’s fiercely funny directorial debut.
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Workshops have become a very important part of what we offer here at Braw Wee Emporium. We see our customers as a community of pals and running workshops has helped us build that community. We are also very aware of the benefits creativity has on mental wellbeing and the power of creative activities in bringing people together. We really want to spread these benefits!
We estimate that we've had around 300 people come to the workshops since the first one just over two years ago. We recently decide to ask for some feedback on them. A recurring theme was how great it was to create something for themselves that had pride of place in their home. More importantly people said how much they had enjoyed themselves, and how it had really helped some people who were going through a hard time with illness, grief or just day to day life stresses we all have.
We read an email today from a relative of someone who had attended a workshop while they were recovering from a longterm illness. They said the workshop had really helped them find new motivation to get on with life and get back to socialising and doing things. This is the most amazing feedback we could get, that what really started as a way to generate income is actually more about people now!
However, we are very aware that not everyone can afford £35 to come to a workshop. Braw Wee boss Jennifer is really keen to get back to doing some Community Arts work, which was her life before the shop. So for every Bottle Lamp Workshop purchased we will either provide free spaces for folk to come along to one of our workshops or deliver a free workshop to a community organisation or group in Glasgow or surrounding areas.
There are four ways you can get involved by buying any of the workshops or vouchers below!
'Four Person Workshop Voucher'
Bottle Lamp Workshop at Braw Wee Emporium
Bottle Lamp Workshop at Phillies of Shawlands
Here's Jen with a bit more on the origin of the lampshade workshops...
The Lampshade making workshops actually came from me looking for a way to de-stress and get away from the computer, I wasn't in a particularly good place with my mental health due to money stresses, an unhappy personal situation, working constantly and not really seeing people. So I realised I had to do something that would keep my hands busy and away from the phone/computer. I ordered a lampshade kit from the internet and after it sitting for a few months, I got round to doing it one dark February night in the office. I was so pleased with myself - I loved my lamp....although I had put the frame in wrong and it made a pretty useless lampshade!
It was also the moment I realised that I could be running lampshade workshops in the shop in the evenings. It could be some extra income which we desperately needed, would get folk into the shop and I would actually see real people! So now it is time to give back for what I have gained from the workshops!
So you can come along have a fab afternoon, go home with a lamp but also help someone else have the same experience! We are aiming for 120 workshop spaces so that is 30 Workshop Vouchers!
Get booking here!
'Four Person Workshop Voucher'
Bottle Lamp Workshop at Braw Wee Emporium
Bottle Lamp Workshop at Phillies of Shawlands
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You can find out more or book onto a workshop here! Or buy a kit here!
How to Make a 30cm Lampshade
What you need
Steps
(Tip – you’ll see two the panel has two creases on each of the long sides, you won’t see this bit of the fabric when it is finished).
R-Cade along at the Saltmarket have their Family Fun Weekend where families can get together to play video games or keep it old school with free board games.
And of course there’s lots happening at The Barras! Wee Bit Greener is open this weekend where you can support a local business and be eco-friendly in the process! Our lovely neighbours Rip It Up Vintage, Mostly Vinyl Micky and Vintage Horizons will also be open. Van Winkle have a fab beer garden if you fancy a wee bev in the sunshine!
Why not pop into Braw Wee for a browse and grab a coffee at Creative East End afterwards. We’ve got a brand new Easter window display too!
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Norman and Norma Bates
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller, Psycho, sports one of the most infamous mother/child relationships to have ever been recorded on film (as well as the first toilet ever shown on screen). We all know Psycho for its iconic shower scene, but it’s Motel owner Norman’s love for his mother that we think makes the seminal film so interesting. Norman’s love for his mum is arguably leaning towards the unhealthy side, but we still love Psycho, gore and all.
Tess and Anna Coleman
2003’s Freaky Friday includes one of our favourite Mother/daughter relationships ever, showing the hilarious journey between conservative psychologist Tess and her rock music loving, bratty teenage daughter, Anna; they open a cursed fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant two days before Tess is due to marry for the second time following the loss of her first husband (much to Anna’s dismay) and wake up the next day in the opposite bodies. Chaos ensues as they fight to reverse the switch, their rocky relationship strengthening along the way so that by the time the movie finishes they have a newfound respect for each other and are reminded of why they loved each other in the first place. The soundtrack is also incredible; we still love Anna’s fictional band, Pink Slip, and Lindsay Lohan’s iconic guitar solo.
Mamma and Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is the tragic, hilarious and heartwarming story of a boy called Forrest. He discovers as a child that he can run extremely fast and uses his talent to duck and dive his way out of a number of unbelievable and spectacular situations throughout his incredible life. Forrest has a huge heart and his mamma is his guiding light, supporting and encouraging him always, even if it means sacrificing herself. Forrest and his mum’s relationship is special and we love how proud she is of her son and how much she means to him. Expect to cry like a baby numerous times.
Margaret and Carrie White
Brian De Palma’s original 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie is a horror classic, featuring one of the most complicated and frightening mother/daughter relationships of all time. Carrie’s mother Margaret is a religious fanatic who believes that Carrie is bound to live a life of sin, disgusted by boys, mini skirts and practically all aspects of modern life. Carrie is forced into a tiny cupboard to pray and repent as punishment for the smallest of crimes, and is made to wear long, chaste clothing and never so much as look at a boy. Despite this abuse, Carrie does eventually get her own back, and the tense on screen chemistry between actresses Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie is electrifying. De Palma uses clever and aesthetically lush religious imagery to frame their dramatic relationship, and the bloody ending is a timeless piece of iconic cinema.
Mummy Deer and Bambi
Disney’s animated classic Bambi is as heart warming as it is heartbreaking, with one of the most famous mother/child relationships in movie history. Bambi taught us all as kids that the world maybe isn’t as great and lovely as we first thought, letting us feel Bambi’s pain when he loses the one person in his life that he loves the most. If you can watch the famous meadow scene without getting watery eyed, you’re tougher than we are.
Marion and Ladybird McPherson
Greta Gerwig’s 2017 comedy-drama Ladybird is a bittersweet coming of age narrative that tentatively shines a spotlight on the tumultuous relationship between teenage oddball Ladybird and her mother Marion. The film sees Ladybird jump out of a car to escape her mother’s sniping, the two declare their hatred for one another, and a gut punch of a sequence involving a drop off at the airport, yet what is most evident throughout all this drama is the deep and complicated love that is shared between mother and daughter. Ladybird made us cry hard and belly laugh in equal measure, leaving us with the overwhelming urge to give our own mums a big hug.
Annie and Peter Graham
2018 saw one of the strongest debuts ever released in the form of Ari Aster’s psychological horror, Hereditary, bringing with it an on screen mother/son relationship so complex that it sticks to your psyche like glue for days after watching. Peter Graham has always had the feeling that his mother Annie never truly wanted him, strengthened by an episode in which his mother drenched him in gasoline while sleep walking and lit a match, only waking up when Peter screamed. Shockingly, this is not the most tragic thing that happens to Annie and Peter, as they face numerous more trials throughout the movie, ending with a climax so disturbing you’ll probably struggle to do much of anything afterwards, let alone sleep.
Donna and Sophie Sheridan
Mamma Mia is a movie about strong women, and the relationships that mothers, daughters, godmothers and female friends have with one another. Donna and Sophie Sheridan are a mother/daughter duo who have lived alone together without the presence of a father figure at their idyllic Greek island guesthouse since Sophie’s birth. Donna is a woman doing it for herself and Sophie has learnt how to be equally independent, that is until Sky comes along, a care free traveller who Sophie quickly falls in love with and engaged to. Donna is happy for her daughter but wary of her making the same mistakes that she did, and the film is a heartwarming, tear jerking journey towards the wedding day, carried along by the many hits of pop supergroup ABBA.
Words by Molly Hughes
]]>This year's theme is Balance for Better - which is about building a gender-balanced world - and we totally agree that everyone has a part to play.
As most of you will know Braw Wee is a Women-led business and we now have an exclusively female team – not because we designed it to be this way, but because they are all braw individuals that absolutely get behind what we are aiming to do and achieve here.
As a small business, I think we have a real opportunity to look at how we work and support individuals to play their part in society - by helping them grow their businesses, providing them with a space to belong, providing them with a voice and supporting them to make the changes they need. I 100% believe that creativity is an important tool that can support building a gender-balanced world.
So as a way of introducing the team and celebrate the day I asked Siobhain, Jasmine and Molly what International Women’s Day means to them and which women are their inspirations.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate how incredible women are, but also is an opportunity to examine the struggles that women all over the world face. Celebrating women should go hand in hand with activism and trying to improve the lives of all women.
My mum and grandma are my biggest inspirations, they’re both such strong women who have taught me so much about standing up for myself and being compassionate to others.
As a kid, Lucy Liu’s character in Charlie’s Angels was my biggest inspiration; not only can she do martial arts but she’s also a tech wizard! Emmy the Great was also really important to me as a mixed-race teenager, I didn’t really know anyone else who looked like me, especially in the genre of music I was into.
We should see every day as International Women’s Day! I think that we should always be celebrating the women we love, and addressing the fact that we should work collectively as a planet to address the often shrugged-off issues surrounding being a woman on planet Earth.
My mum and my amazing group of friends are the superwomen who inspire me to keep looking forward and have taught me the art of inner strength. They are incredibly funny and brilliant women who I’m lucky to have in my life.
I have a serious amount of respect for Florence Welch and Lady Gaga and their persistence in pursuit of their careers in the arts. I also am a huge fan of Marina Abramovic and her powerful feminist performance art.
For me, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of women everywhere, as well as a chance to campaign for and consider the women who are still fighting for their freedom and agency across the globe. It is also a day to celebrate all the gender non-conforming people and our non-binary and trans communities that are contributing to destroying the gender binary, be it through activism or simply existing.
The women who inspire me are the extraordinary, ordinary women who survive the every day despite being in abusive or unhealthy relationships, having kids, working three jobs for the same amount of money a man earns for one, and other circumstances that make life a battlefield. My mum and the other women in my family are my inspirations, and if I had to choose a famous female icon it would be the late Poly Styrene, the incredible frontwoman of 70s punk band X-Ray Spex, a woman of colour who did not conform to typical conventions of “beauty” and refused to be silent.
For me, International Women's Day is not just about celebrating the amazing things that women do in this world - it is an opportunity for us to stop, reflect and think about how do we continue to strive for equality and recognition.
The women who have and continue to inspire me (above those mentioned in last year's blog) are Vivienne Westwood and Pam Hogg (fashion designers) and their use of their creative talent to highlight political and human causes - I love their fearlessness. Madonna was a massive influence on me when I was young, she was absolutely her own person and was always trying out new things, a risk taker (I've still got my True Blue Cassette Tape).
In writing this blog, I was thinking about all the women that had lifted me up over the years - gave me the support and introduced me to things I had no idea about - there are so many. One kept coming back into my mind as she influenced me in lots of different ways. Gordeanna McCulloch an amazing Scots Singer from Rutherglen, who then sadly passed away earlier this week. She introduced me to Scots Song & language; the amazing stories that are within these songs - which really sparked my interest in people and stories; the joy of singing even though you struggle to hold the tune; that being a strong, feisty woman was something to aspire to and most importantly to have confidence in myself. Gordeanna was also about "Better Balance" in a music scene which when she was just getting started in the 1960s it was a very male-dominated scene.
]]>Wednesday night’s opening gala screening of Mid 90s kicks off the festival, a bittersweet coming of age tale set in the hot, grit and spit skate parks of 1990s LA. This film has caused a stir in the movie world, not only for its content matter, but because it is Jonah Hill’s directorial debut. Yes, that’s right, Jonah Hill, the face of every mid 00s bro comedy, from Superbad to Evan Almighty. Hill has recently taken action to leave his old bro stereotype behind, playing a more high brow role in Netflix’s surreal, 2018 sci-fi smash, Maniac, as well as openly denouncing the negative connotations that go with bro comedy, speaking out in support of women and the fight against toxic masculinity. Mid 90s is an assured and well crafted leap into director territory, highly stylised and a pleasure for the eyes, but with a gentle, tangible undercurrent of the comedic flair that helped Hill strike the big time.
Dates: Tickets for the opening gala are sold out, but you can grab a seat at the GFT on Thursday the 21st, 13:15.
Are You Proud? - Ashley Joiner (2018)
Are You Proud? is a documentary marking the history, present and future of the gay rights movement, with focus on activists and organisations in the UK. The film serves to educate but also to ask questions about the face of the LGBTQI+ movement, particularly how it will be shaped going forward into the 21st century and beyond. Honest, emotional, and frank, this documentary doesn’t hesitate to show the many dark moments that have led to queer liberation in the West as we know it today, meeting members of the Gay Liberation Front, Stonewall, and various recent organisations founded to help trans members of the queer community, along the way. Are You Proud? is a film that certainly does make you feel proud, despite the fight being far from over.
Tickets: CCA - Thursday 28th of Feb (18:00) and Friday 1st of March (14.00)
Sonic Youth celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal album, ‘Daydream Nation’, with this archival film depicting their never to be forgotten 2007 show at Glasgow’s ABC Academy. Director Lance Bangs has collated his own personal 16mm and super8 footage of the band alongside excerpts of the show, creating a film that captures the spirit of the iconic band as well as their visceral on stage energy. This screening of Daydream Nation will be followed by a Q&A with Bangs, Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, and Glasgow legend, The Pastels’ Stephen McRobbie.
Tickets: GFT - Sat 23rd Feb (15:00)
Character Makeup with Danny Marie Elias
Catch top prosthetics, SFX and industry make up artist Danny Marie Ellis at the CCA, and find out top insider tips plus advice from a professional who has worked on productions such as Sherlock and Star Wars. Danny will be giving a live demonstration of her work and is sure to entertain, amaze, and educate. This talk is also BSL interpreted.
Tickets: CCA - Wednesday 27th of Feb (18:30), FREE
2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the heart warming animated classic The Iron Giant, and the GFF is celebrating with this intimate, child friendly screening at the Seamore Neighbourhood Centre. Come along when doors open at 15:00 to have a go at making your own robot!
Tickets: Seamore Neighbourhood Cinema - Sunday 3rd of March (15:00), FREE in advance
Killing - Shin’ya Tsukatmo (2018)
A modern twist on the classic samurai movie, Shin’ya Tsukamato’s Killing is a vibrant and intense journey, following the story of a rice paddy worker contemplating life as a samurai, and tackling the immense weight that comes with it: whether or not he is able to take another human’s life. A fresh and action filled burst of emotion and violence.
Permission - Soheil Beiraghi (2018)
Permission follows the story of protagonist Afrooz and the struggle between her ferocious love for football and the heavy weight of her estranged husband’s desire to hold her down. Made captain of Iran’s female football team, the opportunity to compete in the finals of the Asian Nations Cup in Malaysia arises. However, her husband seeks to halt her in her tracks, unable to compete, or even leave the country. Permission is a raw, emotional look at the autonomy, or lack thereof, that Iranian women have over their own destiny, and a defiant shout proving that change is, hopefully, in the air.
Tickets: CCA - Monday 25th of February (20:45) and Tuesday 26th of February
Our Maryhill is a community project, commissioned by GFF and guided by film curator Shona Thompson, contributed to by students of St Charles Primary, John Paul Academy, and residents from Queens Cross Housing Association. Each group of contributors have selected special archival footage of Glasgow’s beloved Maryhill, and collated it under the heading of a specific, unique theme. This event is a chance for the community of Maryhill and wider Glasgow to view their own history and memories, not only through the specially curated films, but also live music and community installations.
Tickets: Seamore Neighbourhood Cinema - Sunday 3rd of March, FREE in advance
Dear Son - Mohammed Ben Atamia (2018)
Paternal relationships, the strength of familial love, and the horror of losing a child to a force you cannot control - themes all explored in Mohammed Ben Atamia’s Dear Son. A tentative insight into a parent’s worst nightmare, and a situation that is unfortunately common in today’s world, Atamia’s film is beautifully shot, beautifully written, and beautifully handles a topic that is raw and absolutely real.
Tickets: CCA - Thursday 21st of February (15:30) and Sunday 24th of February (12:00)
GFF Film Quiz at The Blue Arrow
Get swotting up on your movie trivia and have your knowledge tested at the GFF film quiz at new Sauchiehall Street jazz joint, The Blue Arrow. Film related prizes are on offer for the victors, and places are free but limited, so get there early!
Tickets: The Blue Arrow - Monday 25th of February (19:30), FREE but limited spaces
Murder Me, Monster - Alejandro Fadel (2018)
Murder Me, Monster is a gore filled, stomach churning, darker than night mystery, which despite its grotesque nature, still manages to be sultry, sexy, and a delight to watch. When numerous bodies are found high up in the Andes with their heads torn right off, the question on everybody’s lips is “Who - or indeed what - has done this?” Fadel’s answer is horrifying, intoxicating, and impossible to take your eyes off.
Tickets: CCA - Sunday 24th of February (20:30) and Monday 25th of February (15:30)
Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman stands out as one of the strongest feminist Belgian works, if not feminist works generally, of all time. The film follows protagonist Jeanne Dielman over the duration of three days, painstakingly laying bare the ins, outs, and every other minute detail of her suffocatingly dull life. However, Akerman’s careful portrayal of a woman drowning in the dreariness of the everyday is not a dreary watch; it is, in fact, an illuminating, important and painfully honest piece of essential feminist viewing.
Tickets: GFT - Saturday 2nd of March (13:00)
Lords of Chaos - Jonas Åkerlund (2018)
Norway in the 1980s, at the height of the black metal sub-craze. Several images spring to mind: Goat skulls, pentagrams, blood, burning churches, frightening make up. And nobody adopted these tropes more thoroughly and with as much enthusiasm as Mayhem, the seminal Norwegian black metal band who painted their faces, denounced God, and - eventually - murdered. Lords of Chaos is a biopic as equally dark, taking a snapshot of a unique, and often horrific, period in music history, and laying it out on screen for the world to see.
Tickets: GFT - Thursday 28th of February (21:00)
Chained for Life - Aaron Schimberg (2018)
Chained for Life offers a thought provoking and satirical opinion regarding Hollywood’s treatment of marginalised people; in this case, people with additional needs and disfigurements. Depicting the relationship between a “beautiful” actress and her disfigured co-star, Chained for Life is a film within a film, its title paying homage to the 1952 exploitation movie of the same name that featured Siamese twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton. Brutally honest and unapologetic, Schimberg’s second feature length asks the audience to question the ethics of not only the establishment it is born out of, but themselves.
Tickets: CCA - Tuesday 26th of February (18:50) and Wednesday 27th of February (15:00)
Mackintosh Redux - Murray Grigor (1968)
Digitally remastered to an awe inspiring level, Murray Grigor’s 1968 movie displaying the many architectural triumphs of Glasgow’s own Rennie Mackintosh was first shown alongside Andrew McLaren Young’s 1968 Mackintosh Centenary exhibition, and it has not lost its charm. Accompanied with a classical score performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra that swoops and soars with every curve and steeple of Mackintosh’s creation, it is an essential viewing for any fan of Mackintosh, architecture, design, music, Glasgow, or just great cinema.
Team America: World Police Sing-a-long - Trey Parker (2004)
15 whole years have gone by since South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone released their stop motion, puppet on string feature length satirising American patriotism, the extreme counterterrorism movement of the early 00s, and everything else wrong with the USA at the time of the movie’s creation. Come and sing along to all your favourite Team America songs and enjoy the hilarity on the big screen.
Tickets: GFT - Friday 22nd of February (23:15)
We Are The Weirdos presented by The Final Girls
The Final Girls film collective are bringing a show reel of frightening, feminist shorts to the GFF, and frankly we couldn’t be be happier (or more filled with terror). Say hello to the future of horror; it’s not just a boys game.
Tickets: GFT - Wednesday 27th of February (21:00)
Who knows what it could be? Join the annual GFF tradition that is The Surprise Film. No clues, no hints. All we know is that is going to be great.
Tickets: GFT - Wednesday 27th of February (20:40)
Tickets available from the Glasgow Film Festival website. Pick up a copy of the programme from Braw Wee and Creative East End.
Words by Molly Hughes]]>There are some fantastic gigs taking place right on the Braw Wee doorstep at the Barrowland Ballroom and St Luke’s just up the road, St Andrew’s Square, The Tron, Old Fruitmarket and the Drygate which are all max 10 mins walk away!
Here are some of the gigs that we recommend you get to!
Sal/ Saltwater: Iain Morrison with Dalzell + Scullion at the Mitchell Theatre - 22nd Jan
Sal is a major new work composed by Lewis Born musician Iain Morrison with imagery by Scottish artists Dalzell + Scullion. It commemorates the centenary of the Iolaire disaster which took place on New Year’s Day 1919. Co-commission by An Lanntair and 14-18 Now. It also features East End musician Lori Watson.
Shooglenifty and Kinnaris Quintet at the Barrowland Ball Room - Friday 24th January!
Two of our favourite bands - Shooglenifty the originators of ‘acid-croft’ will no doubt have the place absolutely jumping with their blend of traditional music and dance beats. They are joined by the amazing Gaelician singers of Tanxuguieras!
The support is the totally amazing all-female five-piece, the Kinnaris Quintet, who have just released their debut album and taking the scene by storm! It also features another East End lass based just up in Denniston!
Siobhan Wilson and Old Sea Bridge at St Luke’s - Saturday 26th January.
Siobhain Wilson’s voice has stopped the rowdy Festival Club audiences in the past, which is not a easy task! She is joined tonight by Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood) and David Jean, to bring her spellbinding songs.
The support for the gig is American indie folk singer-songwriter Old Sea Brigade, who will deliver a compelling, heartfelt and atmospheric blend of folk, americana country and indie rock. We’ve not heard them ourselves but always great to make a new discovery.
There is so much more to check out on the website, we recommend you have a look!
We are also offering 10% off to anyone that comes into the shop with their Celtic Connection Ticket subs or Artist pass!
]]>With so many artist’s studios tucked away in the wee corners of oor dear Glesga, there are so many opportunities to #shoplocal this festive season, and especially this weekend!
Barras Market
Our very own stompin ground - come down for quirky gifts, but visit our neighbours at Mostly Vinyl Micky for those music lovers presents, Vintage Horizons and Rip it Up Vintage for those looking for something a bit unique!
Festive Pop-Up Shop
Crownpoint Studios, 142 Crownpoint Rd, G40 2AE (5 minutes walk from Glasgow Green)
8th and 9th December // 10am - 4pm
Head down to Crownpoint Studios for their first-ever Christmas Market! Studio holders and local traders will be selling a range of stocking fillers, artwork, illustrated goodies, plants and homeware.
Hygge Foods and AumNom will also be providing a range of vegan festive food over the two days. Crownpoint will also be running a raffle over the weekend in aid of Glasgow Children’s Hospital. Prizes include artwork, performance tickets, plants and more!
Creative workshops will also run both days with giant bauble decorating on Saturday and glass decoration painting on Sunday.
The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, G1 5HZ (Merchant City)
8th December // 11am - 5pm // FREE
Pop into the beautiful Briggait for their annual Christmas market showcasing work from Wasps studio holders across Scotland. There will be a range of handmade and unique Christmas pressies on offer. They will also have hot food and drinks.
WESTive German Christmas Market
WEST on the Green, Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, G40 1AW
9th December // 11am-5pm // FREE
WEST will be hosting many independent traders and promise “flowers, food, fashion and more”. This market will offer a range of German food to keep you going through your market crawl. They are also offering a special edition Christmas beer, mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate.
Although the Market will be free to attend, as this is a time of goodwill, WEST kindly ask that you bring along a tinned food item on the day, which they will donate to a local Foodbank following the event.
They would like you to register for a free ticket here :
https://bit.ly/2DZQZCO
Vegan Connections Christmas Market
BAaD, 54 Calton Entry, G40 2SB (In the Barras Market)
9th December // 10am - 4pm // TICKETED - £4 Entry
Vegan Connections returns this year to bring 35 stalls offering a “hearty food” and Christmas pressies made by local traders. The market is also encouraging donations to The Glasgow Winter Night Shelter at this event to raise some much-needed funds for those down on their luck and needing a place to lay their head. They will also be holding a raffle and will donate the proceeds to Glasgow Winter Night Shelter.
85 Drygate, G4 0UT (Tennents Brewery)
9th December // 12am-5pm // FREE
Head down to the Drygate Brewery and shop from local artists, designers, producers and independent traders. There will also be a Winter Wonderland in the courtyard, Mini Professors’. Classes for the kiddies. Food and drinks available in the attached beer hall and lots of free parking!
]]>Suitable for those with no crafting experience at all to those who are dab hand, and want to learn how to make their own lampshades and lamps! Bring along your favourite boozy bottle and half a metre of fabric, and our tutors will take you through the process step by step.
What do you need to know:
We've had festivals and events that have closed the roads and kept customers away, we've recruited our first regular staff members, increased our opening times, started making even more of our new own products, launched some new workshops, a lovely wee collaboration with Lola Polooza's Glasgow Gig Venue range (we are making the Lampshades) and a ton of plotting for our next massive adventure!
We are on the move again, not very far just across the road to 200 Gallowgate to be the first tenant of a brand new creative hub being set up by Creative East End. The hub will provide a co-working space, coffee shop and retail space. We are aiming to be in the new premises and open by mid November which is ambitious but not impossible.
However, all of this comes at a financial cost and anyone who has been following our social media will know that we haven't had the easiest or most profitable of summers due to lots of circumstances out with our control. So we are asking for a wee bit of help from our Braw Wee Pals to help us make our new space look lovely and fill it with some fantastic stock, by launching a wee crowd funder.
For each amount pledged you will receive a gift voucher which you can either use yourself or gift to someone else on any of the products or workshops at the Braw Wee Emporium. The vouchers can be used in the shop or online and are valid for 12 months, so plenty of time to spend them or even use them for your Christmas Shopping! You'll also get a special invite to our launch event and if you come along a wee goodie bag to say thank you.
I hear you shout why are you moving again? Well here are just a few of the things that moving will allow us to do which we couldn't do in our first home at BAaD or our current space.
The costs we need help to cover are the following:
So if you are interested in helping us out then you can buy your voucher here!
]]>We’ve been working with Braw Wee Emporium for over a year now doing the brand’s digital marketing activities and being a small independent shop and workshop space, there’s always something to shout about (as cliché as it sounds).
What we love about working with owner, Jennifer, is not only her support of independent artists and local businesses but also her dedication to building a community in the East End of Glasgow. Now, this is not down to digital marketing alone, she’s got pretty awesome banter and works like a trojan! However, with day-to-day operation activities keeping Jennifer busy, we love to get stuck in to help create conversational newsletters, Facebook advertising and a style and tone for all the fun graphics on her e-commerce website. As a small business, it also gave us all the chance to bounce ideas off each other (over a large glass of wine of course), which gives Jennifer the time to focus on the present day. Therefore, we can concentrate on, and develop, a strategic marketing campaign plan for new products and seasonal events. As any good entrepreneur knows, collaboration brings creativity. So, if you ever wonder why Barra Bear is dressed in a random outfit in any of our pics, you now know why…
Digital marketing can be a bit confusing and can be time consuming. Tech in Scotland is only going to keep advancing, and we’ll not even go down the social media road which has changes to algorithms daily! But let’s not forget what digital marketing really boils down to, getting you and your business in front of people. Done correctly, brand awareness leads to long term engagement and then loyalty. That’s the relationship goals we all want. And we have to say the Braw Wee customers are pretty amazing!
#supportlocal
*The blog was written by the team at Yellow Bird Digital
]]>So as you know we go on a wee bit about the benefits of shopping local not only is it important for our own business but it is essential for a city like Glasgow to retain and grow its network of independent businesses - it is one of the things that can make us stand out from any other city (that and our brilliant banter!). Because we are so passionate about it and inspired by other places and campaigns that have set out to raise awareness of shop locally we thought Glasgow deserved its own campaign!
Shop Local Glasgow is an initiative to support and celebrate Glasgow's fantastic independent shops and businesses. It has always been an aim of Braw Wee Emporium to raise awareness of the benefits that shopping local has on our communities, towns, cities and economy.
We've written many a blog post on it and here are a few of those reasons why it is good to shop locally.
Our aim is to get people using the hashtag #shoplocalglasgow so we can showcase all the fab independent businesses, feature them on our Instagram and Facebook page and eventually set up a website with a regular blog featuring a local directory of independent businesses around Glasgow.
In the meantime, you can follow us on Instagram @shoplocalglasgow or Facebook - Shop-Local-Glasgow
]]>Bonnie Bling who was one of our very first suppliers when we opened was named Designer of the Year at the Sunday Herald Culture Awards at their glittery event at SWG3 last Thursday. Mhairi designs and makes some of our favourite and most popular acrylic jewellery and accessories from her studio in the Hidden Lane. She has been a huge support and inspiration to us since we opened, it is great to see her getting recognition for all her hard work.
Dear Green Coffee, our neighbours and suppliers of caffeine are nominated for The Glasgow Business Awards - The Evening Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business. There are four fantastic businesses inline for the award but we think you should take a few seconds to vote for Dear Green Coffee. For those that don't know, Lisa has worked tirelessly to ensure that their beans are from independent traders and farms they know and trust, to ensure transparency, traceability and sustainability in every coffee they roast. And they are also a Living Wage Foundation Employer for the staff they directly employ! What's not to love.
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First up this week is a couple that we already knew but now they are directly across the road.
Rip it Up Vintage - run by the lovely Kirsty who has a fantastic selection of vintage fashion and accessories. We love having a wee peek at what gems she has managed to find.
Tuck Studio - they have a carefully curated selection of plants, homewares, and accessories and located right next to Rip it Up Vintage as part of the Many Studios complex. Be warned you'll not leave here with just one amazing plant!
Van Winkle - a new addition to the area opening last year just further up the Gallowgate, they helped sustain us through the move and decorating with their great selection of bbq, burgers, bourbons, beer and for us cider! They do a great cheap lunchtime menu!
There are so many more amazing places surrounding us so we'll introduce some more next week!
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