Granny Would be Proud Vintage and Craft Fair

Wee wander round here after a Bookclub brunch is a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

I love a wee wander round this little craft fair. Granny’s has a few locations around Glasgow, the shed being another but I always go to the Hillhead Bookclub one as its closer to home. If you know the layout of the Bookclub then you’ll know what I mean when I say the crafts are displayed around the top, balcony type area of the bar.
The fair consists of handmade crafts, jewellery, vintage clothing, vintage glasses and lots lots more. I think the fair is still on every Sunday, the sellers change every week, so if you see something buy it as it might not be back.
It’s great for getting ideas for prezzies or for treating yourself. After a wee shop you can then stay for some food or drink in the bar area downstairs.

I LOVE all things vintage, retro and alternative — and as a result I’ve been along to the Granny Would be Proud Vintage and Craft Fair a couple of times now. While it’s great to have stalls which are dedicated to purely vintage and crafts, I’ve been sad to say that both times I’ve been a little bit disappointed.
The layout is a little bit cramped — which can’t be helped since it’s upstairs at Hillhead Book Club — but it does make it tough to have a slow wander around as you’re always aware of letting people get past you at the narrower points.
Both times I’ve been, the swag on offer has seemed more car boot than vintage and crafts but this might just be bad timing on my part.
I’m not closing the door on this place entirely — I do think it’ll take a few more visits to see if it’s ever going to be a regular haunt for me and since it seems like the stallholders change pretty frequently, I’m sure one day I’ll find something there to keep my interest.

This is for you if you like «Toot» made in someones bed room! Or handmade 50’s look retro hair band’s that fill table tops where girls sit on their boyfriends knees waiting for a customer… that will rarely come. There are are a couple of stalls that sell over priced second hand /​retro (That word «Retro» covers a multitude of sins! Including sellers unwanted garments!!!) Never again!

I love Granny’s Fairs!
I have been first as a buyer and more recently as a seller. Its a amazing wee hove of crafty treasures.
As a seller the organisers are so helpful and have a genuine love and interest in all the stalls. I felt totally relaxed in the laid back environment they create.

GWBP is more than a vintage market, it is a amazing little platform for independent designers, makers and crafty folk to get their good’s out on display.

Ok, so it’s an update, but it’s an update of an event that’s still going strong, still offering an outlet for some very creative local… eh… creative people, in a venue that just seems to suit the vibe that’s being flung about.
Enter a GWBP market on any given Sunday and you’ll be walking into an increasingly more vibrant Hillhead Bookclub (mair peoples), with an ever changing line up of sellers up stairs.
If you’re keen on your vintage/​kitsch/​crafty, then this is the market for you.

I had another fun packed day ay Granny Would be Proud on Sunday past and left with an empty purse again. Bought a lovely faux tiger print coat, a delightful hot water bottle with a handmade patch work cover, used it Sunday night as it was freezing and loads of brooches, necklaces and rings from my favourite stall Rare & Flair. Was very tempted to buy a beautful Lea Stein scottie dog which was £35, wish i had now as when i looked online the cheapest i could find was over £40. Going back on the 7^th of November for christmas shopping. The food in the book club was good too in a nice laid back sort of way. They give you a large jug of water filled with fresh fruit, nice touch.

Maybe this review is swayed by my own personal tastes, but I have to say, Granny Would Be Proud just didn’t push my buttons at all.
Vintage for me is a bit of a strange one. On one hand, I adore vintage jewellery, furniture, furs and cars, but I don’t have the pizazz to carry off a full rig-​out of venerable clobber, so I limit myself to having a rummage through the suitcases filled with scarves as a rule.
Situated in Hillhead Bookclub (the stairs on the way to the Ladies loos smell unsettlingly like haddock, just an aside) up in the wee mezzanine of the bar/​restaurant, wee stalls are erected twice a month filled with an arrangement of cakes, jewels, cards, clothes, shoes and bags in abundance. It is small so walking around and getting the chance to stop and really have a good look is difficult and somewhat sweaty.
Cupcake stalls sell individually packaged cakes for £1−2, but I find that sort of thing a bit old hat now. Some of the cards I had a look at were very cool, and I would have loved to have flicked through a bigger range of those. Some of the older, restored jewellery was beautiful, but quite expensive, which is to be expected. I did see quite a few stalls selling kitsch plastic jewellery which was cute but I felt it was a tiny bit out of place. To me, that doesn’t epitomise the vintage era, but rather the more modern trend of DIY style necklaces and earrings. There was even a stall selling what I can only describe as the stallholders second hand stuff out of their wardrobe, with a tub of ‘un-​used’ Body Shop cream on sale for £4. Hmm.
It didn’t take us long to scout around the place, and leave empty handed. I don’t think the place is bad, I don’t think that it is a waste of time going for a look but I do think that my kind of Vintage just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Granny Would Be Proud cropped up a few motnhs ago, and I’m not sure who instigated the vintage movement, but I’m very glad they did.
Normally hosted in the Argyll Hotel, there are usually about a dozen stalls set up packed full of vintage goods and vintage inspired incarnations. There is a creative set of revolutionaries situated in this fair city called the Glasgow Craft Mafia, and I believe some of them take residence at this very fair. They are awesome and I would recommend Googling them pronto! They have helped me out with many a Christmas present choice and it makes me proud as punch to hear my pals get complimented on their jewellery. And they’re all unique, baby!
At Granny Would Be Proud, you can expect much of the same — such a great alternative to the high street shops and with far more imaginative driving force behind it. The stall owners each display a different array of jewellery — some go for punk inspired looks, creating bracelets out of 80s gum ball machine toys; others display a homage to the pin-​ups from the 50s who are immortalised on laced, fabricated brooches. Take a left, and you will find a clothes rail crammed with vintage wares all for under 15 quid. To the right, gaze longingly at the oppulent, gem stone jewellery that would set any outfit off and be a great gift for a mother in law or your sister. Go on, buy the ring made out of pieces of old Scrabble letters — buy two and you’ve made your initials!
It is the rock and roll alternative to jewellery shopping and the meeting place for all crafty ladies and gents around the city. Once you’ve had an extensive browse — and believe me there is a lot to see — step over the hall into the doily embellished tea room and treat your mum/​boyfriend/​pal to a scone or six. The amiable bar staff may even give you a wink and a drink while they’re at it.
Always a fan of this monthly fair, I’ll be there at the next one and you should swing by, too! In the mean time, «Craft Mafia» «Tatty Bön», «We Are The Robots» and «rockmylobster» into Google — I mean it! These independent makers will indulge all your frivolous spending. You love it.

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