Beach we re
If a sticky, windswept battle with candyfloss was the most fun you thought you could have at the seaside, Scotland’s coastal shopkeepers will prove you wrong. Anne MoMeekin reports.
The Victorian Shop, Rothesay A swrft paddle oth to Rothesay wrll lead you to this renowned Aladdin's cave of antiques and Jewellery. Here you'll find everything from clocks and grit frames to mirrors to drarnond rings. Prices range from brrc a brac for a couple of pounds to antique treasures worth thousands. 35) East Princes St. 0 I 700 530:3 7:30.
The Castle Gallery, Rothesay
If second-hand isn't your thing. grab a cone and take a stroll up to the Castle Gallery. which exhibits work by local amateurs and internationally recognised artists such as John Bellany. Jolorno and Peter Howson. In the gallery shop there's hand made Jewellery including beads designed by Jo Lochhead plus a range of pottery by Gillian Turner. who impregnates her hand-painted bowls with leaves found on the Isle of Bute. 73 High St. 07700 :304 760.
Westqate Gallery, North Berwlck
There's an arty exi‘x-zrrence to be had by good time golfers here. lhe gallery. which also houses a licensed cafe called the ()rangery. focuses mainly on prints. lhese cost anywhere between 57.5 for the framed and mounted work of a local amateur to 5.7100 for limited
GET...aconscience
edition. signed prints. Meanwhile. the gallery shop also stocks stationery. ceramics. Jewellery. tableware and the famous Swedish art glass of Kosta Boda. 39—47 Wesfgate. 07620 894 976.
Great Escape, North Berwick This is more than Just a Surfer hangout: this appealing fashion outlet caters for everyone from teenage girls to the owner's dad. In store yOu'll find labels such as White Stuff. Vans. Animal and Billabong priced between $315 for T— shirts and 5:40 for Jumpers and trousers. There's also a variety of footwear and a smart line in RipCLirl watches and Sunglasses for those blinded by the glare of shiny golf clubs. :37 High St. 07620 893 793.
Farmore Interiors, St Andrews Bank holiday DIY enthusiasts w0u|d be hard pushed to find anywhere more comprehensive than Farmore Interiors. This home furnishings store stocks everything that browsing decorators never knew they needed and. if you're really stuck. yOu can consult their onsite interior design studio. Wander in and you may well leave wrth a $2 glass broach. a 5:200 collectable Jenny Worrall lamp. or perhaps you'll end up cramming some made-to-order furniture into y0ur hatchback. 775 South St, 07334 474 899.
Crail Pottery, Grail
Nicknamed 'The Good Life from Fife'. Crarl Pottery is a family-run emporium. Retired shoppers. day tripping families and golf widows can browse a plethora of objects. including small posy bowls for a couple of pOLinds and huge plant pots worth I‘iundreds. 75 Nefhergafe. 07333 457 272.
The Gingerbread Horse, Pittenweem
Of course. the only thing tOLirists like better than handmade mugs are homemade cakes. which this craft shop and tearoom happily supplies. Housed in a former bakery. the Gingerbread Horse wrll have you cooing at everything from kids' pocket money
gifts to one-off. handmade clocks after it's had y0u salivating over its range of homemade food and cakes. 9 High St. 07333 377 495.
Argo, Largs
In a similarly eclectic style. Franca Sheridan's gift shop Argo proves that there's a lot more to Largs than a Nardini stronghold. Brands such as Pucca and Felix the Housecat are worth a look. as are ROSy POSy lampshades at $313.99 and Krdorable novelty kiddie raincoats for £19.99. 34 Gal/owgate St. 07475 689 460.
The Herbary. Troon
The Herbary is a little bit of urban chic cooried wrthin this sleepy town. The outlet's range of Jewellery. designer bags including labels such as Radley. coupled with its selection of Mediterranean toiletries. Crabtree & Evelyn products and fine fragrances means that shoppers can leave both fragrant and accessorised to the hilt. 57 Ayr St, 07292 3 73 489.
Fankle, Troon With knitting back in fashion. a homespun approach to shopping can be found in this shop. The store sells everything the experienced or amateur knitter c0uld ever need or want (patterns. designer wool. thread. accessories) while ex zookeeper and 25-year knitting-veteran Kathleen offers classes on Thursday evenings. 250 Portland St. 07292 3 78 873.
Katy McAu/ay shops for quality while caring
I Charities are getting quite crafty with us
bits of coloured ribbon with actual safety pins. T- shirts featuring the scribbles of various
for £20, with £10 from
October (breast cancer awareness month), the jewelled wonder will retail
sexy advertising campaign. Not to be outdone,
Dower & Hall in Princes
Square, Glasgow imbue
shoppers these days. Time was, unless you were stocking up on canned goods to donate to an appeal or working out where to put that dreadful handmade fair trade rug, there wasn’t much to appeal to the possession- minded. The thing is, when it comes down to it; shopping is about me. We fit in with the trends to look good and we buy other
98 THE LIST ta ‘27 sep mos)
people presents we actually want ourselves. It’s taken a while, but charities are beginning to cotton on to this. It started when the rubbishy stickers you got in return for dropping a quid into the rattling collection box began to be replaced by
celebrities proved popular. Along came a little white plastic bangle and it was more hip to ditch the Tetley for a cup of fair trade brew. But the transformation must now be complete with the launch this month of the Swarovski Breast Cancer Care bracelet (left). Available from the Swarovski Store in Buchanan Galleries throughout September and
every purchase donated to the charity. It features a band that sports a cluster of pink crystals and it’s supported by a downright
their charity jewellery with a certain selectivity by offering limited edition faith, hope and charity pendants, merrily redefining the nature of charity as an exclusive pleasure. These charms (left) are sterling silver, boasting freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones and they cost £98.
I wwwdowerandha/Icom; www. swarovski. com