Notes From The Studio / Vol. 4

From Protest Signs to Packaging Tape

It’s been A Week (or three). I missed the last couple of Friday updates because life suddenly went from ticking along nicely to full-blown local activism mode.

Here’s the short version: I’ve been quietly working on an idea to start something new for our village, a community group that could bring people together and fill the gap left behind when the centre shut. I’d just finished putting together a residents’ survey when bam, Glasgow City Council announced plans to sell off our green spaces to developers. 400 houses. Zero consultation and communication since 2019 when residents had objected to plans. You can imagine how that landed.

So I went home that night and hit publish on the survey, picked up the printed copies the next day, and by the weekend we’d launched a petition and in true grassroots fashion organised a protest.

We shared ideas for placards; there were some gems in there, including ‘Leaf Our Trees Alone’ from my niece, printed flyers, got posters up, and rallied the neighbourhood. The turnout was brilliant. People came with their neighbours, their friends and family, their kids, their dogs.

There was a buzz, a sense of “we’re actually doing something.” It was hopeful and had a serious amount of community spirit. It was magic. I felt properly proud.

We’ve still a long way to go. We're now going door to door to spread the word and hand-deliver surveys because not everyone catches the latest updates online.

It’s the long way round, but it’s worth it. And yes, I’m racking up the step count while I’m at it. Who needs a gym when you’ve got pavements and a cause?

The petition’s still growing. And the council? Well, they’ve not heard the last of us. But for now, I’m just proud of what our wee community managed to pull off in a matter of days.

Meanwhile, back at the (actual) studio

Some lovely wholesale orders went out for Text From A Friend, to regular stockists, others to brand new ones. I’ve been working on a few custom thank you card designs, I’ll show you next time. As well as…dare I say it…Christmas products. Yeah, it’s that time already.

And yes, I still haven’t fully finished updating my website. It’s 95% there. But as always, it’s a work in progress. These things never stay still for long.

As well as the new Text From A Wedding range…the to ‘deal with list’ is still there…growing as I write this.

On my desk and in my ears this week:

🎧 Podcast: Creative Boom – Katy Cowan chats with Adrian Carroll from D8 (Glasgow represent!) about creativity, culture, confidence and everything in between.
📖 Book: The Nix by Nathan Hill – political, personal, painfully good in parts, and a bit of a gut punch in others.
🎶 Playlist: Monki: Defected Mix – deep house, soulful bounce, and enough rhythm to carry you through the midweek slump or everyday slump at this rate.
🌱 Mood booster: Community spirit. Cardboard placards. Neighbours turning up to fight for something that matters.

‘Til next time, Sharon :)