🎨 Local Art, Weekend Plans & Merch Ideas

Good Evening Guys!

Nashy here 👋

Edinburgh has been a little dreich this week…

But that hasn't stopped me getting out and about meeting the faces behind the amazing local businesses in Edinburgh this week! 

As well as getting a Chow back in the safe hands of its owner via the wonderful people at Edinburgh Cat & Dog Home.

This weeks line up:

This week I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Court an amazingly talented ball point pen artist who is the resident Artist at Virgin Hotels on Victoria Street

And, yes! You can pop in and visit and Jenny at the hotel.

Over the past couple of months Jenny has been working on a drawing of the skyline of Edinburgh which will be on display at the Hotel within the next few weeks! 👀

Jenny’s art really captures the texture and details of the buildings in Edinburgh in a really unique way!

🪄 Magic Labyrinth at Barnton Bunker (14–15 Nov) Six rooms, six magic shows, one massive underground nuclear bunker. A night of illusions, storytelling and “how did they do that?” moments — all raising funds to restore Barnton Bunker. Really unique Edinburgh experience. View Event

💙 Edinburgh Blue Balls Annual Launch (14 Nov) Four years of icy dips and wild mornings all leading to the first-ever Blue Balls Annual. Saunas, food, drinks, prints, and a pre-release copy for everyone who comes along. View Event

🎤 Whitney Houston By Candlelight (14 Nov) A live band tribute to the late legend at Assembly Rooms. View Event

🛍️ 3D2D Newbattle Abbey Christmas Fair (15–16 Nov) Over 70 artisans taking over the stunning Newbattle Abbey with ceramics, textiles, jewellery, prints and handmade gifts. A proper family friendly festive makers market with free parking. View Event

✨ Jewellery & Crafty Stuff (15 Nov) Pop by the Leith Walk Police Box for a mini treasure hunt: 400+ upcycled vintage earrings from Matt Black Jewellery plus cute crochet creatures, patches and stickers from Zuza Makes. View Event

🎀 Christmas Rag Wreath Workshop (15 Nov) A cosy half-day class at Birchwood Art Studio on Ashley Terrace, where you’ll craft your own 25 cm festive wreath using cottons, lace and ribbons. No experience needed. View Event

🎄 Edinburgh’s Christmas (15 Nov–4 Jan) The festive season kicks off in East Princes Street Gardens: markets, lights, rides, food-stalls. Get in the Christmassy mood. View Event

🤸 Gymfest November 2025 (15–16 Nov) 40 years strong! Head to Meadowbank Sports Centre for an inclusive gymnastics showcase filled with flair, fun and incredible talent. View Event

🥐 Aran Bakery Pop-Up at The Palmerston (16 Nov) Flora Shedden brings her famous Aran Bakery to Edinburgh for one morning only, with bakes from her new cookbook: parsnip loaf cake, fig scones, mince pies and more. Starts 9am, get there fast. View Event

🎅 Get Ready for Christmas: East Linton (16 Nov) A festive makers market and creative workshops raising money for Make 2nds Count. Over 20 local stalls plus kids’ LED painting, candle painting and sea-glass jewellery sessions. Free entry at East Linton Community Hall. View Event

🎷 The Vintage Explosion (16 Nov) Rod Stewart calls their frontman “the best white soul singer I’ve ever heard.” Four No.1 blues albums, TV appearances, and now a full on retro party at Portobello Town Hall. Expect big vocals and 1959 energy. View Event

Yesterday I teased the idea of releasing some Keep Edinburgh Thriving merch…

And the response was way bigger than I expected. Thank you! 🙏

The comments, DMs, and chats I had after posting got me thinking.

If Keep Edinburgh Thriving does merch… how do we make sure it actually supports local?

And I don’t mean just working with a local artist (which we will).

I mean, how does the merch itself give something back to independent businesses in Edinburgh?

So here’s one idea I’ve been playing with:

(Example numbers only to explain the concept 👇)

If 50 people buy a Keep Edinburgh Thriving t-shirt 

I take £5 from each t-shirt sale and buy a £250 voucher for a local independent business.

Then everyone who bought that piece of merch gets entered into a draw

And one person is chosen as the monthly winner.

So the merch supports local businesses and gives something back to the people who support us.

Then next month its a voucher for another local business in Edinburgh.

I don’t want this to be my idea of merch, I want it to be ours.

The goal is to build something that genuinely supports local businesses and feels special to the people who wear it.

If you have any ideas PLEASE hit reply and tell me what YOU would love to see.

Or if you think the Voucher Fund is a solid place to start reply with Keep Thriving.

Have a great weekend guys!

Thanks,
Nashy