What If Paisley – independent creative hub and community

We take a look behind the scenes of What If Paisley, an independent creative hub based in the town centre 

Catherine McAtier, founder of What If Paisley, had intended to become a full-time embroidery and textile artist in 2020. However, when a multi functional space became available in Moss Street, What If was born.

Since putting pen to paper, Catherine has spent the last three years focusing on providing an affordable, not to mention safe, retail and workshop space for local creatives. She has loved watching the makers flourish and loves hearing the stories behind why they do what they do.

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Among the longest running creatives in the space, Amanda from The Butterfly Room discussed the origins of her enterprise, stating: “The Butterfly Room emerged from my own health journey and a passion for making the holistic and creative tools that have helped me on that journey accessible and affordable for anyone who may want to access them.”

Susie of Susie Rodgers Millinery just loves hats, wearing them, buying them, and making them. Thus, that passion shows in the beautiful pieces she has at What If and at her studio in the Embroidery Mill Building.

Sandra and Gary of Blackcat Upcyclers are passionate about saving items from landfill, they can’t walk by a skip without diving in. As a result their handmade creations are all unique and one of a kind.

Meanwhile, Jean McCulloch started crafting after collecting pine cones walking the Camino De Santiago. 

She undertook the 500-mile walk after losing her husband suddenly in 2018. “The following Christmas, I decided to make a centrepiece large cone, robin and heart shape with verse ‘robins appear’,” she said of the initial concept. “The family loved it so I made them all one.”

Linda of Linda Knits started knitting again when one of the girls in her work sparked her interest with some nursery decorations. Linda started and just couldn’t stop. She then found What If and has been one of our most popular customised makers ever since.

With What If now established as an independent creative hub, Catherine is finally getting to do what she truly loves, embroidery and textile art. She is currently working on her first seasonal stitchery book and looking forward to seeing her work in print in the next few weeks. 

What If Paisley, 25 Moss Street, Paisley, PA1 1DJ, 07495 111837, email ca*******@wh****.com, visit the website.