My Somewhat Stupid, Silly, Secret Scottish Scheme…
Everyone
& I mean everyone
I have told about
this project
has told me…
“ Thats stupid! ”
“ What are you up to now ”
“ You want to start what? ”
“ Thats a rather ridiculous idea ”
“ Who do you think you are! ”
“ No one will give you money for paper! ”
Yet… here you are! 😉
So what is Och & Aye, exactly?
It’s a wee Scottish Micro Publishing House!
I make handmade books, prints, calendars, and a very special monthly mail club called The Most Disobedient & Least Disheartened Order of the Unicorn (more on that later). Every project is inspired by Scotland’s castles, creatures, standing stones, and a good dash of Highland mischief.
Why micro publishing? Because big publishing houses are intimidating. Because I like doing things my way. And, frankly, because paper never talks back, doesn’t require meetings, and always smells like adventure.
So far, the journey has been:
Exciting — there’s nothing like holding your first printed copy in your hands.
Terrifying — what if no one buys it? what if the paper jams in the printer? what if the unicorn rejects me?
Addictive — designing, drawing, printing, packaging… it’s like Christmas every week.
And the best part? This is just the start. I have plans for digital prints, postcards, phone backgrounds, desktop wallpapers — all celebrating Scotland in its quirky, magical glory. Each tiny product is a piece of the story I want to tell, a way for people to take a wee bit of Scotland home with them.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in turning a failing web design business into a micro publishing adventure, it’s this: the “stupid” ideas are often the ones that turn into the most fun, memorable, and uniquely yours.
So, here’s to silly, secret Scottish schemes. Here’s to paper, imagination, and a little bit of mischief. And if you’d like to join me on this journey — whether by buying a print, subscribing to the Order, or just cheering from afar — then welcome. It’s going to be bonnie.
