Fiodh

4 years today, I took on a bigger space for Fiodh as I planned to start a creative space to rent out for designers and creatives to lower my expenses.

As I completed the space, covid and lockdown happened and I ended up tripling my expenses as I couldn't get anyone in.

I thought I would lose everything I built.

4 years later, I am still in this space and have managed to find a way to make it work, having produced watches and clocks, selling direct to customers, stocking them in giftshops and have worked with some of the biggest distilleries in Scotland.

There will always be hard times and challenges but there will always be a way.

Slàinte Mhath 🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Latest collaboration with The Glasgow Distillery Co.

I'm over the moon to announce that I have won the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Maker and Creator category 2023!

It's hard to describe the feeling of winning this after 6 long years of going through so many challenging moments and to keep finding it in myself to continuously persevere.

This year has felt more challenging than any other despite all the incredible achievements and collaborations, I have felt unfortunately a lot more burnouts.

As you keep improving and growing your standards, you naturally forget to look back as you look forward. To be grateful for what you have done and to remind yourself that you are doing well.

Thank you so much to everyone that's been on my side and to those that keep believing in me.

Thank you to Great British Entrepreneur Awards and the sponsors as this means more than just the award.

Slàinte Mhath 🥃⌚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😊

I'll be heading to London over night for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards as a finalist in the Maker and Creator category and hoping to add to the collection of awards over the years. 🤞

Category sponsored by

Some fantastic nominations, so good luck to all the finalist and see you all tomorrow.

Slàinte Mhath 😊⌚🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The Spirit of Scotland: How Michael Youmans is Transforming a Nation’s Heritage into Timeless Luxury Michael Youmans founded Fiodh Ltd in 2017 with a vision to celebrate Scotland's rich history through craftsmanship and design. Fiodh, the Gaelic word for timber, creates luxury watches from reclaimed whisky casks that were once home to some of Scotland's finest single malts.

Some fantastic images taken by the team at .

The Aberfeldy Watch is available online and within their giftshop. Maybe even book a wee tour and taste some whisky. 😊🥃 ⌚

The Aberfeldy Whisky Watches are now available online and in their giftshop. 😊🙌

https://shop.dewars.com/products/the-aberfeldy-whisky-watch

Black and Gold*

The Aberfeldy Watch

I was approached by Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery to create a watch that matched their brand.

I tried different methods from staining the wood but the best result to keep the wood grains was to dye them and finish it off using Danish oil to give them a protect coat.

I love the way they have came out and how different they look. The contrast of the gold and black are striking.

A limited amount will be available soon within giftshop. 🥃⌚

I'm not sure If I've ever fully introduced myself.

Hopefully my story will give you more light on why I started making watches.

I'm Mikey, Mike, Mick or Micheal depending on the time, location and friends group. I was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an English father (He was born in Newcastle with ginger hair so there must be some Scottish in there.) My blood may not be Scottish but my heart definitely is, I love this country and so proud to be raised here.

I was a troubled teen with no ambition and very little attention span for school. After getting suspended multiple times and causing distress to my parents, I realised I needed to change.

I started boxing which changed the entire course of my life. I remember the day my coach asking me if I wanted to fight in the Beijing Olympics and from that day, everything switched. I felt determined and can't forget that feeling of someone truly believing in me. I would set the alarm and go for runs at 5am everyday.

Unfortunately, my attention to school didn't improve so I made a tough decision to stop boxing and focus 100% on my education. For the next few years I would put the same level of effort into school until I secured a place at to study Product Design.

I would take a few years out to travel and take part in charity work to learn more about myself and make life long connections along the way.

2015 was the most difficult year as I suddenly lost my dad to cancer. It was hard to control every emotion at the same time. Feeling helpless, I would see an Ad for a White Collar Boxing match to raise money for Cancer Research . He would pass while I was training but I kept going and won the match. It will be one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.

Before he passed away, he asked if I could do a Master in Product Design. After graduating I tried apply for graduate design jobs but I would get turned down for a 'lack of experience'. If nobody would give me that experience then I would make it on my own.

To honour my dad as he was a huge watch enthusiast, I decided I would attempt to design and make my very own with a Scottish twist.

Fiodh and The Whisky Watch was born. 🥃⌚

The Lagavulin Whisky Watch

The last few months I have been working on a small batch of watches for as they intend to have it on display and for sale at The Islay Whisky Festival. .ile

Love the combination of gold and the whisky wood, together with the brown leather straps using fine Scottish leather from .

Hope you love the way it looks as much as I do. I know that Ron Swanson would be proud! Why not give him a tag if you like. 😜🥃

When the sun's out in Scotland you got to take the opportunity to get out into the wild.

Despite the 30mph winds at the top of Meall Na Tarmachan, located around the Lawers range, it was a beautiful day for a hike.

When the sky is so clear you can get some breath taking views of all the surrounding mountains.

First Munro of 2023 completed! 🥃

For a month now I have been working hard on making over 150 watch cases in anticipation for Fiodh's largest collaboration and with the deadline looming I worked day and night.

Unfortunately I was told by no fault of my own or the product that this will no longer go ahead. It's been a difficult one to take as it could of been a huge opportunity for Fiodh's growth and to take so much pressure off my shoulders.

As much as you never want to assume and have expectations without the deal over the line, I believe it's natural to feel that way and to be forward thinking. I will take it on the chin and continue to move on, I know there will be loads of opportunities ahead and disappointments will only make you more determined to succeed.

I love this image of the watch cases all stacked up to look like stacks of barrels which they once where. 🥃

Can't wait to get back on the mountains. As we hopefully get out of the cold winter season, I would love to do more adventures across our beautiful country.

*still taken by

Absolutely delighted to be one of the finalists for Gift of the Year 2023!

The winner will be announced at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on the 11th of May. 🥃

Ahoy, Me Hearties!

The Rum Watch

After meeting Collin the Founder of J. Gow Rum Distillery at the Scottish Trade Fair, we spoke about making some exclusive watches using their first ever rum cask.

Here's a bit about J. Gow Rum Distillery.

Award Winning. Scottish island rum.
Inspired by pirates, distilled beside the sea.

The rum is produced in Scotland, on Lamb Holm a tiny island (0.15 square miles). Home to the Italian Chapel and connected to mainland Orkney by the Churchill barriers. The distillery sits metres away from the sea. It may well be one of the smallest rum producing islands in the world.

I love the way the watch came out. It is made from a chestnut cask which is naturally rot-resistant, straight grained and comes in various shades of pale white to medium brown.

If you love Rum, check out .gowrum
⌚🥃

I was approached by Forbes Jewellers based in Tain, Scotland if I could make watches using their beautiful tartan called Weathered Forbes.

Here is the result and I absolutely love the colours in contrast to the whisky wood.

If you are interested in having your own tartan watches, give me a message and I would be more than happy to create a special timeless piece. 😊🥃⌚

Happy Burn's Night! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

Had a fantastic time at Scotland Trade Fair, meeting some current stockist and potential new and exciting ones.

These shows can be very exhausting but so important for building the brand. The buzz you feel when you speak to businesses that complement and want to stock your products is such a heart warming feeling.

These trade shows are also a great opportunity to speak with other creatives and businesses which can be very empowering.

Loads of contacts to follow up on and hopefully keep adding to the current list of awesome stockists. 😊

Slàinte Mhath 🥃

I am so grateful to start off this new year with some fantastic news that I have been shortlisted for Gift of The Year 2023 for 'The Whisky Watch'.

Over the years I have won a number of different awards for Fiodh and 'The Whisky Watch'. Every award and recognition has meant so much to keep the fire burning, to pull myself out of the mud and to keep fighting those internal battles that I am doing the right thing.

The hardest part of building a business is to keep believing in yourself, especially when times are tough which will be inevitable. This year I am going to hold on to every win no matter how small or big and use that to empower and inspire as many people to just keep going!

Thank you to .giftoftheyear.awards for shortlisting 'The Whisky Watch'.

'The Whisky Watch' will be displayed and judged live at the Birmingham Spring Fair on the 5th to the 8th. Good luck to everyone that has been shortlisted. 😊

Fantastic opportunity to win some amazing prizes with Clann An Drumma.

WORLDWIDE RAFFLE!!

That's right, we're hosting a raffle and posting the prizes out to wherever you are in the world. Prizes include:

- Unique CAD engraved hip flask
- Fiodh wristwatch, made from a whisky cask
- Youth kilt with sporran, belt, and matching tie
- Framed Jim Fitzpatrick celtic print
Plus more to be announced

All entries will also receive a free download of our 'Strands of Frost' track

Tickets for the raffle are only £3, every 3 tickets gets you a free 4th entry. Winners will be drawn and announced at the end of 2022! Follow the link in the comments to get your name in the hat now!!

Recently I approached to create a whisky watch for Finlay Wilson from Kilted Yoga using his beautiful tartan created by .

Finlay Wilson is a Yoga teacher and Author, known for performing his yoga poses against stunning backdrops around the rugged Scottish landscapes whilst wearing a kilt.

Check out his page if you want some content mixing the world of Yoga, Scotland and Kilts.

Sláinte 🥃

Working with the giants of the whisky industry was always something I considered when I first started, but back then It seemed like a distant dream. At times when I started it felt like such a long way before I could ever imagine it being possible.

It's been a huge honour to have these opportunities and to be trusted to represent these globally recognised brands.

From starting off with nothing and to get to where I am today can be seen as a miracle, from living on pennies and sleeping rough in my workshop and to having nearly lost it all so many times.

Very excited about the future and what is possible If you don't stop believing. 😊🥃

I remember making the first whisky clock back in 2017 as it made perfect sense to create beautiful clocks from the lids of the casks.

I am delighted to have 15 clocks heading to Zurich, Switzerland for

One of the most amazing experiences being an entrepreneur and maker is knowing that others all around the world can appreciate something you have created. 😊🥃

My biggest order to date since starting my business has been picked up and off to , where you will be able to purchase the wall clocks and watches in their gift shop.

It's now been a few months since I decided to go full time with Fiodh and I can't thank everyone enough for allowing me to live this crazy adventure. It's not been easy but as they say, if it's easy then everyone would be doing it. If it's worth it, then it's worth putting all that you have into it.

Currently I'll be working on stocking up for Christmas and 15 clocks that will be heading to Switzerland soon.

You only get one shot at life so give it all you got. 😊🥃

After a mad routine of working 17hr shifts for the last 3 days I managed to take a short time off to renergize and get out of the studio.

Here are a few pictures from a majestic walk from Maidens to Culzean Castle and a wee stop at Dunure Castle (Outlander film location) in Ayrshire.

One week to go before the Top Drawer event in London and loads to crack on with.

Slainte. 🥃

Since the wedding I've been non stop, working on exciting projects, collaborations and getting stuck in with current orders.

Just completed a limited amount of watches that will be available with the outline of Islay on the face, sold only from 'The Islay Shop', located in Bowmore. The watches are made using staves they kindly supplied that was once used from a distillery on Islay, which I unfortunately cannot say.

I also had a fantastic time with the guys , filming at different locations to produce incredible footage about the story of Fiodh, showcasing the struggles, inspiration and how I started the brand.

I can't thank them enough for their time and their effort to make it happen and really can't wait to see the end result.

Story telling is everything and so important to every brand, the reason why someone feels connected to a brand goes beyond its product or service.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week, I'll be very busy working on orders and also preparing for my first exhibition outside Scotland in London, this September. 🥃

For the last few years we have been running our Made in Scotland blog hoping to discover new businesses and highlight the quality of the fabulous produce and craft made in Scotland. While we were at Scotland's Trade Fairs in Glasgow we met Michael from Fiodh who creates beautiful watches made using reclaimed Whisky casks. We were very excited to hear all about how Fiodh, the Whisky Watch, was created by Michael and asked him to join us for a little chat about his craftsmanship, his journey to watches and his favourite part of Scotland to visit.

https://billbaber.com/made-in-scotland-fiodh/

After a fantastic wedding in Lake Garda, I am officially self employed as I say goodbye to my part time job.

It has been 5 long years of building this business through all the ups and downs, working every single day, morning to night and I am now ready to take the next step in my journey to take Fiodh to new heights.

It is easy to be afraid of the unknowns and all the challenges ahead but without tackling our fears its hard to progress and to take important risks. The biggest fear is the fear of not giving it everything. I know no matter what happens I will always be proud of all the accomplishments and the journey I have been on, so here's to the next chapter. 🥃

*View from Monte Baldo, CIMA VALDRITTA, 2218 meters.

I made a huge decision!

As some of you may know I've been balancing a part-time job to pay for my personal expenses and working on my business during the week to keep it growing.

I have handed in my resignation for the part-time job and will be taking a paycheck for the first time with the business at the start of August.

It's never easy to remove a part of stability in your life but I know that I haven't got this far without taking risks and at the end of the day the most important thing is that I gave it everything.

The coming months I will be working on a number of huge collaborations and exciting video content about my journey and how the watches are handcrafted.

I will also be attending for my first trade show outside of Scotland in September.

These are some of the most iconic images of my journey.

1. The first photoshoot at Loch Awe.

2. All the tools and parts I started with, carrying most in a shoebox.

3. My first studio at the whisky bond in Glasgow.

4. The Hammock that I slept on thinking it was a great idea.

5. My second studio

6. I also ended up sleeping in this one to complete a huge order for the Kickstarter. The studio had a small cupboard which I used as my workshop.

7. The current studio.

It's been some journey, and one I hope you can continue to follow about one guy starting a watch business from reclaimed whisky casks from absolutely nothing.🥃😊