Oh boy, oh boy…read more.. I'm one of these people who always wanted to be artistically creative. My mum can paint, sketch, knit, crochet, and all the rest of it, but unfortunately I didn't inherit her arty farty genes. Stick men and colour co-ordination is really the height of it for me. Well, at least my stick people will be well dressed... Thank goodness for Craftworld, a haven of every possible kind of art form known to man. To my delight, this includes those colourful beads which you place on a random plastic shape, cover with iron-proof paper, and iron. Cue excitement. I actually made one of these a number of years ago. A blue and red place mat in the shape of a star which sits on my desk. Craftworld appreciates the lesser forms of art. Happy days. If you're not one for fusing together beads (and let's face, apart from a five year old and myself, who really is?), do not fear. Everything from dolls houses to thread, from glitter to polystyrene shapes can be found in Craftworld. There's a lovely wee wedding section at the very back too. Lovely jubbly.

This place is unbeatable for everything craft, ribbons, buttons, wool..everything…read more I had the very frustrating experience of going here to pick up stuff everyday for two weeks before my wedding...men beware it may just dooo your head in unless your the president of your local sewing club. Prepare for a busy stuffy room with way too much choice!!!!

I love visiting shops which sell arts and crafts. I especially love it when the artists are all…read morefrom the local area. This shop is displaying art made by people from the Ard's Peninsula and is run on a rota by the artists themselves. As you would imagine in a seaside town the art is very much themed around the sea and the local countryside. There were some beautiful earrings and necklaces made from local stones and shells which were very inexpensive indeed. There were also some beautiful drawings of the sea, boats and the marina. Lots of little pieces at decent prices. The lady who was on duty was really nice and she let me get on with it while she sat on the windowsill having a smoke and chatting to her neighbours - a very relaxed feeling and a truly unique little store!

Casker's Cards and Gifts is a new addition to the DeCourcy centre, and a sister store to Casker's…read moreon West Street. They sell a large range of greetings cards for every occasion and situation imaginable! They also have a beautiful range of wrapping paper, bows, gift bags, tape etc. They are much better equipped than even some of the larger card stores in terms of the gifts available to buy. They have all the usual cute teddies, keyrings and pens with your name on, and glasses and mugs emblazoned with 18, 21, 30 etc, however they do a really good range of board games, calendars, larger toys, decorative frames etc Alongside this, they have lots of goods in the mood of the current season, for example costumes, wigs, and masks etc at Halloween. Great addition to the De Courcy centre and definitely a good reaon to support local businesses!

Great wee local card shop situated in the De Courcy centre, they have a sister shop in the centre…read moreof Carrick which sells everything so I knew this would be a great shop. They have a vast range of cards and gifts for every occasion all at reasonable prices. Great to see local business moving into the centre, definitely worth a visit if you need a card, wrapping paper, gifts etc

Ards tourist information is a centre with a difference. Sure, its got a wealth of guidance on where…read moreto eat, shop, sleep and go in Newtownards, as well as various other towns and cities in Northern Ireland. Naturally, there are the gifts and souvenirs available in a typical tourist information centre, and helpful, friendly advice from those in the know. "So, what's different?!" I hear you cry. Yes, yes, I was getting to that bit. A stunning array of locally produced arts and crafts are available for purchase - jewellery, glassware, china, pottery and the like. And when I say local, I mean local. Like twenty minutes down the road local. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Not only this, but the centre collaborates with the creators and innovators behind these delightful goods, holding displays and classes for the general public to watch and participate. One such event is "Meet the Maker", which exhibits the likes of Karl Harron (a glass artist), Mike Miall (a woodturner) and Jan Campbell (a textile artist). Fascinating. Furthermore, he art centre is well equipped, with studios, galleries and meeting rooms all for use for this sort of event. Ha, bet you weren't expecting that! The name did kinda give it away mind you...

I'm not from Newtownards. I just blew in with my fiance a few years ago but I've been living here…read morelong enough to think i know everything about the blooming place. Ha ha - I don't. I'd never even been into the tourist information center until earlier today and without sounding like a maniac - I was blown away. Yeah! yeah! like all your bog-standard tourist information places they sell tea towels covered in maps of Ireland, attractions, sheep and Guinness. This is not however the cream on the Newtownard's Tourist Information cake. Go in deeper into the back of the shop to discover the wonder that is the arts and crafts section. Local artists from all over the peninsula create and display items in the display area. There are amazing ceramics, paintings, jewelry and sculpture. I couldn't believe it - all this has been under my nose all along. Seriously, I was blown away by all the free brochures about the area, the play area and the friendly, helpful staff. If you need to know anything at all about places to stay or eat anywhere in Northern Ireland then call in here.

Misha's Country Workshop, awk wow what a great wee hand made shop. I nipped in here on…read morerecommendation from a friend who is in love with the place. The woman (Misha) who runs the shop makes all the goods herself which is just brilliant. All the items were gorgeous! I don't know how she does it all, they're so inventive! I wanted to buy so many things from here, I'll definitely be back here closer to Christmas to stock up for presents or maybe call in for a special wee treat for myself! A brilliant shop for special gifts and wee trinkets for special occasions.

A unique, quirky & friendly little shop, specialising in beautiful little nick-nacks & customised…read morefurniture. What the shop lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character - there is barely a square inch that isn't crammed with all manner of pretty goodies! Mischa specialises in taken old, unloved furniture & items from car boot sales, and giving them a new lease of life - you can also bring in your own tired furniture to be given the magic touch. She transformed my wicker bedside table from a black-varnished monstrosity into a glorious white & pink creation, for a very reasonable price. A lot of her designs are very Cath Kidson/Laura Ashley inspired : girly prints and pastel colours, but she can customise anything the way you want it. Another of Mischa's specialitys is customised bunting, which is gorgeous as in a nursery, or for wedding decorations. With items starting from around £1 (for cute salt-dough heart hangers)), it's hard to go in & not buy someting. Well worth a look if you're in the area & bored of generic Ikea homewares..

Happens every month in The School house Holywood. Located up the hill from the maypole…read more Happens second Sat of the month. Great choice of local crafts. Not a gauge market but the quality is superb. Selling things like candles,food,clothes and gifts. They pick a charity each moth to collect entry donation at the door.

This small but well stocked art supply shop opened only a few months ago around June time 2010. The…read morepremisis are located in the quiet Merville Garden Village. A little shop such a this should thrive in this area, I know a number of people around here enjoy various crafts e.g. card making, scrap booking etc and this entrepreneurial business have set up workshops for these in the premisis catering to different levels and needs. I come in occasionally to buy different bits and pieces for presents or things I'm making. I've often been pleasantly surprised as some of the stock sold in here I can't even get in Belfast. For example those tiny little decorative roses, they're sold here by the bundle and come in various different colours. They also sell stickers, card, bobbles, everything you need for creative card making. There's a delighful little lady who minds the shop who talked away to me, offering her own advice. She was a great help and knew a lot about the business. If you're interested in creative crafs then call in for a look. It's bound to have something you're after.

Visited the Craft Room today after lunch in the courtyard. The shop is up external staircase &…read morethrough doorway entrance to room on the right. Not a lot of space but lots to see, touch and handle. From knitwear to scarves, from wonderful photographs to magical robot lights everything is handmade by local artists. We bought some baby knitwear for a newborn great nephew, lovely little booties, mittens and bonnet to match in eggshell blue. William was very friendly and helpful and we will certainly return.

This is another little constant that has survived the many changes in Carrickfergus over the years…read more I'm not much of a knitting fan but my mum and nan are, and this is the only shop they go to for their knitting patterns, wool, and other supplies. The shop is only tiny but it has what seems like an almost exhaustive selection of everything that could possibly be available for someone who wanted to knit, sew or crochet! The staff who work there are obviously very knowledgeable and can offer help and advice on what to buy.