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!!!!

This Paperchase is an outlet within House Of Fraser. It's small but they seem to squeeze in a lot…read moreof products in to a small space. This store sells gifts, stationery and cards. It's kind of a girly Store with loads of photo books and bits and bobs you don't actually need. We went in to try and find a gift box and there was a whole world of possibilities. I couldn't believe there were so many options. The lady working behind the counter was really helpful and she even made a few recommendations. I'd recommend having a look if you're in Victoria Square.

So, I might has a slight obsession with stationery. So this place is right up my street, full of…read morebright shiny things. Which attracts a magpie like myself. The do a lot of quirky pieces as well a large range of cards and wrapping paper, art supplies and handmade paper. The handmade papers look great when used it a frame. A review and a tip in one. Who's that for multitasking.

The Wicker Man is a lovely traditional gift shop on Belfast's busy High Street. The company was…read moreestablished in 1994 in the hope of promoting local businesses and selling local art work. Nowadays the store sells work from artists in Ireland both North and South. They sell some intriguing items including beautiful Beleek pottery, some gorgeous Celtic jewellery, as well as work by some enterprising local artists. You can find work by Carrick artist Thomas Joseph, Belfast artist Gary Anderson as well as the exceptionally popular Anna Nielsen prints. The jewellery sold here is really gorgeous, it's very well made and you should try here if you're interested in buying the likes of a claddagh ring or a Celtic knot brooch. The stock is in no way limited to the usual array of touristy nick nacks, even I shop here if I'm after a particular work of art. But for those visiting the Emerald Isle you can choose from a huge range of typical Irish souveneirs. For something different they also have some beautiful picture frames and clocks. If you've never been here before and are a fan of our great wee country then you should definitely not miss it. The staff will greet you with a warm welcome and make you feel more than comfortable. Great shop, great stock, great prices, great people!

We finally found yarn in Belfast! In the heart of the city we were lucky enough to pop in out of…read morethe rain and get dessert and coffee at College Street Cafe! Don't miss it! The walk on over to Wicker Man for some beautiful boucle yarn!! We all grabbed a few balls!!

This is a quirky wee treasure trove, full to its original rafters with gifts, cards, homeware,…read morejewellery and accessories. If you're lucky you'll spot its resident cat roaming around and adding to the loveliness of the place. I always pop in for a wee look around when I visit Portpatrick and I tend to bring home some lovely jam and gifts for friends and family. There's a real community feel about Portpatrick and I've heard that Campbell's restaurant across the road gets its ornate and handmade cutlery from the Lighthouse Pottery. Some things are a little on the pricey side, but that's often understandable when you take a look at the care, attention and detail put into many of the hand-crafted gems on offer.

Forget Me Not is a smallish stationary shop down Pottinger's Lane in Belfast city centre. I called…read morein recently to buy a 'Made By The Bride' stamp for my wedding invitations. I had been to another stationary shop and they had none left and I have to say my first impressions of Forget Me Not weren't great. I was a little lost browsing around for ideas and cards when I spotted an area where homemade cards were being displayed. I asked the owner if she had any tips for my wedding cards and she was quite hostile. I was only a little lost bride trying to make conversation and trying to get some ideas. I had just bought a stamper from another stationary shop and I asked her to recommend the best way to use it and was told I should go back to where I bought it and ask them! I later found out that she designs and makes wedding stationary and I guess she didn't want to give anything away for free. Anyway, I had to order in the stamp as she had none left and I had to pay full price up front. I don't want to rate the entire business on that one experience, as I'm sure it was just a flippant remark on her part. I just hope that maybe other brides who want to save a few pounds and are a bit stuck (as they, like me, will probably have never done that kind of thing before) experience a warmer reception.

A lovely shop tucked away, but still in the heart of the city centre, Plenty to spend your money on…read morewith my fav Tim Holtz products and some g45 paper worth checking out I found the staff very helpful

Being in a student house means you only buy a certain number of things before you eventually have…read moreto move out or throw it in the skip because someone was drunk and fell on top of it. In saying that, Au Naturale is a particular favourite of mine when it comes to buying things for the home because it has everything from cups and mugs to art canvases and pillows. I bought myself a cool art canvas of a NYC street at night-time and placed it in my room making me seem not only like I knew what I was doing, but also like I had depth. Groovy. My girlfriend bought herself a huge mirror (as every girl should have) and after two years it still looks great in her room. Au Naturale also has a bunch of offers on usually and I got a fleece blanket from them for only a few quid which made all the difference when it came to trying to get out of bed first thing in the morning. Needless to say, I struggled and it was entirely the blanket's fault. Certainly one of my favourite shops in Belfast and well worth a look.

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!

This place is kids heaven! It's full of glitter, Plasticine, pains, cards and everything for making…read more big big mess. The stuff in here is perfect for stocking up on great gifts for birthday presents or Christmas! And they also have a whole range of costumes and toys in here too. If you come n here with a child be prepared for a long stretch as the store is jam packed and kids just love it! It's pretty cheap too which is always good as people do tend to rip the arse out of kids shops as they know tantrums could result in a child not getting what they want and parents looking for the easy life begrudgingly giving in. Ahh, the joys of what I have to look forward to.

I like shops like this. I think the kid in me is just attracted to glitter!…read more I'm also a big fan of hand-making cards for friends and family, so I do spend a good bit of time in shops like Art & Hobby, agonising over which thickness of card to get (seriously. I've been known to have to leave the shop to have a think before I buy!). The Art & Hobby shop is in a great location, probably the best location of all the crafty shops in town, so I end up going in simply because I'm passing it. It's not my favourite though. I find it a little more expensive than its rivals and it is a lot more focused on kids toys and crafts, which can make it hard when you want to make a card for someone over the age of 5!

Quilting is a popular pastime, as I discovered when I inquired about classes and workshops that are…read moreheld in this shop, to be told that there was only one place left at the moment. Quilters Quest is a glorious treasure trove of all things quilt related, with a vast, vibrant selection of printed patterned cotton fabric, all arranged in colour order to help you work out the scheme of patterning that you want to create and a further section of haberdashery supplies and other equipment for making quilts and patchwork, including threads, ribbons, braids, wadding material etc. Inspiration can also be derived from a selection of books about the subject. The owner of the shop is always busy, it seems, making quilts which are sold in the shop along with quilted bags and other items and clearly passionate about her chosen business about which she's delighted to inform you.

This is a wonderful shop that has amazing fabrics, haberdashery and general sewing equipment on…read moreoffer, but Quilters Quest also offers marvellous training courses and workshops on a variety of quilting and sewing techniques. I just bought a Sew Easy portable table from this shop and is it totally brilliant. The staff are so friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble for them to help the customer. The quilting classes are amazing to attend, and the tutor is one of Ireland's top quilters and teachers, whose vast knowledge in all types of quilting and sewing techniques cannot be missed for any beginner, novice, intermediate or advanced sewer. Is it any wonder that all the classes are nearly booked out prior to the start of every term, reserve your place immediately and don't delay - book today to save disappointment. I had initially to wait for my place and I am not giving it up that easy! Quilters Quest have a long arm quilting machine that finishes a quilt off to absolute perfection, Yvonne and Clare (mother and daughter team) are marvels at this technique.

As I drive up and down the Newtownards Road I've always wondered what lies inside More Junk, mainly…read morebecause of all the randomness they have sitting outside. I was doing a message along the street and thought finally it was my chance to check it out. More Junk is perfectly named, it is filled with junk of all sorts. Crockery and cabinets, pictures and lamps, DVDs and old coins, it is all there. I nearly had a heart attack as I walked in to find myself face to face with a life size, pretty scary Jack Nicholson statue, random indeed. It reminded me of the flea markets in Berlin, but without the hipsters and beautiful surroundings. It was a bit more junk than kitsch for my liking, but I'll be in again, you never know what a magpie like me might find.

Ideal for collectors of unusual old items, mostly easy to find old items and as the shops title…read moresuggests a lot of it is junk but its worth a look in just for nostalgic reasons, I still believe one day I discover something worth a fortune and not have to work again, one of those Russian eggs or a bit of Faberge glass, I'm not giving up looking!