The Handmade Market is a market for crafty types to set up a stall and sell their wares…read more I've been to it twice now,one to have a look around to see what it's like,and the other time was to be general dogsbody to Mrs Z as she had a stall one Sunday to try and sell some if the things she makes. The stalls there sell a wide range of home made things,from cards and jewlery,to cakes and wooden things. If you find yourself in Stockport on the day it's being held,pop along,you never know,you just might find something you really like...

We visited for the Christmas market and the hall was filled with a huge variety of craft stalls…read morefrom stunning (but hugely pricey) handmade teddy bears and delicious fruit jams to artists and leather workers. Not your usual generic craft fayre, there are lovely things to suit all tastes and budgets. We spent an enjoyable hour or so browsing every stall and came away with an eclectic mix of spice mixes, jam, some awesome greetings cards from a fab artist and tons of ideas for gifts and treats for when we have a bit of extra cash! All the stall holders seemed friendly and excited to chat and explain their wares to us and the atmosphere was really convivial, and with Santa ho ho ho-ing his way around and the abundance of glittery sparkles it felt very festive too. The craft market is there on the 3rd Sunday of every month and we will be most certainly returning on a regular basis.

Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!

You can't go wrong with Blythes. A Manchester art student staple, this store has saved me countless…read moretimes. The staff in here are extremely knowledegable and will even order in special materials and papers if they're out of stock. They've got just about type of paint from Winsor to Newton and Rembrandt paints, brushes, chalks, gouaches, water colours and graphic supplies and a large range of papers and canvases. I've bought specialist 300gsm paper in here for a menu project and special mounting glue. I had help with the measuring and cutting free of charge and advice of mounting my images. I highly recommend this store.

Blyth Art Shop…read more Blyth's Art Shop seems like a serious sort of art shop for serious sort of artists. Everything is very ordered, neat and clinical. They've got great ranges of paints, pencils and pens, as well as a downstairs section with artist accessories like folders, paper and even natural light bulbs so you can paint in natural light late into the night. There's two or three staff around to help you with any queries you might have in my experience they've usually got the time and patience to help you out properly. I can't help feeling that Fred Aldous across Stevenson square isn't just lots more fun, more well stocked and generally more exciting though.

If you can't afford the outfit you want from Retro Rehab, Oxfam Originals or American Graffiti -…read moreyou can always get your ass over to Abakhan Fabrics, buy a couple of yards and make your own! Spread over two floors, it's a fabric paradise with dozens of crates filled with off-cuts, cheap rolls and unusual fabrics. As well as kitsch, quirky and colourful cottons, there's fake fur, nylon, denim and all kinds of material. Upstairs and in the room at the back of the shop, they also sell patterns, buttons, zips, rolls of cotton and everything you'd need to make your own cat-suit or hot pants! Even better, almost everything they stock is cheap as chips.

If your an art student, into arts and crafts, fashion, sewing atc this is the place for you. Huge…read morevariety of fabrics and cut offs. A word of warning: make sure you know what your looking for or have a vague idea otherwise you will spends hours sifting through what looks like a little bit of a jumble sale. Prices are really decent and staff are really friendly and willing to help you choose/ measure any number of rolls/ cuts.

Have you ever seen the pottery scene in the film Ghost? Well, I read after this steamy liason…read morebetween the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, numbers in pottery classes soared. Ever since then, pottery has been given a new lease of life and although the Pottery Corner is less of a pottery class and more of a place to retreat with the children in half term, it is still a lovely experience (albeit without the steamy scenes). Pottery Corner sells ready made pottery mugs, bowls, plates, egg cups and piggy banks all sitting clean and untouched on shelves waiting to be dressed. You make your choice then select some paint colours and, like an artist with his palate, you squirt your paint onto a little tile and start decorating. When your masterpiece is complete, you have to wave it goodbye for a week while the shop glaze it in their kiln. When you return to collect it you feel a rush of pride as it stands in all its glory. I have taken children here many times and making hand prints on tiles makes for a lovely Christmas present for the Grandparents. Pottery Corner is not just for the children, it is a therapeutic getaway on a rainy Thursday afternoon for grown ups too and the shop has a range of stencils that you can use to create more intricate decorations. I saw a sign in the window recently that said the Pottery Corner was for sale but I hope this is no longer the case and this lovely little den stays open for ever.

This place is a fabulous little find for a day when you want something productive to do with…read morechildren, or without! You can buy a piece of pottery ranging in price from around £2.50 for an egg cup to the more expensive items such as a pig money bank, or a plate. Then you sit in the pleasantly light and airy shop to decorate it with paints. The staff are very friendly and they also provide a party booking where you can bring many children. It is a great way to spend a wet day, and children really get a sense of acheivement from creating such a professional looking piece of artwork. (The pieces are put in the kiln and you collect them a few days later). You don't have to have children to go here. They've examples of wedding plates guests have signed for the couple and pieces that adults have clearly spent a lot of time on. It's great when you go to collect your finished piece as it tends to look better than you remember once it's been glazed and you do get a fleeting glow of "I made that" pride.

Gorgeous creative space with 20 plus studios bursting at the seams with unique, one off pieces…read moreranging from jewellery to artwork. I LOVE this place, they showcase a lot of local talent. There is a cute coffee shop that sells the usual tea, coffee, cake and small plates so it's perfect for a coffee and a browse. Fun Fact: Back in the day this used to be the local fish market, the original features including the tiles still remain in tact. On some days I swear you can smell residual fishiness but that could just be my mind playing tricks on me!

Angela's absolutely right, this place is so easy to miss. When I first happened upon this place by…read moreaccident, thankfully after I'd hauled Lex G all over the Northern Quarter in an attempt to locate Teacup she still had the energy to spot this gorgeous, adorable building and say, 'What's that?' Me being the investigative yelper that I am said, 'I have no idea. Let's have a look.' Thank goodness we did, because I thought places like this only existed in small towns, at Cedar Farm (a beautiful little crafts-driven farm with shops in Mawdesley that I highly recommend... ahh, my rural homeland radius) or in Brighton. Literally, I felt like I'd stepped into somewhere along the seafront in my brother's resident city, because the last time I saw open studios and handmade jewellery for sale, I was indeed in that picturesque place by the sea. From the outside the building is pretty, but when you walk in it really takes your breath away. Delightful little exhibitions, artists at work... I instantly made a mental note to bring mothers here, mine or in-law, the next time they're in Manchester as they love places like this. The centre has such a lovely quaint feel to it, and goodness me, tranquil? I couldn't have felt more tranquil had you tipped a load of Kalms tablets down my throat and given me a Slanket and a chocolate Horlicks. And whether you're naturally a chilled out person or slightly neurotic and over-organised like myself, no doubt walking in here will instil in you a sense of calm that you'll struggle to find anywhere else in Manchester. The work for sale is exceptional, and I myself was instantly attracted to the wall hangings comprising of collages of iconic Manchester photographs, such as street signs, buildings, bands, restaurants and so forth. I could have stayed in here for hours.You're bound to come home with something special and unique here gifts-wise. Cafe Aromat has its own website and looks absolutely mouthwatering, so I promise that when we pop in again I'll get some munch there and let you know how it is. I know, I suffer for my art don't I. *Winks.*

I am a huge fan of this shop. I started crafting about 6 months ago so when I found this shop I was…read morein heaven. It is stocked to the brim with everything any crafter could ever need. From the outside it's quite misleading, it looks really small but once you're through the door, you can see how big it is inside. The first time I went in I spent about 40 minutes walking round looking at everything. I didn't even know then what half of it was but I was just enthralled by it all. I don't think the shop has the best layout, it's hard to get through some of the gaps and I'm always a bit worried about knocking things over. I think this is mainly because it's so crammed and I wouldn't actually want them to take any of their stock away. The staff are extremely helpful, the first time I shopped there, I mentioned to the assistant that I was new to crafting and he said if I ever needed to know how to do anything, the girls that work in the shop will always give me tips and advice. I haven't called on them yet but I'm sure I will one day. I think it's very reasonably priced and they have offers and promotions on sometimes too.