Midtown Makers Gift Shop - BLOG

Our August Craft Month Showcase of Traditional Crafts was a massive success thanks to all our members who took time out to demonstrate, chat and run taster sessions of their crafts. It was lovely to see the event so well attended and by so many different ages and backgrounds. One of the highlights of the evening was the jam and preserves tasting by one of our newest members 'A Wee Favour' - friends Dyvonne and Judith. They baked scones and handed out samples of their amazi

In the early 1700s, across the green fields of Ulster, the growing of flax was more than farming — it was a way of life. Long before factories filled the valleys with the sound of machinery, families planted, tended, and transformed this delicate, blue-flowered crop into one of Ireland’s most treasured materials: linen.

I thrive on keeping busy so after a 3am to 11am start in my full-time job at Belfast International Airport I go home nap for a bit and then make chutneys, salsas & preserves in the heart of our home.

A fresh season of support, inspiration and networking is on offer for female entrepreneurs across Mid and East Antrim, with the launch of the latest Enterprising Women programme. The autumn/winter schedule has been shaped directly by feedback from members of the network, with a programme designed to meet women where they are on their business journey – whether they are starting out, growing an established business or looking to build new connections.

Midtown Makers Gift Shop Needs Your Vote… Click link below, select Best Generalist Retailer and type Midtown Makers Gift Shop https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/HSH Voting is now officially open for the Retail NI High Street Heroes 2026 awards, and they are inviting customers across Northern Ireland to help spread the word. No judges. No panels. Just the public's vote.

I remember, when my kids were young, they always wanted me to put them to bed, because I was better at reading and telling them stories, with the different voices of the characters. Either reading or a made-up story, was looked forward to with a certain joy, when I created a world for them, that they enjoyed and so this week, as my eldest son’s Birthday falls, I decided that why not make it Book Week, he always a good story. So here in Midtown Makers it’s Book Week.

Celebrate August Craft Month and Ballymena's Creative Heritage with a Captivating Showcase of Traditional Crafts. As Ballymena town marks its 400th anniversary, the community is invited to join in a spectacular celebration of its rich history and cultural heritage through the art of traditional craftsmanship at Midtown Makers Gift Shop. On Thursday 20th August, from 6pm, this special event aims to highlight the skills, artistry, and creativity that have been passed down throu

The famous Ballymena Bear and his friend Bella have packed their picnic basket this Summer to Celebrate Ballymena’s 400th Birthday. Ballymena was founded in 1626, when King Charles I granted the Adair family the right to hold two Annual Fairs and a Saturday Market transforming a small village into a major commercial and agricultural hub. Ballymena has continued this tradition of a Saturday Market and Annual Fair for 400 years and has grown into a welcoming market town

Located in the heart of Ballymena Town Centre on Church Street, the Rankin Room is part of the Ballymena Business Centre family. It is situated in the Business Hub, above Midtown Makers Gift Shop, and provides a prime location for businesses looking for a flexible meeting space.

The year 2025 was exceptional for Midtown Makers Gift Shop. We hosted a range of creative workshops, supported emerging and small local businesses, and revamped both the shop and our website. Additionally, we became the Visitor Information Hub for Ballymena. It was an eventful year, and we want to express our gratitude to all our members, customers, and supporters for keeping Midtown Makers a lively and creative spot in Ballymena.

Thank you Ballymena Means for the fabulous video, we are all super happy with our make over, hope all our Members and customers like it too.

In 2015, Ballymena’s town centre was introduced to a small, cuddly character who would go on to win hearts across the globe—Bertie the Bear. Commissioned by the Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID), Bertie starred in a four-minute Christmas short film that quickly became a viral sensation. What started as a local festive project soon grew into something much bigger, a story that captured the heart and soul of Ballymena and proudly placed it on the world map.

This September, the team at Midtown Makers were invited to join the new Mid & East Antrim Neighbourhood Tourism Hub's familiarisation tours, led by Patricia McEldowney of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Catriona, Jim and I were joined by Hub Members from Carrickfergus, Larne and Cullybackey to explore some of the many places of interest in the Borough.

"Retail Ready" is a pop-up-shop initiative managed by Ballymena Business Centre in partnership with The Gallaher Trust. This initiative is designed specifically for local Ballymena start up and early stage entrepreneurs to experience town centre test trading. Participants benefit from in store sales, visual merchandising and promotional opportunities for a period of 2 months. The Programme has supported several local start ups the past few years, including artists and craf

Ballymena Photographer, Nicole first started her Midtown Makers journey a year ago when she nervously came into the shop asking for help selling her photography. She signed up for the Retail Ready Programme, which gave her 2 months free test trading and vital advice from Ballymena Business Centre. With a lot of hard work and expert printing from Ryan at Woodside Photographic, Nicole displayed her pictures in the window of Midtown Makers and made her first sale in a retail env

🐝Tell It To The Bees 🐝 NEW Blog Post - Every month we talk to one of our fabulous Makers, and August is the turn of Queen Bee Fiona Doherty from HoneyComb.Cabin . From her kitchen table to her own workshop shed and winning awards, Fiona takes us on her un-bee-liveable journey of becoming a beeswax crafter.

Interview with Midtown Makers Member Linda Wray.

Join us this August Craft Month for a programme of textiles workshops including crochet, felting, embroidery and quilting.

This month we talk to Catriona McCarte of Crafty Treasures. Catriona shares her crafting day and what goes on behind the scenes of faux flower wreath making.

Welcome to Richard from Grain & Glory, who is trading here for 2 months on our Retail Ready Programme. "Hi, I'm Richard Fleck, Over the...