If you are looking for fun, locally crafted gifts for friends and loved ones this Christmas, then the mini Makers Market at The Creative Place (TCP) on Northampton Market Square is the place!

Launching on Saturday 22 November - to coincide with the Market Square’s Christmas Lights Switch On - and continuing Tuesdays to Saturdays until Christmas Eve, the mini Makers Market will feature local artists selling handmade gifts and cards, as well as free Christmas craft sessions for children and adults to create their own gift tags.

According to Becky Carrier, Director of The Creative Place: “We are excited about creating this festive space where visitors can both get creative and shop local. Some of our free activities for all ages include making gift tags as well as paper snowflakes to either take home or to help us fill The Creative Place with everyone’s festive snow! It’s going to be a lot of fun, so we’re inviting everyone to stop by, grab a gift for someone you love or just come in, get inspired, and get crafty!”

Traders at the mini Christmas Makers Market will include:

C.E.O Artist (Chloe Osborn), a vibrant abstract artist who, as well as selling her works and painted baubles has also painted a christmassy display - featuring an elf’s hat, reindeer and santa’s hat - on the doors of TCP - providing visitors with a fun photo opportunity to capture their Christmas Market experience. Chloe has previously painted the piano of local musician, Billy Lockett, who appeared on ITV’s The Voice, in 2024.

Neo Intricate Designs (Nicola) creates gifts using materials recycled from food industry products, helping to prevent tonnes of waste going into landfills or incineration. Her creations include leather bags, purses, keyrings and charms, as well as trinket dishes, decorations, and jewellery made from wood, acrylic and 3D printed filament.

QStory Northampton - a not-for-profit community group run by volunteers, providing friendly, non-judgmental spaces for local LGBTQIA people to engage with the arts, including literature. They will be selling an anthology of short stories by writing group members, plus small handmade crafts including pompoms and amigurumi.

Northampton College Fine Art Students - selling the work of local students who have used abstract interpretations to  transform the essence of Northampton into dynamic works of art,  capturing the energy, history, and hidden stories of the town.

There are 17 Northamptonshire creatives selling their work in The Creative Place so pop down anytime Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm between now and Christmas to have a look around.

Find out more about The Creative Place via their website The Creative Place – For Misfits and Mavericks, Creatives and Changemakers or learn more about the traders via their Instagram @NNCreativePlace or Facebook NNCreativePlace