'Craft Show Meets Boutique' At The New Makers Off Main In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Makers Off Main will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, July 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with mini-workshops, a raffle, and lots of gift ideas.

Jessica Babb, the owner of Farmhouse Gift Boutique in Warrington, reopened Makers Off Main at 38 East State Street earlier this month after acquiring the business from store founders Wendy Stone and Caitlin Hernandez.

Babb and her marketing assistant, Trish Fell, are now in the process of rebranding the Warrington store as Makers On Main to reflect the change in focus.

Babb said although the ownership of Makers Off Main has changed, the mission of the store has not. “Its heart and purpose remain the same: A creative, community space for local makers to sell their beautifully handcrafted items.

“We are still here to give makers a platform to showcase their products,” assures Babb.

The store specializes in anything and everything handmade by crafters who are located within an hour to an hour and a half from the Doylestown store.

Handmade bags by Suzy Is An Artist.

Beer can candles at Makers Off Main.

Decorative pillows at Makers Off Main.

Babb describes the store as “craft show meets boutique.

“Everything in here is handmade,” said Babb. “Some of our makers do it as a hobby or as an outlet when they are feeling inspired. For other people, it’s their full-time business. Just supporting the makers and whatever their goals and dreams are is my passion.”

In selecting which makers to feature at the store, Babb said she is careful not to bring in competing makers. She also considers the quality of the items being offered for sale.

“Everyone in here is passionate about what they do and they take their time with their pieces,” said Babb.

The store shelves are chock-full of items sold by more than 85 different makers, from gifts, clothing and pillows to leather goods, beer can candles, and lots more, all made by makers who rent space at the store to showcase and sell their wares.

In addition to providing a space to sell their creations, Babb offers workshops for makers and future makers at her Warrington store as well as a variety of other services aimed at helping them grow their hobby and business.

“I am also very passionate about it being not just about renting a space on the shelf, but making it a community of makers, making it something that supports what they need help with in their business whether it be marketing, etc. I want it to be makers helping makers,” said Babb.

From a very young age, the Hatboro native said she watched her mom use her sewing machine to transform scraps of fabric into beautiful creations.

“It always amazed me what she could make with seemingly ordinary supplies. I loved sitting by her side at various craft shows in the region. As I grew older, I started to gain an interest in the business side of selling items at shows, noticing what worked and what could use improvement in the crafting industry as a whole.”

That led her to open the Farmhouse Gift Boutique at the Shoppes at Valley Square three years ago after relocating the business from Hatboro.

Her mother originally had opened the Farmhouse in Hatboro near a red barn, hence its name. The two later relocated the business to Main Street, specializing in handmade gifts and home decor created by local artisans.

Makers Off Main owner Jessica Babb.

“This is an exciting time for both the business and the community we are in. I am overjoyed to have been handed the reins of Makers Off Main, thus expanding to two locations,” said Babb. “We have big plans to continue building this incredible business, hand-in-hand with the makers whose items we sell.”

Looking ahead, Babb said she is eager to highlight more local artists and support the small businesses of creatives.

“I am thrilled to be expanding the studio portion of our Warrington location, and to be rebranding our overall business to focus on what was always intended: makers.”

“Makers Off Main in Doylestown, and the newly-rebranded Makers On Main in Warrington are more than a business. They are a community of passionate makers expressing themselves through their creative works while providing quality, handcrafted products that go above and beyond what you find off the assembly line of a manufacturer,” said Babbs.

“The opportunity to grow this business is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to see where the adventure leads us all moving forward,” said Babb.

The first 50 people to RSVP to the grand opening celebration on its Facebook page will join that day’s mini-workshop with Home Again Studios for free. Guests will make their own reed diffusers to take home, choosing from eight different summer scents that are good for blending like lavender, lemon, pineapple, coconut, citrus, and mint.

The first 50 will also be treated to: Homemade cookies from Cookies by Pat; Honey Cotton Candy from Backyard Buzz; a fun balloon creation from Ben's Balloon Animals; and two entries into the Makers raffle: a fun basket filled with beautiful items made by a selection of the store’s makers

The first five people in line for the 11 a.m. opening on Saturday, July 22 will receive a Maker’s Around Main Workshops “Golden Ticket.”

This ticket gives each winner access to five free workshops with Makers Off Main/Makers On Main, to be used within one year. The ticket is valued at $300. (Some restrictions may apply. There is a limit of one workshop spot per class).