Shell souvenirs can end up collecting dust. This workshop turns that pile of beach finds into handmade pieces you actually want to use.

I love that the experience is hands-on and you make choices, not just watch. I also love the added slice of real Jamaica right on the property, with fruit trees, farm animals, and tastings that break up the craft time nicely. One thing to plan around: it depends on good weather, since the activities involve walking around the garden.

Why this is more fun than buying a souvenir

The workshop is run by Marie, and she runs it like a pro, calm and organized, with you figuring out your design as you go. You get a cool 1-acre setup in the middle of Montego Bay, with the art table under an ackee tree, so the vibe is relaxed and outdoorsy, not a cramped shop.

The main consideration is pacing. It’s about 3 hours, so if you want a slower, no-pressure hangout, you might wish you had more time on each step. Still, for a first-day-of-vacation craft moment or a break from the beach, it hits a sweet spot.

Key points to know before you go

• Make three souvenirs in one session, with instruction and tools provided.
• Choose your materials: bring shells or use a selection picked on site.
• Learn with your hands using fun items like colorful beads and special tools.
• Expect a property tour, including a garden of 14 fruit trees and a small farm.
• Plan for good weather, since the day includes outdoor walking.
• Group size stays small-ish, with a maximum of 24 travelers.

Entering Marie’s workshop space, in the middle of Montego Bay

This is not one of those run-in, buy-a-stuff, run-out stops. The address puts you in the middle of Montego Bay, and the setting makes it feel like you escaped for a few hours.

You meet at SoMom Mobay Lodging & Experiences on Leader Avenue, and the tour ends back there. Pickup is offered, which helps if you are not in “walk and wander” mode after a flight or beach time. Either way, you are close to both the airport and downtown, and that matters because a 3-hour activity is easiest to fit into a real itinerary when travel time is short.

The space is a large backyard, about 1 acre, filled with 14 fruit trees. During certain months, especially May to July, you can even handpick mangoes. That seasonal touch is worth remembering, because it makes the place feel alive instead of staged.

And yes, your hands-on crafting happens outdoors. The art table is under an ackee tree, which gives you shade and a nice, Jamaican yard feel while you work. That also means you should dress for warm weather and plan for sun.

Pick your souvenirs: jewelry, a Red Stripe bottle glass, candles, and body scrub

The workshop is built around choice. During the session, you pick three different Jamaican souvenirs, and you build them with tools, colorful beads, and step-by-step guidance.

Here are the main options offered in the workshop experience:

Jewelry and beadwork

If you like something wearable, jewelry is one of the core categories. You are working with beads and tools, and you leave with a custom design that feels like yours, not a mass-made trinket.

Practical tip: when you choose your colors, think about where you will wear the piece. Bright colors look great in photos, and they also pop in Caribbean light. If you are making a gift, pick a style that will match someone’s taste, not just your own.

The Red Stripe bottle glass souvenir

One of the coolest items is making a glass from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle. It is part craft, part upcycling, and it instantly feels more meaningful than a typical keychain.

You are not just decorating something. You are learning how the materials and design come together into a finished souvenir you can keep. If you like objects with story, this option is a winner.

Calabash candle

Candle making is a classic workshop activity for a reason. You get a finished item you can use, and you can personalize it.

Here, the candle uses a calabash. That adds a local, natural element, and it helps your souvenir feel connected to Jamaica beyond the airport gift shop.

Body scrub

Another option is making a body scrub. This is one of those “yes, I will actually use it at home” souvenirs. It is also a good choice if you want something functional rather than decorative.

If you get a strong scent preference, it helps to speak up early while you are selecting and preparing. You do not want to be stuck with a finish you do not like once you are done.

Bringing your own shells, or using local picks

You can bring shells from your own beach collecting, or you can choose from a selection hand-picked from Jamaica. If you travel with shells, keep them clean and dry, and pack them safely. If you did not bring any, do not worry. The workshop has material options, and the whole point is to leave with something you helped create.

The garden walk, fruit trees, and tastings that make the day feel local

The craft table is only half the magic. The other half is the property experience, which turns the workshop into a mini farm-and-garden afternoon.

You walk through a garden of 14 fruit trees, and the guide shares the vibe of the place. This is not just for scenery. It gives you a sense of how the land supports the day, from fresh tastes to animals and the atmosphere that makes the workshop feel real.

Along the way, you get to taste real Jamaican soup, exotic fruits, and the best tea. That matters because it balances the workshop. You are not sitting with glue and beads the entire time. You get a few breaks that refresh you and keep the energy upbeat.

This is also where you start paying attention to seasonal stuff. When mangoes are available, you might get the chance to handpick them. Even if you do not pick fruit yourself, seeing it growing adds context to the flavors you taste.

And yes, the day has animals, which turns it into a playful stop for families, but still fun for adults who just want something different from another beach bar.

The farm tour: goats, rabbits, ducks, and chicken, plus tree houses and a mud kitchen

On the property, you will see goats, rabbits, ducks, and chicken. You may also climb tree houses to watch birds. That part adds movement and keeps you from feeling stuck in one area.

Then there is the mud kitchen, which sounds messy because it is. That is also why it works. If you have never seen a mud-kitchen style experience, it gives you a different kind of hands-on Caribbean imagination, more playful than serious.

A note for your planning: plan for outdoor movement and uneven ground. Even if you are not doing anything extreme, you are walking and climbing at points. Comfortable shoes help.

How the instruction works, and how you can get a souvenir you love

The workshop is designed so you can succeed even if you have never done craftwork. That is the real value here. You are not relying on luck. You get hands-on help and you build your souvenirs during the session.

Marie and the team guide you while you work, and from the reviews this is a big reason people rave. One common theme: the guide makes you feel capable. That is important because workshops can sometimes feel like you are being watched while you struggle. Here, the energy is more supportive, and you end up with something you actually feel proud of.

Also, the setting helps. Working at a table under an ackee tree is more than a cute detail. It changes how the craft feels. You are not hunched over a desk in a back room. You are in a yard with real plants, birds, and fruit, which makes the whole session less stressful and more enjoyable.

Practical advice:

• Bring a small bottle of bug spray if you are sensitive to bites, since it is an outdoor yard.
• Wear something you can get a little messy in, especially if you are doing body scrub.
• If you are gifting, take a moment before you finish to check the final look and think about who will receive it.

Timing, pickup, and what 3 hours really means on your day

This experience runs about 3 hours. That duration is practical, especially when you are balancing beaches, pools, and maybe a trip to downtown. You should plan your day so you are not rushing to catch another reservation immediately after.

Pickup is offered, and it can save time and stress. If you are driving or using local transport, you will still want to reach the meeting point early so you can settle in.

Group size caps at 24 travelers, so it does not turn into a production line. That said, it is still a group setting. You will want to listen closely at the start when materials and souvenir choices are explained.

The workshop runs best with good weather. If clouds roll in or it rains, your day could shift. That is not a flaw, it is just reality for an outdoor property.

Price and value in Montego Bay, for a hands-on souvenir day at $120

At $120 per person, you are paying for more than a souvenir. You are paying for guided crafting, materials, and an experience that includes the property tour and tastings.

What makes it feel like good value is the “you made it” factor. Handcrafted items usually cost more when you buy them after the fact, and here you get the process included. You are also not just getting a single object. You pick three souvenir items, and you can choose different types based on your taste, whether it is jewelry, a bottle glass, a calabash candle, or a body scrub.

Then you add the extras that many souvenir stops skip:

• Garden walk through fruit trees
• Jamaican soup, exotic fruit tastings, and tea
• Farm animal moments
• Tree house bird viewing (where offered)
• Mud kitchen playtime

I also like that bottled water is included. You can focus on the workshop instead of worrying about basic comfort from the start. Soda and snacks are listed as not included, so if you tend to snack often, plan to purchase what you want on site or eat beforehand.

If you are the type who buys souvenirs and later wonders what to do with them, this is the kind of workshop that helps you bring something home that feels personal. That is hard to price, but you will feel it in how you pack the finished items.

Who should book A Mi Mek It!, and who might prefer something else

This is a strong fit for singles, couples, girl trips, and families. It is also a good option if you want a purposeful afternoon. One review response mentioned that it broke up a stretch of semi-boredom between beach time and meals. That is exactly the use case.

If you like crafts, upcycling, and local materials, you will feel at home here. If you prefer experiences with interaction rather than just sightseeing, this gives you a task and a payoff.

It might not be the best match if you want a purely indoor activity, or if you hate the idea of outdoor walking around a yard and farm area. Since the workshop depends on good weather, you should have a flexible attitude.

For couples, it is nice because you can make matching or complementary souvenirs. For families, it offers movement and animal viewing, plus something each person can take home.

And if you are a shell souvenir collector, this is the place to turn shell odds and ends into something designed.

A quick note on the guide, Marie

The experience is run as a French and English friendly guided tour by French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie, and the guide you will spend time with is Marie.

From the reviews, Marie is consistently described as professional, and you can feel that in the flow. People highlight her professionalism and the fact that she is both talented and supportive. She also meets you as a person, not just as a customer, and even encourages ideas that can carry beyond the visit.

One review mentioned an exchange about future fruit, including avocados growing as a seasonal note, with a suggestion that if you return in September you may go nuts for what is on the trees. That is the kind of detail that tells you this is a living property, not a scripted stage.

Should you book this souvenir workshop in Montego Bay?

If you want something hands-on, short enough to fit into your day, and tied to real Jamaica instead of a shopping strip, I think you should book it. This is the kind of activity where you leave with three custom items, plus memories that go beyond a photo.

Book it especially if:

• You are tired of buying souvenirs and want one you made
• You like outdoors, animals, and fruit trees
• You want a guided, low-stress activity that still feels meaningful

Skip it if you:

• Can only do fully indoor activities
• Dislike outdoor walking or weather-dependent plans
• Hate craftwork entirely and want sightseeing only

If you do book, show up with curiosity and a willingness to make choices. Once you decide on your three souvenirs, the rest of the afternoon is where it gets fun.

FAQ

How long is the A Mi Mek It! souvenirs workshop?

It lasts about 3 hours.

How much does the workshop cost?

The price is $120.00 per person.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered.

Can I bring my own shells?

Yes. You can bring your own shells, or choose from a selection picked on site.

What can I make during the workshop?

You can choose three souvenirs. Options mentioned include jewelry, making a glass from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle, making a candle with calabash, and making a body scrub.

Are snacks and drinks included?

Bottled water is included. Soda or pop and snacks are listed as not included, though Jamaican snacks and drinks are mentioned as part of the experience.

What is the group size limit?

The maximum group size is 24 travelers.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is there a cancellation deadline for a refund?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, based on local time.