Want the short version of this review? Okay. Here goes: if you want flowers - for an event or just…read morea bouquet delivered to your beloved, Rebecca of Flowers In Hand is the only person you need contact. I've had the pleasure of working with Bec on two occasions now including our recent Yelper Party where she took a concept from brief to installation with creativity and grace. She understood the theme instantly and added a true sophistication to my event. Her ethos of only working with locally available blooms and greens is to be admired as is her desire to teach us all the ways to weave blooms into our everyday life. Best of all her work is affordable and accessible to all. She works to your budget and communicates with you throughout making sure you're across all information and decisions. Her input only makes the end result better.

I've just arranged an expensive flower arrangement for a dear friend. As a group we were willing…read moreto spend $170 so we wanted something amazing. When I arrived to view the flowers before they were sent I was very disappointed that the style was not appropriate for the recipient and not what I had imagined at all. I guess this was due to semantics and communication, expectations and assumptions. I was impressed that the girls in this florist (including Phoebe) didn't try to convince me that this bunch was in fact appropriate. Instead, after some apologies for crossed-wires about expectations they sprung into action to create a new bunch very much different from the first. They did well to stay patient and attentive despite me being a very contrary customer. I guess it pays dividends to bow to customers wants and needs because - well - here I am now singing their praises. I'm sure many florists would have railroaded me into accepting the first bunch or tried to alter it slightly. I was very pleased they wiped the slate clean and started again.

Next time I visit MOZI I'm leaving my coins and cards at home. Yes, it's just that gosh darn…read moretempting to buy everything in this store. I remember when MOZI launched and was such a small collection of knick knacks for the kitchen. And now look at this little Aussie brand that could! Measuring spoons, plastic bag holders (yes, they're a thing!), bowls, tea towels, plates, dog leads, napkins, and even candles are all neatly displayed in their "print story" categories making a visit to MOZI on trendy James Street an organised mind's dream. Everything is in its place and it makes it that much easier to find what you're looking for. It's fun without being frivolous and twee without being saccharine. If you're looking for a quirky and unique gift for a loved one getting married, moving into a new house, having a baby, birthday, engagement, just because...you get the point...MOZI should most certainly be on your list. The prices are what I personally would consider reasonable with most items being under $40. PS: If someone gifts me the sequined fox tote, I might just have kittens.

This flower shoppe was seriously the best shop I have ever worked with, better than all of the…read moreflower companies I've used in the USA. I have to thank Gabs who was very responsive to my emails, friendly, and amazing with her assistance. I asked her for a specific delivery and she made it happen. Thanks Gabs to you and your team!! My wife loved the flowers and they looked just like them online, maybe even better in person to be honest.

Not looking like the photos, nor good value for money. Can buy anywhere else for less and better.read more

There's no way you could miss Flowertrap despite it occupying a small corner of James St Market…read more The smell of fresh flowers will hit you before you see the cascade of lilies- fresh as white linen, perfect bulbs of purple freesias, and elegant long stem roses in a variety of colours, all propped up in tin buckets. It came as no surprise when I found out Flowertrap catered for a variety of Brisbane events such as the Black and White at GOMA and the Brisbane Queer Film Festival at the Powerhouse. I could tell from their arrangement of bouquets in the shop as well as their knowledge which they generously share, that the florist was a skilled artisan. If you want something a little different than a bouquet, Flowertrap also offers plants, gifts and hampers filled with goodies across the James St Market range.

Love Flowertrap with all my heart…read more It is the ultimate place to get a stylish, impressive flower arrangement without spending enough money to justify selling an organ. They do little posies from $25 which are super helpful if you are buying for multiple people - I often have to buy several bouquets for friends who are in shows, and I appreciate not having to break the bank in order to do so. Their more elaborate arrangements average between $60 and $100 but they're not the kind of florists who charge you that amount for very few blooms - the bouquets are always generous and luxurious. Flowertrap are also fantastic for grabbing a casual bunch of spray roses when you pop into James St Market to pick up some gourmet delicacies (usually around the $20 mark) and they also have a great, user-friendly website which I have utilised many times with affordable delivery options and really fabulous range of bouquets. Universally, their bouquets have been extremely well received. I could not recommend Flowertrap more - absolutely fabulous. And they also have cute and quirky gift cards, which always make me stop for a look. I would imagine they would be fantastic for weddings, for a bride who wants something a little different and can afford to use a boutique florist.

I remember this store from when it was located in the Wintergarden, and then it just disappeared!…read moreBut recently while I was roaming around the Emporium in the Valley it popped up out of thin air. I was so glad to see that this shop had just relocated and hadn't closed for good, because I've purchased many a gift from Essensuals and it's always been perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for. I must say though, I much prefer the old store to the new one. I'm not sure if it has changed hands or they just decided to change it up a little bit, but it was a little disappointing. The new store seems to have stock piled up everywhere, like a teetering tower of doom that could crush the shopper below at any second. It also seems like they don't have as much stock as before, which is unfortunate because you could find things for both men and women in the old store, whereas the new one appears to be very female oriented. Despite the disappointment that Essensuals has changed quite a bit, it's still full of pretty things like crystal wine glasses, decorative trunks and vintage perfume bottles. It's worth a look if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Need to find a gift for that person who literally has everything? Or in desperate need of a mask…read morefor a masquerade party? Then Essensuals has got you covered. This place is piled high with unique gifts, home decorations and of course, ceramic masks (yes, never fear, those tacky plastic masks covered in sequins and feathers do not have a home here). There's a seemingly large emphasis on Parisian prints and artefacts as well as London-esque decorations and canvas prints depicting rainy days in New York City. So definitely a perfect gift idea for those jet-setters or dreamers who long after a city-change. So when you're next in Emporium, keep an eye out for a large, hollow dog - it stands guard outside the shop.

I have been visiting this souvenir shop every chance I get when in Brisbane. Timing is important…read moresince the bulk sale specials are random. Today was a good day to go by and select unique gifts over stores would not have or have limited selections. The daytime staff is a lot more friendly and conversational than the evening crew, probably due to age and maturity. Overall, I like the service, especially during the morning hours and would recommend people visiting during these hours.

Excellent customer service provided by them. Went out of their way to make sure I received…read moreeverything I want to order.

Great experience, the flowers were so fresh and arrived on time. I look forward to order again…read moreflowers here. I love them so much.

Excellent customer service! It's my 2nd time to order online from this shop, first time was for my…read moredaughter's birthday and this time for Valentines Day. I love their flower/wine/chocolate sets, perfect for any special occasion!

I have a bit of a bone to pick the Finders Keepers Markets. WHY ARE THEY ONLY BIANNUAL? It's such a…read moretease! They move into the Old Museum twice a year, flaunt their gorgeous bits and pieces in our faces and then choof off until 6 months later. It's not fair. But I will forgive them. And no doubt I will spend all my pay at the next markets they bring up to our fine city. I've been lucky enough to go to these markets 3 times, the first time was the first market they've held in Brisbane. It's amazing how much the word has spread! This market is specifically for Australian made arts and crafts and I can't even cope with the overflow of gorgeous that Finders Keepers has to offer. Handmade jewelry and clothing, home wares, leather goods, stationery, art prints and more! The reason I keep coming back (despite the crowds) is not just to peruse the clever creators and the fun things they sell, it's because you can make a whole day out of it. The lawn at the back of the Old Museum gets filled with delicious food stalls, and local bands provide the entertainment when you need a reprieve from the stall-madness! I would definitely suggest preparing your wallet for the blow it may receive, because so much of the stock is hard to say no to. If you're organised enough, save your pennies and do your Christmas shopping at Finders Keepers. The Winter market is usually held around June/July and the Summer market in October/November.

Finders Keepers is like a fairy land for the arty and crafty. There's pom poms, bunting, jewellery,…read moreclothes, linen, books, stationary... anything a hipster/ nerd/ fashonista could need. It's a really good way to get some inspiration, pick up some unique gifts and meet some of our very talented Australian artists. Some of my favourite stalls included one that made bed linen that turned your bed into a block of chocolate, the Frankie stall (fairy floss and vintage pillow cases, hello), Pannikin (the cutest but not too girly accessories on earth) and Paper Boat Press. It's worth visiting the Finders Keepers website and looking up the stall-holders etsy shops to see the awesome stuff that was on display. If you make it in person next year, my top tips are to bring lots of cash (there is an ATM but the line and the fees are stupid high) and be prepared to take a while. There is lots to see and lots of people to try and see around.

You know those nerds who get more excited about designing and making the party invitations than the…read moreactual party? Yeah, they're so weird. And I happen to be one. Even back in the late 90s when my birthday came around, I was to be found on our hulking IBM computer make invitations with coloured, comic sans-style fonts and the ever-classy clip art. They usually said corny things like IT'S PARTY TIME! If only Invitation House had existed in those days, and I could have saved myself some Microsoft Word-related embarrassment. Luckily, Invitation House opened not long before my 18th birthday and so I finally had access to more than Windows 95 to create my masterpiece. When you go in you'll see the the walls are floor to ceiliing stacks of paper and card of varying patterns, colours, and textures. They have sheer overlay sheets, cute pins and embellishments, ribbons, and stamps. You can pick out what you want and dream up your own invitation, or the staff can help you. You can also pay them to assemble them all for you, or take your supplies home and do it yourself. Since my 18th I have also used Invitation House's wares to make 21st invites for me and for friends' parties, and often pop in to buy some nice paper or card if I'm making something special. Such a great idea for a shop, and I bet they do great business because it's such a niche market. Well done, Invitation House!

Stationery really excites me. Like REALLY excites me. I think it's the prospect of being super…read moreorganised while looking cute at the same time. Stickers, pens, writing pads, stamps, you name it I love it! I am unashamedly geeky in that sense. So Invitation House, which funnily enough specialises in invitations, got a little excited squeal from me as I walked through their doors. Floor to ceiling shelves of different sorts of paper. Embossed, bridal, paper with cupcakes on it, floral, dinosaurs, oriental and SO much more. There is literally paper for any occasion here. It's stunning quality and averages around $1.00-$1.50 per piece so depending on the size of the event you're hosting it could become quite expensive. In my opinion though, receiving a paper invitation in this digital age is a little taste of the past, and it sets the tone for whatever the event is that the invitation is for. If you are getting married, having an important birthday celebration or hosting some sort of event which requires an old-school invitation, I definitely suggest popping in to Invitation House for some inspiration.