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.

Whenever I am unsure of exactly what to get someone for a present (whether it is a housewarming,…read morebirthday, or Christmas) I tend to venture into homewares and gifts shops. You know, the type that a full of little nick knacks for around the home, sculptures, cushions, scarfs, lamps, ornate boxes, rugs and a lot of pretty but useless decorations. Nest Homewares and Gifts is one of these stores. Rather a small shop, it is chockablock full of stuff to look at and riffle through. They had a great selection of classy looking gift cards out the front as well as some welcome mats when I walked past the other day. Unlike most homewares shops, Nest also has a small range of clothing and scarfs available. Check them out if, like me, you are desperate for some gift ideas.

If I had to describe Nest in one word it would be 'elegant'. Everything sold in this store looks…read morelike it would be something you would fine in the home of an elegant 'lady who lunches ". This makes total sense as their are many of these ladies roaming around Kenmore. To be perfectly honest, this store is nothing unique; it sells pretty decorations, hand-bags, jewellery, and all sort of things that not one really needs, but I can't help but love walking into the store an imagining what my life would be like if I had money to burn. The store is nice and clean, modern and is very well organised. It even smells good too. If you are an elegant lady living around Kenmore, you might want to check this store out if you have not already. This store is also perfect if you are looking to buy a present an elegant lady in your life.

For places that you go when you want to feel a little bit of serenity. This is the place to visit…read more Oddly enough, right next the the Westside BMW dealership (they share parking) and smack bang in the middle of Darra's industrial area, this place has been around since I've been in Brisbane. There is a crazy range of bromeliads (a whole tent full) and overhanging, underhanging and side hanging plants to choose from, there's a wider range of hedge plants, flowering plants and a pretty good range of fruit trees as well (these will set you back about $30). There is also a restaurant called Verdant which serve a pretty good salmon main and the service is pretty good. The coffee's aren't bad as well, but it would be an idea to book as it does get pretty busy. What I love about this place is the giftshop. It isn't just a gift shop that sells the weird stuff you put in your house and garden, it is an excellent place to shop for gifts or whatnot for your kids as well. It has a pretty decent kids section, where there are cute baby onesies with crazy logos on them, kiddie gardening gloves, kiddie cook books, book dividers, very cute bath toys, and stuffed toys. Even kiddie books! Such a good array, you will always find something here for your green thumbed little man or lady. Make them assist you in the garden with style! On the flipside, I also bought a $5 outside broom here from Italy, great broom, still have it! The plants here are a little dearer than your cornerstore garden centre, but they have a pretty wide range as well.

Why aren't there more places where you can buy everything you need for your garden, everything you…read moreneed to make your home pretty, clothes and luxury bath products, then top it all off with a delicious meal? Garden Way is a lovely, peaceful place that provides all those things, and I suppose it can thank it's out of the way location for the lack of crowds. The location does mean most Brisbanites would only go there when that's the sole purpose of their trip, but the good news is you can kill a lot of time here so it's worth the drive. The homewares part is really beautiful, with gorgeous decor, divine smelling moisturisers and various little bits and pieces. The nursery is not quite as big as some of the others in Brisbane, but it is decent enough with a good range of plants, pots of all shapes and sizes, and decorative features for the garden. The restaurant section is nestled in between the nursery and the homewares section, and they serve delicious and unique quality meals, drinks and desserts. This is a place I often visit with the numerous generations of females in my family, for a bit of a wistful shop and a tasty meal.

it's closed for long time now. there is a shop that sells souvenir but very expensive not worth it…read morethe trip.

If you're heading overseas and want to take some stereotypically Aussie gifts for someone or you…read morehave international visitors, this is a great place. Otherwise I can't really see much point in visiting this shop. All their products look like items guilt-ridden business travellers buy their children on the way home from a trip to Australia; stuffed native animal toys with Akubra knock-offs on their heads (no wonder people think we keep kangaroos as pets), Ugg boots and those sheep's wool rugs for babies are all proudly displayed here. There's some skin care products which are probably the only useful things for residents, but other than that it's a place to do planned ahead, not so duty free shopping.

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.

10 years in retail is no mean feat and this year Green Tangerine, the delightful homewares and gift…read morestore on Latrobe Terrace celebrates their 10th birthday. If you're local to Paddington or have spent any length of time in Brisbane, Green Tangerine has most likely come across your radar as a place to buy gifts for a multitude of occasions, perhaps a top for yourself purchased on a whim after having coffee or a weekend breakfast at one of the nearby cafes, or for a a sticky beak and inspiration. The store is always elegantly presented with enough of a collection to appeal to a wide audience. Most recently there's been an increase in Australian pieces including the ceramics of Angus & Celeste. Even if you're only in the market for a quirky card to send to a friend in far away places, Green Tangerine will come up trumps.

As my circle of friends have become increasingly fond of matrimony, Green Tangerine has fast become…read moremy go to place for wedding/engagement gifts. It's got an impressive range of homewares including some cool ceramics, framed art wall hangings and other curios which make a great gift for someone setting up a new home. It's also full of purely aesthetic pieces for the person who has everything. The service is great too. It's always good to get a friendly greeting followed by a respectful wait before the offer of help. Prices are wide-ranging but you can usually find something suitable for under $100, and often the pieces will look like they could cost a lot more.