I love books. I am the type of person who likes to buy a book and admire it on my bookshelf after I…read moreread it, even if I don't read it again for a few years. If I had a bigger house, I would love to have a whole room decorated much like the TLC Book store. They have lovely wooden shelves and doorway and the books are displayed with pride. The range of books is surprisingly good for such a small space with a range of non-fiction topics and fiction for adults, kids and teens. It is a nice store to pop your head into if you are in the area.

Boutique book store. This means small, friendly and, yes, intimate. I'm not always a fan of small…read moreshops where I might need to talk when I don't feel like it, but TLC Books is the kind of place where you don't have to leave your comfort zone for a second. The staff are happy to let you browse, and there are so many great books, adults, kids, fiction and non-fiction, to take in, it's easy to see they were lovingly selected. And what do you know? When the time came to talk my fellow Tim Winton enthusiast and I had a great chat.

I adore this lovely shop and the guy (?owner) who has served me when I have shopped here. Don't go…read morethinking this is a shop just for hippy skirts, sandals and incense. I was drawn to this shop by a cute dress in the window and wasn't disappointed by the range of tops and dresses inside. I have bought three items of clothing from here and all are wearing well and not falling apart, I just needed to adjust the straps of one dress and cut a few loose threads of a shirt. I would say the quality of the garments are reasonable and the prices are OK. If you like shopping in "Tree of Life", you'll love this place. Just a tip, the address says "Greenslopes" but it is in the main Stones Corner shopping strip.

Channelling the foothills of Mount Everest, this Kathmandu-inspired shop has everything bright,…read morecolourful and flowing that you'll ever need. Be greeted by the prayer flags hanging overhead and the overwhelming waft of incense as you cast your eyes around the handcrafted treasures, accessories and clothing throughout the shop. From patchwork fisherman's pants to multicoloured sarongs, large vases to colourful satchels; there's a smattering of culture mingled with chilled out hippy in everything in here. And if you're running low on incense - there's a bountiful supply here.

Book worms will fall in love with this humble secondhand bookshop on Ipswich Road. Most of their…read morebooks come under three categories: classic literature (find poetry here), Australian literature and general fiction. As you walk to the back of the shop, you'll come across a lounge room environment. Four sets of red couches, all facing each other, with a coffee table, complete with chess board in the middle. Delight! The books are priced according to colour coding. On the first page of each book, you'll find either a red ($5), blue ($8), green ($12), yellow ($16), black ($20) or pink dot ($24). Don't ask me who came up with the prices, but the system they use seems to be fair and easy for everyone to use. It is a volunteer run bookshop, stocked by donations. Their method of book keeping is as quaint as the place itself. When I strolled up to the counter, after having lounged with my new discovered book, I watched the man russell around for a pencil and scrap of paper to write down details of the book he'd just sold. Annerley Community Bookshop is as comfortable as your own lounge room. It serves as a lovely refuge from the smoke and hassle that is Ipswich Road.

This is one of my all time favourite bookstores in Brisbane…read more Don't be fooled by the rather innocuous looking building, this little store has offered up some real treasures over my numerous visits. This store is ideal for those wanting to brush up on the classics, the shelves here are heaving with many great literary titles. I bought one of my first Isabel Allende books here and could not have been more chuffed with the price ($8!) or the friendly service I received. Keep an eye on the coffee table and art books as there is usually a gem hidden somewhere amongst the rubble. (It's where I managed to score a huge 300 page photography tome.) With cosy couches and stacks and stacks of prime reading material to review. (Someone please buy up the vintage National Geographics before I do.) Annerley community book shop is the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.

I honestly expected a place named after a British comedy show to be a little tacky, but absolutely…read morefabulous is far from tacky. There's weird and wonderful knick-knacks, toys, books, and gadgets to delight and entertain even the dreariest of company. There is choice everywhere you look: For that morbid friend you have, there is a guide to hypochondria; for the friend that won't trade in their old wallet, there's a range of vibrant colours ad luggage to match; for the friend who's trying to make their place more homely, there are countless pillows and kitchen utensils with a twist, pant-shaped egg cups, and china sets; and for lovers of jewellery there is a vast array of wooden styles to add an earthy feel to your outfit. There are just bits and pieces of everything littered around this store, in a good way of course. Everything is almost retro-modern, especially the furniture they have sitting outside the door. Absolutely Fabulous is that place where you know you'll find a birthday or Christmas gift for anyone, because their range is far too widespread for anyone to dislike anything.

Absolutely Fabulous is one of those stores that will impress…read moreeven the grumpiest person in your clan. I have seen all sorts of people happily walk through the Ab Fab doors ...and really why not? This place is one of the best little retro/gift stores around. A haven of quirky goods and trinkets, this place has everything from bird key holders, pug bookends and novelty shower caps to art cards, beautiful gift paper and vintage ornaments. This store is in my arsenal of places to go to when a person is annoyingly difficult to buy for or is someone I don't know very well. (I can guarantee you will find perfect gifts a plenty here.) Ab Fab is worth a definite gander when out and about in Woolloongabba!

Karene A is right, those looking for a second hand store experience that earns them hipster cred or…read morekitsch points should look elsewhere for their fix. That's not to say that you won't find items that fit that bill at the Red Hill Salvos Store but it's unlikely. Red Hill Salvos has been a spot I've spent many a hour searching for homewares, books and on the odd occasion kooky costumes for a 70s highschool teacher inspired photo shoot. This is the spot you come to if you're looking for something unique for your home- something that tells a story and stands out from the run of the mill flat pack furniture. On many occasions I've found (much to my delight) fantastic crystal pieces including small milk jugs perfect for the kitchen table, vases and other knick knacks for my home. If you're in the market for larger furniture items that tell a story and have a bucket load of character then be sure to wander into their back shed area where you'll find enough desks, dining tables, chairs and wardrobes to fit any decor or need. While I've done my fair share of 'shopping' here it has also been a fine spot to give items I no longer need a new home. Books, clothes and other kitchen items that I no longer need are donated to a good cause and handing them directly to their warehouse teams means I'm safe in the knowledge my donations are not being ruined by weather waiting for a donation bin to be emptied.

Rummaging through the piles of second-hand goods here, one is sure to pick up a bargain antique…read moretreasure. While it's not the place to pick up quality retro clothing, you will find plenty of old picture frames, antique furniture (banged up antique furniture but it's all about character, right?), vinyl records, old-school suitcases and shelves and shelves full of cute little statues and retro kitchenware that all looks like it should be in Grandma's kitchen. Their pricing system is a little haphazard; the price markers seem to know the value of some of the antique items but overlook others. Sometimes I can pick up an old suitcase or port for $20 whereas on other visits the same sort and quality item will be upwards of $50. There are definitely bargains to be had if you visit regularly though. As well as lots of really old stuff (I'm full of such technical terms), they also have plenty of newer second hand furniture, linen, toys, sports equipment and a section with discounted supermarket items such as toilet paper, shampoo, detergent etc.

What a beautiful little store this is. Objects of all shapes and sizes, as long as they possess…read moresome charismatic characteristic, can be found here. The store is quite small with rustic cabinets overflowing with items. Making your way through the delightful clutter of objects without knocking anything over is a challenge, especially if you're me. I think my body awareness stopped developing when I was a small child, as after many years of constantly spilling and breaking things, I have had to accept that I am rather clumsy. I like to think it is endearing. Despite this great flaw on my behalf, I managed to complete a tour of the store, testing delicious smelling hand lotions and admiring cute knick knacks, without causing any destruction. While I was in the store a couple came in and proceeded to search back and forth, a bit frantic. The woman working in the shop asked if they were after anything in particular, to which they replied a present for some sort of baby occasion, christening, newborn baby, I can't remember. The lifesaving shop assistant then directed them to a smaller room off to one side of the shop, packed full of an abundance of cute baby gifts. I thought this was a great idea, not only having a section in the store like this but also separating it to give the customers after those items space to um and ah in peace.

Super girly girls will love this store. It is filled with cute, adorable, simply gorgeous nic nacs…read morefor your very feminine kind of person. The fact that they are approved sellers of Crabtree and Evelyn should tell you something. Other simply delightful treats you'll find in here include aprons, stuffed toys, white route iron candelabras, calico hanging hearts, tea sets, and recipe books called "The Essential Tea Companion". I'm sure they've got a doll house hidden away in the corner somewhere. It's just that kind of shop. It's odd that in a store crammed full of stuff, nothing really stands out. Everything in there seems to be different shades of cream or baby pink. The pastel colour palette reigns supreme here. If you're looking for something overpowering in it's girly-ness, you should definitely take a look in here.

This store is fantastic, the sales are really good value!!! Staff welcomed us when we entered the…read morestore and weren't pesky and left us girls to shop and have fun. Plenty of clothing to choose from and the store was kept in an organised way allowing for fuss free shopping!

This pretty little place is situated on a corner in Paddington that seems to house a conspiracy of…read moreshops that look so appealing from the outside, but when I get inside I realise they aren't exactly right for me. This one had a lot of flowy pieces that remind me strongly of school art teachers. Even though it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, it was a lovely shop full of beautiful clothes and jewellery, cosy especially on the gloomy, rainy day.