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.

This is a neat little shop that gives me the impression it was once a hairdressing salon. With its…read moremirrored walls, white tiles and benches running around the perimeter, I can imagine the place was once full of women nodding uncertainly as the hairdresser shows them the finished back of their head in a handheld mirror. They stock mainly jewellery, with a few clutches and other accessories thrown in. Nothing in here is very casual; it all looks like it's made with a night out or a special occasion in mind. There's a lot of jewellery, but the way it's presented is interesting so you won't get bored (if that was ever a concern) of peering into glass cabinets trying to distinguish between the blur of items.

Thousand Island Dressing; ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. My attention was split five thousand different…read moreways walking in here because there are literally so many beautiful things everywhere. You walk in and straight away there are shelves and shelves of jewellery in every style and colour to greet and entice you. They have the most incredible range of jewellery with pieces that are adorable, in particular a teapot/teacup set of earrings and floral headbands that you just can't find anywhere else. There was even a silver necklace with an envelope that opened with a letter inside. Cute! The jewellery is colour coordinated, making it very easy to find pieces you want and match them to anything you have in mind. They have bags, wallets, soaps, books, pillows, lights, jewellery holders, literally everything! The place has been converted from an old Paddington house and the fixtures that decorate it mesh so well with the very pretty and very original items. French brand Taratata Bijou is also featured and they have quite a big range of cufflinks for the boys too. You pay a little more here but it leaves you feeling like you've spoilt yourself to something special. Everything is ornate and really gorgeous - perfect for gift ideas and birthday presents. They even have aluminium Christmas decorations for the season. They cover homewares, accessories, and jewellery and you definitely won't find it difficult to find something here; the problem is settling on just one thing.

I am very sorry to sound like a grouch but I just do not get the big deal about this place. Yes, it…read moreis colourful and beads are falling out of every angle. Yes, it does sell nice jewellery that I probably would like to wear. And yes, you could probably find a nice gift for someone here. All of these positive points do not change the fact that I have had awful customer service from this place. So much that it has put me off going there altogether. Ok, so here is the scenario that has happened more than once. You walk in, there are a couple of staff members standing in the corner gossiping away. Usually this does not bother me that much even though I know it is not considered to be good customer service. When I actually go to counter to pay and actually have to wait 5 minutes for someone who is not busy at all to serve me, that is what annoys me! When you try to make small talk with the sales assistance, you just get ignored! I am not the only person who find their customer service awful, my sister has had a similar experience. Maybe I'm just being sensitive or have only been to the store during bad times, but this place needs to consider opinions like mine. I'm not asking for the best service of my life, but a little bit of service with a smile would be nice.

Texts, tweets and Tinder might be all the rage but I firmly sit in the corner that believes sending…read morea beautiful card for an array of occasions beats the obligatory Facebook message or wall post. That's why I'm thankful that a store like Card & Caboodle, located on the lower floor of Queens Plaza, is still around. Much like hen's teeth, a shop dedicated to the art of correspondence via a carefully deliberated card is hard to find. Much like Suzannah B, I often find selecting a card far more exciting than the gift it may be presented with. Their range is some of the best in Brisbane and extend from classic humour, modern design and quirky.There's a card for almost all occasions and you'll also be able to stock up on wrap, ribbon or a fancy-pants gift bag.

Every year I tell my friends I'm going to write them a personal letter and post it. We all agree…read morewhat a great idea this would be and spend awhile reminiscing about the good ol' days before email. I've never yet written such a letter although Card and Caboodle has certainly tempted me with their range of stationary. Some of their writing sets are so pretty. Plus, anyone would be pleased to receive best wishes from their intricate pop-up card range. Their cute stamps, stickers, hanging ornaments and magnets would make perfect 'filler presents', the sort you would get for your workplace Secret Santa or that cousin you don't know very well but you suspect she's a girly girl. If you're looking for something more original than your stock standard newsagency range, then try Card and Caboodle for all matters stationary related.

One of my most favourite stores in Brisbane, the Oxfam shop is a wonderful, ethical stop on your…read morenext shopping trip. The store is run by volunteers and all of the profits from sales within the store supports Oxfam's charity endeavours both locally and globally. In store you'll find a huge range of beautiful handcrafted items from across the globe, fair trade coffee and treats, a range of books including children's titles and cookbooks, beautiful home wares, toys, various apparel items, gift cards that support numerous causes (the 'Oxfam Unwrapped' range and tax deductible), jewellery, and Cd's. You will always find something unique and original here. The prices in store range from fairly cheap to moderately expensive, but it's well worth it.

I love, love the stuff Oxfam Shop carries, and I appreciate the fact that they do fair trade and…read moresome of the items are handmade. I was fortunate to be the recipient of a gift certificate to Oxfam, and after going in a couple times (and leaving empty handed), I finally picked out a "secret" jewerlly box (the secret is in how to unlock/lock it). It's a beautifully carved wooden box, with velvet lining the inside. The staff here has always been pleasant and I didn't feel any sort of urgency in this small 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.

My sister and I went for a lovely walk around South Bank and all of sudden, you happen to walk upon…read morea beach in the middle of the city! Everyone warned me that it would be small but for a person who grew up very far from beaches; it's still awesome! I was a bit hungry so I went for the meat pie and my sist wanted some morning coffee. They were so kind and let us take our time in ordering. After ordering, you don't want to hurry to your seat. You want to explore the entire place! The decor and flowers are just gorgeous. All of the book titles are uplifting and you just want to take all of them home and put them on your bookshelf and coffee table. The color scheme is gorgeous as well! As you walk around, you begin to realize that it's not just a cafe but a gift shop, and boutique florist! We sat outside because the weather was nice and my meat pie was adorable! It was a nice petite size and came with a fresh salad. It was just enough for breakfast and didn't feel too heavy. My sister loved her coffee. We felt relaxed and loved the atmosphere. Little Stanley street is filled with various restaurants and I definitely think we found the perfect one!

Love the fact that this is a beautiful flowers & gift shop along with cafe. It's peaceful and just…read morevery pretty overall! I only had cappuccino with hazelnut syrup and though I loved the first two sips, it got a bit sickening after that. I felt the coffee wasn't strong enough, a bit too milky. But maybe it's just a personal preference of mine. Overall, a nice spot for leisurely coffee. They have cakes, slices, tarts, salads and other interesting items that I would like to try some time.

Go to Nook on a day that your resolve is as strong as steel. Don't risk a visit to this shop on a…read moreday that you're feeling remotely vulnerable - your wallet will regret it later. Michelle, the owner of Nook, has for a number of years expertly gathered a refined selection of home wares, 'knick-knacks', clothes, bags, handmade arts and paper goods in this West End abode. I want to resist this comparison, BUT, to give you context, if you're in any way interested in Etsy, Frankie Magazine, one-of-a-kinds or twee anything, Nook is and will be a delight to visit. This is my go-to store for gifts for myself, cards for special occasions, notebooks and my new favourite nail polishes by Kester Black. Be sure to say hello to the shop cat, Pedro, if you get the chance! zß

A contained delight, Nook is the quintessential cute gal on…read morethe bloc. The owners have searched high and low and stocked this little shop with a killer selection of art cards, fancy twine, cake tins, bear cufflinks, stationary spectaculars and more. Come with some greens as you'll find it hard to leave without some Paper Boat Press ornaments (or ALL the nifty Pannikin goodies on display.) A veritable feast for the eyes, It's the perfect little nook to get your cute fix.

I am one of those people who have trouble turning the gas oven on,…read morelet alone being able to combine food stuffs to resemble a home cooked meal. ...Needless to say me and cookbooks don't get along. The ones I grew up with were always to damn smarmy for their own good. ("By now your Cherry Fondant should resemble MY photoshopped one on page 3.") Thankfully Scrumptious Reads is here to tempt me out of my food hibernation. This concept store in Southbank has already turned a few heads with its beautiful and unique shop display. The whole store is constructed with brown paper cups, but don't let the fragility fool you these shelves hold almighty tomes of foodie heaven. This is the perfect space to peruse all manner of cookbooks from Heston to Momofuku, the owner Julie is lovely and more than able to recommend the perfect book for any occasion. This concept store will last a while, but be sure to check them out before their move to more permanent Southbank lodgings.

What can I say? If you love to cook, love to browse, and love a good book then be prepared my…read morefriend....your credit card is about to start smoking! Scrumptious reads is a gorgeous little bookshop that specialises in all things food and booze related. I particularly loved their range of classics, well complemented by a range of cookbooks published from all around the world. There are books on food history, ingredients, cooking and cutting techniques, food cultures and spices. Hitting upon newly printed Elizabeth David classic hardbacks had my head spinning in delight.....how could I choose what to buy? Couple this range with foodie journals, books all things mixology & brewing, and food themed diaries, cards & nick nacks and it's easy to see how I almost needed a trolley on departure. Whilst you can surely find the books cheaper online what you don't get on the inter web is the awesome service, the ability to browse to your hearts content or someone prepared to hunt down that obscure book that you've been looking for forever. If you're a foodie in Brisbane you need to treat yourself and head over to scrumptious reads for an hour or too.....and don't forget to bring your wallet!