Love From Random is the perfect place to buy a kooky gift (or at this time of year, stocking…read morefiller) when you want something fun or unexpected! For example I recently purchased a book entitled 'Hot Guys with Kittens' for a friend with a penchant for chiselled males and baby animals, and on an entirely different note I got a dummy with a moustache for a mate with a new baby! Literally something for everyone! I'd say the quality of the things they sell all seem pretty high and the owners have great taste in a great range of quirky objets. They also sell a good selection of naughty, pun-tastic and silly cards!

From the owner: Vintage toys , kitsch vintage collectables and homeware . Vintage advertising and ephemera. New fun…read moreretro silly gifts and stationery . Our website updates daily www.lovefromrandom.com

I love this store, I am madly in love with about 3 of the windchimes on display here, I already…read morehave 2 from here - there are only so many chimes a person needs, but they are so pretty. I know nobody needs a geisha snowglobe in their life but again, its hard to resist when you are surrounded by cute trinkets! It isn't just cute and silly, it sells some nice accessories. I got a bag from here which got loads of compliments. This is a great place to buy some pretty pretty gifts or just treat yourself to something fun.

Evolution is a gift shop in The Galleries in Broadmead. I think this is my favourite shop to buy…read morepresents from thus far! They used to be quite a Balinese style gift shop buy quickly has moved towards a more Brittania, cutesy and kitsch feel lately. I would happily decorate my apartment with the stuff here. There are great welcome mats here that I've been eyeing up recently that look really well made and are affordable too, at £12. They have a few pieces of kids wooden furniture, some chairs sold here are so very cute, with carvings of animals on the chair backs- however I have no children to buy them for as yet! A few presents I have bought here are their rustic metal gifts; like wall clocks made to look antiquey and wall hangings with old style postcards printed on them. I bought my best friend one that said 'live well, love much, laugh often', which she loved. When on sale, I bought a huge amount of candles here which lasted me ages, and smelt great (they were mighty cheap). I could go on talking about the many various things they sell, but the best is if you keep this place in mind to check out for when you next need a gift!

If Photoshop were to personify itself as a traditional British gentleman then this is probably the…read moresort of place he'd run. Everything about this place has that sort of modern yet classical chic design look to it. If you know what I'm on about you'll probably love it down here. From kitchen wares to cookery books to candle holders this place has everything the modern housewife (or husband) could wish for, all with a sort of bold and colourful twist to it. They also have a wonderfully easy to use website with all their kit on display so maybe the best thing to is check that out, as opposed to imagining a bold, colourful, modern and chic Photoshop man.

A bright and modern gift shop perfect for the yummy mummy friends in your life. They had a wide…read moreselection of Orla Kiely and Cath Kidson items which should help you gauge the style here. Think pink and pretty with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and cherries on top. Over two floors, if you are buying for children check out downstairs for some interesting kids toys and games. However be warned - I did have to leave after 10 minutes because I was beaten into submission by the incredible tweeness of the music. Any more and I would have started swearing and smashing things just to get the status quo of the universe back into kilter.

Named after the song in one of the most wonderful yet tragic motion pictures of our time (with just…read morea hint of sarcasm there), Hakuna Matata is Easton's head-shop - your one stop for all that is associated with smoking dope, getting high and the Rastafarian community. In this shop you can find all the expected grinders, papers, lighters, stash boxes and magazines affiliated with marijuana that you would expect, plus a few extras you may not have thought of. They have a very broad and wonderful smelling incense and scent collection for starters, and a good collection of Indian-based art postcards. More gems that I found (excusing the pun) were some healing crystals and the guide books to go with them. This isn't just a collection of getting high tat, but rather a well thought out stock of gifts and treats based around a more relaxed and easy going way of life.

Not just another " head shop " But an amazing gift shop also offering craft and clothing from many…read moreparts of Africa, Urban clothing at reasonable prices, greeting cards, sandals, jewellery including body piercings, and of course the biggest selection of smoking paraphernalia in Bristol, A one stop experience for all your gifty needs, Llewsob

This garish gift shop on Cotham Hill is enough to put any boy, or un-girlie girl off just by the…read morepinker than pink paint on the outside of the builder. But once you're inside its glittery doors you'll find a whole host feminine gifts to make you cringe either further. There's birthday cards, candles, soaps and bath bombs in abundance here to buy for cutesy girls, mums or girlfriends. Sadly I just can't seem to see past the pink and have over visited Soukous twice. But there's no denying that they do gifts for girls like no other shop in Clifton.

Another little business on Cotham Hill which is kept alive by the Student Loans Company, Soukous'…read morebright pink facade draws in the anxious males looking for girlie gifts and girlie girls looking for pink paraphernalia. If you're looking for fairy lights or fancy quilts, this is a great place to come. Also, Soukous stock Banksy cards if you fancy sending a Bristolian greeting to a friend. My personal favourite are the jelly bean candles, they've come in useful a few times!

I absolutely love Iota on Gloucester Road for having all the quaint charm of Bloomsbury with the…read moreprice tag of Habitat. This family run business is fully stocked with sweet espresso cups, floral make up cases and pretty purses as well as other beautiful girlie house hold items. It's the perfect place to pick up gifts for feminine friends or to treat yourself to needless but attractive. Always busy with window shoppers, but there's always a friendly sales assistant at hand when you need them.

Like a cheaper (in a nice way) Bloomsbury, this is a mix of kitsch and modern gifts, books and…read morehomewares in one lovingly presented shop. Perfect for fitting out your boudoir or your kitchen if you, like me, prefer to bake than wash up. I had a lovely potter through here and came out with some unique wrapping paper and a vintage-inspired apron by local seamstresses Flo-Jo Clothing. Definitely one for the ladies who shop only, boys would easily get bored with the chintz.

With a touch of the Cath Kidston's about their window display, Blaze is not what you might expect…read moreit to be from the outside. This gallery-cum-giftshop is a wonderful place to find unique and thoughtful gifts for girls who avoid the high street. Sadly a lot of the artwork and jewellery is priced outside of my limited budget, but it doesn't stop me from regularly visiting Blaze and seeing their ever-changing pieces. The shop assistants are extremely welcoming and helpful, who'll go out of their way to help you find an ideal gift. I particularly like their smaller artworks and posters which are perfectly designed to adorn student flat or studio walls.

Great little collection of artists make this tiny shop a real pull for those heading past Christmas…read moresteps. Crammed with items and such friendly helpful staff, it is somewhere I go back to regularly for gifts for girlfriends and for myself. Artists include: Hannah Turner (www.hannahturner.co.uk) who does these stunning porcelain birds Hanne Rysgaard (www.hannerysgaard.com) who does American-style milk cartons in ceramic, sounds very odd but they are very cool Kay Morgan (www.kaymorgan.co.uk) who makes glamourous purses and clutches The jewellery is contemporary silver work and very nice - they can give you gift cards if you don't know what size ring to buy for someone else as they can re-size or make a new version of everything there. Highly recommended for presents for stylish and modern girlfriends!

I'm a big believer in planning a funeral, I know that's weird but having organised a funeral for…read moresomeone who left a short note scribbled on a bit of paper then really I don't want my loved ones spending their efforts wondering what wood I want my coffin to be made of. But mostly I don't want them to play Robbie Williams 'Angels'. This place was set up by a coffin-maker but they have branched out to handle all areas of funeral arrangements including living wills, burials at sea and eco-funerals. Their coffins can be bespoke - they have an image of a Red Arrow plane-coffin on their website which is just fantastic.

Urbi et Orbi is a really cute little gift shop located near the Christmas Steps in Bristol. I…read morevisited the shop in the period leading up to Christmas and the window was beautifully set up which really drew me in. Once inside, the magic continued. Everything looked so carefully placed in their spot and it was clear to see that a lot of thought and effort had gone into making the shop look attractive. As said in a previous review, the shop sells a variety of board games, jewelry, kitchen goods and silverware. The aroma inside the shop is pleasant (smells of incenses) however it is a little overwhelming if you are in there for more than a couple of minutes.

This place is full of very expensive little gifts. Ethically concerned, it ensures that all of its…read moresales items are chosen in person, with a view to supporting British designers. On entering Sage, your senses are indulged: the smell of incense lingers subtly in the air and elegant looking gifts are presented in graceful displays around the room. I'd recommend you try this shop if you're looking for a special occasion gift. Products such as candles, makeup bags, glasses and books are all available, each made with a quirky kind of attention to detail. The shop is currently selling a lavender filled sausage dog doorstop (£39.95), which sums up its charm and intent perfectly. A touch superfluous, perhaps, but if you like to buy unique gifts with a touch of class, this is the place to go.

Sage is a cutting edge lifestyle shop with a cottage industry feel. The whole thing sings intimacy…read morein gentle dulcet tones. Crammed with novelty and inspiring takes on conventional things, this shop is as enchanting as it is innovative. I could wax lyrical about this place for a good time to come... Even thinking about it evokes the sense of charm I experience the moment I step through the door... yes I feel newly warm and vital inside, and if I don't go back and buy that colour-it-yourself wallpaper for my feature wall in my living space, I'll never forgive myself! Yes, of course, I could buy it online from their very secure site, but that would deprive me of the excuse of paying them a visit and tanking up on the vibe, and engaging in awe-inducing conversation with the staff. This is the kind of business that you expect to find in Clifton Village or on Colston Hill, not thrust out into the sticks at the end of Gloucester Road. But I think it's a smart move. There's parking here, and nothing remotely close to competition for a good mile.

The Here Gallery is such an assuming little place. They are fully stocked with tonnes of inspiring…read morearty things; books, posters, wallpaper, stickers and lots more, that always makes me really smiley when I'm here. There is a gallery downstairs which exhibits interesting work, from local and international artists. They always welcome submissions for their consideration, and you can tell they are quite select with the work they choose, as the work shown always is quite spectacular. If you're a little down in the dumps or facing a mind block with your own artwork, this place will really help re-jig your mind.

Stokes Croft's got a few flowers poking through the grey concrete, the Here Shop is one of them. A…read moregallery and bookshop, they've got an often changing range of contemporary art. They do exhibitions by visiting artists, with pen drawings of slightly alien looking organic shapes (that description's ripped off their website) by a Yugoslav-American Yellena James currently on display. Whatever is being shown the gallery is always a warm and quiet respite from the traffic on Stokes Croft. The bookshop side of things is similarly left-field and varied. They have loads of children's books, as well as books on graffiti, manga, and an eclectic mix of other subjects. You really have to go along to get a proper sense of the sort of thing they have. It feels like one persons just taken their personal interests and made a shop around it. I like this about the shop, you get exposed to things you might not otherwise get exposed to. The Here shop is kookish and neat, a nice play to wonder round for half an hour or so.