There's no apples and oranges in this produce store (but how fantastic would that be?), and if…read moreyou're a local travelling from Brisbane to a far away destination you may think that this is a store with nothing for you. BUT, if you're wanting to travel and be a little kinder to your dietary intake while cruising at 40,000ft, a visit to the Australian Produce Store will let you stock up on bags of nuts (some in handy snack sizes), cheese (if that's your thing) and even abalone (if that's also your thing). I stopped in for a bag of almonds or similar to have on hand when the inevitable long-haul flight snack attack reared its head. At least somewhere over the Pacific I'll be armed with something nutritious and lessen my chances of grabbing the inflight bags of crisps. And, if you happen to need a rosewater spray for hydration they stock a full range of Jurlique. There's Blackmores vitamins and a small range of skincare.

What do you get for people who have everything? If you're not sure and you have some coffers to…read moresling hit up Renaissance Luxury Collections at Chermside Shopping Centre. The have all types of classic European designs from lamps to doll, from frames to pen sets. It's a store that has a class about it without being too demanding on the hip pocket. My parents who love this place and recommended me to go there when I was unsure of what for family friend's birthday. Looking around I had no idea of what to get but the sales manager Hao was a great help. She asked me about the person I was buying for and the money I had, tried to get me thinking on what my friend liked as collectables. Then finally we found a beautiful ink pen set with quill and pot. When he opened his present we was amazed and thankful and told me it was one of the most original gifts he had ever received.

This is a pretty crazy, quirky gift store that has a pretty even mix of stuff I love and stuff I…read morehate. I do love the stationary, the pens and some of the lamps. I hate the statues and find the dolls pretty freaky. A little hit and miss but the staff are lovely and they often have good sales, so definitely worth a look.

Who knew that Spotlight and Lincraft hadn't swallowed every other craft store and spat them out?…read moreProbably those who craft on a regular basis, but I certainly didn't. Cleveland Crafts is tucked away in a little shopping arcade, offering a lot more than meets the eye when you're standing outside. Their specialities are crocheting and knitting supplies. Any other materials you might like can also be found here; buttons, sequins, those fake flowers they always sell at these places although I'm at a loss as to how they tie in with the theme, and much more. It's a lovely little store, and if you're into supporting local businesses rather than the huge corporations you should check it out next time you're in the market for a giant fake flower to cover that pesky stain on your favourite white blouse. Am I on the right track?

The stars are because I've never asked the staff in here for something they didn't have tucked away…read morein some nook or cranny of this old shop. It's bursting with so much craft stuff it makes me wish I was crafty. Over the years I've visited here with friends who were avid crocheters and sewers and stocked up on all kinds of goodies, while I've bought the emergency cotton, needles and pins when I've had fashion emergencies at work, but there are also feathers here to bail you out of a last minute fancy dress boggle, and lots of beads and jewellery makings, for when you go through that phase of making your own dangly earrings. Hidden away at the end of a little arcade on bloomfield Street, this is really a little hidden treasure.

Has anything you could ever possibly need without having to leave New Farm…read more My only gripes would be - parking is a nightmare when it's busy and the centre is looking rather tired and in need of refurbishment.

A gift shop in Camp Hill's Martha Street hub, Kim + Judi provides unique gifts at a price that's…read moreunlikely to break your budget. It's perfect for those last minute gifts, whether it's for a secret santa or a partner you're about to celebrate an anniversary with. The quality of the products is top notch and the interesting way the gifts are wrapped make it seem like you have put in a lot of effort. After my first visit to Kim + Judi led to a well received present for my brother on his thirtieth birthday (a clock in a clear spherical glass which allowed you to see the inner workings) I have made a habit of stopping in when stumped of present ideas. The mother and daughter team who own it (not sure who is Kim and who is Judy) have been nothing but helpful and gave reliable advice to this very confused shopper. It didn't escape my attention, either, that on each separate visit there have been new products which is always a good sign for a gifts store such as this. Being a bit of a novice with stores like this one I am always sure to bring a girl along with me as they tend to love the place and are better at separating the wheat from the chaff than myself.

You'd never find this shop unless you were looking. It's tiny, crowded and has absolutely no window…read moredisplay or sugar coating whatsoever. Run by a lovely older couple who sit amongst the towers of fabric rolls and racks of ribbon and laces while you browse, this is a treasure trove for anyone who sews or is crafty with fabrics. It looks a little dusty and you might feel like you've stepped through a portal into a little old shop in a European village in 1960, but there are prices to almost match. If you collect buttons, I'm sure there are some old gems here. I'm not particularly crafty, but head here whenever I need ribon or lace, usually buying metres of it to wrap presents because it's cheaper and less painful than extracting money through my nose at the newsagents to pay Mr John Sands - who is he anyway?

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 emailing Selective Fine Fabrics to track down a certain style of lace for my wedding…read moredress. I sent them a photo of the dress I am trying to recreate, and they emailed me photos of similar exquisite laces that they had in store. One was just perfect, so I paid for a sample to be posted to me. I loved the sample, so I went ahead and ordered the full amount. Communication was swift and easy and the lace was posted quickly. If you're in Brisbane or even in another city and looking for a spectacular fabric I highly recommend trying Selective Fine Fabrics.

Staff is very helpful, the quality of fabrics is high. This is not the place to come looking for…read morecheap fabric this is where you'd come to find fabric for a wedding dress and Chantilly lace to match. The range is beautiful and shopping here is addictive.