Shop As Profiling Experiment, Number Two. (see my review for Inner Space)…read more Ideal customer for Gifts-n-Things: - Female. Of a certain age. Necessary to think 'n-things' is amusing. - Female, of a certain age, doing all the Christmas shopping for everyone. First name meanings bookmarks. Somewhat Anglo-oriented. - Female, Anglo, put upon. Greets menopause humour cards with a loud bark of laughter. Tries on voluminous cotton dresses inside. If I have to do ALL the shopping for everybody else, I should get something too, goddammit, she thinks. - Female, Anglo, Menopausal, with cash. *@%& everybody else, I'm stocking up on Crabtree & Evelyn and Cats in the Country Calendars from nice staff girls. Everybody else can go hang. I'm off for some ice tea. She walks off, unaccustomed purchases FOR HERSELF in hand. Yay.

I have been into this shop on a few occasions and on each occasion the owner has been so helpful,…read morewith out being pushy or intrusive. The owner has been happy to call her suppliers to check on stock and other colour options for dresses that were lovely, but not quite right. She really is an example of excellent customer service. Outstanding experience!!

'Christmas Corridor' my witty fellow shopper quipped. Claustrophobes beware…read more If you want to feel beset on all sides by Christmas decorations, or perhaps harbour a quiet desire to feel like you're drowning in Christmas trees (hey, I don't judge), this is the spot for you. Opening hours vary on the time of year, so best to call for up to date details. I felt quite blinded by potato guns and politcally-dubious Christmas golliwogs in about 0.23 seconds, while managing to knock over a glitter-spattered angel at ground level, so my ability to accurately describe is limited. Grinch, me? Bite your tongue...

Beautiful traditional Christmas ornaments and atmosphere, a magical place to get into the Christmas…read morespirit.

No cats visible, but there is a wall of faux fur rugs identified by species. Who knew faux came in…read moreotter and Russian bear? As you walk in the door and try not to collapse on the cushy couches, you can spy a table of wonderfully stabby-looking bonsai scissors, a set of 'hear no evil' bunnies (bunnies?!) and then head out back. There's extra rooms down the wooden stairs stocking more furniture and home dec items. They vary in style and quality and are a mix of old and new. Given my druthers, I would have stumbled away with a Mongolian buffet and a gloriously battered leather wing chair perfect for taking up pipe smoking. Staff are friendly and cheerful and experts at shipping stuff anywhere. I wonder if a pair of those scissors in the handbag would be considered carrying a concealed weapon? Bonsai roots and malefactors beware...

A bit oh hum. Same sought of product line you see in most gift shops. There is a lot of stuff…read morethough and staff are friendly and helpful. Still a pleasant shop to browse through.

I would have thought there was some size requirement that needs to be met before you can call…read moreyourself an 'emporium'. Ok, I'm not the target market. Massed Christmas decorations of the overy sparkly variety make me feel on the verge of an epileptic fit. Santas and snow and reindeers I find culturally and climactically inappropriate. Call me Grinch, I don't care. But I've plenty of kiddies around me who do enjoy such things, so I'm willing to inflict them on myself for their sake. Sparkly Elvis Christmas decorations and hanging Harley's from the tree are new ones to me though. The lady behind the counter didn't even glance in my direction. Perhaps she was busy. I get that. Maybe I had the aura of 'Christmas sceptic, it's really a pagan throwback' roiling around me. But not the friendly atmosphere you'd expect.

Etsy on your doorstep in the Blue Mountains, part two…read more The Nook is an artist-run co-op set up for local talented folk to showcase and sell their wares direct to you. The entryway doesn't look like much, but upstairs you'll find rooms of handmade items at great prices. It's like visiting a market that's grown up, settled down and got serious. Stock is varied, as you'd expect, from kid's clothes made from vintage materials, soaps and lotions, pottery, gorgeous felt scarves, 'Striking Strawberry Jam' made in Blackheath and 'Lemon Sublime Tea' made right in Leura. Especially worth checking out, I do declare, are the silver jewellery by Suzanna Coombes (a friend bought me a pair of earrings that I wear to death, they're shaped like flower blossoms set in scuplture) and the amazing wood boxes by Marina Brown and Andrew Taylor. They look like little townscapes and have a fantastic level of detail and craftsmanship. And they're made with recycled computer screws too. Buying local's hardly a chore when the choice is this good.

With family members about to radically expand a vege patch, I'm on the lookout for interesting…read moreadditions to perplex them with. Christmas is coming up and all. Situated just behind the carpark in Leura, this little nursery has some definite contenders. Everything's clear and laid out, with little signs giving care info (great for unwitting plant killers like me). The atmosphere's friendly. Although, come to think of it, I've never found an unfriendly nursery. Mmmm, there's something in that. But, back to the Christmas list. Diggers heirloom veggies. Fabulous. Ever heard of a Wapsipinicon Peach Tomato? Me neither. They're peach coloured. Really! Gotta love a Black Russian tomato too. And a bonsai. And a mini Christmas tree in a pot so you don't have to participate in the senseless slaugher of pines every December. Although with my luck, they'll all burst into flames the second I walk out of the shop. I do try not to kill plants, truly.

From the owner: Birches of Leura is Leura's own Garden centre located in the Megalong St Carpark. The Nursery is an…read moreoasis of tranquility providing a large range of plants including Cottage and Herbs, Vegetable Seedlings, Citrus, Natives, Potted Colour, Ornamentals, Roses, camellias, gardenias, Rhododendron and in our Gift Shop and huge range of indoor plants including cacti and succulents. In the garden we have a huge range of statuary, pots and urns.

A lovely shop with all the stuff I normally hope to find at a metaphysical shop and a few surprises…read moretoo like fantasy t-shirts and fantasy artwork. Will definitely come here again.

From the owner: We are a family owned store specialising in New Age Products. We sell fantasy artprints, tarot…read morecards & accessories, books, CDs, incense & accessories, figurines, crystals & crystal jewellery....