Amazing Paper - a shop that needs little further description. It sells a huge variety of paper -…read morehand marbled, oriental, Western and exotic prints on thick sheets of glorious paper. This is the type of shop to inspire you; creativity exudes from the walls and the owners, who are happy to help. A great place to buy gifts, wrapping paper, cards, diaries, art and craft supplies, invitations, ribbon and all manner of wonderful stationary. DIY invitations, bookbinding and more mean that amazing paper has got all of your papery needs sorted.

This is an iconic Newtown/Enmore emporium of exotic papers, ideas and inspiration. Perfect for…read moreanyone moved by a creative project, you'll find this creative den will help you add enormous value to whatever you have designed. They closed their funky shopfront in Enmore and relocated in the artisan quarter of Chapel Street Marrickville. If you've been wondering where they had gone to, your resource centre is back in your life.a

I'm kinda obsessed with stationery. I'm the girl who actually wanted the school year to start so I…read morecould go and stock up with new folders, pens and notebooks. I'm the girl who (still) goes a little crazy in an Office Works. So you'll colour me excited that I discovered Typo. You see, I'm not really a Cotton On person, so I hadn't heard of their newish foray into stationery - not until a similarly stationery obsessed friend expressed her incredulity at my ignorance. Of course I rectified that immediately. Typo in Darling Harbour is cute as a button. There are cards, notebooks, laptop covers and diaries to suit almost any style (dark leathers and mustache-clad bits and bobs for boys as well). Sure a lot of it is spectacularly twee, but they obviously know their market. And they definitely cater to the stationery obsessed, with great combo deals like 3 notebooks for $10. It's also worth rummaging down the back amongst their sale items - just in case you need extra justification for buying yet MORE paper-goods.

You can't walk past a TYPO and not want to go inside. This store oozes cool so before you know it,…read moreyou're browsing thinking 'I'd like that, I might get that, ooh that's amazing'. TYPO is connected to Cotton On but the only hint about that seems to be the prices- everything at TYPO is pretty affordable. The concept at TYPO is to take trends from fashion and apply them to bits and bobs like notebooks, stationary, gift wrap, even wall art. This place is like kikki-K but with an attitude. Take for example the 'Totes Whatevs Notes' notebook or the 'I listen to brands that don't even exist yet' paper pad. Both will set you back a whopping $5 each. If you've got a space to fill then this place offers really funky accessories to suit your budget.

I know I'm going to sound like a girl when I say this, but...I love pretty little, shiny things!…read moreThat's why I can never stroll past Abode without a cheeky browse at whatever they have in there. It's hard to define what this store is about, it has home-wares but it also has plenty of awesome novelty gifts. I'll admit I am guilty of walking in there, buying a present for a friend and then falling so in love with it that I keep it. I'm a horrible person, I know, but you try it! You'll go bonkers for all the gorgeous, funny and random things in there. Whether you feel like adding something quirky to your home, buying a card for a loved one or getting a present for someone, you'll find it in Abode. Just make sure to give yourself at least half an hour in there, I guarantee you'll keep getting side tracked.

Abode is the home of pretty things! This is the sort of shop you could browse in for hours trying…read moreto decide on the right card or gift for someone. The wooden floors, non in-your-face staff and quirky Things make this a really welcoming place to hang out in. Much like a place called Abode should be really. I don't see the point of greetings cards that aren't tailored to the person being greeted, and Adobe has a great selection of fun/arty/beautiful cards on top of the wide array of unique gifts for another person (or yourself of course). If you're looking for the likes of a unicorn lamp to a Dali-esque "melting clock" or just have no idea what to get your funky friend for their birthday, Adobe is a damn good place to start.

Waiting for my take away coffee at the cafe outside I was attracted to this up market gift shop by…read morethe Rob Ryan plate displayed in the window. I hadn't seen a Rob Ryan artwork since I lived in London and use to go into his Columbia Road store to give my eyes a love soak with his delightful paper cutting masterpieces. On seeing this I knew there would have to be a treasure trove of quality gifts inside. And there was. There is quite a large range of contemporary styled homewares including glass vases, silver fruit bowls, simple wall clocks, silver candle stick holders and pink leather diary organises. But there's also some original quirky designs like the Alessi 'Chip' Paperclip Holder ($129.95 mind), aluminium red water full circle globe ($315), stainless steel Penguin books water bottle with On the Road, Jack Kerouac design ($25.95) and a glass bird feeder sphere ($90). Definitely worth a look if your wanting an original and interesting gift. Complimentary gift wrapping available.

Design. I love it. There are so many ingenious designers all over the world. Wooden Rosendahl…read moretoys from Denmark, Alessi home items from Italy, Tivoli Radios and a number of items from Australian designers such as Apple & Bee, Glasshouse Candles and Oobi Baby. Bristol & Brooks carries a number of home ware and gift items from all over the world. One of my favorite things I've found there was some limited edition Tin Tin ceramics and authorized merchandise. It's a well stocked shop and they have some really nice gift ideas (corporate, wedding, baby, birthday or other important event) or if you want to buy something nice for yourself or your home. The Chiefly Square store is bigger than the one in the QVB and carries more stock, but I've found a couple of different items in the QVB location (like the Tin Tin pieces).

This is a pretty awesome gift store; on one end, everything is fluffy and fun including cuddly…read morebears and the like, and even a pirate costume. On the other end is a variety of trinkets and cool little objects or devices. Inbetween are scented soaps and candles. Theres something new to see in every part of shop, including a variety of rubicks cube styled mugs, thermometers and similar. I guess we all have a rubicks cube friend. I do. Also, everywhere you look, in addition to nifty little gift ideas, are little signs with various warnings. "Do not touch", "pay for all breakages", "bags checked on exit" "theieves will be prosecuted" "STOP, do not open cabinet" and such. When I say everywhere you look, I mean each product is labelled with a "dont touch" sign, pretty much. These made me a little uneasy at first, but then I was saddened by the fact that the middle aged man who seems to run show had to put to so many up to make his point. I suppose if people had paid for their breakages, there wouldnt be a need for so many signs. As I left I offered to show the contents of my backpack, to which the shopkeep responded: "that's ok, I watched you walking around." Oh good. That saves time. *Frown*. Anyways, I'd return if I needed to buy a gift, so I'd recommend the place. But please don't break any thing. There's a sign.

Have you ever wanted a remote control robot, or mustache-shaped cookie cutters, or scrabble tile…read morerefrigerator magnets and not been sure where to source such fabulous items. OOOOOOH man, do I have the store for you! Opus is a haven for everything fun and whimsical for your home or office. They have a spectacular toy section with something to make anyone grin from shoulder to shoulder. From stationary, to crockery, I dare you to stop in here and NOT find something for yourself or a friend. How do you feel about a mouse pad that looks like a mini rug? How about a reusable lunchbox in the shape of a giraffe's face? If there was such thing as death by cuteness, this store would be wise to line the back with hospital beds and IVs. Nurse, stand by... she's just spotted the teacups.

Oh, I love this store. It's so much fun. It's like a toy store for adults... (actually rereading…read morethat it sounds wrong).... well think more along the lines of fun awesome prezzies you want to give your friends for their birthdays - because your gift reflects positively on you. Opus is situated on the top half of Oxford street and contains a wonderful array of books, cards, homewares and novelty items. It's all quite classy so even if you're getting a "Captain Ketchup" ($12.95) squirt your tomato sauce gun, its designed so beautifully your house will look better for it. Prices vary as they have a mix of chic and cher. Whatever your budget you're guaranteed to find something you like in this shop. There is a HUGE range - many colours with many different options. I always stop by this store to find something special for my friends. The stores been around since 1968 and I sincerely believe all those years of finessing purchasing has paid off. Friends, if you want to buy me a birthday present - I can recommend anything here....as for everyone else - I promise you, discovering this store is my gift to you....

Closed every Sunday and Mondays so that owner Justine can forage around the local auctions and…read moremarkets to find bits and bobs to fill her wee treasure shop you know you'll be getting the best of the best old stuff. There really are some quality finds in here but it's not all second hand - a lot of it is hand made and recycled like the cutest stud earing made from gorgeous prints. Another 'new' item are the deck of large cards with nursery rhymes and vintage drawings of the characters printed on them. Justine tells me these fly out the door as they are very popular as people love to give them as presents. I'm included in that bunch of gift buyers. I also love the glassware and teacups polished up, the knitted dolls, unique collection of children's books and the mirrored animal wall hanging series - worth a visit just to know what the heaven I'm talking about. In 2010 Retrospections was a finalist in the Specialty Store of the Year award for the Mosman Daily 2010 Business Achiever Awards. Retrospetions is a great shop to buy gifts for those who read magazines like Frankie and Peppermint. This is a real find.. doll.

I was unexpectedly enchanted by Retrospections, a small unasssuming shop on the corner of the…read moreCammeray shops. From the outside it looked liked it would just be collections of old tat with prices stuck on them, but everything in here has been carefully and tastefully chosen. The corner devoted to books is certainly a trip down memory lane as it features all those books I deemed to be magical when I was a youngster. Princesses, castles and classic illustrations were all that was needed to set my heart a-flutter. There are even vinyl audiobook versions of some of these old favourites, something I have never seen before! You'll even find a few more grown-up treats such as dainty cookbooks and a box of Penguin bookcover postcards, I've now mentally bookmarked this place for presents for any gal pal with a bit of a romantic-literary streak's up-and-coming Birthday.

I can never resist a pop in to Ginger Flower…read more A cacophony of colours, textures and fragrance, this boutique gift shop has every inch covered with things to read, touch, smell, wear and write in. Ginger Flower has a distinctively bohemian feel, stocking brands like Ecoya, Voluspa, Nesti Dante Soaps, MOR and Cards by Lulu. I recently bought a very cute 'Flat Out Bear' ($55) as a gift for my 3YO niece which she absolutely loved. There is almost always something in this shop you would like to give... to yourself if not to the person you are shopping for!

After a last-minute birthday/baby shower/engagement/Christmas gift and no idea where to look?…read moreGinger Flower in Kirribilli is likely to have a solution for you. This charming little gift shop is a magnet even for unintentional shoppers, tempting passers by inside with their beautifully curated window displays. Once inside, marvel at the bounty of trinkets, stationary and beauty products covering each and every inch of the tiny space. Choose from candles by Voluspa and Ecoya (theirs are portable and made from soy), smells-good-enough-to-eat body lotions and scrubs from MOR, leather bound journals, coffee table books, silk scarves and even Moroccan-inspired leather ottomans for those in search of something larger. They've got a good selection of cards, too, so it's pretty much a one-stop shop. Upon purchase, you can opt to give a gold coin donation in exchange for their gift wrapping service - your pressie will be completed with colourful tissue paper and a cord ribbon. Best of all, the money is given to the Kids For Life charity, which assists ill and under privileged children in Australia.