I had to get products for uni in c19 lockdown. It was a nightmare. After calling around other…read morestores and getting frustrated I phoned Eckersleys on Commercial Road in Prahran. They had everything and explained it so I understood. Fast polite service. I was able to buy and pickup my supplies immediately. In future I will always call them first. If they were in charge of the vaccine roll out we wouldn't need a lock down.

Eckerslys is one of the biggest arts and crafts suppliers in Australia, their shop ocated on…read moreCommercial Road is had to miss with it's huge hot pink front entrance! They stock everything you need for handicrafts, such as acrylic, watercolour and oil paints and accessories, drawing tools, visual diaries, canvases, pads, graphic design tools, printmaking supplies, folios and presentation materials, reference books, papercraft tools and supplies, kids' art items as well as paper. I have used Eckerslys many times especially as a paper merchant, they have lots of different products to choose from and the staff are very helpful and understanding of stressed out uni students trying to meet deadlines. With stores both in Melbourne CBD as well as Prahran, Eckerslys often host events and workshops where you can go and learn things like sculpture art, picture framing and drawing etc. Keep an eye out on their website for class/workshop timetables and contact info.

Now and then I daydream about hosting parties purely so that I can make beautiful paper invitations…read morefor it. Without doubt, I definitely have a thing for stationery. You know - paper, pens, little note books, unusual envelopes... I'm sure there's more concerning things to be obsessed with but I really really REALLY like stationery. I come to Paperpoint when I actually need an invitation to send or a special birthday card. And okay, I admit it, sometimes I just come to smell the paper and walk up and down the aisles of coloured envelopes. I'm allowed to have a happy place, okay?

This is the kind of place an enthusiastic amateur could drop a whole load of cash in. Situated in…read morethe centre of Melbourne's design community (more or less), it's all about the paper Seriously. There's probably around a hundred different types of paper, and they have the brand name and GSM (grains per square metre, I assume) for every single one of them. Good range of wrapping paper, too, along with a few diaries and the like.

Chicreative is a store that is clearly geared towards arts and crafts types, or those that get…read moreengaged and suddenly become arts and crafts types for the duration of time that it takes to organise their wedding invitations. Personally, I fit into neither of these categories (I had my invitations printed like business cards) but there's still something very alluring about a store that is filled to the brim with very pretty paper. Stocking all sorts of things you need to create invitations, cards and probably scrapbooks too, it's a great place to go if you're on this side of town and in the need for such items. I'm not convinced the prices or selection are so amazing that it's worth going specifically out of your way for (unless they happen to have just the koi print you wanted or whatever) but certainly worth a look if you're so inclined.

Lovely invitations spoilt by the colour being effected by the card they were printed on. We were…read moretold the card colour would not be a problem when it was selected, however we were pressured to pay for the reprint needed.

Bold. Fun. Finnish. Finally, all in one place, on Chapel Street…read more If you're like me, you've trolled your favorite homeware stores for disparate nuggets of Marimekko glory in the past. Now, the textiles, fashions and mugs of your fancy are neatly bundled in one convenient shop - live and very much in color. A tower of Marimekko's signature printed fabrics greet you at the entrance, extending to the right wall. On the left, wildly patterned shift dresses and aprons will catch your eye, followed by (my favorite) mugs, plates and kitchen accessories, and pint-sized threads for the fashionable tot in your life. If you're looking for a gift or statement piece for your own wardrobe/home, and color is your thing, you're sure to find something here. I love giving gifts that are beautiful/quirky but also practical long lasting, and it's an added advantage that Marimekko's products are all of those things without being hugely destructive to the environment.

Quintessentially quirky, fun and the real Finnish thing. Having worked and lived in Finland, I…read morealways adored Marimekko, and it's fantastic to see the design carried on through generations to ever more offerings of this iconic Finnish brand. Marimekko's original products were textiles, and this store pays ample homage to clothing, home linens, and fabrics. The prints are striking and strong, with large, vibrantly coloured patterns. The fabrics themselves are top quality, with fabulous soft sateen cottons alongside linens and fine wools. Fashion here is a mix of the new while occasionally reinventing a design from the old, and they do it very well. There's also a good range of porcelain and glass homewares, including a wide array of gifts. All I can say is "loistava" -- fabulous!

Mimco's designs are wonderfully easy to wear and therefore have wide appeal and a dedicated…read morefollowing. With a full range of accessories - bags, shoes, jewellery, sunglasses, hats, hair accessories, wallets, soft accessories, and watches - it's difficult to browse in Mimco and not come out with something. If you're after a gift for a lady who knows her brands and likes fine, pretty things, this is the place to find the perfect gift. The staff here are friendly and helpful and will take the time to make sure you find just the accessory to suit your needs. The store is also beautifully merchandised so that it does feel a bit like a treasure trove of modern accessories for every woman.

This store stocks high quality glass and crystal based decorative pieces for the home or…read moreelsewhere.With high quality designer pieces imported from Sweden and other European countries, the level of worknmanship and originality in each piece on show and available for purchase is of a premium quality and would certainly be a stand out piece in any home. Theres no denying almost everything in store is beautifl.However, there are two reasons I only window shop here. The first is that nothing in the store seems to actually have any function. These are things you purchase to match colours with a room and to encourage compliments on your decor skills. They seem to be the kind of items that are most useful in making sure your duster is working well. The other thing is that everything is super expensive. I spotted a pair of candelabras for almost $300 last week. 2 individual, plain candelabras. I wouldnt even spend $300 for the candelabra from Beauty and the Beast to come and hang out in my home.

This small, boutique, clothing store is filled with stylish gems from innovative, independent…read moredesigners, carefully sourced by people who really know what they're doing. The focus here is on the practical, contemporary, comfortable and classic. One can easily spend a whole lot of money here, but remember that what you'll get in return are high quality garments that will endure the seasons and go beyond fashion's fickle nature. In store you'll also find a small but perfectly selected range of accessories, books, art and homewares. This is the place to find just the right gift for that special but difficult-to-impress girl in your life. Since opening in 2005, Monk House has branched out with an online store making it easy to shop here from wherever you are.

Monk House Design is a shop that knows its audience. A clean, sparse shop fringed with its' main…read moreclothing output along the side, the shop has that muted, high-end feel down pat. There's also a cabinet holding an art display and the odd accessory the centre of the shop which changes with the seasons. At the moment the emphasis appears to be a hybrid of an apothecary and a small and easily manageable wilderness. The clothes are largely well made fashion basics with the addition of some small design twist, along with the occasional brightly coloured summer dress. Everything is on the tailored side and despite the numbers written on the tags, no woman over a small size twelve really need apply here. While the staff are polite and greet me when I walk into the store, I can sense that they have already written me off. Fair enough, considering I'm not really their target audience in either size or style, and they at least have the grace to do so with subtlety. But for women that do fit into their clothes and are willing to spend money on their wardrobe, particularly those who enjoy subdued colouring, this shop will be a fashion fantasy come true.

A lovely little shop for eager beaders who want to make something a little bit different and…read morespecial. Angela has a delicious range of beads (and other supplies) to help you create a bejewelled masterpiece. She has it all covered - including precious stones, unique plastics, pearls and vintage clasps that you'll find nowhere else in Melbourne. Take inspiration from the amazing creations around the shop and get expert tips while making your selection. Classes are available if you want to learn or improve, which are incredibly fun, motivating and inspiring (and have been known to include a yummy lunch with tea or coffee). Also a good place to take your broken beads for a fix up. Reasonably priced. Make sure you set aside some time before you come in - you'll come in with an idea and change it about 50 times after you see all the options and possibilities....