This two levelled antique store is a world of all things outdated and old school. At times, it's…read moreeven historical and educational. The sheer size of their collections leaves one in awe. There are multiple cabinets devoted entirely to what I call 'man face mugs'. If it's ceramic, has a man's face moulded and painted into it, and it contains a liquid or solid- it's a 'man face mug'. Then there's the cabinet of rose pink glass wear. Be amazed at the cabinet full of egg holders and salt and pepper shakers, not to forget the cabinet of ceramic clown dolls, and try not to make a scene when you lay your eyes on the cabinet full of old, ornate pocket watches. There's a huge section of the store that houses military paraphrenalia. They have old war uniforms, badges, rifles, hats, navy gear, war propaganda posters- you name it, they've got it. There's your usual antique store wears: vases, tea sets, dry food canisters, books, clothes, and jewellery. They keep the furniture downstairs. What's neat about the furniture is that some of it has been organised into scenes. If you go downstairs and look to the first scene on the right, you'll find a dining setting that conjures up ideas of 'early colonial Australia'. The dining scene is set against a wall hanging of indigenous Australians walking through the desert. Again, 'early colonial Australia' pops up (actually, the last scene of The Proposition comes to mind, but banish that). It's up to you to decide whether it's tasteful or not. I can't afford anything in this store, not even a thimble, or spoon. It's an antique store, and so the prices are always jacked up, but this particular store's prices a bit over the top. A pair of no frills clip on earrings? $26- $40? No thanks. I will happily spend hours looking through your pretty things though. Thanks.

The unlimited possibilities that hit you when you walk into Southside Antiques is overwhelming. As…read morean avid fan of the Paddington Antiques Centre, I had a lot of high expectations walking into here. The thing I love about different antique centres is that they all stock the same types of things, but never ever stock the exact same things. That's the point right? They're antiques, sold for whatever reason from a previous owner with the possibility of delighting a new one. Well, Southside Antiques may be smaller than Paddington Antiques Centre, but it doesn't dull in comparison by any means. There's a beautiful ancient phone set just near the entrance that we aren't allowed to touch guys, just ask for assistance before you attempt to examine that one. There are antique tea sets that cost over a thousand dollars, vintage shoes and clothes, and the most beautiful and intricately crafted wooden chair I have ever seen in my life. There are even clogs for those of you who are Dutch! Everything is appropriately sorted into areas, and the kitchen looks like it's been lifted from a quintessential 50s advertisement with country-style drawers, old-school utensils, and nostalgic signage on the wall. Stumble along a little further and you'll find old movie posters, magazines, sewing patterns, and LPs, which I thought was just fantastic. You get so caught up in the glory of upstairs that you forget there's a whole untapped area of furniture downstairs with sets and singular pieces and clocks still ticking away marking time. There are some really beautiful Singer sewing machines and a fully fledged and restored washing mangle. Some of the items in this place fill you with wonder. So if you're scouting around for great antiques centres, make sure this one is a stop along your itinerary.

When you walk into Bayside Antiques, it is a little like you have wandered into your great…read moregrandmother's house, or back in time. It is incredibly charming and much bigger inside than it appears from the street. I really like that the shop is set out rather like a home rather than a shop. They have an assortment of random and well looked after collectables and regularly have new pieces on display. They have a range of furniture, jewelry, paintings, Australiana items, coins, stamps, crystal and much more. I have not yet bought anything but I would recommend a look because they have a lot of really interesting items that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. The staff are also really helpful and seem quite knowledgeable.

If only all charity shops were like this. This St Vinnies is housed in the historical Foresters…read moreHall (set up in the 1800s as a place for workers to gather in "union" style meetings) and as soon as you walk in across the squeaky floorboards, you can almost smell the history. Well, it's probably just old wood, but still. If you avoid charity shops because you come out feeling soiled and mentally anguished by the "jumble sale" interior, then fear not. This is laid out beautifully, everything is easy to navigate and well signposted - for example, if you want fancy dress or evening wear, then head upstairs. On a raised platform at the back of the shop are records and retro gear (they had an extensive range of seriously bogan 80s leather jackets in case that's your thang) and the main part of the shop is well-organised "normal" clothes. While I was there a woman was trying to offload some of her old shoes in the store, but the staffer wasn't having any of it as the soles were too worn, and in her opinion would be dangerous for anyone to buy and wear. Good call.

The Paddington St Vinnies is one of the best Vinnies I know, but you have to know when to go there…read morebefore all the good stuff is gone and like all thrift stores, you won't always find something you like. One thing I love about this Vinnies is how it is placed inside a large hall. This allows easy navigation, unlike some op shops where everything is just thrown in a room. There is also a "after six" section of the store situated up a set of stairs in a small room. I have found some great pieces in this room including a vintage gold dress which for only $12. I can imagine a garment like this would be far more expensive at a vintage store. There is also a $1 sale rack at the front which is mainly filled with junk but with a few treasures hiding on it. I once got a polka dotted shirt from that sale rack and get compliments every time I wear it. You will not always find something you like here though, I find that if you come earlier in the week, you will more likely find something you like, that is because all the hip kids get to the good stuff first, it is Paddington after all. If you are a fan of Thrift stores, there is not reason why you would not want to check this place out. It is spacious and filled with treasures as long as you don't mind hunting for them.

I've done my fair share of antique and vintage stalking, but Eilisha's Shoppe has never cropped up…read moreon my radar. I only happened to fall across it parking along James Street one day, and I'm very glad I did. Yes, all the other antique centres I've fallen across/stalked down have been wondrous and oh so gorgeous and otherworldly, but Eilisha's place is a little different. The antiques here seem more accessible and within your grasp somehow, while still carrying with them that intrigue and curiosity that comes with looking at wares meant for another time. Eilisha's has the traditional tea sets and intricately fashioned jewellery you associate with antique centres, but she also has some things I haven't seen such as postcards that I know my mother would absolutely die for, which makes it seem like the history here isn't so far beyond my reach. Eilisha's has furniture and bric-a-brac, jewellery and mirrors, toys and gifts; it's a really lovely little place that is both suited to and incongruent with affluent James Street simultaneously. But this is a place you simply must visit if you love your vintage and antiques. She's been there for 36 years with no indication of quitting it yet. You can call and email her on 0423 830 515 and lizann@optusnet.com.au respectively.

Strolling into Eilisha's Shoppe is like walking into a room where my Grandmother has laid out the…read moreentire contents of her pantry. It is a minefield of old china tea cups and dining sets. It certainly has a charming feel to it, but tuck all flailing limbs and shopping bags away because there is potential for serious breakage action in this cramped space. Considering it's deemed to be an antique store, there's not a great deal of furniture inside Eilisha's Shoppe. There are some unrestored pieces out the back but what's on display is predominately jewellery, dining wares and random bits and pieces like old war medals (creepy porcelain dolls included). It's the bric-a-brac and the higgelty-piggelty feel to the shop that makes it a quaint and cute place to wander through. Shopping for vintage or antique pieces is always a fun expedition. Eilisha's is certainly not the most amazing of second-hand stores in Brisbane, but if there's some sort of adorable vintage piece you are looking for, it's well worth a browse.

I have always found the customer service excellent every time I have entered the store. They have…read moretaken exceptional time and care in all.my home decor requirements sometimes spending an hour with me to bring together a look I am trying to create. I have gone here many times over the last 3 years and never have I not been extremely happy wither advice and products and will continue to go back and recommend to friends E Products well priced and love the quality and design and uniqueness of range of home decor and excellent value for money

Move over IKEA I have a new Scandinavian lover, and it goes…read moreby the name of The Modern. This place has got to be one of the sweetest furniture stores I have come across, It boasts pieces that are understated but beautiful in the simplicity of their design. What I love about their range is that it doesn't boast huge cumbersome pieces that are overly grandiose or OTT. Instead I feel the furniture is designed to be seamlessly transitioned into your living room..almost like its been there all along. Made out of solid Oak and Elm these pieces have been manufactured to meticulous european standards and have withstood my rigorous testing (This includes jumping up and down on the chairs and knocking importantly on wooden surfaces.) If you are moving into a new pad or feel the need to update those digs I highly recommend popping into Modern,

There's not a whole lot on offer at these markets, but they do add a nice vibe to the UQ Union…read morespace every wednesday and are good to take a wander through if you're on campus. Around the start of spring, a stall selling strawberries usually appears and I think this would have to be the highlight of these markets. They're always so tasty that you smell them as you walk past. Not only that, you can also buy a little pot of chocolate dipping sauce to go with them. There's also usually a stall selling fresh flowers which are reasonably priced, and some student body or another will often put on a sausage sizzle, providing a cheap lunch for the impoverished student!

A great family day out or day date! These little best kept secret markets in Campbell Place make…read moreWednesday THE day to tour UQ. At the time of writing the markets operate with a core group of stalls operating 8am - 5pm. They include; very inexpensive and good quality flowers, high quality boutique tea and accessories, Sunglasses, fair trade Nepalese goodies, (the best finger puppets ever!), a few good independent Australian design fashion stalls (mens and womens), a variety of handmade jewellery and crystals, a henna and eyebrow threading stall, fresh fruit, terrarium plants, succulents and ferns, and some electronics and device accessories. These are the best situated markets in Brisbane. They are one point of interest amongst many for a day out here. Choose from an extensive selection of food in the Food Court next door. Eat amongst beautiful water feature parkland and paved areas with plenty of shady and sunny seating. Wander the historical sandstone Great Court, have a swim at the pool, hire a tennis court for a hit, or visit the Art Museum and University department buildings that hide treasures of interest for the curious. University parking is $5 a day. Carry a water bottle- there are chilled filter water station throughout the grounds and plenty of good coffee choices.

I was really embarrassed and nervous to walk into an adult shop. But when i did the nerves were…read morequickly gone as i was greeted with a smile and a friendly face. I didnt know where to start to look as there were so many products. but with the help of the staff i found what was right for me. Thank you so much :)

The fact that the guy working in this place mistook me for a recent high school graduate, when in…read morereality I am closer to attending my ten year reunion, could have a lot to do with why I loved this store. But I don't think so. I really can't express how positive my experience here was. Everything about this shop is adorable; the design, the vintage clothes, the atmosphere and the locally made jewellery. This is no ordinary secondhand clothing store. Everything has been carefully chosen and only the best items make the cut, so the store is not cluttered, but tastefully arranged with perfect clothes to space ratio. Not only are the clothes here unique thanks to their preloved status, but they are all in excellent condition. While the clothes are lovely, it is not that alone which makes this store what it is. The design compliments the shop perfectly; giving customers the feeling they are exploring a charming boutique. Perhaps my favourite thing about this shop was the locally made jewellery. I love supporting local artists and buying pieces like this not only ensures you do so, but also guarantees that you won't end up looking exactly the same as every girl that shops at mass-produced jewellery stores. Finally, when I visited, not only was the sales assistant extremely friendly, kind and a poor judge of age (to my immense pleasure), he was also ironing. I found this an enchanting touch. How often do you see staff in a shop ironing? It added such a welcoming feel to the store, and also assured me the people here really care about and take pride in their work.

Willow & Fox work under the banner of 'Recycle, Reduce, Reuse'. Even from the outside it's…read moreendearing. They have handwritten protest articles written up on the door about stopping the palm oil industry. HANDWRITTEN! The owners are people who really do care about the state of our world. Their collection is humble, but immaculate. The threads they sell are all secondhand, in perfect condition, and I guess you would say that most of them come under the category of 'hippie clothes'. They've got all sorts of excellent bits and bobs around the place- there's some reused tetra pak bags there for sale, and some beautiful reused wine goblets. My favourite item was the lampshade made from natural fibres. This store is one of it's kind in the Cleveland area. It provides people with an avenue to have all the nice things they want without costing you or the environment too much.