Holdsworth Bros Jewellers in Knox City shopping centre seriously annoys me. The whole shop is super…read morepretentious and la-di-dah with polished wood and gold trimmings on just about everything. The glass is so shiny you can even use it as a mirror - be prepared for an annoyed glance for staff members if you so much as breathe on the glass however. The staff (and the pristine cleanliness and obvious wealth) are what deters me from this shop. I have never actually set more than three footsteps down inside due to pure intimidation. The day I did take those few steps I was met with a staff member dolled up to the nines behind the counter. She slowly raised her head, looked me up and down just as slowly and then looked away. The only other person in the shop was a customer who was similarly dressed to the staff member and was being shown a variety of wedding bands by a male staff member. Immediately my jeans and a t-shirt felt out of place and I backtracked hastily out. It shouldn't matter whether or not you can afford the items in a shop, you should never be made to feel so uncomfortable by staff that you actually leave before looking at anything. I have never wanted to go back since. The prices are exorbitant and it is clear they are trying to attract wealthy or upper society customers. There is nothing bad about the shop itself, I just wouldn't recommend it to the average shopper.

I visited the store on a recent trip to Melbourne...the place was immaculate! The jewellery was…read morealso stunning and there was a great selection to choose from. I was on a meter but had a quick chat with Tim who was really friendly and definitely knew his trade inside out and answered all my questions. I'll be heading back for certain!

Great little market on busy St Kilda Road. There are lots of local crafts on offer, jewelry, bags,…read moreclothes, wooden boxes, everything you'd see at your local market but the food I find especially nice. Gourmet mac and cheese, churros, tacos and a few other food stalls made us linger a bit longer!

Ironically No Vacancy was vacant the last time I passed by at the QV Centre they must be preparing…read morefor their next exhibition; there is a different exhibition every fortnight. And it is in a very convenient location in the city and so it is easy to drop in and see what is on. I've been to many exhibitions at No Vacancy and I often drop in to chat with Tim Dawson and Andrew Chew because they are friendly fellows. They also manage studio spaces and the gallery has a life drawing class run by Louise Klerks. And they have a smaller gallery space at Federation Square that is called No Vacancy Project Space. Their exhibitions vary from group exhibitions by RMIT students to an exhibition by Ghostpatrol, a notable Melbourne street artist. They also have a stock collection of original work and prints from local artists and illustrators. It is not the ideal gallery space because of its low ceiling, odd shape and glass front along one side. But the art that they show is more important than the space and the large gallery floor space easily accommodates the hundreds of mostly young people who come to the exhibition openings.

No Vacancy grew. No longer simply a space within the shops of QV in Melbourne, the cats here got…read morethemselves a piece of the action in Federation Square. Squeezed in between a glass gallery and a restaurant, you can almost miss it, save for the light spewing out of it and the countless bodies moving and talking at an opening of sorts. The smaller space is suited to smaller shows, which makes perfect sense for the local artists they support. The art here could be considered a more 'street art' variety - stencils and spray work, or these artist branching into painting and trying something new. Hit and miss, but they look nice altogether and if you can't afford a painting there's usually a print version of it available up the back. Openings are usually Thursday or Friday nights.

Every suburb needs a knick-knack/gift store that isn't naff. For Port Melbourne, Mister White is…read moreit. This designer homewares store offers the usual suspects of small furniture items, mantelpiece adornments, scarves, bags, cushions, giftcards, saltwater sandals, happy socks. If you've seen one, you've seen them all, but that doesn't mean that Mister White is not worth the trip in - it means there's a good chance if you know the type of gift or item you're after, you know that you'll find it here. Nice layout, quality products and good range across price ranges makes Mister White a cut above the competition on Bay St.

Mister White has a really lovely range of gifts and homewares and I used to shop here whenever I…read morehad to find a unique birthday present. I purchased a homeware product for myself though and when I got it home it just wasn't right for the space. I had spoken with the assistant when I was purchasing and she had said that I could bring it back if it wasn't right. I returned the product the next day, expecting that I could get a refund. I was told however that they won't refund any products - only a store credit. Whilst the woman I spoke to when I purchased it did not specifically say I could have a refund, it definitely wasn't made clear that it would only be a store credit. The assistant I spoke to when I was trying to return the product was also quite rude during our entire interaction. Given they are a homewares store and that some of their products really need to be placed in situ to see if they are really right, their store policy seems quite unfair. In any case, if that is the store policy they wish to enforce then they could make it a lot clearer before purchase. A small sign near the register doesn't really suffice. For this reason I won't personally be shopping there again as it's a deal breaker for me. It is a real shame though as they have the potential to be great.

Cheap art supplies, with staff that can advise, arts classes that are affordable, and have I…read morementioned cheap art supplies. I went there looking to take up soft pastel art as a hobby. I'd discovered it recently as something that can be made to look pretty despite having no technical art talent whatsoever. The stock is mostly Mont Marte, which one can find in most $2 shops. I don't know whether it's a good quality product or not, but it works for me. And if you're not especially fussy/doing it for money, then what's the harm? Great for beginners, and great for people who want to paint a large canvas like a tardis for a costume.

I am gobsmacked!! I ordered 6 Holbein watercolour paints yesterday. I live in country Victoria and…read moreThey arrived next day beautifully packed, no problems. Great online art shop and I will certainly be buying my art supplies here again. Prices were not over the top either. Avril Widdess.

Walking into this place is like stepping back in time. Brought back lots of memories of spending…read moretime with my mum in haberdashery stores in the 80s! By the looks of things they have everything you need for any sewing project, plus lots of wool and other crafty goodies. And of course buttons! My only complaint is that all of the buttons are stored behind the counter so you cant get up close to inspect them all. But they have an amazing range and I spotted some beautiful over-sized wooden ones that I have to find an excuse to use! A nice alternative to the big, soul-less chain craft stores.

Wonderful place with great service and a lot of inspiring stuff - a must to visit for any "crafty"…read moreperson. With a bit of luck you might even meet the owner himself, who has been running the shop for at least 31 years (that's how long I've been a customer). May they stay in business for another 30 years !!

I can whole heartedly recommend Thomas & Co. to anyone looking for something a little more unique…read morethan is ordinarily found in homewares stores in Australia. Beyond the vast (and eclectic) range of goods, the service from all staff is exceptional. They are truly willing to go well beyond expectations to make absolutely certain you are happy with your purchase. Having purchased a custom made Salon couch from these folks (that ended up not fitting in the house - long story, but the store is looking after the issue perfectly), I can honestly not sing their praises highly enough. I've read a few reviews from unhappy customers and simply can't understand how their situations arose - you'd really have to try to have a negative experience here.

Thomas Gannan is one of those great shops that just seems to attract people. From its clever window…read moredisplays and quirky products, it certainly seems to have a lot going on. And this is very true. The busy store carries a wide range of homeware - from dazzling lighting, jazzy cushions, trendy table matter, witty décor pieces and functional kitchen ware. It also has a lovely range of children's toys, room accessories and gifts. But more importantly, Thomas Gannan carries a good mix of exclusive Jardan sofas and stunning Arthur G lounges. It also features a selection of environmentally sustainable Australian timber furniture, which can be custom made to suit your needs. I've bought quite a few presents from this store and have always been impressed by the service. It's not often that a sales person asks whether you would like a new piece but they do here!

The Little Shop of Miniatures on Olinda-Monbulk road is absolutely adorable. It is every little…read moregirls dream with magnificent dollhouses and ranges of furniture to decorate them with. It even had a section with dolls to live in the dollhouses - this place has everything! From dollhouses complete with staircases and rooftop gardens to bare walled houses that need painting and decorating by their new owner, the shop has an option for everyone. The dollhouses can be bought assembled or in a kit to be built at home. They cost around $400, which is not much when you see how much effort has gone into them. The tiny furniture was just divine. The range incorporated all sorts of styles to suit any décor. Chairs start at around $8 a piece and prices move upwards from there. Room kits are available for around $60, which give you all the pieces of furniture you need for a bathroom, bedroom, living room... My favourite item was a little ceramic cups and saucers set complete with a teapot. It was only $12 - a real bargain. The service in here was fabulous and the owner was quite happy to have a chat. She was still setting up the store when I went there and I was impressed that she made time for me when she was quite obviously very busy unpacking stock and putting it on display. I wish this store had been around when I was little and had a dollhouse. It was so remarkable to see such detailed little items and I am very jealous of the little girls who will get to enjoy this furniture in their playtime. Make sure you check it out.