I remember this store from when it was located in the Wintergarden, and then it just disappeared!…read moreBut recently while I was roaming around the Emporium in the Valley it popped up out of thin air. I was so glad to see that this shop had just relocated and hadn't closed for good, because I've purchased many a gift from Essensuals and it's always been perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for. I must say though, I much prefer the old store to the new one. I'm not sure if it has changed hands or they just decided to change it up a little bit, but it was a little disappointing. The new store seems to have stock piled up everywhere, like a teetering tower of doom that could crush the shopper below at any second. It also seems like they don't have as much stock as before, which is unfortunate because you could find things for both men and women in the old store, whereas the new one appears to be very female oriented. Despite the disappointment that Essensuals has changed quite a bit, it's still full of pretty things like crystal wine glasses, decorative trunks and vintage perfume bottles. It's worth a look if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Need to find a gift for that person who literally has everything? Or in desperate need of a mask…read morefor a masquerade party? Then Essensuals has got you covered. This place is piled high with unique gifts, home decorations and of course, ceramic masks (yes, never fear, those tacky plastic masks covered in sequins and feathers do not have a home here). There's a seemingly large emphasis on Parisian prints and artefacts as well as London-esque decorations and canvas prints depicting rainy days in New York City. So definitely a perfect gift idea for those jet-setters or dreamers who long after a city-change. So when you're next in Emporium, keep an eye out for a large, hollow dog - it stands guard outside the shop.

If you like your collector locomotives, your collector cars, this is the one stop shop for you…read more They stock the biggest range of trains, cars, kites, model airplanes that I have ever seen. Walking into this place is weird because you feel that you shouldn't touch anything because you don't want to break anything but every ounce of your child within is really doing everything it can to not want to touch and play with everything within sight and within reason. With locomotives here going for over $1000 this is the real deal, not for the faint hearted but for serious lifelong collectors who are establishing their collection for grandchildren. The trains are limited editions sometimes and will only increase in value over time (they tell me), so you better be serious when you buy them and maybe just keep them in the box. Not the kind of stuff you buy for kids that are young. But kids that are old enough to appreciate a good thing and take care of a good thing when they see it.

I went into Hobbyrama for the first time yesterday to buy some glue (long story). Wow. I never knew…read moreI had an inner ten year old boy but apparently I do because I had so much fun looking around in here. Maybe I should start building model cars. They have so many crazy things that I would never have even known existed. Their range of model cars, planes, boats, tanks, trains, and insert any other mode of transportation you can think of here is amazing. The store is huuuge and literally packed to the rafters. As well as the model vehicles they have doll house kits, and little doors, furniture, etc. to for people who build dollhouses. Just seeing the little doors and windows in their packages made me smile thinking of Grandfathers making dollhouses for their grand-daughters. But now I'm getting emotional over a hobby shop. Hobbyrama has puzzles, crafts, kites, and countless other things you could do to entertain yourself or hone your fine motor skills. I've never built a model in my life, but this shop is full of so many things that even a hobby n00b like myself would love to try my (very shaky) hand at. I needed to buy glue for small pieces of plywood, and the guy behind the counter helped me out and was very friendly. He didn't even mind that I had my fourteen year old terrier in tow (who was busy examining the extensive range of matchbox cars down at his eye level). Hobbyrama is worth a browse purely out of interest. You'll be surprised by the kinds of cool things people make. You might even end up tackling something yourself although if you're anything like me you'll no doubt end up with pieces of aeroplane glued to your hands, but it's all part of the fun, right?

This Paddington op-shop is, as its name suggests, full of second-hand designer clothes as well as…read morebric-a-brac, old vinyl records, books, and a huge collection of vintage clothes from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Upstairs is full of shoes, bags, jewellery, hats and men's, women's and kid's clothing from big and small designers. Downstairs is a veritable treasure trove of high-waisted 50's skirts, pleated dresses like the ones grandma wears, evening gowns from all decades, leather coats from James Dean's glory years and my favourite, a rack of enormous faux fur coats from a time when people were a little bit classier. The clothes in here might not be as funky as what you will find in a dedicated vintage store but the prices are much easier on the eyes and if you dig deep you can often find something a bit special.

Ah Endo's, the place where clothes go to be reincarnated. Endo's is kind of like a bit fancier, bit…read morefunkier Vinnie's where the clothes have been sorted to ensure that only things with the potential to be reborn are allowed through the doors. This is great for op-shoppers in a hurry who would rather skip trawling through pilled Kmart dresses that aren't quite vintage and more early 2000s. The convenience and funky factors do mean that the prices are a little higher than in your average secondhand charity store, but usually you'll find something in Endo's that makes that worth it. Especially since you can find it in half the time thanks to their excellent stock selection. Whether you're a novice op-shopper or just a lazy one like me, Endo's has done half the work for you and all you need to do is pick what you want and pay for it! And then when someone compliments you on your new dress or jacket and asks you where you got it, you can feel very suave and hip when you reply with a wave of your hand 'oh, this old thing? It's vintage'.

Having recently attended a huge sale at Green Grass, I can…read moreattest to the cuteness of this boutique. Bird head cookie canisters, cute babushka glasses (that stacked into each other!) cookbooks, coffee keep cups (that are handy for Park Bench Expresso next door) dreamy wooden bowls, perfumes, colourful and sweet leather bags, aroma Diffusers, T2 containers and oddles of cute children's paraphernalia. ...All this AND more are available at this winsome Oxford St Store. I'd dedicate some time to peruse the shelves as there is a lot of stock to process, but this scrutiny is well worth it when you walk out with that highly coveted item.

I don't think gift shops can get more cute and whimsical than Green Grass Home & Body. They have…read morebunting hanging in their store for goodness' sake. Bunting. This place is the definition of quaint. They sell a really lovely range of homewares and gifts that you can't pass over. The shop itself gives off an aura of freshness and sweetness, but I'm probably biased because I like bunting and tea, of which they had a lot sitting in a corner. There are cooking utensils and cards and a slew of books appropriate to sit in your home, whether you actually want to read them or you just want people to think you read them. I was particularly impressed with a book of miscellaneous facts about everything and nothing. Grab a coffee around the corner and pick an appropriate gift for a friend or for yourself in this delightful little shop.

Do you sketch? Do you paint?…read more Do you draw? Do you know someone who sketches, paints or draws for a hobby? You need to check out the range of sketchpads and sketchbooks here. They have books inspired by Matisse. Books inspired by Van Gogh, Picasso and the pages of the sketchpads won't run, they are pretty strong thick paper quality, fit for a professional. Plus, call me a freakazoid, but they smell good. I come here for my sketchbooks, even though they may cost a little more, they will give you personality (none of the plain black anymore) and they will inspire you to be more of the artist than you are already. Come here to be inspired after a trip around GOMA. Come here to get gifts for your kids, start them off with a drawing pad maybe and be a part of inspiring the next generation of artists. Love this place.

This bookshop slash gift store is pure class. With books on Matisse (the exhibition is currently on…read moreat GoMA), and children's T-shirts by Pip and Pop (who are the pair behind the amazing kiddies exhibition We Miss You Magic Land on at the moment), it's clear that if you like what you see in the gallery, you can also buy something else as a permanent reminder in the shop. But, as per usual, I spent most of my time admiring the jewellery - all handmade by a variety of designers (in-depth info about each person is on a card beside their display). Then there were the quirky bits'n'bobs too - my niece was entranced by the "Owl" pens - complete with eyes that light up and strange, squawking sound. And I loved the photo holders - which were essentially like teeny coathangers, made of paperclips. So if you've got friends or rellies who fancy themselves as a wee bit cultured then this should be your destination shop for birthday and Xmas gifts.

One of my most favourite stores in Brisbane, the Oxfam shop is a wonderful, ethical stop on your…read morenext shopping trip. The store is run by volunteers and all of the profits from sales within the store supports Oxfam's charity endeavours both locally and globally. In store you'll find a huge range of beautiful handcrafted items from across the globe, fair trade coffee and treats, a range of books including children's titles and cookbooks, beautiful home wares, toys, various apparel items, gift cards that support numerous causes (the 'Oxfam Unwrapped' range and tax deductible), jewellery, and Cd's. You will always find something unique and original here. The prices in store range from fairly cheap to moderately expensive, but it's well worth it.

I love, love the stuff Oxfam Shop carries, and I appreciate the fact that they do fair trade and…read moresome of the items are handmade. I was fortunate to be the recipient of a gift certificate to Oxfam, and after going in a couple times (and leaving empty handed), I finally picked out a "secret" jewerlly box (the secret is in how to unlock/lock it). It's a beautifully carved wooden box, with velvet lining the inside. The staff here has always been pleasant and I didn't feel any sort of urgency in this small shop.

As the name implies, ZiNG Pop Culture specialises in selling various pop culture related items. The…read morechain of stores is owned by EB Games, with the Indooroopilly store being just over a year old. I mainly visit the store to view their large range of Pop Vinyl Figures (they are a big thing right now, with hundreds of figures being available for various TV shows, movies, and games). In addition to Pop Vinyl Figures they also sell various plush toys, clothes and accessories, posters, board games, action figures, collectables, and other various geeky items. They are reasonably priced for the most part, though you might find that some items are available for less online. I quite like how the store has areas that are sorted by franchise (e.g. Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead etc). The store is located near Dymocks on Level 3 of the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Oh my, this is the most beautiful jewellery store I've ever seen. It probably helped a lot that my…read morevisit was at the beginning of December, so those trees laden with sparkling crystals in the window may have been in honour of Christmas and there's a fair chance the store doesn't look quite so enticing all year round. Still, it's location in a charming little building and the cosy room filled with cabinets combine to make a very alluring picture to innocent pedestrians. Their jewellery is absolutely gorgeous and they have a huge range. The service is also fantastic; when I called to verify the opening hours I was told that if I can't make it within their set hours, I should just call and they will stay a little later. It's a bit more pricey than your run of the mill Wallace Bishop type place, but it's obvious this is a high quality store and the extra zeros are worth it.