Now this little tearoom only opened today. I was one of the privileged few to have stepped through…read morethe doors of this amazingly quirky and colourful venue. The theme is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Not surprising really, considering the owner/proprietor also has a gift shop called Mad As A Hatter directly opposite! The tearoom, aptly named The Tea Party! (what else!?) is very child friendly, with high and low chairs, with pushchair & wheelchair access, two toilets (one of which is also the nappy changing room) a selection of reproduction, upcycled, ornate seats and chairs to choose from, it provided a cornucopia of dizzying delights to bombard the eye with an original look to an otherwise oft neglected part of Bearwood. As a stand out, it really provides a change from the generic high street cafes and as an independent cafe/tearoom. It's going to offer a "library" where patrons can simply read or work on their tablets/laptops or other electronic devices, a "gallery" for local artists and photographers to display and sell their work, craft workshops and rooms to hire to either demonstrate/teach "crafty" things or simply have a small party! The whole concept or venue really offers good value for money and can easily become the creative community hub of Bearwood. Watch this space! It's open 9.30am until 5pm.

If the Alice in Wonderland inspired Tea Party was in Los Angeles it would have a cult following and…read morelines around the block. As it is, in Bearwood, would you believe, it is a fine place to while away an hour with a friend over a pot of tea or coffee. A lot of imagination has gone into making this a fun and relaxing place to be - from the pretty tea pots leading to the entrance, to the delightfully mismatched furniture, hand painted cups and cuckoo clocks! When I was there, the coffee was really kinda lovely and Santa was in there too, taking a tea break!

Ooops! is a new artisan gallery & Gift shop opened on Sandon Road by business woman Jacqui Chana…read more When you step through the front door, the cool, crisp white decor provides a contemporary look with splashes of colour. The walls are adorned with tattoo-inspired stained glass panels, the handcrafted cards are quirky alternatives to the more "acceptable" ones found on the High Street and the gifts range from small bespoke pieces to large upcycled items. It doesn't just stop there. Downstairs is the gift shop but upstairs is a small area which offers an excellent, intimate space for independent artists/photographers and the ilk to stage their own exhibitions. Beyond what is the "artist's gallery", there are two rooms which will have the capacity to provide workshops, a meeting space and hold small events. This is a great little gift shop, which is sure to inspire and attract not only the "creative types" but also the discerning customer and supporters of independent stores. Ooops! is a welcome addition to Bearwood.

Smithsonia is an exceptional jewellers and gift shop based in Birmingham's Piccadilly Arcade. They…read moresell many things from gorgeous silver jewellery to Japanese Kokeshi Dolls and amazing sculpted pieces in ceramics and glass. There is something for most budgets in this shop and it's a great place to browse. I bought some cute button earrings for just £10 but there are plenty more extravagant gifts, believe me! You could spend forever just gazing in their windows as you walk past; there is so much to see - it must take them forever to clean! They do beautiful and unique silver rings by up and coming jewellery designers as well as pieces by established brands such as Pilgrim. Every time I walk by I can find at least 15 or so items in their window that I want to buy; I'm sure everyone else can too which is why they are so successful. Smithsonia are the longest running business in Piccadilly Arcade, they've been there for around 30 years. If you are looking for a gift then definitely check them out first and impress your loved one with something a little different.

A wonderful independent gift, card and jewellery shop. If you are looking for a birthday or…read moregreeting card that is a little different to what you might find in one of the chains this is a good place to start. Their collection is not huge but you will definitely find something a little different. They also stock fabulous gift wraps and papers. To entice you into the shop the window displays are made up of some beautiful and unique silver jewellery. Again, here you will find pieces you can't find anywhere else. If you are looking for special pieces of silver jewellery at fairly reasonable prices start with this shop. Inside the staff are welcoming and very helpful.

Nicely laid out, good range of stock, clothes, gifty bits and the like that are fairly quirky for a…read morehigh street store- kind of as if paperchase did clothes. The staff here are particularly helpful- lovely guys. When I had trouble with a online order and the customer service lines were all dead or unanswered- I rang the birmingham store as I'd been in there before. Although stores are all separate from the online- hoops were jumped through to try and be helpful.

This shop definitely had the wow factor for me. Back when I lived in Sheffield there was a gift…read moreshop my friend and I used to obsess over and for 3 years our family got all birthday and Christmas presents from this shop. Maddison immediately reminded me of this Sheffield gift shop and I was so happy to find a Brum counterpart! They have those good-enough-to-eat Yankee candles when you first walk in and as you go round there are just more and more wonderful gift ideas. I loved the cake stands and the cardboard versions that come as a flat pack. They have an extensive section of cards for all different occasions. The tea sets were so cute, especially the kids Hungry Caterpillar collection. Prices are a little steep however it's the perfect place to buy something special for a family member or a beautiful frame for your favourite photograph.

Maddison Avenue is a card and gift shop just next door to the rather forlorn looking Clock Tower…read more(more on that later) that has recently relocated - I rather suspect they haven't quite got the shop layout sorted because whilst it stocks a nice enough range of cards and bags (mostly Radley) I have mixed feelings about the place. The combination of fragile looking vases and densely packed aisles means that I am constantly on edge - convinced I will break items or get told off by staff for messing up their display of scented candles. This is definitely the place to go if you need a smelly candle or a nice box of chocolates - up until very recently they stocked Thornton's but I'm not sure they still do - as I've hinted the layout is a bit confusing so they may well have been hidden behind a set of Monet table mats. Staff are pleasant even if they do seem to be on constant guard against shop-lifters. One of the better places to get a decent birthday card in Harborne though.

This shop should be called 'Bargain Card Shop' because it's the best shop for a fabulous bargain…read morewhen it comes to gift cards. Basically, you could walk in this store with 35p and manage to walk out with a birthday card or anniversary card, basically whatever type of card you're looking for. It's ace!! You are granted that you'll be able to find what you are looking for because they have such a large range. The lady who works in the store is lovely; she's so helpful! I've never received such brilliant customer service from someone in a gift store. I remember the day I walked in; I was in a huge panic because I'd forgotten to purchase a birthday card for a friend. So, as I was walking through the market, I decided to pop in and buy a card. Managed to walk out with a card which I bought for 50p....what an absolute bargain!!

This newly opened shop is the latest in a number of excellent independent businesses to set up in…read morethe famous Jewellery Quarter area of Birmingham and it compliments well the many already there. It's a gift shop with a difference, the difference being that profits are reinvested in the good works undertaken in the city by its parent social enterprise. So when you buy something here you also leave behind some added value that's reinvested in the community. I'm not sure whether everything sold is actually produced by other social enterprises, but I think that is the aspiration. The range of stock actually surprised me; there's everything from wrapping paper, scented candles and retro vases to gift boxes filled with all kinds of wonderful stuff, so it's an ideal stop off for Christmas gift hunting. When I popped in I right away found several items to add to my shopping list, including an item or two for those difficult to please folks we all struggle with. The shop itself isn't that easy to notice at present, but it's only been open a few days. If I didn't live within a minute or two I may have missed it, but I had seen the shop had been taken over, having been empty for quite a long time now, so my curiosity was pricked. I'd suggest an A-Board outside to help potential customers notice as they walk down the street. It's got a great old-style but rather discrete frontage that belies the size of the interior. OK, it's not huge but it's actually very nice and bright inside with lots of room for stock. Knowing how the building was before I'd say they've worked hard to bring it up to scratch! The staff are pleasant and attentive but don't hassle or linger. I felt quite comfortable browsing. While the shop had one or two people in while I was there, three staff did seem like overkill, but it's clearly great work experience for them and that's part of the social enterprise idea I guess. They'll probably need three as we approach Christmas! This end of Vyse Street was fairly dead when I first moved here but over the last few years has picked up nicely. This is a lovely and welcome addition, very well located close to the brilliant, rather fascinating JQ museum and a couple of excellent cafés, one a traditional egg and chips place, possible the best in the area, the second more a deli and tea shop (also really good). So you can have a walk down the street checking out the jewellery (remember to haggle!) and the famous museum, pop into Citizen Home for a few gifts and a browse, then finish off with some lunch or a decent cuppa! I wish the business well - a great idea that seeks to make the world a better place!

From the owner: We provide gifts and homewares with a bit of a twist! Many of our products are ethically sourced…read morefrom social enterprises and local businesses. We are always keen to add more locally produced products- pop in and say hi

Among the delights that Armadillo sell are gifts, cards, and Fair Trade Jewellery. Lots of their…read morestock is Fair Trade in fact. The best feature though is the arts and crafts materials that they have, at the back of the shop. A browse though them is sure to inspire the most uncreative amongst us to want to whip something up in a makeshift kitchen workshop. They sell a few Lomo cameras too and I've often been tempted to part with some money for one of these beauts. Originally designed in Russia to be used by spies to take pictures in low-light conditions, they produce prints with an atmospheric and unique character. Armadillo also have hundreds of designs of different beads. When I was in the shop a small girl was stood on a chair while she and her mum both made necklaces, while they both chatted away as the morning sun slipped round the corner and in through the shop window. Worth taking a peek in here past the shop display, as there is more in here than immediately meets the eye.

Based on the Poplar Road Armadillo is a gift and craft shop that is the sort of place I would have…read morehappily spent all my pocket money in as a small child. It certainly seems popular with girls of a certain age who are drawn to the vast selection of beads they sell here. For those of you not immediately drawn to bright and glittering things Armadillo also offers a range of arts and crafting items as well as giftware such as mugs, coasters, home ware and notebooks. I was rather touched on my last visit to hear the lady who runs the shop explain to a teenage lad who the 'fella in the beret' on the mouse mat was (Che Guevera of course...good old Kings Heath)

I entered Unit 7 Cards and Gifts hoping to be surprised. This didn't happen as I was greeted by a…read moresmall room packed with the most uninspired selection of cards and gifts imaginable. Independant shops and small chains are meant to stand out from the crowd! Why be a rubbish version of Clintons when you can be a cheaper version of Paperchase, maybe showcasing cards from some of Birmingham's many talented illustrators and stylish gifts to rival those on offer at the near by House of Fraser? Shops like this make me sad. They need to head down to Covent Garden for a real wake up call and realise they can make something amazing of themselves. *heads to bank to ask for loan to open rival gift shop*

Although the interior looks quite old fashioned, out dated, you can still find some nice gifts in…read morehere. Cards, gifts, photo frames, scarves, brollies, 'personalised' door plaques - designed by you, ornaments, mugs etc, they offer a bit of everything. I felt most of the items can be bought elsewhere, at a better price. Still nice to visit and browse at what they have. The service was ok and the shop is welcoming, but I don't think this one is for me.