Not as heavily trawled through as the paddington retro stores…read more(or the Salvo's on boundary) This little op-shop is a godsent for thrifty minded people like me. You find all sorts of odds and ends at the rickety and charming St Veronica's. I know I've bought a couple of clothing gem's here over the years (a prize powder blue party dress) as well as quirky gifts for friends. (Naked Garden gnomes anybody?) Employ those eagle eyes when hunting down that perfect dress as finding treasure here can get challenging (as the photos can attest.)

This is the kind of ramshackle, 'bomb hit it', order in chaos, treasure trove op-shop that is…read morereminiscent of the outlaw op-shops I used to rummage through growing up in the far reaches of the northern suburbs. I always walk out with armloads of clothes when I visit St Veronica's. If you can spend some time rifling through the racks, both men and women will be pleasantly surprised with the findings. They also have an enviable collection of manchester, vintage crockery, books and an abundance of cheap frames (of particular mention for any artists out there). If you're on the lookout for some random domestic need, go there for a gander. Last week I was in desperate need of a tagine, and I struck gold. It's just that kind of place- full of handy wears you never knew you needed until you laid your eyes upon it. It isn't the cheapest op-shop around, but for a West End op shop, it is the most reasonably priced. You'll probably also have a higher success rate for finding gems because of it's out of the way location.

Man, I love it when shopping is teamed with philanthropy. It makes me feel good about making…read moremyself feel good and that's a win win in my book. Chicks in Pink has a very cute range of clothes, accessories and homewares and some dead cute kids stuff. Most importantly, it's a charity all about helping women affected by breast cancer. Your purchase will help fund essential services for these brave ladies and their families, and as the store is predominantly staffed by these family members you'd have to have a heart of stone not to think this is a great initiative.

Chicks in Pink is a one great initiative. Labelled as the…read morethinking girls charity, it was pulled together by daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces, friends and supporters of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This charity aims to provide real and tangible support to the sufferers of this debilitating disease. Closely linked with the Mater hospital, these guys provide immediate services like specially fitted bras, counselling, support groups for mothers and even easing the burden of financial stress. (with simple measures like grocery or petrol vouchers.) Their small store in Woolloongabba is a perfect way to get behind the cause. From sweet teeshirts, hoodies and singlets to handbags, headscarves and socks Anything and everything is available for purchasing. With their close proximity to public transport and their location on the bustling Stanley st, This place is well worth checking out when in the Woolloongabba area.

Working from home seems all kind of glamourous when you're gated in a cubicle farm for 40+ hours a…read moreweek, but I guess everything always seems greener on the other side, right? So for office floaters, freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to get out of the house and put their office-frame of mind in gear, enter River City Labs. Part office space, part start up / innovation hub, part event space - this unassuming office just metres from the Fortitude Valley train station on Wickham Street is a cool surprise on Brisbanes technology and start-up map. They offer tenancies on various leases from month to month or longer term arrangements. Just imagine the collaborations that would take place with the mix of businesses already calling River City their working home!?! I had my first River City Labs experience recently attending a Content Strategy Meet Up and it won't be my last!

The Stitchery is a fashion based art run initiative based in Fortitude Valley. It was born from a…read moreband of QUT Creative Industries graduates wanting to get together to actively promote sustainable fashion. As part of their vision, they run community projects like the silk scarf painting workshop coordinated for women in Kelvin Grove's Afghan community, in effort to develop and empower diverse communities. As a fashion based collective, they explore how to create inclusive and sustainable communities through innovative fashion design, exhibition and curation. They have a whole bunch of really cool events happening on a regular basis- the current one being 'life drawing with clothes on', where women model kooky combinations of threads and have an audience draw them. It's beneficial to everyone- to the artist who gets to draw something different than naked bodies, to the amateur fashion student who is learning how to speedily sketch an idea, to the model who may be testing life modelling waters out in a less confronting manner than what is otherwise offered, to the clothes that get a fine coat hanger to display themselves on. This is how the Stitchery works. It is one of my favourite new artist run initiatives to come out of Brisbane. Check out their website regularly. There is an abundance of cool things to join up for here. How to make LED bikini's, upcycling workshops and more.