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.

I do not, by any stretch of the imagination fit the demographic of those who shop at Aussie…read moreDisposals. I had never been into one, that was until the other day when I was dragged there by my partner. The experience starts from the outside where you are met with clothes, bags and more that spill out onto the pavement. Head inside and you'll find indescribable amounts of outdoor wares. If I need outdoor gear I generally head to Kathmandu - it is less intimidating and has bright colourful gear for girls. It is a little pricey. Aussie Disposals seemed to be fairly reasonable across the board with tents, clothing and camping and hiking accessories being, well pretty cheap for a lack of a better word. I have to say that the sales assistants were really helpful, and weren't judgmental at all that I was standing around and asking them what certain items were and what they did (I obviously knew what a tent was).

Currently Closed!!!. I went past Monday July 17 2022 There was no roof it was covered in graffiti…read moreand boarded up. Was an Awesome place to shop when opened. The footscray Savers is still operating but prices are pretty high in Footscray the last time I shopped there.

Set aside at least three hours, and come unburdened by handbags, umbrellas, children, anything…read morethat's going to need your hands and/or attention. Don't even bring your wallet, just stick a $20 note in your pocket because that's probably all you'll need to buy the load of clothes and bric-a-brac you're inevitably going to find. This store is enormous and it's full of crap. I'm not being mean, I'm sure they'll tell you the same. The fact is, if you have the eyes and the patience to spot the diamond in the rough, and you don't mind trawling through racks and racks of rough stuff, you'll get your bling, and you'll proudly tell people that it only cost you a fiver...even less possibly, 20% less if you're a student and you buy it on a Sunday, or a senior and buy it on a Monday. Savers provides little red baskets on wheels for you to drag your loot around in until your arms and shoulders are shaking with exhaustion and excitement, and you know there's nothing left to do but to queue for ages (sometimes) for a change room to make sure that flowery, mid-80s, Sussans shirt goes with the long, Indian skirt you found in the Long Indian Skirts aisle. This goes with that, you know the jingle.

Idyllism is tucked away behind the main strip of shops in Olinda on Parsons Lane. It is a sweet…read morelittle shop that is full of jewellery, crystals, tarot cards, books, aromatherapy and essential oils and unique gift ideas. The layout is a little crammed but it is easy to see everything on display. There were some really interesting gift ideas in here with my favourite being a fairy cave candleholder. It was so beautiful. There were also some star sign book marks that were fun to read although I have seen these around before. There are tarot readings available seven days a week and a little room at the back of the shop is where these are held. They cost $50 for half an hour and there is a booking sheet on the door. Otherwise you can call the shop or drop in to make a booking. The staff member in the shop on the day I visited was especially friendly. She commented on my shoes, which were fluoro orange, and asked about my day and what other shops I had been to. The atmosphere in the shop was light and relaxed and it had a really nice scent. Idyllism is open from 10.30am to 5pm every day so make sure to pay it a visit.

C.Wong Tucked away…read morequietly from the main village shopping strip and nestled on a corner that overlooks the village green Idyllism is one of a select few shops that share this bucolic setting. The Dandenongs is the place to get away from it all and Idyllism in Olinda Village is the perfect place and setting to escape the ordinary and contemplate the esoteric - the mysteries and wonders of life. On a fine day, one can sometimes witness clairvoyant readings outdoors near the village green where the local birds frolic and feed. There is a good range of crystal selections that help fine tune positive energies as well as incense and smudging bundles to dissipate negative ones. The proprietor takes great effort to source and select rare and quality mineral and gem specimens. There are fine displays of stirling silver and crystal jewelry for everyone's tastes and beautifully made healing wands. There are a useful range of aromatherapy products, candles and objet d'art to help create that magical, contemplative atmosphere around one's environment. The staff are always delighted to help and are a font of knowledge and experience. The shop has a pleasant intimacy and a sunny and fresh outlook.

Irresistibly cute soft toys lure me in every time I need to buy a children's birthday or Christmas…read morepresent. A well known store amongst trendy mums and made infamous after a certain alleged shop lifting incident, this is the spot to hit up for gorgeous clothes for babies to 5-6 year olds. There is also an adorable shoe collection as well as designer swim wear. Toys are both educational and super cute. Gift wrapping is available and there is a small selection of cards. Parents, aunties, uncles, grandparents beware - you won't be able to leave here without making a purchase. Enter at own risk!

Sweet Meck is a chocolate and confectionary shop in Bayswater…read more A family business, these guys have been importing and selling wholesale sweets from around the world for years now. Quite like the shops you'll find on tourist trails in the hills nearby, this shop is great for trying new chocolates and candy, and picking up your favourite sweets that aren't stocked in bigger stores. Although they are priced higher than your average Mars Bar, these are specialty items that you cant pick up just anywhere. Personal favourites of mine are the Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, and the cans of Dr. Pepper, who used to be stocked everywhere, but somehow disappeared from the mainstream stores a few years back.

This store is a little hidden from the main road. Inside you will find a good range ad Australian,…read moreAmerica. And English candy. Pre wrapped bars of weighed bags. The prices are great and they also have a lot of party supplies aswell

The Amber Palace is a shop full of all things beautiful for the home. There are great vases and I…read morefound a lovely paperweight that would have suited my desk perfectly. I also found some really cute baby toys but they were quite expensive at $36 for a stuffed, albeit hand made, rabbit. It was pretty cute but as I don't have a baby and I would have no use for it, I kept looking. There were some cardigans made out of high quality fabric, which were quite nice. Again though they were a bit too expensive considering how plain they were. The store had a nice design and the staff member behind the counter was very helpful when answering my questions. This would be a good place to go to get some new accessories to impress some guests to your home. Or to buy your baby a designer rabbit toy. There are plenty more reasons to visit of course, but those seem like the most mainstream.

Tucked in the very corner of Hamilton Place, one wonders how it can have been going for so long? I…read moreguess op-shops stay, even if by sheer will alone. It's hard to spot this one, at the very end of a strip of shops that flew off the side of the square. And it's so tiny that everything has been crammed in. Best thing? The 30 cent book basket out the front. Thirty Cents. Everything is cheap, good place to go for an emergency jumper or raincoat or creative gift. Last time I was there I saw a really beautiful mobile for only a few dollars. Put some effort into looking and you might just be surprised!