I know I'm going to sound like a girl when I say this, but...I love pretty little, shiny things!…read moreThat's why I can never stroll past Abode without a cheeky browse at whatever they have in there. It's hard to define what this store is about, it has home-wares but it also has plenty of awesome novelty gifts. I'll admit I am guilty of walking in there, buying a present for a friend and then falling so in love with it that I keep it. I'm a horrible person, I know, but you try it! You'll go bonkers for all the gorgeous, funny and random things in there. Whether you feel like adding something quirky to your home, buying a card for a loved one or getting a present for someone, you'll find it in Abode. Just make sure to give yourself at least half an hour in there, I guarantee you'll keep getting side tracked.

Abode is the home of pretty things! This is the sort of shop you could browse in for hours trying…read moreto decide on the right card or gift for someone. The wooden floors, non in-your-face staff and quirky Things make this a really welcoming place to hang out in. Much like a place called Abode should be really. I don't see the point of greetings cards that aren't tailored to the person being greeted, and Adobe has a great selection of fun/arty/beautiful cards on top of the wide array of unique gifts for another person (or yourself of course). If you're looking for the likes of a unicorn lamp to a Dali-esque "melting clock" or just have no idea what to get your funky friend for their birthday, Adobe is a damn good place to start.

This independently owned gift store is worth a look for buying gift for him or her. I was intrigued…read moreby the tasteful battery powered, flameless candles made from real wax (set of three for $70). They have quite a bit of jewellery, a lot of which were pieces I'd not seen before. So many boutique gift shops stock the same ranges - I guess because they sell. But it's nice to come across a store that takes the risk of stocking something unique - it makes me go back for original gifts. There are also eco shopping bags, hand made woven bags, scarves, beautiful kaftans, bright kitchen wares, vases, journals and retro cards. For him there are funky cuff links and a pretend pencil size match to select phone or IPad applications. Friendly staff.

Rapture Living is one of those stores you shouldn't visit if you're feeling weak-willed. The…read moregorgeous array of accessories, homewares and keepsakes are just too tempting for words. Just this week I ventured in - fortunately with a mind to buy a birthday gift - and within 30 seconds I had found the perfect present. Of course I then spent the next 10 minutes wandering around trying to justifying buying the rest of the store for myself! Luckily the lovely lady in the store offered to giftwrap my pressie, which provided enough of a distraction to keep me away from buying up all the jewellery!

Messy and cluttered, bitsy and busy. This was my experience of Home & Giving and I've got to say I…read morewouldn't want my home filled with this shops energy... that is, if I was in to Feng Shui. There are all sorts of house wares and gifty things so if you're stuck for a home warming present you could try this place. There's a lot of stuff in here - from plates, cups and decorative bowls, wooden cookware, picture frames, pillows, candle holders, paintings, baby gifts, lamps, Christmas decorations, clocks, bags and cards. It wasn't as cheap as a two dollar shop - in quality or price but because it is so cluttered it has the feeling of one. I'd go here for a wooden pepper grinder though - I've never seen a proper wooden one so cheap at $25. I guess there are some gems here after all.

Enjoy visiting this shop. Absolutely love everything inside. Not the best in terms of customer…read moreservice asking if you need help but there not rude. But I love love love the shop.

Ah, how I love ModCons! Mostly because they sell these really cute little novelty bears... you get…read moreHannibal Lecter bears, Edward Scissorhands bears, and sometimes you even get really dirty bears, doing really dirty things! But it's adorable all the same, and I even have a friend who collects them. I also love Mod Cons because they sell really cool badges, and it was my go-to shop back when I used to cover my satchels in provocative/offensive badges. Apart from the cute bears, you can get all kinds of Harry Potter and Twilight merchandise (if you're into that), like bracelets, and rings, and necklaces and posters. There's also plenty of novelty items, like these adorable little voodoo-doll keychains, they're the best! They're also about $14, which I admit, sounds like a lot for a keychain, but you would understand if you saw them, they're the cutest things ever.The merchandise here is fairly reasonably priced, and there's always something new on the shelves. They even have some naughty board games! ;)

It's hard to escape this establishment without caning the credit card, or growing a wishlist as…read morelong as your arm. An array of leather goods that would make any tannery proud spoils ladies for choice. In fact, if you're after a handbag or wallet, this place has it covered. They've got every style and colour under the rainbow and they must come from some seriously special cows because this leather is as soft as it gets. If you're in a hurry to find a gift, get here. This is also jewellery central. Not to mention, one of those places you can just spend forever in perusing nik naks like picture frames, homewares, cushions and general décor bits and bobs... but prepare to be faced with an agonizing purchase decision... unless there's enough room on your creddy card to get one in every colour. Better yet, bring your sugar daddy and get every style in every colour. One for each outfit. ... a girl can dream can't she?

Waiting for my take away coffee at the cafe outside I was attracted to this up market gift shop by…read morethe Rob Ryan plate displayed in the window. I hadn't seen a Rob Ryan artwork since I lived in London and use to go into his Columbia Road store to give my eyes a love soak with his delightful paper cutting masterpieces. On seeing this I knew there would have to be a treasure trove of quality gifts inside. And there was. There is quite a large range of contemporary styled homewares including glass vases, silver fruit bowls, simple wall clocks, silver candle stick holders and pink leather diary organises. But there's also some original quirky designs like the Alessi 'Chip' Paperclip Holder ($129.95 mind), aluminium red water full circle globe ($315), stainless steel Penguin books water bottle with On the Road, Jack Kerouac design ($25.95) and a glass bird feeder sphere ($90). Definitely worth a look if your wanting an original and interesting gift. Complimentary gift wrapping available.

Design. I love it. There are so many ingenious designers all over the world. Wooden Rosendahl…read moretoys from Denmark, Alessi home items from Italy, Tivoli Radios and a number of items from Australian designers such as Apple & Bee, Glasshouse Candles and Oobi Baby. Bristol & Brooks carries a number of home ware and gift items from all over the world. One of my favorite things I've found there was some limited edition Tin Tin ceramics and authorized merchandise. It's a well stocked shop and they have some really nice gift ideas (corporate, wedding, baby, birthday or other important event) or if you want to buy something nice for yourself or your home. The Chiefly Square store is bigger than the one in the QVB and carries more stock, but I've found a couple of different items in the QVB location (like the Tin Tin pieces).

You can scarcely imagine my excitement when I discovered this shop. Primarily because there exists…read morea Cottage Emporium in India, which sells the finest Indian arts and crafts, at admittedly steep prices. I was very interested to see how this apparently Australian branch would compare! It was beautiful. The crafts were beautiful, the ambience was beautiful, the incense was heady (in a good way), and I saw a lot of the same type of crafts that you get in India. It seemed authentic enough.. until I caught a glimpse of a price tag. $500 for a small bowl? ...Really? Now, I might just be a poor student, but... who the christ would pay $500 for a BOWL? What would they keep in such a bowl, emeralds? I mean.. if you HAVE emeralds, and no place to keep them.. please buy this bowl. I guess I should have expected ridiculous pricing when I noticed the saleswoman's snooty, condescending demeanour, and choice of outfit (a pantsuit and high heels... seriously), but heavens. Waste of time unless you're loaded, I'd say. And even then, surely you have better things to spend your money on than insipid bowls which derive their value simply by being from India. Heck, just go to India instead!

First of all, the nag champa is not too overpowering. This is a very good thing. Here you can gaze…read moreat Jaipur necklaces, enormous silver chains and Bollywood earrings. If you're in the market for a painting of Shah Jahan, a Tibetan singing bowl or an inexplicable mermaid coffee table, this is your place. 'Indian Cottage Emporium - for all your Tibetan deity needs.' Has a ring to it, don't you think? The lady staffing it suggested I 'enjoy wandering' and as everything is clearly displayed with prices visible, I didn't need to bother her in order to assuage my morbid curiosity about how much a turquoise cuff the size of a limb costs. I remember this store from when it used to be down King Street a bit, and it's certainly travelled up the food chain since then. Amazing jewellery, as well as lampshades, beadspreads, scarves, even furniture. Not quite a trip to the Himalayas, but I can dream.

If you're looking for an extraordinary and unique gift for a friend or family member, Eighteen Ten…read moreis the shop you want to visit. Eighteen Ten is a shop that sells a wide variety of products from imported homewares to luxury personal gifts to even luggage. Their products are imported from the US and Europe. Some of the brands in the shop include Alessi, Toywatch, Eva Solo, Lexon, J Fold, Voluspa, and Bambu. Aside from the unique offerings, they have personalised service and complimentary gift wrapping. This is the perfect store to buy a gift for someone who has everything. Highly recommended!