I've done my fair share of antique and vintage stalking, but Eilisha's Shoppe has never cropped up…read moreon my radar. I only happened to fall across it parking along James Street one day, and I'm very glad I did. Yes, all the other antique centres I've fallen across/stalked down have been wondrous and oh so gorgeous and otherworldly, but Eilisha's place is a little different. The antiques here seem more accessible and within your grasp somehow, while still carrying with them that intrigue and curiosity that comes with looking at wares meant for another time. Eilisha's has the traditional tea sets and intricately fashioned jewellery you associate with antique centres, but she also has some things I haven't seen such as postcards that I know my mother would absolutely die for, which makes it seem like the history here isn't so far beyond my reach. Eilisha's has furniture and bric-a-brac, jewellery and mirrors, toys and gifts; it's a really lovely little place that is both suited to and incongruent with affluent James Street simultaneously. But this is a place you simply must visit if you love your vintage and antiques. She's been there for 36 years with no indication of quitting it yet. You can call and email her on 0423 830 515 and lizann@optusnet.com.au respectively.

Strolling into Eilisha's Shoppe is like walking into a room where my Grandmother has laid out the…read moreentire contents of her pantry. It is a minefield of old china tea cups and dining sets. It certainly has a charming feel to it, but tuck all flailing limbs and shopping bags away because there is potential for serious breakage action in this cramped space. Considering it's deemed to be an antique store, there's not a great deal of furniture inside Eilisha's Shoppe. There are some unrestored pieces out the back but what's on display is predominately jewellery, dining wares and random bits and pieces like old war medals (creepy porcelain dolls included). It's the bric-a-brac and the higgelty-piggelty feel to the shop that makes it a quaint and cute place to wander through. Shopping for vintage or antique pieces is always a fun expedition. Eilisha's is certainly not the most amazing of second-hand stores in Brisbane, but if there's some sort of adorable vintage piece you are looking for, it's well worth a browse.

If you're looking for fabric, lace, trim, sewing notions, curtains, haberdashery this is THE hidden…read morejem in the further-est recesses of the oldest part of the Cannon Hill shopping center. If you're a sewer and crafter this is a must visit if you can find it!!!

my best memories of lush were being in the queen street mall to see bands etc and the smell of lush…read morelingering in the air everywhere. I found the products ok I bought a hair shampoo bar once and a sunscreen in a bar as I get a lot of allergies to sunscreens for some reason since a child and need a zinc based one so I have to be careful what I buy.

Hannah helped me pick out some shower scents that fit my needs to a T!! Even gave me a few samples…read moreto try. What a star!!

This store is fantastic, the sales are really good value!!! Staff welcomed us when we entered the…read morestore and weren't pesky and left us girls to shop and have fun. Plenty of clothing to choose from and the store was kept in an organised way allowing for fuss free shopping!

Twice upon a time gives second hand and antique wares a…read moresecond spin of the old hourglass. Located on the main antique drag on Logan road, this is one of my favourite stores to visit. Filled to the brim with english and australian furniture, barometers, silver, porcelains and various other bric-a-brac you can spend a happy afternoon perusing the range on offer. (Be sure to also check out the beautiful grandfather clocks!) With such a good central location and reasonably friendly staff (It depends on what side of the bed they woke up on) this place is well worth a pop-in.

Twice Upon A Time, what a magical sentiment. It makes me think of unrealistic but inspirational…read moreDisney moments where everyone gets a second chance and dreams really can come true for a 16-year-old rebellious mermaid or an aristocratic-turned-servant-turned-princess who has issues with midnight. But that's what Twice Upon A Time is all about; it's about giving antiques and furniture and old wares a second life, which is the very reason I love antique shops so much. Twice Upon A Time has some truly lovely English and Australian furniture pieces. Thinking about adding this type of furniture to my house always gives me such a light in my eyes, because can you really imagine having so much rich history just sitting in your living room? I want to furnish my whole house with antique and pre-loved furniture in the future, and Twice Upon A Time will definitely be one of my first stops. There's chairs, tables, silver, trinkets, jewellery boxes, drawers, coffee tables, and an ornate cabinet that I found out was named a credenza, and a Victorian credenza at that. How can you not gravitate to a shop like this with that much silvery whimsy? I let my imagination run wild in a place like this. The furniture is beautiful, visit!

Not a bad little store, Du Monde is located in Paddington's "antique district". Sandwiched in…read morebetween two antique shops, I admit I prefer the antique shops. I also prefer the nearby Green Tangerine if I'm in the market for homewares. My main stickler is the price at Du Monde. In most cases, it seems a little exorbitant for the goods, which include furniture, gifts, home ware, fashion and uncommon luxuries. You can get the same "uncommon luxuries" at other stores for a cheaper price, even in the expensive Paddington (The Trading Circle is a better alternative). In terms of fashion, I also prefer Green Tangerine. The homewares at Green Tangerine are still expensive, but slightly less so and the merchandise is still fairly unique. Du Monde's strength is in its unique furniture offering. As Oliver H. pointed out, the goods are primarily French in origin. So if you're not exactly short on cash, or you need something expensive and foreign as a gift for a wealthier friend (e.g. your boss), you can probably find it here. There are large kerosene old-school lamps, well-made wooden chairs in bright colours, throw pillows (at $135 a pop) and an array of chairs, both wooden and wicker. There's quite a few wicker goods here, actually. There was an oversized wicker-inspired wreath we saw, which reminded me of an oversized crown of thorns. Ideal for someone with a Jesus/God complex?

Du Monde is French for "of the world", which is fitting considering the number of air miles the…read moreowner, interior designer Daryl War, puts on in the pursuit of the best home-wares on offer. As the name suggests, the products are mainly French in origin, with a lot of the buying being done at Frances 'bricolage' markets. The layout of the store is divine, wonderfully showcasing the provincial home wares, iron furniture, textiles, soaps, candles and other delights. They also sell some clothes, though I suspect these are from local Australian designers. I recently acquired a very finely made rectangular wicker tray here as a Christmas present for my mother. At over $100 it wasn't the cheapest around but it was exactly what Mum wanted and the quality spoke for itself. If you're looking for a gift that will impress the aesthete in your family check out this exemplary home-wares boutique.

I've been lucky enough to inherit an old vacuum cleaner, but recently was cursing the thing as I…read morecouldn't find a vacuum cleaner bag to fit it anywhere. I tried a number of different Retrovision stores, all of whom were bewildered with the model and serial number I was providing for my vacuum cleaner. Finally, someone suggested I try Godfreys Indooroopilly and hallelujah, without batting an eyelid, the store attendant pulled out a pack of bags to fit my machine. I can't remember exactly how much they cost--around $12.50 for 5, I think--but I remember thinking the price was extremely reasonable. I highly recommend Godfreys to anyone looking for ANYTHING to do with a vacuum cleaner!

My (now husband) is a very clever man for all sorts of reasons, but the one that's pertinent here…read moreis the fact that he found a 2.5 ct green sapphire when he was a boy. Yes, just found (sure he was on a gem field, but I'm still impressed). I was even more impressed when he pulled it out and proposed to me after over a decade (odd side note, I've heard every one of his stories 8 million times but never that one, awww so romantic). Next step was of course getting the ring made. Being a modern, independent, pretty outspoken kind of gal I was glad he knew me well enough to know I'd like to have a say in the design (read, the whole design). As I have loved this man for over a third of my life I knew it was a safe bet I'd be wearing this ring for the rest of my life, so finding the right person to trust with the job was a BIG ask. Oh, and it had to be within budget. A friend recommended this family business, and I was enchanted as soon as I walked in the door. They specialise in old clocks and estate jewellery (Jolt's dad used to own the old Clock Hospital at Festival Hall) and the service is as personalised as you can get. Jolt discussed what we wanted and our budget, did a mock up in blutack with my stone and the diamonds I wanted around it and then did some lovely coloured drawings of the proposed finished product for us to take home. We made some wee changes to the design, and then he got it made for us (entirely by hand) in under 2 weeks. Thanks to his craftmanship I now have an incredible engagement ring that will be a family heirloom, and I also have a family jeweller for life as I can't imagine going anywhere else. Oh, and he has this really great marquisite brooch for under $100 I think I need to own...