The best thing about this place is the owner, Chloe. Sure the things she sells are amazing...where…read moreelse can you buy earrings with crayons on them or a hot dog necklace? But you can also while away the day talking to Chloe, who is interested in EVERYTHING. She handmakes all her items, and is happy to explain the process, she would always try her best to find something if you requested it, children love her, and you'll come away clutching your purchases thinking of martians and bubblegum. Everyone needs to go see Chloe, buy her things and enjoy a little slice of happy heaven in Leeds.

Chloe McGenn is my favourite Artist EVER. Based (amongst other outlets in Leeds) Chloe McGenn's…read moregorgeous merchandise can be found on the ground floor of Birds Yard. Chloe makes creatures out of old socks (clean ones!!) that are available for adoption. She adores buttons, cakes, monster type creatures and anything unusual. Chloe makes the most amazing Greeting Cards from Vintage Bits and Bobs. Quirky, Trendy, Unusual and Rare Jewellery pieces. Gosh the list is endless. Please do drop by to see Chloe's gorgeous treats at Birds Yard. Great for all types of occasions, wedding fun, Christmas, Birthdays, Party Bags, Sentimental/Thoughtful Gifts. Fads, Collectables, Stationery and more. Prices start from just £1.00. You may even find Chloe behind the counter tidying up the clutter. She is FAB

Always a memorable visit - selling something for everyone. I know I will find a decent gift here…read morefor myself or friends. Gifts are distinctive , outstanding and most of all reasonably priced. I always recommend this quirky shop to friends and family.

Cadeux is a unique gift shop that caters for both men and women. I can usually get quite excited…read moreabout gift shops, and Cadeux is not exception! Usually when I think of gift shops, I get the image of stuffy little card shops with a small arrangement of 'dated' gifts that seem to follow the same trend everywhere. Cadeux is a very stylish shop full of unusual and quirky gifts. They even offer a wedding list service so you know the choice must be extensive! They offer delivery on their goods and also an online shopping service. I'm a big fan of the artwork they stock too, from Rolf Harris, Csilla Orban & Nemo to James Blinkhorn, Doug Hyde & Fabian Perez. If you need an unusual gift idea, have a look at their collections.

A cute shop in one of the Arcades. Lots of original designs which are quite European. Girlfriend…read moreonly wears silver so knowing everything is sterling silver is helpful. Lady in store was nice and helpful with choice.

Azendi is a contemporary jewellery store that has been described as both inspirational and…read moreinnovative. They won the Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery awards in 2008 and looking at the shop, it's easy to see why. Simplistic cabinets are placed neatly around the room allowing you to look inside at the lovely pieces. The jewellery can be pricey as they specialise in Sterling Silver and Gold - but you can pick up a pair of earrings for £15 which I think is very good. They also have a nice selection of charm bracelets and charms - although Thomas Sabo does seem to have a much wider choice so I'd check them out aswell.

I always feel like I've walked into somewhere luxurious when I walk into the Market Cross! The…read morestaff are helpful but discreet (I hate being pounced on!) and the range of jewellery, gifts, china, figuirines and photo frames is impressive to say the least. You would be hard pressed to not be able to find a decent gift within your budget hee. The staff are professional and are more than happy to recommend a gift / item dependant on your budget or the occasion. New lines are always available so there is always something new to look at. Credit/debit cards welcome.

Thomas Sabo has got to be one of the most gasp inspiring stores I've been to…read more Full of cutesie pie Barbie, Angel, Disney, Mummy & Baby & much much more charms, you're sure to go..'awwwh' once or twice! There are hundreds upon hundreds of categories of charms to choose from and the option to build you own charm necklace, bracelet etc.. The store also sells an abundance of rings, earrings and other costume jewellery. You can expect to pay around £340 for a pair of certain collection earrings but they really are worth the extra pennies. On a whole, they do seem to be cheaper than Swarovski and all the silver they use is sterling. They are now an internationally recognised brand and it's unsurprising really. If anybody wants to buy me a nice present, you know where to go...

Thomas Sabo is really not the kind of shop I would usually consider entering. But on a recent…read moreexploration of the Victoria Quarter I decided to take a look...hmm...let's just say luxury isn't my thing. For jewellery and charms worth hundreds of pounds it looks extremely tacky...maybe that's the point...I don't know...maybe there's something I'm not 'getting'...I suspect not. If I think of a charm bracelet or necklace I think of vintage hand-picked trinkets with sentimental value or pendants rescued tenderly from puddles to be given a new lease of life...not, erm, this. Angry jewel-encrusted skulls, gittering cufflinks complete with brand name, naffly stylised butterflies and peace signs...peace signs? They somehow seem rather incongruous against all the jewel incrusted crassness. Ok enough of the rant...there are obviously people who love Thomas Sabo...I'm just really not one of them!

Queensbury Jewellers is one of those places that buys old gold - instant cash for any amount in any…read morecondition. So if you happen to have a treasure chest gathering dust on a shelf this might be the place to part with it. Due to the mind-boggling value of the total shop on the shop floor you have to push a buzzer to be let in...I wonder if they quickly assess from your appearance the chances of you smashing your way into a glass cabinet and grabbing a fistful of diamonds before vaulting a few cabinets and darting out the door...either way I passed the test! The shop has a very luxurious feel with plush dark green carpets to match the shop front and a perfectly air conditioned blankety warmth that makes the prospect of leaving the shop decidedly unattractive on a bitterly cold February day. Just having read Susan's review I can't believe I managed to not realise they had a giant Aladdin's cave downstairs and now feel compelled to return for an explore! The ground floor sells a variety of jewellery at a wide range of prices from thousands of pounds for a diamond ring to £15 for a simple silver bracelet. There is quite a traditional slant to most of the jewellery here with few items that stand out as particularly unusual, but most is very pretty. It sounds as though downstairs has more variation - I'll definitely have to check it out! The staff at Queensbury Jewellers are very pleasant and welcoming and I'm sure they would be very helpful with any queries.

A bit of a Tardis of a jewellery shop, Queensbury Jewellers looks fairly small from the outside but…read moreonce you step inside and head downstairs it opens out into a sparkling, immaculate showroom of epic proportions. With such a big showroom, they stock a huge variety of jewellery and you're just as likely to find a £15 silver necklace made in the UK as a £5,000 gold ring from India. When I visited recently I was impressed by the sheer diversity of the collection, which contains a surprising amount of affordable items alongside jaw-droppingly expensive designer items, and with the staff, who were very helpful and knowledgeable. A good place to come if you're looking to buy a special present for somebody but don't have a small fortune to spend.

If you're on the hunt for a feather boa Suman may be the place to look - they only have a few but…read morethey come in pretty shades of blue, red, mauve and turquoise. They also sell a range of scarves in an array of colours and patterns. Other than this their main stock is jewellery with their signiature style being bright, chunky and glitzy. I would say the range of jewellery is pretty average with a cheaper end of high street look and average high street prices. However, due to the bold designs you are likely to find a few unusual pieces and may well find something you like if you're into loud statement jewellery. They do also sell some more understated pieces, such as small studs and simple rings.

To a vintage shop enthusiast such as myself, a well stocked haberdashery is essential. Samuel…read moreTaylor's more than fits that description. Where else would I go for eyelets to adapt a skirt, shoulder pads to customise a jacket or a selection of decorative buttons to transform a shirt. Oh, the buttons! There is a whole wall dedicated to displaying these shiny treasures. It brings out the child in me, definitely provoking a kind of kid in a sweet shop reaction. Downstairs, there is a large number of fabrics to buy off the roll. I recently made a cape out of some gorgeous electric blue material from their basement, the vibrancy of the colour is stunning. I am constantly mentally modifying and reshaping clothing whilst shopping, safe in the knowledge that Samuel Taylor will be able to help me.

I absolutely rely on this shop. Being a total crafty I am always nipping in and out of here to top…read moreup on bits of ribbon and whatever other bits of shiny that I might need. For a start, this shop has got crafts covered from every angle. Card making, dress making, jewellery, masks, glues - you name it and they have it, or can order it in for you. I was looking for peacock feathers one time and the lady even offered to make a special order just for me! The shop is literally bursting with exciting bits, full of potential energy, to make and do. I love it. I think the thing that sets it apart for me, from most other craft shops, is the staff though. Even though the stock prices a little more than other places, the staff are so friendly and helpful that they make it feel personal and independent. When you ask their advice you are not asking some disinterested minimum wage robot, you are asking the wealth of, dare I say it, over thirty year's (*ahem* maybe even more!) knowledge and advice, which is always given over with great care and attention to detail. They deserve every star, and satisfy all my creative crafty needs!