Staff not very helpful in the Stockport store last time I visited. Another shopper helped me So…read moremuch more

I have a love hate relationship with Hobby Craft. I LOVE…read morethe range and knowing i can simply bob in and get what i need, but i HATE the prices. I cant help but feel i've been royally ripped off each time i go. But i still go as sometimes you just dont want to wait 3 weeks to get a knitting needle sent to you by ebay or amazon. And that my friends is the rub.

You don't have to go into Manchester to get inspired gifts & funky ideas to adorn you Pad with! If…read morefact ... i challenge you to go here, and not leave with something... go on .. try it! They sell such a wide range of goodies like, original artwork, bespoke jewellery, cool lighting ideas, gifts for children, unusual and beautiful home storage ideas and a dizzying array of home trinkets both useful and decorative! There is also a lovely range of cards for all occasions and wrapping paper! The shop is situated just across from The Unicorn in Chorlton, and the staff are incredibly friendly... you can also order from their website if you don't live near the area... worth a look either way!

Another great little gift shop in Chorlton, which I try to stop myself from going into, as I know…read morethat I'll come out financially less well off. Having said that, 20cm by 20cm canvases are going for £19.50 and include a good range of Banksy's work - I don't think that's too bad for canvases I haven't seen anywhere else. From looking at my Yelp ratings I realise that I am much more useful than cool, so I'm not sure I fully appreciate some of the 'cool' items that Pad sells. If you are a fan of superfluous paraphernalia such as candles and candelabra, embroidered photo frames and Wizard of Oz beanies (?) then you'll definitely love Pad. They also stock some vaguely useful items such as his and hers hooks (shaped like the toilet symbols), which I think I'll be purchasing when I move in with the boyf! As Alison rightly says, the staff are friendly (but they're very rarely rushed off their feet!). If you order from the website, delivery is free for orders over £50.

This shop is definitely worth a visit. Located in the Royal Exchange Theatre it really is a hidden…read moregem for unusual gifts from local artisans and includes jewellery, ceramics, contemporary glass, wood, metal and textiles and cards. It's been here since 1981, that's almost 30 years of trading, they must be doing something right! Everything looks so stunning and delicate in here that I almost tiptoe around the showroom. The glass cabinet filled with jewellery is probably my favourite section and the main draw of the shop. You can find some remarkably reasonable items from designers like Cloversoul and Kate Hodgson in oxidised silver, some of the nicest designs I've seen for months. You MUST give this shop a visit.

The Craft Shop in the Royal Exchange is often mentioned as an aside to the theatre but I think it's…read moreworthy of a mention in its own right. Trading since 1981, the shop has a reputation for attracting the best design talent from across the UK, including new and emerging makers as well as established names. Disciplines range from ceramics, glass and wood to jewellery, textiles and art. Prices vary and the shop runs the 'Own Art' interest-free loan scheme for purchase between £100 and £2,000. A rolling exhibition programme is in operation and artists' work is displayed in glass cases around the theatre, under a chosen theme. The Craft Shop is definitely worth a visit, whether you're browsing before a play or out shopping in Manchester.

Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!

Well it's certainly not the great place I remember coming as a child. I remember really fun candle…read moredipping workshops (which they still do) and these beautiful handmade candles that were truly works of art. Sadly, the latter are no longer available, which makes the whole place rather unremarkable. They now only sell ugly nick knacks and organise all kinds of crafts upstairs for things that are much uglier than what your child would bring home from school, all very cheap looking. Much better off encouraging artistry in school. Really, teachers will send your child home with the most amazing things and you're already paying tuition fees anyway, so why bother coming to the Cheshire Workshops and pay for something ugly? Such a shame that they've gone through such a drastic change!

This really is a great place for both adults and children…read more Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the experience of making their very own candles to take home. There is a gift shop where you can take home souvenirs and a lovely cafe located in a large conservatory overlooking the beautiful countryside. You can enjoy a delicious family meal before returning home with your happy children.

Let's get one thing straight first. I love stationery. I enjoy stationery I don't even need. If I…read morehave to do a lot of writing, I prefer tipped pens as opposed to ballpoint, in as vast a variety of colours as possible. Now, we all know we can get multipacks of these at the local supermarket or pound shop, but it just doesn't feel quite the same as purchasing something from the bevy of office supply loveliness that is Paperchase. One thing you'll always notice when standing outside this humongous, triple-floor branch in the centre of Manchester is not the Big Issue seller, although that might make you feel a little guilty for overspending on that eraser shaped like a flower or that Dalmatian print stapler. No, the biggest wow factor is the window display. They darn well make the most of it. And it's seasonal too, whether it's that phrase that strikes fear and depression into the hearts of children between the ages of five and sixteen and teachers everywhere, 'Back to School', or Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day... Paperchase will always via the medium of magical window dressing find a reason for you to buy stationery. I'd seriously recommend this branch over any of the weeny little concessions in Kendal's or Selfridges. You've got way more choice. But this isn't just a place for quirky little diaries, fluorescent pink post-its, pencils in every colour of the rainbow, stickers, iPod covers, damask wrapping paper, furry pencil cases and heart-shaped calculators. There's so much more. It has one of the biggest and best greeting card selections I've ever seen. There are gifts aplenty for the friend who has everything. There are home storage solutions. Pretty boxes. Lunchboxes. Tupperware. You can even buy pet supplies. Little random toys for stocking fillers. Toddle on up the stairs and find an entire floor dedicated to art supplies. There's even furniture, clocks, mirrors... I could go on. But I won't. Go see for yourself. I'm telling you, you'll walk in with the aim of buying a simple mobile phone cradle for your office desk and you'll come away with five different photo frames in five different shapes. You have been warned...

Now January has started it's only a matter of days before retailers swap their discounted Christmas…read morecards for Valentine's Day cards! One of the best places to go looking for cool cards and wrapping paper is Paperchase. They stock sweet, witty, playful and kitsch cards from a variety of designers and a brilliant array of notebooks, journals, address books, recipe cards, pens and stationary. This being their biggest store in the North West, there's also good quality paints, pastels, paper, card and brushes for artists upstairs. Before you get too carried away and fill your basket full of goodies - check out the prices as some of the Japanese papers and pastels are pretty steep.

Ever wanted a frying pan that makes heart-shaped eggs? How…read moreabout a grill that makes toast with religious figures engraved on? Or a polka dot suitcase with a smaller polka dot case inside? In short, Oklahoma's Gift shop is a living and breathing homage to the art of Kitsch ahd Colourful accessories. There's big items like lampshades and clocks hanging from the walls and ceiling, wallpapers and posters behind the main counter and dozens of shelves and tables stacked high with all kinds of weird and wonderful nonsense. One of my favourite items is the old American Popcorn Machine filled with jewellery and the desk overflowing with stationary, plastic moustaches and candy cigarettes.

I have wanted to go to Oklahoma for at least a year now and just never got around to it! Eventually…read moretoday was the day...and I was not disappointed at all! This quirky and cutesy store was everything I dreamed of! I couldn't wait to let my purse loose and I was didn't leave empty handed! This place is great for knick knacks, xmas presents and homely decor for those (like me) that are obsessed with kitchenware, signs and much much more! I was careful and only bought a little Christmas tree decoration (part of a family tradition) I buy my Mum one each year and this winter it will be an addition of a cute glass bottle with a wish and fairy (glitter) floating around inside! Picture to follow...

Fantastic little gift shop selling the usual fare aimed at the laydees and the kids. A well-chosen…read moreselection of handbags, scarfs, gloves, stuffed toys, handmade cards and jewellery and a very helpful shop owner, if you're looking for something a little bit different or special you'll find it in here. In particular they carry a great range of silver including the popular brands Lovelinks and Trollbeads. I'll be buying myself a few well-deserved Christmas presents from here!

Harriet and Dee is tucked away on Warburton Street in Didsbury. I didn't notice this at first but…read morethey have two shops on this street, one selling general gifts and the other focusing on jewellery. It's the gift shop I'm writing about today. This is a pretty little shop. You're greeted with tinkling mobile sounds as you walk in and they have a huge selection of unusual and novelty gifts. A few things that caught my eye were a range of cake forks, complete with plastic cupcake embellishments, paper weights with inspiring slogans, shoe shaped soaps and a rather splendid cup carrying the slogan, 'I'd rather be The Stig'. Other items include toiletries, candles, ceramics and cards. There's a good selection with lots to choose from. You won't come away empty handed if you're looking for a gift.