This breezy shop is an airy, uncluttered space full of different bits and pieces for around the…read morehome. They sell mainly small items with a beach theme, many of which make perfect gifts; beach towels, canvas scrolls with inspirational quotes, jewellery. They have a range of candles which are particularly scrumptious smelling. I really love the way this shop is set out. The products are arranged nicely and it isn't bursting to overflowing so I don't have to walk around acutely aware of whether my overly large handbag is trying to break things. It's a very relaxed, soothing vibe and a lovely place to shop.

Treasure trove! Noreen's has the most exquisite silver jewellery, set with glittering gems and…read morepearls. There are hand tooled earrings and necklaces, enamel ware, funky handpainted pendants, bracelets, anklets, rings for fingers and toes and heaps more. I never visit Point Lookout without dropping in to see what gorgeous tablecloths, paintings, wall hangings, ornaments and shells are on show, but my favourite thing of all is to browse through the lovely beachwear. There are always discounted dresses, tops and shorts on the racks outside and I always must have something. Today I bought a fabulous shell hanging and some earrings, at prices that will surprise. Can't resist.

There's something about being on holiday that makes you want to treat yourself (even though there's…read moresomething about going on holiday that makes you want to buy a new wardrobe before you go). When I'm on Straddie I tend to pop in to Noreen's to scratch this itch. I browse through everything, but tend to settle on a sarong or a hat. There's a lovely range and it's a beautifully welcoming little shop that's well worth whiling away some island time in.

Loot has to be one of my favourite homeware stores. It has an exotic feel, with imported and local…read moreproducts and is a bit artsy with really unique prints, canvases and greeting cards. They have some beautiful decorations for every room in your house like clocks, candles, ornaments and paintings, plus a great range of gifts for different occasions. There are colours and different scents and textures when you walk in and I never know quite where to start or what to look at first. Fortunately, whoever designed the store obviously planned for this because without realising it, there is a very obviously laid out pathway around the store to follow as you look from one display to the next. There are a few different styles, many of them Asian or Indonesian influenced and a light beach or summer feel.

Next time I visit MOZI I'm leaving my coins and cards at home. Yes, it's just that gosh darn…read moretempting to buy everything in this store. I remember when MOZI launched and was such a small collection of knick knacks for the kitchen. And now look at this little Aussie brand that could! Measuring spoons, plastic bag holders (yes, they're a thing!), bowls, tea towels, plates, dog leads, napkins, and even candles are all neatly displayed in their "print story" categories making a visit to MOZI on trendy James Street an organised mind's dream. Everything is in its place and it makes it that much easier to find what you're looking for. It's fun without being frivolous and twee without being saccharine. If you're looking for a quirky and unique gift for a loved one getting married, moving into a new house, having a baby, birthday, engagement, just because...you get the point...MOZI should most certainly be on your list. The prices are what I personally would consider reasonable with most items being under $40. PS: If someone gifts me the sequined fox tote, I might just have kittens.

I hate buying presents for people when I know they want for nothing. A lot of my friends with…read moredisposable incomes usually buy what they want when they see it making Christmas and birthday presents unnecessary. As a result, I've taken to buying gifts from Oxfam. Oxfam is a not-for-profit organisation who works with people from developing countries to overcome poverty. One of their strategies is to enable the villagers to use local resources to make products which are sold through Oxfam stores. These products include interesting musical instruments, chocolates, coffees, traditional art, jewellery and cookware. Profit from sales are returned to the villages to assist with development. They also have these fantastic gift ideas where you can buy a family in a developing country a goat, chicken or even mosquito nets. The gifts start at $10 and make a great Christmas card as well. This year I've purchased a gorgeous piglet for a mere $30 -a bargain in any currency. So the next time you're stuck on a present idea, forget the platter or scented candle. Head to Oxfam and buy someone a pig.

From the owner: Oxfam Shop is a passionate supporter of fair trade and deals on a fair trade basis with 60 fair…read moretrade organisations around the world, who support thousands of producers including Indigenous Australians. Through fair trade we are part of a global movement calling for an end to unfair trade practices. Fair trade empowers disadvantaged communities by paying them fair and stable prices for their work, helping them to gain the skills they need to develop their business, and giving them access to world markets.

This is a great home wares store; despite its rather small size they offer an impressive range of…read moreitems for around the house. The brightly lit shop is made brighter by the array of colourful items piled throughout. What makes their products even better is that they are sourced from Australian designers. The store is set out according to themes, which I think is a great idea. It allows you to visualise how items fit together as well as how they will looks side by side in your home. The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that the shop assistant working at the time did not seem too happy to see me, but since this was a one-off visit I will give her then benefit of the doubt and refuse to judge the service in the store on this experience alone.

Need a fancy-pants gift or something to make your house look pretty?…read more From smelly candles, French soaps, strings of fabric bunting to larger items like paintings, statues and tables, That's Unique is just the place to visit! This store has multiple rooms to poke around in and you're sure to be tempted by many of the items.

Generally, I am a big fan of homeware stores. Even if I do not buy anything, I enjoy looking around…read moreat the array of decorations. While Anew is good, it seemed to lack something special. Sure, they have the white wooden words and cute piggy banks that I have seen but they also have plastic tigers and tacky dolphin lamps. Perhaps it is just not my particular style overall. There are a few good buys, particularly some kitchen utensils and bits and pieces that I thought would come in handy and that are inexpensive. They have some nice clocks too.

Usually homewares stores are so beautiful; beautifully decorated and full of beautiful things. This…read moreone is somewhat of an exception. While it's always fun roaming through these stores pondering how certain things would look on your own mantelpiece, this one provides a little less scope for imagination of such fantasies than others. While half the products in the store are nice, the other half look quite tacky. The plus side is it's a little cheaper than a lot of homewares stores, although my judgement tells me it's because quality is sometimes compromised a little.

I remember this store from when it was located in the Wintergarden, and then it just disappeared!…read moreBut recently while I was roaming around the Emporium in the Valley it popped up out of thin air. I was so glad to see that this shop had just relocated and hadn't closed for good, because I've purchased many a gift from Essensuals and it's always been perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for. I must say though, I much prefer the old store to the new one. I'm not sure if it has changed hands or they just decided to change it up a little bit, but it was a little disappointing. The new store seems to have stock piled up everywhere, like a teetering tower of doom that could crush the shopper below at any second. It also seems like they don't have as much stock as before, which is unfortunate because you could find things for both men and women in the old store, whereas the new one appears to be very female oriented. Despite the disappointment that Essensuals has changed quite a bit, it's still full of pretty things like crystal wine glasses, decorative trunks and vintage perfume bottles. It's worth a look if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Need to find a gift for that person who literally has everything? Or in desperate need of a mask…read morefor a masquerade party? Then Essensuals has got you covered. This place is piled high with unique gifts, home decorations and of course, ceramic masks (yes, never fear, those tacky plastic masks covered in sequins and feathers do not have a home here). There's a seemingly large emphasis on Parisian prints and artefacts as well as London-esque decorations and canvas prints depicting rainy days in New York City. So definitely a perfect gift idea for those jet-setters or dreamers who long after a city-change. So when you're next in Emporium, keep an eye out for a large, hollow dog - it stands guard outside the shop.