This cute and cosy setting within a knitting shop isn't your standard setting but makes for the…read moreperfect spot for scones, petit fours and a delightful range of tea. You could bring granny here or your bestie for a catch up or mum for a treat. It has to be said there scones (the recipe recently featured in the paper) are the prefect mix of crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. Combine with jam and a pot of tea on a pretty tablecloth, you have a winner. Don't go past this place if your after scones, tea and a touch of homely comfort.

Trying to find a cafe that's open after 4pm and stumbled upon this beauty. It felt like I found…read morelittle red riding hoods grandmothers tavern and it was absolutely adorable. We had excellent coffee and vanilla grapefruit tea from an extensive tea menu served in vintage tea cups. I wanted to try the Devonshire scones with strawberry jam and cream but unfortunately they were all out for the day so we had finger sandwiches with asparagus and almond meringue cake which was freshly made and delicious!

Thank goodness for Arthur Toye: yes, you can buy fabrics from a giant barn, or from a cheap…read moreend-of-lines place, but there's only a few places where you know that you'll get a good range of fabrics and someone who can answer your questions, no matter how basic, on everything from how much fabric you need for a ballgown, through to the best patterns to look through if you're a beginner and want to just make something. Their fabric range is best described as solid; there are a few high end, beautiful fabrics, but mostly it's the type of fabrics you need for everyday items, and at reasonable prices. If you know you definitely need 2.5metres of navy wool blend, don't waste your time rifling through the emporiums; just come here; you'll be in and out in minutes. Arthur Toye also have a big range of patterns, and will order them in for you if they don't have them in stock.

Shopping for curtains is a painful process, you never get what you want, and if you do, it is never…read morein the correct size. This is luckily a thing of the past, as I have now worked out a solution to my draping problem. Those fine ladies at Spotlight will not only supply advice on what type of curtains to buy, but they also sew it together and prepare it for draping. The selection on display is amazing, and for a gent to be let loose within their large collection of whacky materials, is like placing a bull in a china shop. Nothing might happen, but all hell could also break loose. The reason I make this analogy, is that they've got old school dashboard fur, fluffy fake leopard skin and other pieces of cloth that will make your wife hit the road. So taste is of the utmost importance.

This Spotlight has been around forever and is a little bit sad, I reckon. It just looks and feels…read morea bit tired and although you can find a lot of art & craft supplies as well as fabric the range is a lot smaller than their new store in Albany. Still, it's the closest store to me so I often find myself here when I'm in a hurry. I always give them a quick call before I go to see if they have what I'm looking for and 9 times out of 10 they do, whether it's mini wooden pegs, washi tape or fake flowers to make a floral headband.

This is a great source of products if you are looking for innovative early childhood toys and…read moreeducational learning tools for the little ones. It is also a point of sale for preschools, kindys and schools too. If you don't want to purchase from the website, it is an amazing resource tool, and would rather see the product first hand then visit this store. They have loads of art and crafts paints, brushes, clay rollers, markers. I myself wish I had preschoolers again because of the range of activities and games on offer here. See for example the favourite storybook themed games like Curious George Discovery Beach or Eric Carle's ABC board game - who is not in love with Eric Carle's hardback children books! How about games starting with "M", mancalla, magnetic towing game or memory match... the list is huge so I suggest popping in with or without your little ones. The store is beautifully set out too.

Alex the owner/manager is a lovely man - he was courteous, responsive to my requests, and not only…read morethat but he took a real interest in the printing I tasked him with (even offering to "help me out" with my project in the future, which was climate change advocacy through Generation Zero). Good location, can be a bit tricky to park close by but the supermarket parks are just across the road, or even better, take the bus (which stops nearby) or walk! Website is pretty basic, but this is offset by Alex "da man" Milford Print. I asked Alex to print and laminate a page for me, and to print another, not super-technical tasks, but his service and engaging manner was quite unique.

From the owner: Photo restoration Copying and enhancing photos…read moreCustom photo framing Passport photos Photo albums and frames

Amaze is Ponsonby's one stop gift shop. You can literally walk in there and walk out five minutes…read morelater with a funny and funky gift, complete with quirky card and gift wrapping. Amaze is that good. With numerous stands housing a seemingly infinite number of gift cards, regardless of whether you're after one for your best friend, mother, uncle, grandmother, for a friend's wedding, an anniversary, bereavement or baby shower - there are dozens of cards for every occasion to pick from. And they're all quirky and perfect in their own ways. I love just perusing the cards, let alone the rest of the store! Though, that's not to say the rest of Amaze isn't equally as AMAZING... It's the perfect place to find funny hens night-type products with candy G-strings, penis straws, and naughty dice stocked by the dozen. Amaze also stocks an array of journals and diaries, and as a real stationary lover I find I could spend hours just ogling over these products, let alone the choices of wrapping paper they also possess! Talk about overwhelming! It's like a dream come true in this store, sad as that may sound!

'Amaze' is just that. A shop that offers every type of card you would ever need - plus quirky gift…read moreideas. There are a few card stands outside to tempt you or you can go in-store and be spoilt for choice. I have purchased many birthday cards from 'Amaze', unique wrapping paper and gift fillers. Service is friendly & always sincere. Nothing can ever replace a fantastic card, from $5-$8 to say it with words! I love cards - writing in them, gifting them & especially receiving one too! Yelp, yelp, yelp!

I needed to buy some presents before my recent trip to visit a nephew and niece under the age of 14…read moreand Smiggle was the answer to my calls for help. This store has a crazy cool amount of options to choose from for the young and hip kid. I loved that there was a different style and colour for every pencil case, folder, writing book, journal, and money safe. It did make trying to decide on a design quite hard at first, but with help from the really friendly and chatty sales assistant, I was on my way with a bag of Smiggle gear for the kids in less than 15 minutes. Smiggle has everything the kid would need for school. For example bags, wallets, lunch boxes, drink bottles, funky slap bands to swap with friends, writing tools. It's completely endless, and mind boggling what they have come up with, it's like they have entered the child's mind and asked- what would you want? Always a fun time shopping here, I get to be a kid for a bit.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, or so they say, others simply say that it is theft. So…read morewhy would you want to go to a party dressed as someone else, I asked my wife, as she showed me the fancy dress invite... "You don't have to go as anyone, you can go as a pirate." she snarled back at me, still insisting we are going as she stormed off. Mmm, a pirate hey, or maybe even a cowboy, BORING! I reluctantly tagged along to Carnival Costume Hire in Milford, and I was shocked to see what modern options are now available, costume hire sure has changed. And their website shows just how big a selection they have on site. My wife picked a sexy yellow Kill Bill one piece and I dressed in full Braveheart regalia, with blue and white face paint. Needless to say, we were a hit, winning best dressed couple. Next time I'll reconsider the face paint, but I'll do the dress up again. It was fun.

I think I may have just found my new favourite gift shop - introducing Matchbox Studios!…read more Matchbox Studios originally started up in Wellington three years ago, where they are a large art and crafts store plus an art gallery. I recently discovered them on Instagram and saw that they were opening a store in St Kevins Arcade on K'Road (full of exciting things). I was so thrilled because it is a seriously awesome shop! It is a haven for all things colourful, whether it be art, jewellery, stationery, books, candles or homewares! I loved everything I came across in Matchbox, but here is a taste of what you might find: - Funky colourful cards (for example the Koala dressed in a Hawaiian shirt) - Range of art prints, including skulls (yay!), famous people, grumpy cat, etc. - The Beatles tea bags (check out the picture!) - Candles and soaps (all with very nice scents) and - Colourful cups, straws, plates and napkins - perfect for picnics or parties at home, plus so much more! The shop assistant was friendly and she was really happy when I signed up to their mailing list. How could I not - everything at Matchbox is fabulous and fun! So, if you need a gift or want to decorate your room with bright colours, then I highly recommend you visit Matchbox Studios today - I am sure you won't be disappointed!