One of my favourites is Andy and Molly – a very talented team that designs and makes beautiful jewellery from a studio in Mildura. I love to support Australian designers and they offer some really gorgeous pieces. They also have a luxurious range of leather handbags and clutches, including some trendy Boho-style fringe bags. You will also find jewellery for men and children, as well as scarves and hair accessories. www.andyandmolly.com.au

Online store A Skulk of Foxes has original silver and wooden jewellery (designed and made in Australia of course!) Check out the Silver Folk Fox and Owl necklaces and the beautiful colours in the silver and resin Lace necklace. They also have some unique homewares like this Fox wall clock - very different and I love it! Find more at www.askulkoffoxes.com.au.

The team behind Polli started selling their wares at markets around Sydney and now their gorgeous creations can be found in the best gift shops around. They have a fantastic and unique range of jewellery but some of my favourite items are the decoration kits like this sunshine yellow eco deco kit (pictured left).  It contains 30 decorations and 6m of twine and you can turn them into a garland, hanging decorations or gift tags – also available in other colours and styles. Find these and more at www.polli.com.au.

Cat Hammill’s self-titled jewellery label continues to grow and grow. Cat is a Melbourne girl with a passion for creating individual jewellery inspired from trips to Central and South America. I am lucky enough to have a limited-edition set of silver and coloured bead/charm bracelets and they have become a firm favourite – you can mix and match or make a statement and wear them all together. See her beautiful designs online at www.cathammill.com.au. You'll also find her online at another of my favourite websites, Cleverdicks (www.cleverdicks.com.au). They stock heaps of great gift ideas and jewellery, many made by clever Aussie designers.

How cute is this handmade, screen printed hemp and leather purse from Mingus (www.mingusdesigns.com). I first discovered it on Moda Muse, the online home for "Independent Modern Australian and New Zealand Designers."  It's a one-stop-shop for homewares, jewellery, fashion, toys, art and more. There are just so many great original pieces to discover and all with that feel-good factor of supporting our own designers. Get there now! www.modamuse.com

I have always loved Etsy: it's such a wonderful platform for artists, designers and crafters. Of course you'll find creations from all over the world on Etsy, but you can also narrow your search by country and item. Just select "Australia" and "Handmade" and off you go. Click here to go straight there. And for beautiful screen-printed fabrics made into gorgeous homewares and art works (all handmade with love by a family in Melbourne) check out the Etsy shop Aunty Cookie. 

I love everything about Koolaman Designs. This beautiful jewellery business is run by two sisters from their respective homes, one near Victoria's Rutherglen wine region and the other on a remote sheep and wheat property in NSW. How fantastic to be able to run and manage a successful businesses from remote places around Australia - it allows us all to dream about the possibilities! Let's not forget the amazing silver and gold personalised jewellery that is hand stamped on the sheep farm – and they look even better on! There are so many styles and designs to select and you can have almost anything stamped on them. There are adult's and children's ranges and they are guaranteed to become keepsakes forever. www.koolamandesigns.com.au (Note from Lainie: my husband surprised me with a Koolaman necklace for Christmas - a large ball chain with one circle pendant stamped with our two boys' names, and a second long pendant stamped with his name. I can't tell you how much I love it!)

Blink Designs is another wonderful, Melbourne-based store with a quirky range of items for "children, grown-up children and the homes they live in!" Who wouldn't feel the love with this cute little Love purse, pictured right.  Buy it for yourself for Valentine’s Day this year! www.blinkdesigns.com.au

Finally, for a bit of fun and a great last-minute Valentines surprise, tap into the new craze and send your loved one a Jib Jab video starring YOU. Choose the video template that suits you best, upload photos of you and your loved one ... and let Jib Jab do the rest! If you're a regular on Facebook, you might have seen one over the Christmas season. They're lots of fun and I guarantee you will get loads of laughs. You can also create cute e-cards to send. Find out more at www.jibjab.com.

Happy Valentines!

Kathy x

• Top five of everything fabulous for Christmas 2011
• It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
• Ab fab clothing stores that will dress you from head to toe
• Spring clean your home with fresh floral themes
• Beautiful bits for bubs
• Weddings, parties, anything - where to find sensational decorations
• Kathy goes off with the birds to find beautiful bird homewares and more 
• Make your own pop up cards and where to find gorgeous jewellery online
• Last-minute craft ideas for Easter and an online shoe store to die for
• Get crafy for an egg-citing Easter the kids will love
• Valentine pamper packs and online photo stores
• Top five of everything special online this Christmas
• Cash in on the high Aussie dollar this Christmas
• ETSY: the online store linking arts & crafts buyers and sellers in 150 countries
• Funky fabrics and crafty keepsakes to make your heart sing
• Gift ideas for delightful dads
• Wonderful websites to while away the winter days
• Cook-tastic sites to spice up your kitchen
• Handmade heaven: where to find it online
• Scrapbooking sites you're sure to love
• Beautiful sites for books, homewares, kids' stuff and more.
• Buying books online for overseas delivery.
• Fabrics and photos.

Want Kathy to search out something for you online? Drop her a line!