The Real Thing Craft Centre Olinda

The Real Thing Craft Centre Olinda was definitely not what I was expecting. Seeing the word ‘craft’ I immediately though ‘oh yes, pipe cleaners, paint and scrapbooking supplies’… however this was definitely not what I found inside.
Instead I walked into the first of five distinct areas, which was full of Christmas decorations and a nice big Christmas tree even though it was only September. That struck me as a little odd but I continued on.
The next area had plates and garden decorations, which looked as though they might have been hand made though I couldn’t be sure. There were a lot of delicate items and narrow walkways so I’d be careful bringing in prams or carrying big bags in here.
The third section had a whole heap of touristy Australian objects like miniature koalas and even a few didgeridoos. My favourite items in this section were some brown mugs that had all manner of bizarre expressions on their ‘faces’. At $ 18.50 I thought they were a little bit pricey but if they were hand made it seems to be quite a reasonable price.
The next are had a heap of toy dolls and bears that sang songs when you pressed or pulled one of their body parts. These were being greatly enjoyed by a group of women who were laughing in delight at the range of songs the dolls were singing.
The last area was home to large animal floor rugs, children’s toys and more outdoor garden decorations.
Despite it being nothing like what I thought it would be, the store itself was varied and interesting and I enjoyed exploring it.