absolutely beautiful things

New Things, New York & Happy New Year

2014-03-13T12:13:00.001+10:00

Hello. Happy New Year. How is it March already? I know its a cliché but time really does fly. We've had a nice start to 2014. Some good projects are on the go and we've been busy stocking up the store again after a busy Christmas period.. Olivia and I travelled to New York early February where we spent 10 days trudging around in snow and freezing conditions to find some wonderful things for Black & Spiro. Some of my favourite finds can be seen above including vintage paintings and one-off textiles. We still have things arriving weekly from the trip so make sure you pop into the shop for a visit if you are looking for something extra special.

Central Park was like, as one of my instagram followers said, 'a scene out of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe'. Pure Magic especially for 2 Aussie girls used to the unbearable humidity in Brisbane.

Visiting New York's vintage markets is one of my favourite things to do. There is just so much and so little luggage space that making a decision on what comes and what has to stay is very difficult.

I usually always have a buying regret, and this trip was no different. On our last day I found this wonderful book that I should have bought and now so desperately wish I had but alas, we had so much to get home and I had to leave it behind.

Olivia's first trip to the Big Apple and the weather certainly turned it on for her! She was in snow heaven.

Bergdorf's incredible displays did not disappoint. This painted fan installation was just randomly placed in a section upstairs in the store. So much work and so much creative thought that must go into every single display project they produce.

For me, a trip to NYC wouldn't be complete without a meal at my fave Osteria Morini in Soho. Simple, traditional, hearty Italian. Love it so much.

We also visited Freemans for a bowl of warm soup after our visit to John Derian's divine stores just around the corner. I was sad to see that Peels had closed just a few weeks prior to our visit!!

We loved catching up with Jamie Meares from Furbish Studio and her lovely assistant at Tipsy Parson.

This trip, we stayed in mid-town at The NoMad and I was so taken with the building that we looked out onto from our room and hotel rooftop. One of my instagram followers informed me that it is the home of the very fashionable Isabel and Ruben Toledo! Click HERE to read and see more about them and their seriously amazing home in the clouds!

Our busy week in NY came to an end. We had a fabulous time and came home with lots of beautiful things and lots of great inspiration for our year ahead.

Despite all that New York is, I was so happy to come home to this!
xxx
Anna

Black & Spiro Online Pop-Up Store NOW LIVE!

2013-11-20T12:48:00.003+10:00

I'm excited to let you know that our pop-up online store is NOW LIVE!!xx

The address is - shop.blackandspiro.com.au

If you experience problems getting into the site - go to our normal Black & Spiro website which is - www.blackandspiro.com.au and click on the ONLINE STORE link.

Hope you enjoy browsing through and shopping our curated collection of bits and pieces!!
xx
Anna

Announcing a Black & Spiro Online Pop-up Store!!!

2013-11-06T14:22:00.002+10:00

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had 3 exciting things to share with you in October and I'm so sorry I forgot to let you know the 3rd exciting thing we have happening!!

Albeit a bit late, I'm thrilled to let you know that we are opening a Black & Spiro Christmas online pop-up store! The store will go live on Wednesday 20th November and it will trade through until Christmas. We have lots of beautiful things going into the online store that I have found from all over the place including table linen, candles, our beautiful Black & Spiro cushions, vintage paintings, vintage objects and one-off pieces of furniture.

The online store web address is - www.shop.blackandspiro.com.au . Just remember it won't go live and be up online until Wednesday 20th November.

I hope you are as excited about this news as I am!! Bring on November 20!
xx
Anna

Buzz - Our Latest Restaurant Project

2013-10-28T16:06:00.000+10:00

Earlier this year we were asked to visit the new Gas Works development in Newstead where Margot McKinney & Peter Kedwell planned on opening their 4th Buzz Restaurant. It was a late Autumn afternoon and the skies were a pale blue fading into a warm soft pink. What greeted us on site was a gigantic concrete jungle with shards of aluminium, rocks, plastic, air-conditioning vents, building tools and lots of scaffolding.

The Kedwell-McKinney brief was for us to help them create a restaurant that felt comfortable, was fresh, light and open, with lots of appeal and interest for their customers and somewhere for people to also enjoy dinner (as Buzz is mostly known for their fab breakfasts and lunches) or even just a drink at the bar.

We used Peter Kedwell's history and career in the fruit and vegetable industry as our inspiration for the project. Fresh food and market produce became our main focus for the colours, materials and ideas we presented.

We also wanted the restaurant to have a warm, almost lived-in, country farmhouse-type atmosphere and this image above provided us with inspiration to use bagged brick, timber and zinc in the finishes.

The fabulous big black industrial lights we found in France look wonderful hanging in the space and have you spotted the little terracotta plant-pot lights hanging over the central bar? I came up with the idea when I was in my garden potting terracotta pots just before we presented the concept. It was like a little garden angel reached out to me and said - wouldn't they look great turned upside down and used as lights at Buzz! Again, this played wonderfully on the garden/market theme.

This fabulously detailed green door that Alexandra Macmillan posted on her Pinterest page was the perfect piece of inspiration we needed for our cabinetry design and colour.

It's just so wonderful when you start to see your ideas and vision for a project come together and just as you had planned in your head. Site visits just got better and better as each day passed just prior to the restaurant opening last weekend.

One of my favourite things we created was the old cane market basket wall. We collected up a bunch of old baskets from all over the place including a few that came from my own collection at home.

Another favourite thing is the back-lit shutter panelling we devised and installed over the large ugly round column as above.

And although in our original concept we had suggested to use old market posters adhered directly to the bare concrete wall, the wonderful vintage Queensland paw-paw girl that Margot found certainly is a fabulous fit.

As in any project, some things don't arrive on time so the stools you see in this section of the restaurant aren't permanent. We have some new ones arriving in the next little while...well actually who knows when!! Notice the lovely collection of old vintage green and white and black and white plates we hung on the wall just above the kitchen-pass....another favourite thing.

And finally, one last favourite thing is the beautiful blackboard we created. This back-piece to an old sideboard we once had found it's perfect resting place here. Olivia and I painted it with black-board paint ourselves and we asked Vanessa Macphail to do her thing with the lettering.

If you get the chance to have a meal at Buzz, I hope you enjoy what we have created there. I'm hopeful that we can add a bit more excitement to the exterior spaces over the next few months as time passes...

Thank you Margot & Peter for asking me to help you with this wonderful project. I hope it's a fabulous success!

xx
Anna

Black & Spiro News

2013-10-21T13:17:00.000+10:00

I forgot how great it is to clear the decks! Our store room is nice and spacious again after what seemed like a 2 hour crazy hurricane in the shop last Saturday morning at our 1 day sale. I was very excited that almost everything went and since that crazy day, we have been able to shape up the shop and give it a bit of a face-lift with some beautiful new things.

Olivia and I were so inspired last Tuesday night that we stayed back into the dark hours of the night creating this wonderful wall of tear sheets in the store. It has created much interest and chatter in the shop amongst our clients and customers.

Last Thursday night we opened our 'Flowers' art exhibition. Divine flower paintings line our walls by Pip Boydell, Bridgette McNab, Jenny McCown & Linda Sheppard. If you haven't popped in to see them I invite you to do so as they really are so beautiful and they certainly add a lovely layer to the store! The exhibition will run for another 3 weeks. I will be sad to see the paintings go!

Look at these very special new cushions we have in the store made from antique textiles. I am in-love with every single one of them!

Another new addition in the shop is our beautiful old circa 1920's piano. We encourage anyone who comes in to have a little play if they want including your children! We love having it in the store and we are thinking we might have a few Christmas carol Saturday morning sessions leading into Christmas!

In project news, later this week the brand new Buzz restaurant at Gas Works will be opening. We provided the full concept for this new restaurant and we are so excited about unveiling it! I will post some pictures here soon I promise!!

See you soon.
x
Anna

Announcing a Black & Spiro SALE!!

2013-10-08T10:24:00.001+10:00

I'm excited to let you know that we are having one of our big Black & Spiro sales this Saturday 12th October at the shop!! It's been such a long time since we've had a clean out and I really need to clear some space!!

Make sure you are early as you all know our line up can be a bit full-on!! Also, I advise you to bring cash as our cash line is always much quicker than our credit card/eftpos line!!

We've got sofas and armchairs, lamps, cushions, fabrics, a few antique pieces of furniture, rugs, chairs and all sorts of lovely things on offer at crazy prices. I'm really in the mood for a clean out so come along and grab yourself a wonderful Black & Spiro piece at a bargain price.

As you know, I don't have these sales every day and who knows when the next one will be! You'd be mad to miss it!

See you this Saturday!
xx
Anna

Our Big OCTOBER!!

2013-10-03T15:30:00.001+10:00

I'm writing from here {above} today. Such beautiful light in our studio this morning!! Anyway, back to what I want to tell you about!

October is always a big month in our family. It's my birthday on the 3rd, my soon-to-be sister-in-law's birthday on the 7th, my grandmother's birthday on the 11th and my husband's birthday on the 13th! Celebrations galore!!

But this October is going to be the biggest of all because we have 3 fabulous things planned for you here at Black & Spiro. The first event is next Saturday 12th October but I can't tell you the details about it just yet. However, watch out next Monday 7th October as I will reveal all. You will be very excited about this one, I promise!!

The 2nd event is a collaborative art exhibition which we will hosting here at the store called FLOWERS. Opening night is Thursday 17th October and everyone is welcome. Come and joins us! Pip Boydell with be showing her latest pieces and let me tell you they are AMAZING. Sydney Painter Bridgette McNab along with Jenny McCown and Linda Sheppard will all be showing pieces inspired by flowers. If you are looking for a little piece or even a big piece to fill a spot then this will be the perfect event for you!!

The 3rd thing is also one I can't share yet. However, it will be happening in the last week of October and I think it will be something you will all be very happy about....especially our customers from interstate!!

So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open this month as we have lots for you all to enjoy!

Anna

Shop News

2013-09-30T15:01:00.002+10:00

In shop news, late last week we received a rather lovely shipment of antiques. A few divine sideboards, tables and objects. If you are looking for that elusive piece, make sure you pop in as I think our new pieces are some of the loveliest we've had in a long time. We have also just had a big delivery of our beautiful Black & Spiro bespoke cushions - so many different patterns, shapes and colours to choose from. Some of the cushions we have had made are in the divine, unique fabrics I found when I was overseas.

Anna

French Leave

2013-09-17T12:28:00.001+10:00

I thought it appropriate to call this post - 'French Leave' which is defined as - an abrupt and unannounced departure (without saying farewell).

Over the course of this year I have kept myself off the streets doing my usual decorating thing with some wonderful clients and some exciting projects but I have also been heavily engrossed in writing my first book with Penguin which is due for release early next year. I never really anticipated the incredible amount of work, energy and inspiration needed to write a book and so I felt that in order to put all my effort into my writing I really couldn't write a book and a blog at the same time. I hope you can understand my French Leave and grant me pardon. Maybe having my book on your coffee table next year will make up for my leave of absence here this year!

It astonishes me to think that Spring has arrived here in Australia and we are on the down-hill slide to Christmas yet again. Having just returned from a much-needed holiday in Europe where we (my family and I) experienced and enjoyed the end of Summer there, I am excited to think about our forthcoming Summer months.

I thought you might like to see a few of my holiday snaps which, if you follow me on Instagram, you may be a little sick of seeing. I personally love seeing peoples holiday snaps especially of Italy so here you go. I might also post a second series in a few days time.

Oh and before I depart I will let you know that we have some really exciting things happening at Black & Spiro over the next month, including a wonderful collaborative art exhibition which I extend you an invitation to. I will post the invite here on the blog and on my Instagram in the coming week so watch out for it. Pip Boydell will be showcasing a new series of paintings in a divine new style and we have a wonderful Sydney artist, Bridget McNab and 2 other fabulous Brisbane artists as well! We also have another exciting day planned here at the store in the coming weeks which I will let you know about closer to the date.

Hope to see you in the shop soon!!
xx
Anna

In no particular order - from Positano to my new favourite place in the world - Capri...

Black & Spiro Website Launch

2013-04-05T14:43:00.000+10:00

Hello! After what seems like an eternity, I am thrilled to let you know, tonight, our brand new Black & Spiro Interior Design website will go live. Thanks to my wonderful team for their incredibly hard work, long hours, patience, tears, joy and creativity in getting it produced. I would also like to extend a thank you to our very talented friend, Vanessa Macphail. Vanessa is the brain behind the design, look and feel of the site. Also thanks to Eloise Van Riet-Gray and Maureen Haynes, our wonderful photographers, for the beautiful photos of our projects.

The site will continue to be updated on a regular basis with new projects being added to our portfolio. Our pinboard page will also be a regularly changing feature. With the launch of the site comes a Black & Spiro Facebook page and also a Black & Spiro Pinterest page. Along with our Instagram, I think we have most things now covered!!

If you are curious to know about a possible Black & Spiro online store, I have decided not to open an online store at this point for various reasons. The girls and I are so busy with our decorating and design projects, our bricks and mortar store in Brisbane, designing my new wallpaper collection with Porters {which will be released next year} and my book which I am currently working on with Penguin, that I just don't think we have the man-power, energy or commitment needed to open an online store at this stage. I hope you understand.

So click onto our new website tonight here - www.blackandspiro.com.au. I hope you like it!
x
Anna

1 Month On...

2013-03-18T14:18:00.002+10:00

It's been just over 1 month since my last post and as usual time seems to have flown by! Busy days and weeks just keep on coming at us all but I must say, it's amazing what a couple of days away can do for your spirits. We just spent the weekend at my cousin's beach side house in Northern New South Wales and I feel like I've been away for a week!! Sometimes I forget how great a mini-break can make you feel. The humdrum of daily life can be totally revived by just a couple of days away in a place you don't often visit.

On such trips I love to bring home a few little goodies and being that I am totally captivated by Australian natives I couldn't help but snap a couple of branches off the beautiful big old banksia tree my cousin has in his front yard. I arranged the large haul in a couple of vases which I placed on our fireplace mantel. It's hard not to notice the natural beauty as you walk in the front door of our house. I love that I can be reminded of these past few days as I look at the beautiful banksia flanking our mantel.

In shop news, we have had a lot of beautiful new treasures arrive. If you visit the store on a Saturday you may have seen me in there with Max, my naughty yet spirited 2 year old. It is always a demented hour or 2 that we spend in the store on a Saturday morning. But I do love Saturdays in the shop. There is such a nice casual vibe and I love having time to chat with you all.

As you can see above we have some beautiful new cushions and a very special vintage framed Indian skirt in our back lounge room and we also just had a new delivery of the fabulous acrylic LOVESTAR love heart vases as below. They can be hung on the wall or placed on a table and look fabulous when filled with fresh flowers!

Talking about out back lounge room at the store, if you haven't been in lately here's a little peek into our world {above}.

We have also been busy decorating some beautiful houses. Here's a snapshot of a bedroom we finished for some clients last week.

I also recently hung a large art cluster wall at my parent's house. Lots of old treasured pictures, a couple of which belonged to my great grandmother are now up and being admired by all who see them.

I think that brings you up to speed but keep checking my instagram for more up-to-date info and pictures!!

xx
Anna

Not Perfect

2013-02-13T17:33:00.001+10:00

So I will admit, I'm not perfect. A couple of posts ago I said I was going to post more and look what happens, I post less! Jeez Louise! But in all reality who and what is perfect and is perfect really what we want in life?

Look at this room above. I consider this room to be a little on the imperfect side and yet this a room I could love and live in and be perfectly at home in. It must be said that the look of imperfection in a home is forgiving and comfortable and something that you can't try too hard to achieve.

In a similar way this room invites you in to it's slightly dishevelled realm. It has that familiar look about it, as though you may have seen it before.

One of my Instagram friends, Jenny Rose-Innes posted the cover of the latest World of Interiors on Instagram earlier this week and in it's imperfect glory it made me instantly wish that I had the magazine in my hands. All of these pictures I have posted here today are from The World of Interiors - a magazine which I think really does embrace and depict so very well interiors with imperfection and true, soulful beauty.

So there you go, not being perfect is actually a lovely thing after-all!

Back soon...maybe!
xx
Anna

Acts of Kindness

2013-01-14T22:28:00.000+10:00

This morning, before I left the house, I received 2 beautiful and completely unexpected gifts. The first one arrived at my door whilst I was still in bed at around 6.45am. I heard a 'ooh hoo, hello Anna' and I quickly sprung out of my bed. Looking completely dishevelled I opened the front door. It was the lady across the road bringing me a big bowl of her home-grown figs which she had just picked from the tree in her back yard. Despite being a bit surprised by her early arrival I was so excited to receive such a generous and thoughtful gift.

The second gift appeared on the bench in our kitchen at around 7.30am just after I had finished getting dressed. It was a beautiful vase of pale pink spray roses. Caroline, who helps me with a few things at home, picked them out of her garden early this morning for me.

I can't begin to tell you how special these little acts of kindness made me feel today. They also reminded me that I need to do things like this more. I need to share the happiness my garden gives me just like these 2 very special ladies did today.

I took the pretty pink spray roses into Black & Spiro and placed them on a coffee table in the shop as they won't last very long. I didn't want to leave them in our empty house all day with nobody around to enjoy them. I wanted everyone who visited the shop today to see them and enjoy their divine scent. You can see them too in the picture above which I posted on Instagram earlier today.

The figs I am going to deliver to my mother tomorrow so that she can make a tart with them. Small kind gestures really do bring big happy smiles!!

Back Into The Swing

2013-01-09T15:47:00.000+10:00

How does one get back into the swing of things after a couple of weeks spent at the beach lazing around like a lizard in the sun? The ease of Island time is replaced with peak hour traffic and let's be honest, it's like a big slap in the face with the opening of the inbox!!

For me it is all about sssslllloooowwlly easing back into it. However, it makes it even harder when you know that most people are still away enjoying themselves.

One of the lovliest things the summer holiday has given me is a fresh, clear mind. I feel motivated and excited. Thank goodness!!

And in the spirit of my new-found inspiration I have been playing around in the shop this week with a few fresh table vignettes incorporating some flowers and foliage from home. That's what I call slowly easing my way back into it in a lovely creative way. Next week will be a different story, I am sure!

Conversations, Thoughts & Conclusions

2012-12-17T11:54:00.002+10:00

Before I start I will warn you this is one of those long, drawn-out blog posts so just close me down now if you're not interested!!xx

Over the past week or so I've had some pretty inspiring conversations with a few people I love. It seems that my recent 'missing in action' approach when it comes to the blog really isn't good enough and maybe just maybe some of you might be missing my chatter. Sitting on a plane with 2 beautiful friends earlier this week talking about all things me and all things them it became quite clear to me that I have kind-of left you guys in the lurch here. The ease and convenience of Instagram has taken over but I want you to know I am going to try harder to post more regularly because I think I have actually missed writing down my thoughts and sharing my passions here. That's not to say I will be back everyday but anything more than I have been doing will be better...won't it?

The days of my life have been very full this past year and the projects I have been involved in and the people I have had the great fortune of working with have made this year a wonderful one. You know how there are great years and not-so-great years, well when this year of 2012 clicked into action back in January I was a bit worried about the months which lay ahead. With all the talk of the economy and the negativity in the air, I wasn't so sure of how things would be this year. If you didn't know, I am a worrier from way back {just like my father} but as one of my clients pointed out to me a few weeks ago the more you worry, the more successful you become because worriers think about every single little detail and in this profession, detail is paramount.

One of the most exciting things about this year has been the work I have done for clients in Sydney. To have people from afar ask me to help them with their homes is something which actually gives me goosebumps. Sydneysiders have such talented Designers at their fingertips and for them to call me all the way up here in Pineapple territory is a pretty exciting thing!

Having completed quite a number of projects in and around Sydney this year as well as still working on a few, it has made me think more and more about our presence in my favourite Australian city (besides Brisbane of course)! Ideas are swirling and conversations are being had so watch out Sydney. It may not be tomorrow but my sights are set.

One of the things on my to do list this year was our Black & Spiro website and unfortunately I won't be able to tick that one off before we move into 2013 despite trying so hard to do so!! Don't you hate it when people say 'our website is coming'...how annoying!! However, I am thrilled to say that it certainly will be up and running in the early months of the new year. I am very excited about this website because it is really looking so beautiful and there are some wonderful new projects on it which will be very exciting for you all to see.

Sitting on my verandah feeling the bay breeze sweep away my tiredness from the crazy week that was I think about the holidays which are approaching. I dream of days with no schedules, days of sun, surf, sleep and fun and in amongst all of that I will be finishing the first draft manuscript of my book which is due into Penguin at the end of January and maybe getting my thoughts together on a few new wallpaper designs because it seems that Porters want me to do another collection with them in 2013.

Busy times lay ahead but for now let's enjoy the Spirit of Christmas because as we all know it only comes round once in a year!

Xx
Anna

image 1 - Photo of coffee table top I arranged at client's house last week, image 2 - Xmas wreath at Black & Spiro made by Kara Hynes aka LuluLucky for Mr & Mrs G Bar.

Black & Spiro Christmas Flea!!

2012-11-23T12:21:00.004+10:00

Don't forget we are having our exciting Black & Spiro Christmas Flea next Saturday 1st December at the store. We have a wonderful round-up of beautiful things including lots of hand-made items by some very talented Brisbane girls and also my Harry has made some fabulous painted rock ornaments. We have some vintage pieces, Christmas baked goods and not to mention a few very special bargains including some of our remnant fabrics which always seem to get snapped up very quickly!!

Also, we know how long that queue gets so this time we have 3 portable eftpos machines ready to go which will hopefully speed things up for you all!! It's set to be another fun Black & Spiro day! We hope to see you!

xx
Anna

Christmas Is Coming...

2012-11-07T12:42:00.002+10:00

Hello! Can you believe that Christmas is here again??!! We are madly putting the finishing touches to our Christmas window displays which {fingers and toes crossed} will be installed next week!! Every year we put much thought and work into our Christmas windows and this year I am very excited about what we are creating! So, keep watching and don't forget we are having our exciting Christmas Flea market at Black & Spiro on Saturday 1st December...mark your diaries!!

xx
Anna

Black & Spiro Hosts The School

2012-10-31T14:19:00.000+10:00

Last weekend Black & Spiro was so excited to host Megan Morton and her wonderful School of creative teachers upstairs in our Design Studio. Having just launched her 2nd book here in Brisbane at Camargue last week, Megan is in high demand and we were so thrilled to be part of her amazing whirlwind week in her hometown with her gorgeous French assistant Sophie.

Our staircase was lined with her signature pineapples.

The first class was held by Sydney florist Holly Hipwell where students were taught how to make one of Holly's signature flower bombs using carnations.

Kara aka Lulu Lucky's son, Charlie was first to finish! You are so clever Charlie!!

My Harry and all of the Black & Spiro girls took part in Kara's (Lulu Lucky) class in which she taught the art of making a Polish paper chandelier. We all had so much fun. I hung our chandeliers in our lounge room at home to try to get in the festive mood for Christmas which is just around the corner!!

I also did Rachel Castle's screen printing class and it too was so amazing. Here's what my friend and client Helen created. So gorgeous!!

Thank you Megan for bringing The School to Brisbane. It was truly wonderful. If you would like to go to Sydney to do one of the fabulous classes on offer then just head over to their website - www.theschool.com.au. I would love to do some of the Christmas classes which are coming up in the next few weeks!!

xx
Anna

The Design Files Brisbane Guide

2012-10-26T09:38:00.001+10:00

Have you seen the wonderful Brisbane (Mini) City Guide posted by Lucy on The Design Files yesterday? What a wonderful round-up of Brisbane stores, cafes and galleries. We were so excited to be included in Lucy's picks. To see the full list click HERE. Thank you Lucy for listing Black & Spiro. We are so chuffed!! And thank you Toby Scott for photographing our store so beautifully.xx

Exotic Faraway Places

2012-10-25T13:23:00.001+10:00

When Brad announced to me that he wanted to go to Hawaii, a place we have visited many times and loved over the years, for his 40th Birthday, my heart fell into my stomach. Being that his birthday falls in October, our busiest month of the year at Black & Spiro, I thought there would be no way on earth I would be able to pull it off. However, just a few days ago we came home from one of the most magical holiday's we've ever had and Black & Spiro is still open and under control thanks to my gorgeous girls who have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to have everything perfectly executed.

For me Hawaii is a place where I find so much inspiration. The tropical-retro beach vibe and the casual pace really resonates with me and I have come home feeling well, happy, excited and rejuvenated...

My happy holiday snaps can be seen on my instagram but here are a few of my faves. Hope you enjoy and if you can get to this magical place then do so because you won't regret it. Maybe you will fall-in-love with it like we have and make the pilgrimage back each year. It really is one very special place where memories are made, happiness resides and dreams come true.

Flowers on my Table

2012-10-11T20:02:00.001+10:00

I couldn't agree more!!

xx
Anna

image 1 - via pretty stuff

Hello

2012-10-02T11:57:00.002+10:00

Have you seen the latest issue of Adore Magazine yet? We were so excited to have Mr & Mrs G Bar {which we just completed a couple of months ago} featured. Thank you Loni and Jen Bishop for the wonderful story. Click HERE to read...

Over the weekend I thoroughly enjoyed reading and flipping through Claire Lloyd's new book, My Greek Island Home. Isn't the cover divine! I also spotted this behind the scenes video...CLICK HERE to watch. The book is out this week just in case you wanted to pick up your own copy. Mine is sitting on the top of my book pile on my coffee table and the cover catches my eye every time I walk passed it!!

Wasn't it great having a long weekend this weekend just gone! I spent my entire weekend pottering around at home in the garden and around the house. I purchased these pretty hydrangea pots from Lulu Lucky at our Spring Flea last month and I can't believe how much they have grown. I have never had much luck with hydrangeas but I think the trick is to water them every day without fail and keep them out of our very hot sun.

And to finish this quick little post, here's a picture of our bedroom display at Black & Spiro which I shared on Instagram last week. Lots of pretty things in store at the moment!

xx
Anna

News & Stuff

2012-09-17T20:00:00.002+10:00

If you've dropped into Black & Spiro on a Saturday lately you may have bumped into Archie our Golden Retriever friend. He's the best behaved dog I've ever come across and happily sits wherever he is told to...I wish he'd teach our Ned a few of his good behaviour tricks!!

We've been very busy these past few weeks installing some beautiful jobs including this very special house on the beach which we have been working on for 2 years since planning stage. Everything turned out just as we had planned and it really does look quite spectacular. I think one of my (and the client's) favourite things is the wonderful custom made armchair which we had made below using a kilim rug...

And here's a snippet of another house we have just installed. I was so excited the first time I visited this lovely old house when I spotted the round dining room which we have decorated with mismatched dining chairs and a fabric covered pendant light.

On the home front, our sweet peas are in flower.

And so is the Lavender.

And in other exciting news, guess who is coming to Brisbane? Megan Morton and her amazing school of talented artists and craftspeople. And guess where they are holding the classes? Upstairs at Black & Spiro!! We are so excited about hosting The School. If you would like to book a place in one of the classes (which will be held over 4 days towards the end of October) then just click on the website HERE to book your seat!! But hurry as you wouldn't want to miss out because it will be AMAZING!!

xx Anna

Baby, Cushions, House & Garden

2012-09-11T19:05:00.000+10:00

Look at this gorgeous visitor we recently had at Black & Spiro! She fits right in sitting there amongst our pretty mismatched cushions!

Did you see our little feature in this month's House & Garden? We were so thrilled to be involved! Thanks H&G for asking us!!xx

xx
Anna

Spring has Sprung!

2012-09-03T21:06:00.000+10:00

Not a day goes by without me being thankful for the beautiful flowers which grow in our garden. They really do bring me so much joy. This wonderful bunch of things which I picked last week certainly confirmed the presence of Spring here and even though the official first day of Spring occurred last Saturday, I think here in Brisbane we've been experiencing the loveliness of Spring weather for the past few weeks.

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, last Saturday we held an exciting and unprecedented Spring Flea market at Black & Spiro.

We collaborated with a few local artisans including the very talented artist Pip Boydell whose work we have all fallen-in-love with since her first exhibition at Black & Spiro last Christmas. Just like her first exhibition, her pieces on Saturday sold-out within the first couple of hours. All 17 pieces...sold!

We were also very excited to have the incredibly creative Kara Hynes & Ellen Newman from Lulu Lucky display their wares. The girl's pieces were absolutely beautiful. I couldn't help but bring a few of their divine pot plants home for our verandah...not to mention the fabulous multi-coloured Hmong clutches!!

My little garden posies proved to be very popular along with the delicious home-baked treats by Lora Calvisi...the proceeds of which will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul. We were also thrilled to have a few of Vanessa Macphail's original artworks for sale and a huge thank you to her for doing the amazing chalk street signs...she is one talented girl!!

The other amazing, hard-working and talented girls I would like to mention are Olivia, Alexandra & Sarah...my wonderful team of girls at Black & Spiro. Without them Saturday would never have been. From sewing a patchwork of fabric for our window diplay and bunting for the street to organising the invitations, the stock, the packaging of the baked goods, the list goes on and on. These girls are the backbone of Black & Spiro and they must be thanked and bowed down to because they are a wonderful, hard-working, happy and obliging bunch of girls!!

This brings me to you..the clients, the friends, the supporters, the followers...I must say that you, YES YOU, never cease to amaze me on days like Saturday. I really was blown away by the turn-out with one lady lining up before I arrived at 6.30am and then as it approached 9am the line just got bigger and bigger and bigger. I can't believe that you all line up there like that. I really can't. And you all do it so nicely and orderly and you are all so friendly to each other. The sense of community spirit is there in that line-up and it follows right through to that dreaded line to pay. I worked on the till at this event and I will admit to you that it stressed me to no end that you all had to wait so long to pay for your lovely things. But again you all stood there so patiently and hapilly. So I would like to thank you for your amazing support and I want you to know that I feel so special that you all come along and enjoy what we do.

I would also like to say that we are planning a Christmas Flea which we hope to hold around the 1st of December....perfect timing for Christmas gift-buying. What I want to achieve with these fleas is to encourage you all to support our local Brisbane up-and-coming artisans. I will be calling for submissions for our Christmas flea as we would like to add a few artisans to the line-up we already have. And next time I think we will hold it entirely in our carpark at Black & Spiro so that it can be bigger and better!!

Thank you again and I really hope you enjoyed our first Black & Spiro Flea Market. Let's support local artists, local craftspeople, local businesses because it wouldn't be the same without them!!

xx
Anna