Black & Spiro Today

Some of our beautiful new things, which we bought on our recent trips to Sydney, have started arriving into the shop. One of my favourite pieces is the vintage French Gilt settee above, although we have already sold it to a lovely client in Singapore. The girls are having so much fun unpacking our new things...it's almost like Christmas in March!!

*NB. Click on image to enlarge.

Accidently Pink & Yellow

It was actually an accident that these three photos landed together despite the fact that they are all connected by way of colour. I was searching through my picture files on my laptop today and stumbled across them sitting there together in a row and I thought oh my goodness they all match! So, I had to share them with you considering pink and yellow is a favourite colour combination of mine!!

The first photo is a snapshot of the table setting at my 30th Birthday party. The second image is one I loved from My Notting Hill's blog. And finally, the third image is my brother with my son at a recent family gathering at my Aunty's house, both fast asleep on a cane chair on the verandah!!

I Love Bows

I have this thing for bows. I can't help it. I just love them. So you can imagine how excited I was last month when I saw the new release Designers Guild fabric & wallpaper collection ...there's a bow fabric {see image below} in the new collection which I am completely in love with. We have ordered it for our windows at Black & Spiro...I can hardly wait for its arrival!!

Image 1 & 2 - Flickr; Image 3 & 4 - Designers Guild

Skillful Sailor

I didn’t anticipate coming back here as soon as this however, I also didn’t realize what an important job I have here. I knew there were many people out there who visited ABT on a daily basis but I had no idea of the important part it played each day in my readers life and also in my own.

Sometimes in this crazy, stressful world we live in we can lose sight of where we are going…the clouds can move over and the rain can start to pour down. Sometimes we question ourselves, our ability and what we are doing. It’s times like these we need a break away to reassess, review, rethink and make ourselves aware of what we really love doing. I love posting here on my blog and I love being a part of this amazing community of design loving people. I also love my career and I also love my family and friends. I don’t want to give up on any of these things even when the going does get tough {like it did last week} as these are the things which make me happy. I read a great quote this week which said…."smooth seas do not make skillful sailors". I realize now that I need to find a balance between my family and friends, my career and my blog so that when the seas decide to swell again I will be better prepared to cope with the onslaught.

Chelsey Turner from Philadelphia, USA sent me an email this week which, after reading it, I felt compelled to return here. It was my turning point. Chelsey agreed to let me share some of her email with you…

“I found your blog one rainy day. My mother had said "do something beautiful this weekend," but it was pouring outside. So on a whim, I googled "beautiful things," and Absolutely Beautiful Things came up. How truly serendipitous.

Ever since, when the day gets too hectic at my office in Philadelphia, and I need something beautiful for an uplifting moment, I take a quick visit. I've forwarded your Rodney Smith photos to my company's graphic artists, I've forwarded your interior designs to my mother in Atlanta, I've forwarded your vintage photos to my roommates' work e-mail boxes to give them something gorgeous to get them through the day...time and time again.

So, please enjoy your "Time Out," and I hope your "reassessment" brings you much joy and a true path for your life and career. And know that at least one yank in Philadelphia will miss your blog, and is tremendously appreciative for all the little joys you gave her...because little joys is what life is all about.”

Thank you for your extremely kind comments, emails, phone calls, hand written notes and blog posts. To say I am overawed is an understatement.

Like me, you all crave inspiration. Like me, you all get a buzz from seeing new/exciting/beautiful things. And finally, like me you all very much enjoy being here at ABT. So, from here-on-in I plan to be here, maybe not every day but certainly as often as I feel like it. I hope I can continue to inspire you as you do me.

xx
Anna

Time Out

Hello again. I have decided I need some time away from the blog. I'm not sure when I will be back but I would like to thank you all for your encouragement and support over the past 2 1/2 years. This journey has certainly been a fantastic one.

If anyone would like to keep in contact with what's happening at Black & Spiro please email kelly at kelly@blackandspiro.com.au so that she can add you to our emailing list. This year we have started emailing all of our customers intermittently images of our new stock and jobs we have been working on so do make sure you email Kell so that you can be kept in the loop.

Also, my Black & Spiro website will be up and running in a couple of months so do stay tuned for that.

I do hope to come back soon but I just need some time to re-assess what I am doing and where the blog is going. I hope you understand.

xx

Anna

See You Next Week!!

Wow it certainly has been a busy day today. I drove up to Peregian Beach {1 1/2 hours North of Brisbane} this morning to look at a gorgeous beach house one of my clients has just purchased. It's going to be a great project and I can't wait to start putting the scheme together!! I drove back down to Brisbane this afternoon and gosh I must say I was exhausted!!

Well that's it from me for this week as I am leaving for Sydney again in the morning. I am really looking forward to it as I'll be with my 3 Black & Spiro girls and a friend of mine is also joining us. We're catching up with another Brisbane gal tomorrow night for drinks so there will be lots of fun in amongst lots of hunting for beautiful things. I have a huge list of things to hunt down for clients and I'm so much looking forward to meeting some new clients down there too....It certainly is going to be very busy!! I'll be back here next Tuesday.

Oh, and I'm leaving you with this beautiful room by Phoebe Howard....I think I'm obsessed with her work {Mum you should definitely check out her site as I know you'd love her work too}!! Hope you all have a fun weekend!!

xx
Anna

*Reminder

This is something I really need to try to do more often!! How about you?

image via ffffound.com

Phoebe Howard's New Blog

Totally in love with U.S. Designer Phoebe Howard's new blog, Mrs Howard Personal Shopper written by Leah Kennelly!! Click HERE to check it out!!! I love this ink blue and white room above which she recently posted...especially the high gloss paint on the walls!!

City Apartment

Here are some {not so great} pictures of an apartment in Brisbane city which I finished late last year. The owners, who are a professional couple with no children, wanted a comfortable apartment with a slight Eastern influence. It's a little bit different to my usual style....I suppose it's a bit more modern, clean line and definitely not as colourful which is nice for a change!!

Appointments in Sydney

Image - Anna Spiro - Hawthorne House

Goodmorning! How are you all today? How was your weekend?

This week I'm heading back down to Sydney with the Black & Spiro girls to do some more buying for the shop and for clients. The girls are all very excited about our little trip as am I!!

I thought I would extend an invitation to anyone in Sydney who would like to make an appointment with me as I am going to be in Sydney from this Friday 20th February through to Tuesday 24th February. I am already meeting with a couple of clients on Sunday 22nd and thought I would let you all know just in case there is anyone else needing some help with their homes/offices.

You can email Kelly in my office to find out details and/or to make a time..... kelly@blackandspiro.com.au

Hope you all have a great Monday!!

Happy {Love Filled} Weekend!

Hope you have a wonderful, happy, love filled Valentines weekend!

I think a special love note makes a for heartfelt Valentines gift...If you look closely into my office artwork wall above {click image to enlarge} you will see a little love note I created last year for Pia's upcoming My Heart Wanders project! Can you see it?!

Image by Photographer Elouise Van Riet

Gage d'amour

Image - Anna Spiro

Here's a little Valentines tablescape I created today. Gage d'amour {meaning pledge of love}.

Today I Love...

This Samantha Hahn print...

Why Don't You...

Image - Thayer Photo

Invite some friends over this Valentines Day and dance the night away!!

An Alternative

Image - Jon Jensen Photographer via Frolic

These tough economic times call for alternative, less expensive options when decorating our homes.

I usually like to have fresh flowers at home each week but I must admit I have been restrictng myself from buying fresh flowers in an attempt at being less extravagant and a little more budget conscious.

However, cutting back on beautiful fresh flowers from the florist doesn't mean we have to go without! It just requires a little more effort on our own behalf.

If you too love having fresh flowers/foliage in your home this is what I suggest.....

Image - Francios Hallard via Moo Management

Head out into your garden and see what you can find. I went out into my garden today and came back inside with some wonderful foliage from my Travellers Palm. It really is amazing what you can find and don't be too picky. Just grab a large bunch so that when you get it inside you can bulk it up in a vase/jug.

I thought this picture {top} would inspire you....I love the blue and white jars filled with lots of beautiful green leaves...so fresh and so gorgeous and by the looks of it these arrangements have been created just by using fresh garden foliage!!

BTW - Courtney has offered another wonderful alternative to fresh flowers over at Style Court this week too.

*Reminder

"All you need is Love...."

John Lennon

Image - Thayer Photo

Inspired by Blogs

Sharnel's creation above using Ez's printable tags


Image above - via Ez @ Creature Comforts

Blogs certainly are a source of inspiration for so many people. With the demise of many favourite U.S. magazines more and more people worldwide are turning to Blogs to get their inspiration fix.

Over the few years I have been Blogging there have been more and more Blogs pop up which has certainly put the pressure on people like myself to think outside the square and to be continually inspiring for readers.

I think it is so interesting to see just how creative Bloggers are becoming. One such example of this is Ez over at Creature Comforts. She never ceases to amaze me. Her creativity and the effort she pours into her Blog is second to none.

My friend Sharnel was recently inspired by a post Ez at Creature Comforts did offering free Printable Valentines Teabag Wrappers and Tea Tags. Can you believe this? Ez created these amazing little things for her readers to print out and make. Now there's creative thinking for you!

Anyway, Sharnel emailed me a picture of what she created today using Ez's printable Tea Tags. She plans on giving them to her children to take to school to give to their teachers for Valentines Day.

As Sharnel said...."I thought it was a sweet way to show our appreciation for all the good they {teachers} do each day for our children. They can sit down and have a cuppa and bikkie!!"

So, if you would like to create some pretty Valentines Tea Tags click HERE to be directed to Ez's post.

You Mean The World To Me...

I very much like these pretty Valentines boxes D.Sharp created for Kate's Paperie. Add some chocolates, lollies, jewellery, a love note, a dinner invitation, a quote, a poem or a special vintage keepsake and voila you have the perfect Valentines Day gift for your loved one!

Send Cupcakes...

Sharnel & Keren at The Cupcake Company are donating all proceeds from their Valentines Day cupcake orders to the Victorian Fire Appeal so make sure you call them today to place an order!! My husband has just ordered some for all of the secretaries at his work....together we can all help our friends in Victoria!

**Click on brochure above to supersize contact details!

Little Happy Things

It may sound funny to you but these tiny little boxes which I bought in the South of France last year make me happy. They sit in a small cluster on my coffee table at home and each night I sit and I look at them and the pretty colours they throw. I think it is really interesting to think about the small things in our homes which make us happy on a day-to-day basis. What little things in your home make you happy?


Image - Anna Spiro