Baby, Cushions, House & Garden

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!

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

Black & Spiro Spring Flea

I am so thrilled to finally let the cat out of the bag! On Saturday 1st September we will be holding a very exciting Spring Flea Market on the front footpath at Black & Spiro. There will be lots of wonderful treasures to find including some special little paintings by Pip Boydell, jewellery and accessories including some amazing clutches and neon sparkly collars by Lulu Lucky & Ellen Newman, home-made cakes and biscuits, some fabulous vintage and antique pieces found here and in NYC, fresh flowers including some sweet peas from my own garden and also some other very special things we are offering which will make for bargain buying!


We hope to see you. The fun starts at 9am and will run through until 3pm on the first day of Spring!!
xx
Anna

All Over The Countryside...

These colourful feet certainly have travelled some miles over the past few weeks with a few days in Melbourne spent hunting down special things for clients and Black & Spiro.  And then another road trip but this time out to the West visiting new clients and unearthing some wonderful and exciting new projects.

The weather was perfect out in the country earlier this week, and not only did I enjoy walking through some very beautiful country homes with their lovely owners, I actually enjoyed getting away from the city for a few days.  I know I always talk about a breath of fresh air but it was so nice to get out into the big wide countryside and smell that divine fresh, crisp Winter air!

Back at Black & Spiro the girls have enjoyed unpacking lots of wonderful new things which have been arriving this past week including these beautiful new throws and bed quilts.

And you should see the beautiful floor rugs which also just arrived this week.  Here's a snippet just to whet your appetite. I'm in-floor-rug-love!

At home we have been enjoying the bounty of fresh poppies our garden has been supplying us with.  I am sad that they are almost over for the season.  Their ruffling petals make me feel so happy.

And just in case you're interested we have a very exciting event hapenning at Black & Spiro in the coming weeks so make sure you keep checking back here on the blog and on my instagram feed for updates.  It will be something you won't want to miss!! 

xx
Anna

Hello

Hello!  How are you all?  I am still here...just in case you are wondering.  I have decided to just slow down the posts a bit on the blog.  My life is crazy busy and I realise that I do need to take some time to smell the roses so-to-speak!  That doesn't mean that I am departing from this space, it just means that I might only post once or twice a week instead of 4-6 times per week.  If you do want to keep up with my travels on a more regular basis then just follow me on instagram.  I find instagram so quick and easy and I love following everyone else as well!!  My instagram name is - annaspiro just in case you want to follow!!

Talking about Instagram I fell in-love with this beautiful picture Vogue Australia posted today of this old Vogue cover.  Isn't is fabulous!  I could design an entire room around the colours on that cover!  So beautiful!!!xx

In other news our gorgeous Ally who joined our team at Black & Spiro a few months ago is currently in New York doing a bit of buying for us.  She is also hunting for some very special things for an exciting event we have coming up early September...more on that later!!  Look where she is right as I type this post....The Surf Lodge in Montauk!  I can't wait to see all the gorgeous goodies she brings home for the store.

If you are around New Farm this week make sure you drop in as we have some beautiful new lamps just in!  Look at these fabulous Teapot and Teacup lamps.  So much fun and so well-priced!!
 

Have you visited Mr & Mrs G Riverbar yet?  Did you like it??  If you go you must try the meatballs and have a Cosmo...you won't regret it.

And finally, I just adore this divine image which I have pinned on my pin-board at the moment as my inspiration for Summer!  Lots of blue, green, yellow, coral and natural!!

Until next time. 

xo

Anna

Something New

Sometimes we all crave a bit of a fresh new look in our homes. I know I'm always craving a bit of new here and a bit of new there.  But it doesn't have to be an entire makeover of the lounge room or bedroom or dining room.  It can just be a very simple addition like this little old cane table and blue and white planter pot and books which one of our very special Black & Spiro customers put together in her home last week.  She popped into B&S last Saturday and picked up the table and put a few of her other B&S purchases on top with some fresh orchids in the pot.  What a breath of fresh air and so easily, quickly and inexpensively thrown together!!

xx
Anna

Mr & Mrs G Riverbar Open

I'm so excited to finally share a few snapshots of the fabulous new bar I have been working on in the city here in Brisbane which just opened late this afternoon.  Located right on the edge of the Brisbane River, Mr & Mrs G Riverbar has, in my humble opinion, one of the best views in Brisbane! 

The bar is named after it's owners Marcia & Andy Georges who have owned and operated Il Centro Restaurant here in Brisbane for the past 20 years!  The new bar is located just in front of their restaurant and is certainly the perfect place to spend an afternoon/evening with friends admiring the amazing view of the Story Bridge and enjoying wonderful tapas and of course a few drinks!

I worked with Marcia from conception of the bar.  We chose all the fabrics, furniture, cushions, wallpaper, lights, tiles and finishes together and I think it has been a wonderful collaboration of ideas.  One of my most favourite things is the wall of old photos, newspaper clippings, menus etc. which I came up with only last Monday!  We were going to place a painting on the wall but I thought it would be so special to do a wall which explained to their customers who they are and their history in the restaurant industry here in Brisbane.  I met with my beautiful framer last Tuesday and we selected some wonderful frames some of which were in his old shed.  I couldn't believe my luck when I found some of the most wonderful vintage frames hidden away in the back of the shed.  Everyone who has seen the wall is shocked to find out that all of the pieces have just been framed!  They look like they have been away in a cupboard for years and years...just the look I wanted to achieve!  In only 5 working days he framed up 29 pieces for our special wall and when we hung the wall yesterday there certainly were a few tears shed!!

And I am also thrilled that we were able to include a wall in the restaurant wallpapered in my Higgledy Piggledy Stripe wallpaper in the blue and white colourway.  Oh and look up to the ceiling when you walk into the bathrooms! 

Anyway, enough of my ramblings!  I do hope you can pop in to enjoy the atmosphere at the new Mr & Mrs G Riverbar!  I am sure it will exceed your expectations!  It is truly divine and I am so proud to have been involved!  Here's to another huge success for you Andy & Marcia and thank you for asking me to be involved in such a wonderful project!!xx
Anna

Sneak Peek

I thought I would share a little sneak peek of the bar front at the new Mr & Mrs G Bar which I have been working on and which is set to open here in Brisbane by the end of next week!!  We have used a patchwork of hand-painted blue and white tiles on the front of the bar as above!  It's going to be such a beautiful place!  I'll definitely post more pictures once it opens next week!!
xx
Anna

Pretty Poppies

I must say I am a little bit obsessed with the poppies we are growing in our garden at the moment.  They just seem to be sprouting out everywhere.  Their ruffling petals are so pretty and the colours so bright and uplifting!!   Here are a couple of photos I took on the weekend of some I cut for the house.
xx
Anna

Seeking Clarity



One of the things I love so much about using white as a background on surfaces like walls, floors, cabinetry and even sofas, armchairs and bedding is that you can layer lots of colour on top or strip it back to it's bare self and simplify.  It's just so flexible.  With my thoughts turning to planning our Summer look here at Black & Spiro I am craving a bit of clarity this week so maybe that's why I am posting these tonal white-on-white photos to strip back the colour, clear my head and start again.

xx

Anna 

image 1 - john derian, image 2, 3, 4 via pretty stuff, image 5 via art and lair blog, image 5 via pretty stuff

More Bits of Treasure

Over the weekend I opened up an old timber box which had been hiding away in a cupboard.  Inside I found some old special things I hadn't seen in a while.  I pulled them out and made myself think of where each piece came from.  Even Harry & Max were excited to look into the old timber and brass kaleidescope to see the most beautiful colourful shapes.  That's the special thing about collecting beautiful things you can put them away and rediscover them all over again years later.  Instead of throwing away or giving away things you might be tired of why don't you pack them up and store them so that you don't miss out on the joy they can give you all-over-again in a few years time.

xx

Anna

My Treasure

When you look at this picture you see lots of stuff.  When I look at this picture I see special things which hold memories from places I have been and experiences I have had. 

For example, the Antique silver photo frames I bought at the Notting Hill markets in London a few years ago.  They house special photos of my Harry when he was little.  The rock with the shell embedded in it was handed to me by Harry when we were on a beach on a family trip to New Zealand a couple of years back.  The flat stone sitting in front of it I found recently on a beach at Coffs Harbour when Olivia and I were on our Sydney Road Trip.  The little still life oil painting I found in a market in Paris when I visited there with some friends a couple of years ago and the pretty fresh flowers were picked from my garden over the weekend and include my first 4 poppies for this season.

Every single item on that chest of drawers is a piece of treasure which I cherish.  I didn't just buy these things to fill the top of my chest.  That's not what it's about.  I have collected these things and every piece holds a very special memory. 

xx
Anna

Perfect Fire Weather

Gee it's cold!  Perfect weather for a fire. If I had my way I think I would have both of our fireplaces lit 24/7.  Remember my old French chair covered in the vibrant stripe which you can see in the picture above?  Well, I think it might be time to recover it.  I'm imagining something simple like a ticking.  I bet you think I'm mad but I want to tone it down in our lounge room.  Maybe I'll just put it in another room and cover another chair.  Not sure yet.  Obviously I've had too much spare time on my hands today with the public holiday!  I'll let you know what I decide. 

xx
Anna

Art & Other Things

Have you seen the beautiful Adam Lester exhibition currently on at Jan Murphy Gallery here in Brisbane?  I took my 2 boys, Harry and Max to see the wonderful paintings last Saturday mainly because Harry loves to draw and I thought Adam Lester's work would resonate with him.  He certainly came away feeling very inspired by the cargo ships, roosters and cowboys and as a result he has been drawing all week, even in the car on the way to school.

Here is one of his little creations.  He obviously has the same love for colour as his mother.  His neon coloured pencils seem to be the shortest in the pencil case.

Look at this beautiful bounty of textiles which currently exist in our bedroom display at Black & Spiro.  The vintage suzani on the bed is one of the most beautiful pieces of cloth we have ever had.  It is quite difficult to find old suzani textiles with white backgrounds and CLEAN white background suzanis are even harder to come by.  So this one is certainly a special piece of treasure and it's lovely large size fits perfectly on the end of our bed.

Here are a couple of other new things we have in store at the moment. 

Look at this fabulous combination of colour.  I adore pink and red together.  It's such a quirky, almost eccentric combination don't you think?  This little cluster of special things sit on a side table in my friend's apartment in Sydney where we stayed last week.  Thank you Mrs G.  You're apartment is divine.

Talking about Sydney, I really miss you and I really miss Mike's cooking.  I wish we had something like you in Brisbane Mike {Kitchen by Mike}.  Look at the fabulous arrangement of fruit and veges so effortlessly placed on an old trestle table at Mikes and isn't the old set of scales TO-DIE-FOR! 

Mum - don't you have an old set of scales like this?  Pllleeeeeeaaase can I have them?!?!

xx
Anna

Sydney Road Trip - Part 2

Here are just a few snaps of the house we installed in Darling Point whilst we were in Sydney last week.  Why did I forget to take photos of the Main Bedroom?  Hopeless!  I will try to get some more shots when I am back at the house later in the year as there is more work to deliver over the coming months.

I love that this is a very sophisticated house but one which still embraces our love of colour and pattern.

xx

Anna

PS - sorry the photos are a bit dark - I took them with Instagram.xx