Black & Spiro Hosts The School

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

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

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

I couldn't agree more!!

xx
Anna

image 1 - via pretty stuff

Hello

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

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

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