Shop News

 

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.   

xx

Anna

 

French Leave

  

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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!!

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...



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

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