More Photos

Here are a few more photos which I took yesterday as promised.  My photos certainly don't do it all justice but I thought I'd share them anyway as this will be a beautiful cookbook once it is released.  I'll be sure to post about it's release date and further details as soon as I know. 

This is one of Marcia's mother's very old cookbooks above.  Her name is Mary and she is so beautiful. 

YUM!!!!

Marcia cooking in her kitchen.

3 Generations - Marcia, her mum Mary and her daughter Samantha.

Mary and Sam admiring the cake which Marcia made.  It is actually an old recipe of Mary's.  When they cut the cake later in the day Mary announced it wasn't as good as hers!!

It was a beautiful day surrounded by beautiful people.  Thank you Marcia for asking me to help you.  It was my absolute pleasure.  I can't wait to get a copy of the cookbook once it is released!!

Hope you have a great weekend.

xx

Anna

Marcia Georges' Cookbook

I feel very fortunate to have met Andy & Marcia Georges all those years ago.  I have been working for them in their home and in their very well-known and respected Brisbane restaurant, IL Centro, for.....I don't know how long.  It seems as though it's been many, many years. 

Today I was one of a team of people who came together at their home to style a very large number of family-favourite dishes Marcia had tirelessly prepared over the last 2 days which will feature in her upcoming cookbook.  We used lots of fabulous heirloom tablecloths, napkins, cutlery and china.  The cookbook is going to be full of their family history and the wonderful dishes they have shared throughout their lives.

I will post some more photos tomorrow but here's a sneak peek above.

Oh and if you didn't know, Marcia and Andy are opening a beautiful new bar which will be called Mr & Mrs G on the river in a new building in front of their restaurant in the next couple of months.  I have been very lucky to work on the interior of the bar and let me tell you Brisbane you are in for a big treat.  It will be something very special.

More pictures tomorrow, I promise!!

xx
Anna

Black & Spiro Today

A trip away always has me coming home planing a complete overhaul of the shop.  This week has started with us ordering new fabrics for curtains, window drops, armchairs, cushions and some new cabinetry to house our growing collection of vintage pieces like jugs, vases, plates etc.

We also have a very limited number of our I Love New York cushions in the store.  This year we have pink ones as well as white ones and on the back of each cushion is a special Black & Spiro fabric.

This vintage oil painting is one I purchased in NY and is now hanging in the store waiting for someone to take it home.  I absolutely love the carved timber frame and I will say that this one is going to be very hard to let go of...

Here's a little sneak peek of some of the fabrics we have arriving in the next couple of weeks. 

And this is only the very tip of the iceberg.  There are so many beautiful things coming it will be very exciting as the boxes start arriving over the next few weeks.

Happy Valentines Day.
xx
Anna

More Ben Pentreath

Further to my previous post look at this fabulous picture taken at Ben Pentreath's store in London!  What a wonderful and uplifting combination of colours and I love the Josef Frank fabric on the armchair mixed with the kilim stripe on the side chairs and the blue and white ginger jars!  I really love his style.

Flowers & Things

These were my last dahlias and asters for the season.  Our garden is currently completely bare with the soil airing ready for our next plantings in March.  I miss being able to head out to the garden and cut a fresh bunch of flowers.

Talking about flowers and gardening I must share my new favourite blog with you.  You may have already discovered it but if you haven't then I suggest you head over to Ben Pentreath's blog.  It is divine in every single way.  I love the images he posts of his beautiful country house and his garden and his store, some of which I have posted above.  So beautiful.

Oh and I know this is a bit random but I loved how this picture matched the pictures above.  It was featured in House of Fifty online magazine and was created by Naomi over at Design Manifest.

Hope you have a great weekend.
xx
Anna

Florence in NY

This sign advertising Kate Spade's collaboration with our very own Florence Broadhurst is painted over the entire side of a building down in Soho.  It's hard to miss.  When we visited one of the Kate Spade store's late last week they were just preparing the store for the arrival of the Broadhurst collection.  Even the tissue paper used to wrap my couple of small purchases was printed in FB neon coloured pattern. 

xx

Anna

Chic NYC Dogs

As mum and I were walking down the street in Soho this afternoon we came across this man and his very cute dogs.  He allowed me to take a photo.  I had to share it with you!!

xx

Anna

Chance Encounters

My days in NYC have been very busy and very productive.  I have enjoyed uncovering some wonderful treasures and meeting some lovely people along the way. 

Earlier today I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  As I walked out the front door of The Crosby Street Hotel where we are staying, who should be standing right in front of me?  I could hardly believe my eyes...it was Kit Kemp who is the owner and designer of The Crosby Street Hotel.

My knees went a little shaky and butterflies started to fly ferociously around inside my stomach however, despite my nervous state I approached her and said hello.  I told her I would never usually do something like this. However, I know how much I would have re regretted it if I didn't pluck up the courage to say hello.  She was so kind and so lovely.  We spent a few minutes chatting about various things and I must say, having admired her for such a long time, including posting about her work, her home and her hotels here on the blog over the years, it was one of the most wonderful and exciting encounters of my life!!

Another wonderful experience I had today was being invited to Betsy Morgan's beautiful house for afternoon tea.  Betsy, who is an Interior Designer here in NYC and her husband own a DIVINE 5 storey townhouse in Chelsea.  We enjoyed a tour of her home and in doing so met her 2 beautiful daughters and chatted about all things New York and Design. 

Betsy allowed me to take a few photos of her home which I am sharing here today. You may think you have seen Betsy's home before.  Well you are probably right as it has been used for some pretty well-known photo shoots including the photos taken by Mario Testino of Sarah Jessica Parker for Vogue.  That's right, she's had Mario Testino and SJP in her home all at once.  AMAZING!

All in all it was such a wonderful and inspiring day.  Thank you Betsy for inviting us to your home for afternoon tea and thank you Kit Kemp for stopping to say hello to me.  I was completely and utterly starstruck!!

xx
Anna

Heading Off

Hope you have a great weekend.  Next week I'll be hitting the pavement in freezing cold New York city looking for some fabulous things to bring home for Black & Spiro and for a couple of exciting projects I am working on.  I must say I am very excited!!

So until then my friends, smile, laugh and have fun!!

xx
Anna

Admiring

Late last year I posted the entry foyer of this lovely house which was featured in the Dec/Jan 2012 issue of House Beautiful magazine.  It was such a wonderful surprise when I visited Heather at Habitually Chic this morning to discover that she recently visited this divine home which belongs to L.A. Designer Mark Sikes. 

Heather has prepared 2 fabulous posts which are chocker-block full of AMAZING images of Mark's Hollywood Hills home.  I think these 2 pictures above of his little sitting nook are my absolute favourite. 

I must say that this home is an example of white walls done extremely well.  It's so important to layer lots of fabulous bits and pieces, books, artwork, rugs, collections, fabrics and furniture on top of a blank canvas of white walls and floors.  And in my opinion, Mark has achieved the perfect balance here in his beautiful home.

Make sure you head over to Habitually Chic for the full scoop!

Happy Australia Day my Australian friends.  Hope you have a fabulous day!

xx

Anna

images - heather clawson for habitually chic

Fabulous Clashing Pattern

I've always been an ambassador for clashing pattern and colour.  It's  just so interesting and layered and scrumptious!  I loved this recent photo of Tory which I found on her inspiring blog.  It's clashing pattern heaven!

PS - Thanks for all the wonderful purchases in our Tag Sale!   It's been lots of fun!!  There's still a couple of things left...
xx
Anna

Exciting Black & Spiro Pink Tag Sale

I'm very excited to present a very special online pink tag sale today here on the blog. When we've held our big annual Black & Spiro sales in the past at our store in Brisbane our blog readers and interstate customers have all missed out and we've had lots of requests for an online sale. So, here it is...

Sale Conditions

• Each product in the flyers above has a number on it. Please quote the product number when you call to purchase
• To purchase an item all you have to do is dial our store number - O7 3254 3000 - and tell us which item you would like to purchase and then pay for it with a credit card over the phone. Or you can drop into the store and pay for the item with cash, eftpos or credit card
• There will be no holds. It will be a first in best dressed situation
• There will be no returns
• We can arrange for delivery. Delivery will be an extra charge
• If you are in Brisbane you can drop into the store to view an item prior to purchasing but please remember we cannot hold an item for you whilst you travel into the store to view it
• Item Numbers 6 & 7 are cushion covers
• For further information on any item listed above including dimensions or for a better photo of a particular item please email Claire at claire@blackandspiro.com.au or call us on the above phone number

Thanks so much for your interest!!  I hope you find a bargain.
xx
Anna

Fresh Orchids

It's so nice having some fresh flowers back in the shop.  We potted up one of our blue and white planters late last week with some fresh white orchids which we placed in the centre of our round entrance table as you walk into the store.  The best thing about orchids is that they last for such a long time!!

If you pop into the store you might also notice the fabulous large lantern light we have just installed above this table...sorry it didn't make it into the photo!  We have these lanterns custom made in any size and I must say I absolutely adore them.

By the way, I'll be posting our Pink Tag Sale here on the blog sometime tomorrow so make sure you keep an eye out for it!!

xx

Anna

Bliss

Doesn't this look like a beautiful spot for an afternoon rest! 
xx
Anna

Books & An Upcoming Online Pink Tag Sale

When I spotted this fabulous image over at My Notting Hill blog the other day it really struck a chord with me.  Sometimes when I am searching for something in an old book or magazine from my library at home, our bedroom can turn into something which pretty much looks like the room above.  I have books all over my bed, floor and bedside table and let me tell you it's not much fun when it's time to put them all away again!!

In other news I have decided to clear the decks at Black & Spiro so I'm having an exciting online Pink Tag Sale here on the blog early next week which should be lots of fun.  I am such a hoarder so it's time to move some things on and make some space for the new things I will be purchasing on an upcoming overseas buying trip.

So make sure you click back early next week as there will be some wonderful bargains to be had.  If you have ever been to one of our annual Black & Spiro sales at the store you will know that I'm pretty ruthless when it comes to my markdowns!!

xx

Anna

image 1 - via my notting hill blog - room by mimi weddell from casa vogue 2005 - photo by tim walker

Back to Work



I will admit it's been a little hard getting back into work this week after such a beautiful holiday.  I always think it's so much easier once the kids go back to school and the normal routine resumes.  Maybe next week once Harry is back at school I will be able to concentrate and come out from under the lampshade so-to-speak!

Talking about lamps I had to show you this amazing lamp which is actually one of a pair of vintage lamps we received into the store just before Christmas.  You can't really tell from the picture but they are quite large and so beautiful.  I haven't decided what lampshade I am going to put on them yet but they will feature in a window display in the coming weeks...that's if they don't sell before-hand.  I envy the lucky person who will end up with this lovely unique pair of lamps!!

xx

Anna

image 1 - via pretty stuff

Happy Summer Days

"Time slows at the Summer House.  The pile of books you have set aside for Summer reading awaits leisure time in the hammock.  The days begin and end in long shadows and quiet anticipation."  - Terry John Woods

Our Summer holiday was perfect in every single way.  We spent most days here at this beautiful beach swimming and playing in the sand.

We found lots of fabulous shells.  Harry's friend B found the big creamy coloured shell in the photo above.

Harry was obsessed with snorkeling in the big rock pools and looking for treasure.

And treasure he found.  He stumbled across this fabulous big old shell in one of the rock pools which he and his father snorkeled over the top of at high tide.  It now sits proudly on our sideboard at the beach house amongst all the other shells they have found over the years.

Ned our Golden Retriever spent every minute he possible could on the beach and if he wasn't swimming or running he could be found resting in the shade under the umbrella.

You couldn't wipe the smile from his face.  I am unsure who was the most depressed today coming home...Ned or Harry or Max or Brad...actually I think I was the most sad about leaving the beach.

Although most of our holiday was spent at Straddie we did manage to spend a few days down at my cousin's beach house at South Golden Beach just north of Byron.  Whilst there we visited the Easton Pearson pop-up shop and my cousin reminded me of the pop-up shop I opened about 12 years ago over at Straddie for the Summer.  It was called Holiday Things and I had totally forgotten about it until he reminded me of it.  Pop-up shops seem to be all the rage these days but 12 years ago nobody had really ever done it before....well around our part of the world anyway!!  Did anyone go to Easton Pearson's pop-up store in Byron or Noosa?  I absolutely loved the beach umbrella they had and if they were for sale I definitely would have bought one!!

Happy times were had.  There were lots of laughs and lots of cuddles and I cherished every single moment I had with them.  As Harry said when we drove off the barge this afternoon -  "it's now back to the real world mum..."

Hi!

Hi & Happy New Year!  How are you?  How was your Christmas?  I feel like I haven't been here in such a long time.  I actually switched myself completely off the Internet and computer for the entire holidays and I must admit I feel like a new person!! 

I'm not officially back from holidays until early next week but I thought I should pop in to say hello.  Did anyone see our special New Year window displays at Black & Spiro over the holidays?  If you haven't already seen them, make sure you take a drive passed as the talented Pip Boydell painted us the fabulous and vibrant fabric drop {as above} and the beautiful pair of big vintage pineapple lamps are a must see!!

Anyway, I'll be back with beautiful things to share next week.  Until then I'll be making the most of the last few days I have left with my boys at the beach...

xx
Anna