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