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Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts

Help Me Name My Trellis Wallpaper

1:44 AM | Labels: Anna Spiro for Porters Paints, Giveaway, Me, Wallpaper

Here's a box full of my wallpaper designs for Porters Paints. It's getting very close with all the designs now signed off and colourways chosen. If you have dropped into our store of late you will know that our back 2 rooms are currently closed as we are redecorating them around my new wallpaper collection. We will also be photographing these rooms in the coming weeks as they will be used in the advertising for the new collection. There is exciting times ahead I promise!!

Here's a little sneak peek below of some of the designs and colourways....

It's hard to see in this picture however, I wanted the collection to have a beautiful hand-drawn look. I didn't want it to look like it had been generated by a computer. My favourite design is going to be called - Round and Round the Garden and it isn't in the picture above. You will have to wait until we launch in a couple of months time to see it. The trellis is yet to be named and the stripe is going to be called Higgledy Piggledy Stripe.

I was thinking it might be fun for you, my readers to name the trellis!! What do you think? I am opening this up to you and I hope that you will leave your ideas for the trellis name here in the comments section of this post. The person who thinks of the name I select will be sent 3 free rolls of my wallpaper in any colour/design they choose and this is open to readers anywhere in the world.

Please make sure you leave your email address when you leave your idea in the comments section below so that I can contact you!!

If you are unable to leave a comment here, then just email me - anna@blackandspiro.com.au and I will add your idea into the comment section below fo you.

The 3 free rolls will be sent out just after we launch the collection in a couple of months time. However, I need to decide on a name in the next week so this is open until next Friday 16th March, 2012.

Hope you will join in the fun!!

Anna

xx

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Hello & Goodbye

2:43 AM | Labels: Black + Spiro, Me, my home, Shop, Shop Display

In the early days of being married and setting up our first home, I think I did make a few hurried and maybe rash decisions when it came to buying furniture. I think it was because I wanted to have a beautiful house as quickly as I could. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that I started to collect beautiful antique furniture from such a young age but I do look back now and ask myself, why was I in such a hurry. That seems to be the way I’ve always run my life. I’ve always been in such a hurry to get everything achieved.

These days when it comes to buying furniture for home, I find myself slowing right down to almost a halt. I haven’t really done much with our new house because, to be completely honest, I just can’t get my head around it with everything else which is going on in my life right now. I seem to be way too busy trying to keep the shop decorated and looking beautiful instead of our own home.

These days it’s all about trying to find that perfect piece for the front window display or the perfect antique cabinet or table to fit in a certain spot in the store. I find that I don’t make rash decisions these days about pieces of furniture. Instead I sit and wait patiently for the perfect piece to come along.

One such piece is the beautiful antique French bookcase which arrived in the store last Friday. I have been looking for this piece for about 8-10 months. I wanted an antique cabinet which had glass doors so that I could display things inside of it, timber shelves because I don’t like glass shelves at all, lovely carving, a straight top so that I could put things on top of it, the right size to fit on a particular wall in the shop and also be in good condition. It needed to tick all of those boxes and also be a good price.

I was so thrilled when I found this particular cabinet as it actually reminded me of one my mother has at her house. When it arrived on Friday I immediately went to work filling it with all of the new blue and white jars we had also just received into the store. I was like a child on Christmas morning.

I thought my beautiful bookcase would be in the shop for a while so that I could enjoy it. But Saturday morning I was advised that the bookcase was no longer mine. It had sold. I’m so thrilled it is going to a good home but now it's back to the drawing board.

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Back to Work

2:15 AM | Labels: Black + Spiro, Lamps, Me, Shop, Vintage

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

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Happy Summer Days

2:41 AM | Labels: Beach Style, Me, My Life, Straddie, Summer

"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..."

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Merry Christmas, Thoughts, Thank you's & Wallpaper

1:38 PM | Labels: Anna Spiro for Porters Paints, Black + Spiro, Me, My Life, Porters Paints, Wallpaper

Here we are again at the end of another busy year. As I tidy my desk and prepare for some much anticipated time away from the office, my mind reflects on the year that was.

It has been a year of setbacks, struggle, sickness and sadness for so many people I know and so many people I don’t know and to them I would like to say sorry. Sorry you had to go through so much heartache and sorrow. I hope, as the year crosses over to the next, things will improve for you all. xx

For me, I feel like I have been chasing my tail all year with to do lists the size of Mount Everest. No matter how easy it may look, nothing and I repeat, nothing comes easy.

With lots of hard work, commitment, stress, worry, exhaustion and tears comes achievement and 2011 saw the successful launch of our online store which I am looking forward to growing and developing further in 2012.

The year also brought some exciting jobs my way along with some wonderful new clients as well as old clients who are very supportive and encouraging and for that I am very thankful. I am also very thankful for the wonderful, hard-working and creative people I've had the fortune of working with this year both in-house at B&S and externally. They have all helped me more than you could ever imagine and I am truly grateful for everything they have brought to the table.

Throughout the year I was presented with some extremely exciting, yet humbling offers. One such offer is something I have been secretly working on for the most part of the second half of this year and it is something I have been dying to tell you about.

Do you want to know what it is?

Well, I am thrilled and excited to announce that earlier this year renowned Australian paint and wallpaper company, Porter’s Paints asked me to design a range of wallpaper with them and in the early part of 2012 we will be launching Anna Spiro for Porter’s Paints – a collection of wallpapers which will certainly spell my signature style . This is something I have always dreamt of doing and I would like to extend a huge thank you to Porter's Paints for this wonderful opportunity.

In the photo above and below of my inspiration board, if you look closely, you might be able to identify some of the drawings of the proposed designs. A special little sneak peek for you my loyal readers.

There will be 3 designs to start with and the collection will hopefully grow to 12 designs and maybe, just maybe, some of the designs might eventually be available in fabric too. The colour ways will be fresh and uplifting and perfect for all of you who love colour just as much as I do.

So, there are some big things in the pipeline and lots of hard work ahead in 2012. But for now, it’s off to the beach with my boys to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and just between you and me I can’t wait to spend endless days with them swimming, walking, reading, sleeping, laughing, talking, kissing and cuddling.

Thank you so much for following my blog and my journey. It’s been 5 years now since I started this blog and I can’t believe that you continue to read it. I really can’t.

I hope I can continue to fill your world with colour and inspiration in 2012.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!

Love,
Anna
xx

PS. I'll be back sometime in January. Not sure when. xx

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Chanel Brisbane 2011

4:00 PM | Labels: chanel, Fashion, Me, My Life, Party

Last night Brad and I attended the glamorous Chanel party/parade at Old Government House. We were greeted by a man in a white golf buggy who drove us down to the lawned section where a fabulous white painted platform had been installed. There were so many people we knew and it really was such a lovely party. My favourite champange, Perrier Jouet flowed on and on throughout the night. Unfortunately the photos I snapped on my i-phone didn't really turn out very well but you can see that we had a wonderful vantage point. Our seats were front row at the end of the catwalk...AMAZING!!

Oh and here I am just before we left. I wore black of course. My eyes look red and very tired...obviously a sign of absolute exhaustion...it's been a big year! I can't wait for the holidays!

Thanks Chanel for inviting us to your beautiful party. We had a fabulous time and dinner with FF and Mr FF afterwards was fab too!!
xx
Anna

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First Dahlias Flowering

4:03 PM | Labels: Dahlias, Family, Flowers, Me, My Garden Project, my home

Earlier in the year I was so impressed by the pretty Dahlias one of my clients had flowering in her garden, I decided to plant some in our garden for this Summer. About 4 1/2 weeks ago we planted 60 Dahlia Bulbs and this week I cut my very first bunch. My Mum and my Grandmother and Aunty came over yesterday afternoon and each of them picked their own large bunch to take home. It really is such a joy to be able to give flowers from my garden to my family and friends. I can't wait for the Asters and Zinnias to flower in the week ahead...

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H & M Time

1:55 AM | Labels: Me, my boys, My Life

Having our children 7 years apart has worked perfectly for us. I couldn't have done it any other way. However, the big gap does provide some variety...

1 1/2 year old Max loves his visits to Black & Spiro on a Saturday morning so much so that we have to put him on the pink step ladder because otherwise the entire shop would be redecorated {Max style}. He really gets excited about being at the shop.

8 year old Harry on the other hand immensley dislikes our Saturday morning visits to the shop. He says it's boring which it most probably is for him considering I've been taking him in on a Saturday morning since he was little. Notice how slumped he is in the chair at Black & Spiro. He really loathes going to the shop.

I love the contrasts the age gap provides and no doubt by the time Max is Harry's age he too will be completely over our Saturday morning shop visits.

Talking about the kids, I really, really need to spend some time with them. I have been working really hard lately and I need to take a very short break from the blog to have some fun with them.

I'll be back towards the end of next week...not long!!
xx
Anna

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Happy Days

1:31 AM | Labels: Family, Home, Me

Throughout life there are many happy days which come and go. Some we forget and some we treasure as a memory. For me I think today was one of those days I will long remember as a very happy day with my family.

I set up our dining table in our garden and we celebrated Fathers Day with lunch on the lawn with my parents, my brother and the boys. I picked the flowers from our garden this morning and arranged them in a pretty crystal vase which was given to us as a Wedding gift.

Actually talking about Wedding gift, Brad & I celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary last week. I can't believe we have been married for 10 years. Where did all that time go? Harry left us a little reminder on the table in our lounge room. He actually went out into the garden and picked the flowers himself and put them in the vase. I am sure that boy will make for a wonderful husband one day...might need to do some work on his spelling though!!

Mum did all the cooking today as usual except for the Strawberries. Some were from our garden and some were from the fruit shop. I just cut them up and dusted them with a very small amount of icing sugar and voila they were delish!

Harry & Max played on the swing, they kicked the football, they drove Max's car around and around the garden...

They even managed to get Grandad onto the swing...

Our day ended with a messy table which is always a good sign of a fun time had by all...

And a couple of take home alfoil wrapped bunches of flowers from our garden...

Other than having my other brother, who is away working in Western Australia, here with us today I don't think I could have had a nicer day. It was perfect in every way...

xx
Anna

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New VL & New Office

6:04 PM | Labels: Black + Spiro, Me, my work, Vogue Living

It's always an exciting moment when our 2 subscriptions of Vogue Living arrive in the mail. We get 2 so that I can have one at Black & Spiro and 1 at home. We received the latest issue today and I have to say that it is jaw droppingly beautiful! My favourite story is on Chrissie Jeffery and her redecorated Sydney apartment. I remember when her apartment was featured in VL the first time around. She is extremely clever and very inspiring.

Talking about redecorating, I recently decided that I don't want to sit at a desk anymore in my office at Black & Spiro so I removed my desk and I have turned my office into my very own lounge room. I now sit on my Peggy sofa with my laptop on my lap. It probably isn't the most ergonomically suitable situation but I love it and I feel so much more inspired. Here's a little snapshot of how the room is coming together.

Hope you all have a great day! I have a huge week ahead of me and I am determined to get through it with all things ticked off my list by Friday!

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Second Choice

4:45 AM | Labels: curtains, Fabric, Home, Me

The floral patterned fabric above wasn't my first choice colourway for the curtains in our bedroom at home. My first choice was the lavender colourway. However, like so many fabrics we have ordered over the past 12-18 months it was out of stock and not available. Has this been a problem for other decorators out there too? With only a few weeks to go before Christmas last year I made a very rushed decision and went for the green colourway instead. I must admit when they first went in I had regrets because I am not usually a huge green lover. However, they have grown on me and now I absolutely love them. Has anything like this ever happened to you? I'd love to hear your stories!!!

xx

Anna

image 1 - anna spiro bedroom photographed by elouise van riet-gray

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No!

3:13 AM | Labels: Home, max, Me, Vignettes

Our first born child knew the definition of No well before he ever got himself into too much trouble. A simple No would always result in him moving away from something I didn't want him to touch.

Over the years I've had many clients ask me how I am able to keep all my books and bits and pieces in place on our coffee table with a little one in the house. I have always been a firm believer in leaving all my precious objects around the house and teaching my children to respect my things which will eventually become theirs {whether they like it or not}.

HOWEVER, I have to say that I have entered into a completely new way of life with our Max. Ever since Christmas I have had one very tall pile of books perched right in the middle of our coffee table. Not because this is a new way I am experimenting with arranging my things. It is the result of a child who seems to have determination which rivals my own.

Late this afternoon I had an appointment at Betty's lovely home and as I was leaving I spotted her big old amazing tree bearing lots of fruit. She very generously offered me a few which I brought home and placed into one of my vintage blue and white plates. I bravely placed it on our coffee table amongst my other things. It took Max about 5 seconds to arrive at the coffee table. He snatched his very own lemon out of my lemon bowl and then proceeded to put it into his mouth. I said no and then I said no again and then again...I think I am starting to sound like a broken record!

I caught the moment with my camera and then I moved the lemons to higher ground. It seems I need to work out a plan of attack as I can't keep this Leaning Tower of Pisa book arrangement thing happening...

Any tips?xx

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A Perfect Flower Stall

3:42 AM | Labels: Flowers, Me, memories, My Childhood, My Life

When I was a little girl I was as obsessed with flowers as I am these days.

I think I might have been around 8 years old when we lived in an old Queenslander at Wellington Point with a beautiful garden which my mother absolutely loved. I would collaborate with my neighbour Angela who was about a year younger than I was. We would pick flowers {mostly the daisies} out of mum's very large garden and we would set up a flower stall in front of my parent's house and sell the flowers on the roadside.

I would never let my children do that these days but back then it was different. When I spotted these little stalls by Mouta over on Poppy Talk earlier this week memories of these fun times came flooding back. I wish I had one of these back then. I think if I did it might have improved sales!!

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Cosmo Fun Fearless Female

6:15 AM | Labels: blogging, Competitions, Fun Fearless Female Competition, Me

To my complete surprise I have been nominated with 9 other wonderful Australian female bloggers in this years Cosmopolitan Magazine Fun Fearless Female Competition in the Bloggers category. I actually haven't ever won anything in my life and I'm not so sure that this will change however, if you do enjoy visiting my blog and if you do enjoy my posts and if you would like to vote for me then I would love that. Click HERE to vote. It only takes a few minutes. I think it would be wonderful to be one of the 3 finalists however, I am just so thrilled to have been nominated in the first place.

Thank you for your continued interest in my blog. I feel a bit funny asking you to vote...it's not really my thing to ask for votes....but if you decide to then thank you so much!!xx

xx

Anna

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Flowers, Vases, Baskets, Fabric, Plates & Pots

5:42 PM | Labels: baskets, Collections, Fabric, Flowers, markets, Me, My Life, Vignettes

I've had a busy few days fossicking around the garden, the markets and local Antique shops.

In my travels I stumbled across these vintage vases which I couldn't resist. They now sit on our chest of drawers in our entry hallway. The vibrant orange of the larger vase makes me happy every time I see it and I just love the quirky bird clinging to the other vase/jug....it certainly is something you either love or hate.

I fell in-love with these little yellow flowers at the markets but I can't remember the name of them so please do tell if you know.

I also picked up one of these baskets which I have been coveting along with this piece of fabric which I am thinking of making into table napkins for an upcoming event I have planned.

On Saturday I potted up 12 little pots with Succulents for my brother as he was having a lunch at his house over the weekend and needed something wonderful to place down the centre of his dining table. I kept a few for myself to add to my growing collection of pot plants. {Correction to my post last week the little pots sell for approx. $1.20 at Bunnings and the succulents came from there too}.

It seems I wasn't the only one playing with flowers on the weekend. Mum just sent me this picture of the fresh Banksias she collected from the trees on their property at the beach. I am hoping she might deliver some over to me this week.

And finally I added 18 mismatched vintage dinner plates to my blue and white collection. We never have enough plates when we have the family here for lunch or dinner so now we will. NB. Mismatched vintage is so much less expensive than heading out to buy a complete set and so much more interesting I think and the best thing is that I can keep on adding to them as I see them.

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