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

What's In My Pantry?

If you are at all interested in what I have in my pantry, then head over to Fashion Food Fatale HERE {I must admit, it's nothing glamorous!!}. Featuring stylish people from across the globe Elizabeth Clarke and Jane Walsh are the style gurus behind FFF. I have been enjoying their posts and musings on all things fashionable. I just wish my pantry looked as good as this one above but I have to tell you it is completely the opposite...shame on me!!

Today I Love...

I adore the photos Julie posted of her home today. I have posted a couple of photos above but you must visit Julie's blog, Shelter to see more!! It is stunning!

Children's Bedroom Series

I have been thoroughly enjoying the posts Amanda has been running on children's rooms. She has been interviewing a few blogger's children and posting some photos of their rooms which has been so much fun! My Harry was one of the children to be interviewed about his room HERE. Thanks for asking us to be involved Amanda and I can't wait to see who's room is next!!

image - house beautiful via swish & swanky

It was meant to be...

Well, it goes like this....

Yesterday I posted an image in my 'Muted Coastal Palette' post which unbeknown to me at the time belongs to Nanette over at Rummage blog. I found the image on a tumblr site and didn't have the correct source on the image back to Nanette. Nanette actually left me a lovely note in my comments section of that post letting me know that it was her hallway. I have since fixed this up and all is fine however, I think in this mishap I have found a blog I am very much going to enjoy following.

After obsessively going back through Nanette's archives last night I must say I am very impressed. Her photos of her home, flowers, fruit, children, vignettes are all so very inspiring and in a way I feel they very much represent true Australian style. I was only thinking about Australian style yesterday and then to fall upon Nanette's blog last night was almost serendipitous.

Her images make me feel at home. I feel like I have seen them before. I look at her flowers and I think they look just like the bush natives my mother used to arrange at our family holiday house. I even look at that last image and it reminds me of my grandmother's house. Is this the same for any of my Australian readers? Do these images of Nanette's evoke a sense of Australian style?

I found it very hard to select only a few of Nanette's beautiful images to share here in this post so I have gone a bit wild and posted my favourites from her blog and her flickr.

I asked Nanette to share a little bit about herself and this is what she had to say....

"I am a crafter and keen amateur stylist and photographer living in our nation's capital with an odd frenchman, two Highly Excitable young daughters and an ADD whippet called Kipper. We like to live a slow life with an emphasis on creativity. I'm currently designing a small range of homewares and children's clothes between reading my youngest 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus' twenty times a day and wrestling Kipper for my favourite boots."

I hope you enjoy Nanette's photos as much as I did.

Brooke's AMAZING Beach House

Brooke Giannetti has done it again. Look at her beautiful beach house which was just featured in C Magazine. It certainly is amazing what good taste, white paint and beautiful furniture can do. Congratulations Brooke on your seriously divine home and the wonderful feature in C. You are an inspiration.

Breakfast Inspiration

If you haven't already seen this blog, Simply Breakfast written by photographer Jennifer Causey, then you must right now. I adore her recent Paris Breakfast. Such a simple yet beautiful pleasure to enjoy and yet if you're anything like me in the mornings I just don't spend the time. Jennifer has inspired me. Maybe I should prepare a special breakfast for my boys this Sunday morning.

Pretty Vintage Style

I love this pretty vintage style room. It's amazing how inexpensive it is creating a room using vintage pieces. My friend Simone recently started a great blog called Beach Vintage where she shares her passion for vintage finds and how to create a great vintage look on a budget. I can't believe some of the gorgeous things she has collected and created and she always does it so inexpensively!!

Image 1 & 2 via House of Bliss

And Talking About Soft Palettes....

I do love these vintage chairs Eddie recently updated....gosh he's a clever thing!!

All images - Eddie Ross

Meeting Pia Jane in Paris

I was so thrilled to catch up with the gorgeous Pia Jane Bijkerk when I was in Paris. Pia came to my hotel and we drank some wine and chatted for a couple of hours all about her work and my work and blogging and she gave me some lovely tips for my stay in Paris. Pia is the first overseas blogger I have met and I must say she is one of the loveliest people and so talented. If you haven't already checked out her blog you must head on over and tell her I said hi!!

All images by Pia Jane Bijkerk

Courtney @ 1st Dibs!!

If you haven't already seen Courtney's interview over at 1st Dibs then head on over. It is fantastic! Congrats my friend!! Click HERE...

E-Zine Inspiration

E-Zine Issue 2 Cover Photo - Melinda Crockett-Maples

"What inspires me? books, magazines,
random things like someone's outfit,
confident women, other
creative people, and so much more!”

VERONICA
Shoppe Owner, Petunia’s Place
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5331844

"What adorns the board inspires me daily."

ERIKA MCPHERSON POWELL
Owner/Designer, Urban Grace Interiors
http://urbangrace.com/

“Old things, looking at things from a new perspective, people who aren't afraid to do it differently, imperfection."

CORI KINDRED
Artist/Blogger/Shoppe Owner
http://www.corikindred.com/

" Being around environments, objects and fabrics
that have an abundance of
color."

MICHELLE RUIZ
Author, Cher Ami
http://cheramibird.blogspot.com/

I absolutely LOVE the monthly inspiration E-Zine provides compiled by the very creative Erin over at Design For Mankind. All of the issues so far have been jam packed with beautiful photographs and quotes. I thought I'd share some of my favourite ones so far as above (I've been meaning to do this for a while now)! Thanks Erin for providing us with this beautiful online inspiration. I very much look forward to issue 4!

The One That Got Away!

Look at the fabulous lady portrait (top) which I missed out on today on Ebay! I think I have a major problem as I keep on forgetting to bid for things. I think I need to start using bidder assist!! I'm so disappointed and angry at myself!! On another note, Leigh from Found Now Home emailed me this gorgeous picture of her portrait wall the other day - how gorgeous is this!!! Looks like she has been collecting lady portraits for a while now!! Thanks Leigh for this fantastic image - very inspiring!!

Ez's New Look Blogroll

I'm loving Ez's new look blogroll on her gorgeous blog Creature Comforts! Her little design for ABT is above - so cute! She sure has put so much time and effort into this and it certainly shows - it is so innovative and stylish. Great work Ez and thanks for including ABT in your favourite list of links!!

Silhouette Madness

Caitlin Moran via The Scoop

Ebay

I was recently captured by the gorgeous cluster of pictures by US based Interior Designer Caitlin Moran in the San Francisco Designer Showcase and in particular the silhouettes she used. Blog land has certainly been bombarded by posts about silhouettes over the last few months but I couldn't help but post this gorgeous piece which is currently available on Ebay which struck me as very similar to the look and feel of the room by Caitlin above.

Christian Lacroix Does Water Bottles

Check these out: Christian Lacroix designed Evian water bottles which I found via Pomegranate & Patchouli. I'm so envious as I haven't seen these in Australia. Here's the scoop from Pomegranate;

"This time, it was Christian Lacroix, people! Christian Lacroix!! The French designer created limited edition bottles for French water-producing company Evian "Pour les fétes"- translation for the celebrations/holidays. I think the idea was absolutely genius! There's a pret-a-porter bottle, and a couture bottle. Personally, I prefer the pret-a-porter one. It's so pretty (inspired by snowflakes and winter) and delicate."

Wow I just think they are gorgeous. Wouldn't they be lovely placed down the middle of a dining table set for dinner with a pretty flower in each one!

Soulful Adornments

I'm absolutely loving these beautiful things which Lorie has posted on her gorgeous new blog Soulful Adornments. I am a huge fan of vintage lady portraits and the one she has posted as pictured above is one of the nicest ones I have seen. The Antique fabric sacred heart is such a great find - I would love to make a cushion out of it and the small Antique locket Ex Votos would be gorgeous to give to your loved one for Valentines day with a special love note inside!! Thanks for sharing such gorgeous bits and pieces Lorie. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!!

I Love Cupcakes...

Images - Anna Spiro - Cupcakes by The Cupcake Company

Today one of my lovely clients came into the shop for a meeting as we are working on the finishes and furnishings for her new home which is currently under construction. The house is going to be a very special house which I am very excited about working on (more about that to come). As this lovely client walked into our meeting room at Black & Spiro she handed me a box which was filled with the most beautiful home made looking cupcakes iced in bright colours and decorated with love hearts. She told me they are the cupcakes she is making for Valentines Day. If you live in Brisbane and ever need beautiful cupcakes you must call Sharnel or Keren. These two ladies own and run The Cupcake Company and are specialists in the home made cupcake. If you want to know more be sure to visit their new blog The Cupcake Company or email them on thecupcakecompany@bigpond.com. Sharnel & Keren thank you so much for this lovely gift. There are now only 2 cupcakes left and I'm sure they are not going to last too much longer!!