Be My Valentine Gift Guide Part 1

Heart Frying Pan @ Cox & Cox (I would kill for one of these!! So Cute!!)

The Book of the Kiss @ Cox & Cox

I Love You Screenprinted Hearts by Sarah Parrott @ Etsy

Teatowel from Fisk & Fern @ Etsy

Flowers from Saipua ( only if you live in New York)

4th Ave Soap Co @ Etsy

Antique Victorian Sterling Luggage Tag Bracelet @ Paris Hotel Boutique

Love Gift bags @ Kikki.k

Break The Routine Print Studio Mela @ Etsy

Here is Part 1 of my Be My Valentine Gift Guide...just enough to whet your appetite!! Enjoy... there's more to come!!

Find Of The Week

I definately think this beautiful original condition Antique Regency Brazillian Rosewood & Birdseye Maple Inlay tea caddy c1820 is my find for this week from Hunters & Collectors Antiques (Australia). If you're after a little something special (at a great price) head on over to their online store as they are about to close down their retail outlet and are therefore offering 20-50% off all stock.

Vintage Vintage & More Vintage

I love this beautiful image of vintage pieces placed so perfectly imperfectly - yes that's right perfectly imperfectly (one of my favourite little sayings). Oh and I spot another portrait in the top right hand corner but this time it's a man!!

Pool Houses To Dream About

Image above via Elle Decor

Image above via Hollywood Homes

Image above via Style Court & image below & bottom via Karnas House Blog

I love the concept of a pool house - a seperate pavillion to entertain and relax in around the pool. I have a whole file of beautiful pool houses which continues to expand in the hope that one day I will have a yard large enough to have one of these beautiful structures. I've listed a few of my favourites above, some of which I have posted before but I just couldn't help it as they continue to speak to me and inspire me.

**BTW - Just to fill you in I am still experiencing some technical problems with the blog which are blocking me from posting but I am working on them and all I can say is I'll have them fixed as soon as I can. Sorry for the lack of posts while I work on these problems and thanks for your patience!

Today I Love...

I love this bedroom which Urban Grace Interiors blog posted a while back. The very bold and broad striped wallpaper is softened by the vintage pieces of furniture and paintings - love it!!

Image - Anna Spiro - Flowers on Straddie Table

Sorry for the lack of posts this week however, I am having a couple of little technical issues with the blog so please do forgive me if my posts are a little lighter on than usual. I am hoping to get a special Valentines post up within the next day or so and a few other little goodies so please do bear with me!! It should all be fixed up very, very soon.
xx


Anna

Dreaming of Paris

Image (above) Source Unknown

Photographer - Jerome d'Almeida

In a few months I am travelling to Paris which is very exciting as it will be my first ever visit to the city which I have dreamed of visiting since I was a little girl. I was recently thrilled to find The Hotel du Panthéon which is a little boutique hotel located in the Saint-Germain des Prés area right opposite the Pantheon and very close to the Luxembourg Gardens. I couldn't resist posting some pictures of the hotel above - so pretty in pink and yellow and so perfectly 'girly' as I am going with a girlfriend who will appreciate the prettiness unlike my husband who would just say in a very meaningless tone 'yes honey it's great'!!

Happy (Long) Weekend!

It's a long weekend here this weekend for Australia Day so Happy Long Weekend & Happy Australia Day! See you next week!!

Image via Garden Rooms

Portrait Obsession

Another wonderful portrait in this image above via Cottage Living Magazine. I am completely obsessed with vintage lady portraits at the moment as you all no doubt can tell. Lyn over at Paris Hotel Boutique has a couple currently available but I must say nice ones are proving to be a little hard to track down. Even good old reliable Ebay isn't throwing any my way!!

Image via Brown Turtleneck Sweater

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!

Today I Love...

My friend Sally emailed me this gorgeous digital & ink print by illustrator Samantha Hahn the other day and I just love it! What a lovely gift for a special friend! Samantha is about to set up an online shop but if you are interested in purchasing any of her gorgeous pieces now just email her on info@samanthahahn.com Be sure to check out all of her other fantastic pieces on her website.

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!!

Happy Weekend!

Image via The Inspired Room.

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!!

An Outdoor Vignette

Image - Bolig Magasinet

I love this outdoor vignette from the gorgeous oversized mirror hung over the Chinese altar table to the collection of orchids and other bits and pieces casually placed on top of the table. So simple and elegant!

'My Heart Wanders'

My Torn Heart Collage by Anna Spiro January 2008

Talented Stylist, Writer & Photographer Pia Jane Bijkerk has announced a very special project today on her new blog which will be a collective book project showcasing a collection of subtle hearts in special spaces. Anyone can enter. If you would like to find out more about this very exciting project head on over to Pia's blog where you will find all the details!!

BTW - the flower image in the back of my torn heart collage above is by Maryam Montague.

My Creative Journal

My mum gave me this Designers Guild journal for Christmas and I just LOVE it! Everytime I open up the cover and see the beautiful colourful flowers which adorn the inside cover I smile. Thanks mum for this beautiful book - I just hope Tricia Guild brings out a new one next year so I can put it on my 2008 Christmas wishlist!!

Images - Anna Spiro - January 2008

Lucite Ottoman Tray

I love using ottoman trays to stack books and objects on. These very graphic Lucite trays from Iomoi are fantastic and come in a range of designs and colours. They are very expensive I must admit at US$650.00 but they also come in a more affordable smaller size which is great for placing on a desk as an in-tray or on a small side table with books and 'things' placed on top. For my Aussie readers Iomoi is one of the fantastic American companies who does ship to Australia!

Colourful Textiles

I love these Mexican Hand embroidered mantels from Market Import in Melbourne. These would look fantastic used as a tablecloth, bed throw or even made into cushions. Market Import is always on my agenda when I visit Melbourne and has a fantastic array of unique imported homewares and furniture. They now have an online shop which doesn't show everything they stock but it is still fantastic for those of us who don't live nearby!

Illuminations

Flickr

Bountiful

Single Glass Drop Lights by Cox & Cox

Bountiful

Bountiful

Julie Neill Design/Bayou Contessa Blog

Johnny Valiant

Modern Dose Crochet Pendant Lights via Another Shade of Grey

Bountiful

Looking through my picture files today I realised I had some lovely lighting images I needed to share with you. I especially love the crocheted lights from Modern Dose - so beautiful and isn't that top image from Flickr so fun!! Oh, and if you haven't already checked out Julie Neill's work you must head on over to her beautiful new blog Bayou Contessa!