Sense of well being

I just wanted to take a moment to say good morning to everyone! I am actually feeling like I need to reconnect with myself in some kind of way. And it just made me realize the importance of taking care of yourself - mind, body and soul.

I believe it is all connected. Having good health is very connected to being naturally beautiful. Naturally beauty often comes from inside out. You can go without the make up, the fancy clothes or the cute jewelry. But if you are beaming with happiness and confidence because you feel good, healthy and strong - that is a beauty that not many can resist or deny. So I am gonna take some time to reconnect with myself and do a little bit of emotional, physical and spiritual healing. Evaluate my health and see what I can do to improve my overall sense of well being. I hope that you will all time time out of your lives to do the same of yourselves. Find out what you need to get that balance, whether its a healthier diet, spending more time enjoy nature or just finding some time to relax.

Peace, Love and Happiness....

Natura Hair Show

Here is a cool style from the 2009
Taliah Waajid Natural Hair Show .
Looks like a curled loc mohawk...

Friday Flowers {On Thursday}

I am posting my weekly Friday flower arrangement today {Thursday} as I am signing off a little early this week. I hope you have a nice weekend and I look forward to catching up with you all next week.

xx
Anna

Recent Project

We worked around the client's existing bed head above and just added the lamps and bed cushions.

Here are a few snippets of a house I just finished working on. We re-used a few of the client's existing pieces and added some new pieces and lots of pretty fabrics to freshen up the home.

Today I Love...

I love this green and white gingham slip covered armchair with the lace trim detail along the bottom hemline. Such a pretty chair sitting on my favourite white painted floorboards.

Image - Country Home via Mary Ruffle

Happy Thought

Image 1 - Elizabeth Messina via Mary Ruffle

Image 2 - Kate Spade

Pretty House

Amanda posted this gorgeous house yesterday so I don't want to steal her thunder however, I do really love this exterior shot with the billowing sheer curtains. Isn't it gorgeous? You must go and see the rest of the house on Amanda's blog.

Image - Country Living Magazine via Swish & Swanky Blog

A Little Flower Arranging Spot

And just in case I didn't post enough images to get you excited about a flower shed yesterday, here's one more. Although I think this one is a little corner in a kitchen. I just love the mix of blue and white china, fresh flowers, old family photographs and the pretty little wall lights.


Image - House Beautiful via Mary Ruffle

A Flower Shed

One day I would love to have a flower shed in which I could arrange flowers and store all of my vases and baskets and garden things. In my perfect flower shed I would have a large sink, a large work bench, lots of shelving and places to hang baskets and buckets. I would also have a pretty spot for some lovely old chairs where I could sit and drink tea with a friend whilst I contemplated my next arrangement!! I must get this book above called Shed Chic as I am sure it would provide lots more inspiration for my little flower shed.

Image 1 & 2 via Belle Maison Blog

Glamorous Times

Following on from my vintage fashion posters which I posted last week...

I am very inspired by the style and grace of these women. Look at the beautiful dress Grace Kelly is wearing in the bottom image. I just adore the green and white floral fabric it is made in. On another note, look at the curved banquettes which are made in white painted lattice. There is just so much inspiration in these beautiful images.

Image 1 - Vi.sualize.us, Image 2 - Grace Kelly via Porchlight Interiors Blog

How do you wash your hair?

This is actually an old video on you tube - but one of my favorites! It's called "How do you wash your hair?"



This is just a reminder of some of the really rude looks I get because of my hair - from almost every nationality. Or the very silly questions I get, because people are confused. For the last time - No they are not braids!!! Yes - my hair is clean. I wash it ALL THE TIME.. with Shampoo, just like you. Loc's are beautiful. It's sad when people pre-judge because of something new or something they don't understand.

Friday Flowers

Here are some flowers I arranged this afternoon for the weekend. Thanks for visiting me here this week and for all of your lovely comments!! See you next week.

xx

Anna

The Artist

Yesterday I posted images of our new display at Black & Spiro in which we have a painting by a talented new artist we are representing.

Her name is Diana and she is a friend of my mothers. She has been painting on and off for years. She painted the painting below and gave it to us as an engagement present 8 years ago. She has been painting for family and friends mostly however, she recently decided she would paint a few of my vignettes.

A few weeks ago she arrived at Black & Spiro with the painting above of some pink peonies I had arranged in a blue and white ginger jar on the bench in our kitchen at home. I actually posted this image on the blog late last year and she loved it so much that she painted it. I instantly fell in love with the painting. One of our customers also fell in love with it and it sold on the very first day we displayed it.

Her second painting which I posted yesterday also sold on the very first day we displayed it. We are now awaiting delivery of painting number 3 with a couple of our customers wanting to be notified when it arrives.

Diana is so excited, as am I. I have always loved her style and I am just so thrilled that she has finally taken the step to allow me to have her beautiful paintings on display at Black & Spiro.



Diana gave us the painting above for our Engagement present and I have continued to love it over the years. I have it hanging in our kitchen at home above an old chest of drawers which houses my napery collection.

New Trend ?!?

Singer Tierra G's new style reminds me of the new do that Cassie is sporting. Is this trend coming back? I remember this was popular for a minute when I was younger. But I could not imagine cutting into my loc's for this drastic look.

What do you think - Keep or? Or Leave it alone?

New style:

Old style:

Find Tierra at TierraG Music

Black & Spiro Today

Here are some photos of our new display at Black & Spiro. I am thrilled to have a painting by a new artist we are representing exclusively at Black & Spiro in the display. She will be painting some of my table vignettes in the future which is very exciting.

Catherine Martin's Vogue Living

I just received my copy of the latest Vogue Living edited by guest editor Catherine Martin {thanks for the heads up Amanda}. I am so excited about this issue. I have been trying not to open it up all day so that I can enjoy it without interuption tonight but it just keeps on beckoning me as it sits beside me on my desk. I think it's going to be one of the best issues of late.

New Page on the NBH website!

I just added a new page to my Naturally Beautiful Hair website. I will be selling accessories: Jewelry, hats, scarves and more. I will post updates when more items have been added. To check it out, click on For Sale.

Easiet Style Ever...

One of my favorite hair styles is a really easy hair do. Most of you already know how to do this. I like it several reasons, some being that it gives my hair volume and it feels more lightweight when my loc's have a curl or wave to them.

To create this look - wash, wet or spritz your hair. Be sure to use some sort of leave in conditioner or setting spray when wetting your hair. Braid your hair in sections (I like to braid 6 loc's at a time) . The bigger the braid, the bigger the crinkle/wave. The smaller the braid, the smaller the crinkle/wave will be. I like to let my hair air dry, but if you have a salon style hood hair dry at home, you can dry your loc's using this. Once your hair is completely dry, take the braids down. This crinkle/wavy style will last over a month or until you get your hair wet again. The great thing about this style is great wavy look.

Cute style from Franchesca Ramsey

Very cute side-sweep style from Franchesca. I love her creativity. To read more about Franchesca, check out her interview on my Naturally Beautiful Hair Website: Interview

My Sanctuary

I would love to have all of my home decorated with beautiful art work, plants and sculptures. But unfortunately, money is tight and I have two lovely - but wild kids! So having fancy things, at this time, has not worked out. But I do have one little space in my house that I can use to show my personality, culture and what makes me feel centered. My dresser!


I found these two beautiful African sculptures last year. I also added a few weaved baskets, some plants and a beautiful painting that was given to me by a dear friend.



Also, I like to display some of my large earrings. I usually only wear small earrings, but want to change that. And if I don't see what I have available - I won't wear it. So this way, I can look every day to see what I have, and I can mix it up a little. This is the little space that I have in my home that really represents me. At some point, I hope to have all of my home reflect this kind of energy.

If you all have something in your home that really represents you, your culture or something that just makes you happy - send me a picture and I will post it with your message.

Hugs!

Karen
naturalhairbeauty@gmail.com

I Love...

I love this beautiful collection of things. Maybe I love it because there are some pretty blue and white pieces and pink and white pieces {my favourite} or maybe because the collection is just so imperfectly compiled. I'm not really into a big matching set of anything. Yes, that's why I think it appeals to me so much...it's mismatch heaven!!

Image via Brabourne Farm Blog

**Reminder

Image 1 & 2 via vi.sualize.us

Black & Spiro Today

I finally had all of the beautiful vintage fashion posters, which I purchased in Paris last year, framed. Today I had them hung in a cluster on a wall in our new display at Black & Spiro.

We used a silver bamboo frame on the posters with a white matting board. They look so beautiful. We have a total of 16 available for sale however, I think I am going to find it very hard to let some of these beauties go!!

I will be posting more photos of the display later this week, once the new curtains are installed, so do stay tuned.

PS. Notice the aqua wall they are hung on. I told you I was into aqua at the moment!!

I have been asked to provide pricing on the posters by a few readers. They are all $340.00 except for the LV one which is $480.00. Thanks for your interest!! Oh, and if you would like to see the full set available please email me anna@blackandspiro.com.au and I will email them all through to you.

Interchangeable Design

I think this Peter Dunham room above is divine. I love the wall colour. I love the mismatched artwork on the walls. I love the coffee table. I love the sisal rug which I feel grounds the room beautifully and I love the fresh pink Peonies placed on the coffee table.

It looks like Peter may have done a little redecorating when you compare the above photos of his room to the below photos.

Designers are always tempted by the most beautiful new ranges of fabrics and wallpapers. I know myself when I see a fabric in a new collection I can't live without I have a few cushions made in it for my sofa at home. I suppose for me, that's the wonderful thing about having a white sofa as it is so interchangeable.

Which way do you prefer Peter's room? The first way as above or the second way as below?