Featured Reader - Aleta!

 

"I am so proud of women that go from relaxed hair, to natural hair. I've had my loc's for 5 years, and I loved it so much!" - Aleta

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Pale Yet Colourful

Sometimes I think people are under the impression that I only create very bright and colourful rooms however, this isn't the case.  I thought I would post this room today as it is one I recently finished for a client who wanted a bit of colour but also wanted a more formal and sophisticated look.  I love the palette we selected for this room and the curtains with the orange banding turned out just as I had hoped.  We worked with all of the existing pieces of furniture and just added cushions, curtains, lamps and recovered the ottoman.  It's amazing how these few things have completely changed/improved the look of the room.  Now we just need to hunt for a beautiful painting for behind the sofa...

Introducing Amana Melome

AMANA Melome "PHOENIX RISING" 

"While maintaining her natural elegance, combined with her American and European heritage and cosmopolitan influences, Amana Melome's latest album "Phoenix Rising" is a refreshing voyage of world music, floating between neo-soul, funk, jazz, folk and reggae. The new album is available on iTunes May 21st.

Amana is an international singer and songwriter who was raised in Italy. Her sound is akin to such contemporary artists as Sade, Erykah Badu, Les Nubians and Esperanza Spalding. Growing up on a world stage, Amana developed an appreciation of all music genres. She is inspired by her Caribbean-American roots and the musical legacy of her grandfather, jazz bassist Jimmy Woode, who recorded with such icons as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.

Amana moved to New York to pursue her passion of singing, where she studied at NYU. Later she moved to Los Angeles and met producer Saverio “Sage” Principini, who has produced Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated and award winning songs for various international artists. Sage recorded Amana’s first album -- Indigo Red in 2008 on IRMA Records and it was one of the first CDs distributed and sold through Whole Foods Markets. Following the American and European release of her record, Amana was headlining festivals, clubs, and performing at private events for such international fashion designers as Fendi and Christian Dior before she was cast in a lead role on the most popular Italian sitcom, Un Medico In Famiglia (English: A Doctor in the Family). Amana speaks English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and often performs songs in different languages.

Back in Los Angeles, Amana recently returned to the studio and completed the recording of her new album, Phoenix Rising, with Sage at the acclaimed Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Visit amanamusic.com to hear more."  - Locke Dunn, Mozaic Media

Photos from album photo shoot; Amana with actress and director Nicki Micheaux at her album release party; and a photo from a performance.

New VL & New Office

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!

Link of the Day! Gorgeous Teruko

I love it when I see a women with grey/silver hair and it's just beautiful! Teruko looks amazing in her photos, shown on Curly Nikki.

Dare Yourself

I love this quote and after chatting with a friend today I thought it was perfect to post.  I dare you to dare yourself to do something out of the ordinary this week.  Do something you have been wanting to do for sometime.  Find the courage and just do it.  I am going to...

image via coco & kelley blog

Get these looks!

Great loc's tutorial videos from my favorite singer, blogger, comedian - Franchesca Ramsey. To see more videos by Franchesca, check her out on youtube.