My Very Own Artist

A very funny and lovely thing happened to me today.  As it was a public holiday here, most of our day was spent pottering around the house enjoying some time with our boys.  I cooked a chocolate cake with Harry and Roast Chicken this afternoon for dinner.  I picked some flowers and herbs out of our garden and I tidied up the house.  Brad and I finally sat down in the lounge room tonight after we had fed the boys and bathed them and I looked over my shoulder and spotted Harry on the floor drawing.  I went over to see what he was drawing and I was so surprised and excited to see him drawing the vignette on our entry chest of drawers as pictured above.  You might think that I am making this up after my post yesterday in which I discussed my mother's entry vignette and Cressida's Campbell's artwork but I am not.

At one point he asked me to pass him down the orange vase so that he could examine it's details up-close.  I was even asked to sharpen pencils.  Of course I didn't argue as I was so excited to see him drawing the things I had arranged on our entry table.

This is the end result.  After looking over it and discussing it, he said he made a mistake with the placement of the pink chair and he said he might add the picture frames which hang on the wall behind the vignette but that's for another night.  On the back he has written a special note to me...I think my Mother's Day happened one week early!

PS...Did you notice Harry's fluoro pencils?!  They are the BEST pencils as the colour is just so vivid and bright.  They can be purchased from Toyworld if anyone is interested.

PPS...I must thank my beautiful friend and client Jules for the Phoebe Stephens yellow roses as pictured above which she delivered to me on Friday afternoon along with the big tub of potent Vitamin C which has done me the world of good...my awful flu has pretty much gone!!xx

Simple Pleasures & Lovely Things

My father has never been the best gift organiser/giver.  However, he recently returned from an overseas surfing trip with a bag full of amazing shells for my mum.  Some he found on the beach and some he bought from local men in dug-out boats.  My mother absolutely loves them and has placed them on a table in their entry with other lovely things she has collected over the years and some fresh flowers she picked from her garden.  These shells will certainly be the gift that keeps on giving as my mum will enjoy and cherish them forever.  Isn't it wonderful how the simplest things have made the most special and heartfelt gift.

Whilst browsing through Cressida Campbell's book today I couldn't help thinking how similar some of her vignette wood-block prints are to this vignette of mum's above.  As I have said before, there is something so familiar to me about Cressida Campbell's work.

I feel like I have lived in the rooms and spaces she depicts in her wood-block prints.  Maybe that's the charm.  Maybe her paintings make me feel at home.  She paints bowls filled with fruit, vases filled with flowers and it all looks so effortless and comfortable.  That's exactly how I want to live. 

image 1 & 2 - anna spiro, image 3 - photo taken by anna spiro of painting in cressida campbell's book

Link of the Day - The Simmons meet Obama and Family

"The Simmons girls-Ming,11, and Aoki,8,- pose with president Barack Obama during the White House Easter Egg Roll event on Monday(April 25th). Mom Kimora Lee Simmons writes:

“This year’s Egg Roll was the largest ever with 30,000 attendees. Thousands of families gathered to celebrate and welcome Spring to Washington. While spending time with the lovely and gracious first family, we learned so much about the history and legacy of the White House. From the inspiring collection of African American art to the centuries old reminders of our nation’s history, our private tour was unforgettable for Me, Djimon, Russell, Ming, Aoki and Kenzo. I’ll never forget the girls peeking through the door to the West Wing or when they met the very gracious President Obama. And Kenzo’s very important meeting with Elmo was a success too!! Who could have asked for a better Easter and Birthday for Djimon? Thanks again to the lovely First Lady, the people of Washington D.C. and all the friends we met during our trip! We’re forever grateful to you for an amazing weekend. See you again soon!"

 Sources:  Black Celebrity Kids, Kimora Lee Simmons

Not Long Now...

Hope you have a great weekend.  I am one of those looking forward to the Royal Wedding which is only hours away.  I am about to head home to immerse myself in the coverage!  I can't wait to see her dress!  See you next week...

image via this is glamorous blog

My Earrings from PURPOSE

Loving my new earrings from the PURPOSE jewelry line!  All of the jewelry from the PURPOSE jewelry line is handmade. They take ordinary objects and transforms them into unique pieces that are one of a kind. To see the earrings, check out the Raft Earrings and the Splint Earrings.  Stay tuned for an interview coming up next week from one of the designers from the jewelry line.

New Things

We've had another influx of new things at Black & Spiro this week.  The new blue and white inlay chest of drawers which we have placed in our front window with the butterfly fabric is very beautiful.  We also have new pale pink cockatoo lamps which we've had custom made for our store, lots of new cushions in fabrics I bought when we were overseas earlier this year, a pair of antique armchairs and yet another delivery of our special blue and white ginger jars. 

It certainly has been a busy week getting all of our new things into the shop.  Here are a couple of photos I thought you might like to see.  The colourful, mismatched and at times very wild style we seem to be known for is very noticeable in these pictures.

I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow already and another long weekend.  I don't know about you but I'm finding it hard to fit everything I need to do into these short weeks!!

Reader Question - From Thin Loc's... to Free Form

Question from Christy, Naturally Beautiful Hair Blog Reader:

"I've had my locs for 7 years and 8 months. They are the size of a pencil or smaller, and although they don't feel heavy, some of them have thinned at the roots. I presume it is from over twisting (in the past three years or so I've moved to twisting every 5 to 6 weeks which still seems to be a stress on my locs) when it is dry, or the small size of them in the first place. At any rate, to solve this I'm thinking of moving to free forming" in the hopes of slowing down the thinning of my hair, by not constantly re-twisting my roots. "I thought about cutting them but at this point, but I am not ready to let go of my length. If free forming doesn't help to strengthen and thicken my roots then I'll think about cutting them, to see if that helps with thinning. Also, I don't know if  I'll totally committ to free form for the duration of my loc journey. That being said, for those of you who free form,  are there any tips/advice/stories/products you use? Anything you can share with me, to help me start my free forming journey."  Please email "any comments, suggestions, advice to cskipperl@yahoo.com."  - Christy