Real Living Feature

Here it is...the magazine article as featured in Real Living magazine this month. A big thank you to Natalie & Deb at Real Living for featuring me in their fantastic magazine. BTW - if you wish to read the article just click on each of the pages above to enlarge.

Wistfully Waiting

How long do you think it will take this wisteria...

to look like this wisteria??

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS to the Cats. Go Geelong!!!

Happy Weekend!!

I nearly fell of my chair when I saw these beautiful images on Mrs Blandings' Blog. Thanks for sharing Mrs Blandings!! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you next week. Oh and by the way my Real Living Magazine artile is out thanks to Anastasia for letting me know. I will post a scanned copy of it next week once I receive my copy.

Flashback Friday

Oops - nearly forgot. Mum and Dad are back from their travels so I was able to get my hands on an album.


Here is a photo that brings back memories of camping trips taken every Easter at Tocumwal on the Murray River.

Every Easter we would load into the car at some ungodly hour of the morning, preferably while it was still dark, and head up to the Murray. I remember Mick and I would go straight back to sleep in the nest Mum and Dad had made on the back seat. No need for seat belts in the 70's obviously. Why Dad felt it necessary to leave so early I have no idea - must ask him.

We would then spend a glorious Easter with a couple of other families doing what kids do best... swimming, digging, swinging out over the river on a tyre, eating jaffles, hunting for wildlife, making fires, (you could do that in the 70's too!) and generally running amok and having a ball.

There would be a massive communal fire going day and night, trench toilets that you filled in as you went, 3 of the mums were teachers so there were always activities going for anyone who was interested. One year we dyed every tea towel with natural dyes we made over the camp-fire and bark paintings that eventually became part of a gallery exhibition we put on for the grown-ups. Every night there were poetry recitals, charades, camp-fire songs, and more jaffles and sticks sprouting hot runny marshmallows.

The tents were triangular and orange and there were very few mod-cons but what splendid times they were.

Note - left to right, Jenny Pearson, Sally Waring, Georgie Gamble, Jason Gamble (up top), Cindy Gamble, Mick Pearson (on pole)

Penelope Peapod

Recently we received our first shipment of Penelope Peapods...

These delightful cane baskets transform from a carry bag to a baby bassinet in the blink of an eye. After carrying around your super-cute bag you can fold down the gingham to reveal a sleeping baby complete with matching suit and hat. They are beautifully made and are the delight of little girls of all ages.

Forget Bratz, this Christmas Penelope Peapod is the way to go!

Reflection & Revelations

I was cleaning out some files in my computer the other day when I stumbled across these old pictures of Black & Spiro. I must say it's interesting looking back at your own work. I'm almost embarrassed to show these images. As I looked through the photographs I started to think about my style and how it has evolved so much in the last couple of years. I can see in these pictures that I have never been afraid of bold colour and bold pattern but I think I may have been a little cautious with what I mixed together which I feel resulted in a safe and almost uninteresting look. Nowdays I find myself mixing so many different styles together to create my own personal look and I finally feel as though I know what I love and I know my direction. This is something that has taken me 13 years of experience to find and now on the eve of my 30th Birthday I can say to the world I feel that my designs have matured and I also feel that I am completely confident in my design choices and I am also completely in love with my design career - here's to the next 10 years which I hope will be filled to the brim with exciting opportunities and lots of passionate design!!!!

Black & Spiro in Brisbane News

Our current shop display was included in the Home section of this week's Brisbane News magazine as above. I don't think the vintage lamp pictured is going to be with us much longer as we had 3 call enquiries on it today from the article. I'll be sad to say goodbye to this lamp as it really is a beautiful one off piece.

The Salvage Sisters

I just ordered this cute book for Black & Spiro and had to share it. We haven't received our copy yet so I can't give details. As you all know my style revolves around vintage finds and seeing potential in pieces which other people regard as junk so I think this book will be right up my alley. I can't wait to see what the Salvage Sisters find potential in and by the look of the fantastic pieces they have stowed on top of their car roof I think it's going to be an interesting read!!

Faire Frou Frou

ABT reader Alison sent me these gorgeous pictures of her beautiful lingerie shop, Faire Frou Frou located in Studio City, California. Alison has furnished her entire shop with amazing antique pieces which she purchased from Bountiful in Abbot Kinney, LA. All pieces are for sale but as Alison said she finds it very difficult to part with her favourites - a feeling I am all to familiar with myself. Another young 29 year old successful bussiness woman, Alison and her mother were recently awarded "Best Lingerie Boutique in North America" by the lingerie Industry leaders. What a wonderful achievement and I must say I just love hearing from young business woman and their journey's to success!! Thanks so much Alison for sharing your images and your story with me.

Hot Product

My great gift pick for this week is.....GEL GEMS
They are made of a clear rubbery substance and will stick to most smooth surfaces, including stainless steel fridges!! They look absolutely amazing when on a window as the light through the gel is gorgeous. We have ballerinas, boats, dogs, butterflies etc and they range from $10 to $19.

Le Petit Motif

I really love the beautiful hand blocked cotton wares offered by new Australian company Le Petit Motif. Their online store is a treasure trove of pure cotton printed bedspreads, cushions, tablecloths, napkins and throws. Inspired by historic patterns and prints the range is designed in Sydney, Australia and printed in India where the very first fabrics were created over 500 years ago. These fresh and unique wares are complimented by a small range of luxurious French milled soaps. Their website is a must visit!!

Spring has Sprung at CHALK

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to fit all our new stock into the shop in some semblance of order. Customers were very understanding and stepped politely over piles of tees and baskets of squeakers as I tried a bit of re-jigging.

It is always such a fun time of year when all the new seasons stock starts arriving - as I ordered it all about 8 months ago I get a real kick out of opening boxes and seeing everything again.

It also gives me hope that summer is indeed on its way... in our shop at least.

I took home some bathers for the Gidget to try on as I couldn't resist. It's the first year we've done anything more than a spattering of girls bathers and they look so summery all hanging in a row. They are only $28.00 each so I think I'll have to get a couple of pairs.

I Love The 80s

I didn't chose this photo so much for the hair as the outfit. I have such vivid memories of this windcheater - I thought it was the coolest thing. Tight, banana, and a khaki palm tree. HOT!!!! And tell me you had shoes like these! They were 'ice cubes' and I had them in about 3 different colours. Jeeez they must have been uncomfortable. A slave to fashion way back then. By the way this is 1981.

New Designers Guild

I previewed the latest release fabric collection from Designers Guild today. It's very beautiful as usual and I have ordered some fabrics and wallpaper as above for a window display at Black & Spiro for Summer. I'll most probably mix it with some of the new release fabrics from Mokum and also some Sea Cloth fabrics and a few other bright geometrics. I really love the dominance of green in this latest collection - it's so fresh and so very Summery!!

Reader Question

Olivia wrote in to me today and asked if I knew what the wallpaper was used here in a change room in the Trina Turk boutique in Palm Springs. I was unable to identify the wallpaper for her and so I was hoping someone might know what it is. If anyone can help Olivia please leave me a comment in my comments box below. Thanks!! BTW - this paper is also featured in Kelly Wearstler's book 'Modern Glamour'.

Susan Visits Bruun Rasmussen

Susan Serra The Kitchen Designer emailed me some fantastic images of her recent visit to Bruun Rasmussen Auction House in Copenhagen. Thank you for sending me these fantastic images Susan and for allowing me to share them with my readers. Susan gave me a brief rundown as below;

"An auction house established in 1948, BR is one of the ten largest auction houses in the world. It is on the prestigious Copenhagen street, Bredgade, just down the street from the Queen’s Castle.
This was the preview I went to, and I walked the 3 floors of the auction house, to preview the International paintings and works of art auction, being held through September 17."

What a wonderful place this would be to visit. Thank you again Susan for sharing your journey through this amazing place!!

NB. Jo & Kim @ Desire to Inspire posted more images of Susan's trip earlier this week.

Florence Features Again

Being an Australian I find myself very proud every time I see a Florence Broadhurst fabric or wallpaper pop up in a room by an International designer so when I saw Brilliant Assylum's post on this bathroom by Woodson & Rummerfield my little Aussie pride jumped up again as the wallpaper used is a Florence Broadhurst design. Despite the questions circulating about Florence Broadhurst and "her" designs I am still so proud of this successful Australian product which is one of very few design products to have succeeded in Australian and International markets.

For related post topics on Florence Broadhurst visit Stylecourt.

I Love This Room...

Even though to some this room may appear messy; to me it is just so simple, lived in, unpretentious and gorgeous! I really do love this room but as I have said in the past about all white rooms I would not be able to hold back on throwing some beautiful colourful cushions on the sofa! Lots of beautiful pieces in this room!

Image Courtesy of Bountiful Home

Mellow Yellow

Courtesy of Hans Veegers Photographer

Image via Sarah Kaye

Image via Stylecourt

Lee Jofa Yellow & White Houndstooth fabric above

Room via American Ebay

Via Bountiful Home

I'm still loving yellow even though we have been seeing so much of it used in fashion and interiors of late. I find yellow so fresh and bright and it always makes me happy. Today I thought I would share some current favourite yellow pics from my "I Love" files. Enjoy!