I Love October

I must admit I love October for a few reasons. My birthday falls very early in October along with my husband's birthday which falls a few days after mine so there's always lots of giving and receiving for us in October...Even at 33 I still love getting presents in bed on the morning of my Birthday!!

I always seem to get a bit of a personal decorating bug in October. I think it has something to do with the pending emails from suppliers advising of their upcoming pre-Christmas order cut-off dates. The thought of them closing their books for the year without a few little tidbits for home makes me a bit demented. Every night this week I've trawled a boot-load of fabric samples home for consideration and let me tell you I'm not really the most popular person in our house at the moment as every time one of the boys walks past the lounge room I ask...."And what about this fabric?" They are completely over it.

I also love the buzz of clients at this time of year as they too recognize the fact that if they don't make a decision now then it will be all over red rover until next year.

The other thing I like about October is the weather and all the flowering gardens around the place. Even just driving into work is a pleasure as flowers are blooming everywhere. The Jacaranda trees are also just starting to bloom which puts a beautiful purplish haze over Brisbane.

There are just so many lovely things to enjoy in October starting this weekend. We must also recognize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For more information visit the National Breast Cancer website here. Mrs Blandings always posts pink in October so here's a little hint of pink above from a pink girl through and through.

Happy October Everyone!

image 1 - source uknown, image 2 - source unknown, image 3 - anna spiro, image 4 via moodboard blog {please let me know if anyone knows the source of images 1 & 2 and I will link back accordingly}

Black & Spiro Today

This morning I pottered around my garden at home and collected a few flowering things for the shop. I arranged some pink bougainvillea and some native gum leaves in a couple of shell encrusted baskets I picked up in Bali a while ago. There's something so Summery and vibrant about bougainvillea and I do love it mixed in with a few classic blue and white ginger jars.

Above is one of a pair of amazing hand beaded African chairs we have in the shop at the moment. I think these chairs are a favourite of mine right now. To think of the work that goes into them...

We just received this gorgeous geometric patterned rug in today. The girls and I couldn't wait to put it in place under our bright orange coffee table in our front lounge room display. I think it has added so much colour to the shop...I just love it and I am very tempted to take it home!

Just thought you might like to see a few of the new things we have in at the moment.

Need It Now

I'm completely loving these vintage Indian embellished shoulder bags Louise over at Table Tonic just got in!! I love, love, love the silver necklaces too!

Serious Undercushioning

Finding the time to work out a few little things I need for home has proven to be a bit hard lately with a baby in the house and a busy shop to juggle.

If my friend Faux Fuchsia could see my very undercushioned sofas right now she would be in shock as undercushioning {her very own term for not enough cushions} in her world as well as mine is a big NO NO. Actually, I think many of you would be in shock. So, late this afternoon I spent a few little minutes with myself and my collection of fabrics in our stock fabric room at Black & Spiro. I found a few old pieces of fabric I have been saving for a rainy day and let me tell you my rainy day has come. So I whipped them out and packaged them up and off to the workroom they will go tomorrow.

I can't wait to get some fresh cushions in the house. It really is amazing what a few new cushions can make to a room!! How's your cushion situation at the moment?

In Fashion

A couple of weeks ago we played host to a Spring fashion shoot at Black & Spiro for Q Weekend as above which was featured in the Saturday morning paper here in Brisbane last weekend. Thanks Elizabeth for wanting to use our new store.

A New Trend?

Could this pin wheel inspired design be a new trend similar to that of the chevron/zig zag phenomenon?

image 1 - fine little shop, image 2 - via this is glamorous

Beautiful Things Everywhere

It's true, sometimes I can hardly sleep thinking about all the beautiful things I see. Here are a few pretty things I have spotted lately. Everyone thinks I just like bold colour but actually I love subdued tones too as noticeable above. Isn't Brooke Giannetti's bathroom sublime!

PS. Thanks for all your encouraging comments on my last post...I am not stopping the blog {for now anyway}. I was really just saying how thrilled I was that my client was inspired by a few of my posts as I have been feeling like my posts haven't been up-to-scratch lately. To see that she actually created a leaf arrangement and purchased a lamp I posted was really satisfying!! I'd love to see any pictures of things you have created from ideas you may have picked up here at ABT...it would be really lovely!! Thanks for all of your messages!! xx Anna

image 1 via pretty stuff, image 2 - brooke giannetti's pink bathroom, image 3 - paul costello photographer for house and garden via moodboard blog, image 4 - source unknown {please let me know if you know the source}, image 5 - image source uknown {please let me know if you know the source}