Favorite Things.

                     Cottage Living via My Home Ideas

There is something very magical when you string some bistro lights in your back yard.  Hang some under a patio  umbrella or drap some on the fence and plant some Star Jasmine to vine all over it.  You can get them at Target for $12.99, trust me on this, it's a magical experience in your own back yard.  Enjoy, Heidi

P.S.  Is this Pleaching?  Millie? 

Ormiston House in Veranda Magazine

Well, it's turning out to be a big week for us.  We just found out that the Ormiston house has made the front cover of Veranda Magazine in Poland.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with Paul and Hayley on their beautiful home and am overjoyed by this wonderful article.  The morning of the photo shoot I gathered lots of flowers and foliage from my garden at home and arranged them at the house.  My favourite arrangement was the one I did on their dining table in a collection of Hayley's mismatched antique jugs and vases.

Thanks again must go to Catherine Shields and Simon Kenny for their continued interest in my work and their beautiful coverage of these lovely family homes I have had the pleasure of working in.

If you would like to see more images of Paul & Hayley's house head over to Content's website HERE...

Calling on Prayer Warriors

Those of you who tag along with my musings know that I am a prayer warrior.

I believe in the power of prayer, and in the gifts and miracles of God.

I have had many in my own life, and have seen Him work in others.

I am popping in today to ask all of you with a heart for others to help me pray for my friend Lucy.

(You'll see a link to her blog in my sidebar.)

Isn't she beautiful?

She is indeed, but all of that beauty is hiding a very serious heart disease.

Without sharing too much of her story, I will just tell you that she is facing a critical medical

situation and NEEDS OUR PRAYER - right NOW -this very minute.

I have a few prayer circles praying for her, and if you will, I'd like for you to as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucy herself is now praying this prayer. I am posting it so that you know her needs.

Her situation is desperarte, and her needs are extreme.

Heavenly Father, Lord I come to you with a troubled heart, both in spirit and in in health.

 Father, I know that YOU are the giver of life, and I KNOW that

you have the power to restore my health if it is in your will.

God, I am asking you with all that I have in me, to put your hands inside my body and restore

me to a degree of health that will make my life more manageble for myself and my family.

Lord, I ask you to be ever present in my life even when I fail to be present in yours.

 I ask you Father to send angels to camp about me and lift me up when I am down, and to give my care takers the wisdom and the knowledge to treat my condition with success.

I ask you also to wrap your arms of comfort and provision around me,

and protect me throughout this trial.

God, your word says that where two or more are gathered in your name, BELIEVING, so SHALL we receive. I am covered in prayer by a multitude of your children today,

and I am believing, in the name of Jesus, that YOU will bring me safely through this.

 Help me Lord, to have the strength to withstand the treatment that will bring my health back to my body. I am trusting and believing that you are with me. Help me always to have my thoughts on you. In the name of Jesus, I seek these blessings and provisions in my life. Amen.

__________________________

Please let her know in the comments that you are lifting her up in prayer.
She needs us, and she needs to know that there are people who care for those that they don't even know.
I thank you, and I know that she does too.



Gumdale House in AWW

Back in 2007, I was very excited when Sharnel & Perry Dollar asked me to help them with the interior of their new family home.  The latest issue of Australian Womans Weekly magazine features their alluring home.  It was lovely to look at the images and remember all the work which went into making it the special place that it is today.

Sharnel was a wonderful client to work with as she was very open to everything I suggested and recommended.  Catherine Shields & Simon Kenny's story certainly captures the ambience of the Dollar's beautiful family home.

A Hand picked Rose Background just for you.

A little gift from me to you.  One of my Souvenir de la Malmaison roses from the backyard for your computer desktop background.  First, click on the picture (this will make it a lager size) then, right click on the picture, scroll down to "set as background" and click.  You are done.  Enjoy your weekend.  Heidi

As Summer Fades...

As Summer draws to an end here in Australia we are heading away down to the beach for a few days to enjoy what remains of this warm balmy weather.  I hope you have a great weekend wherever you are, whatever you do...

xx

Anna

PS - My heart goes out to all of those in Christchurch who have been affected by the terrible earthquake.  What is happenning in this world of ours?xx

images via madison magazine

Gypsy Wagon Hen House

This has got to be one of the cutest and cleverest ideas yet. 

Imagine one of these precious gypsy wagons on your property with the

bonus of farm fresh eggs inside, plus a flock of grasshopper terminators.

Couldn't be more perfect.  These cute little Gypsy Wagons are made by Flyte So Fancy.

Flyte So Fancy

Flyte So Fancy

Flyte So Fancy

NY Cushions

For a bit of fun we picked up some I love NY tote bags when we were in NYC a few weeks ago to make into cushions for the shop.  We selected a few different fabrics to put onto the backs of them.  We only have 3 left...we should have bought more!

Willow Nest

Time to take my new camera out for a spin.  I went over to my neighbors, Linda and Ludmil of Willow Nest, to see what they were up to and boy was I in for a treat. Right now they are getting ready for the big antique show coming up at the end of March in Round Top / Warrenton.  They will be set up in the Marburger Farms Tent. Ludmil, a Bulgarian architect, is a master artist-upcycler.  I am amazed everytime I see his newest creation.   This bird aviary has just been finished and inside are the doves he hatched last year, we named them Jill and Jule.

This bird house is so cute, it looks like a little old man with a mustache. 

He gave it a name, but I can't remember now what it was.

This one hangs and is one of my favorites.  It didn't get a name yet. 

Perhaps you readers could help Ludmil name this birdhouse?

                                    This one we named Oscar, since it is made from a small trash can,
                                            just like Oscar the grouch lived in on Sesame Street.

                      This pretty white one is made from an old milk can.  It too did not get a name. 
                                   Come up with the perfect name for this fabulous bird house
                                                     and I will re-post the out come.

This is a to die for shelf he made from a grate that was used in a rock quarry.

So clever, that Ludmil.  He has 3 of these made up.  Perfect for that old world French look.

They are taller than me, perhaps 7 feet tall and around 4 feet wide.

This arbor is what greets you when you first come upon Ludmil's potting shed. 

It was a sight last year covered in morning glories. 

I stepped inside their shop, which is mostly used for storage and also occasional shows and this is what I found.  Hee Hee,  I love the deer with the pretty collar, that is Linda's touch.  She is the glitter, ribbon, paper queen.  She has been up-cycling, painting things white and adding magic to object that were normally tossed for 30 years now.  Way before it was the thing to do. 

What a clever pair and how fortunate Burton is to have them.

On March 6th they will be having a Spring preview party at theire Burton Location from 10:00 to 4:00.

March 11 & 12 they will be in Fort Worth at the Dolly Johnson Show, celebrating Texas's 175 Birthday.

Starting March 29th they will be set up at Marburger Farms in Warrenton, Texas.

Click here for their website and also to contact them for more information about their art and wares.

Apple Tea Cake

Whilst I'm not a wonderful cook like others in my family, I don't mind cooking a lovely old fashioned cake every now and then.  One of my favourite cakes to cook is actually a lemon and coconut cake which is an old Woman's Weekly recipe.  However, I think my family may be a little bit 'over' my lemon cake so tonight I went in search of something new to cook.  I didn't have to search very far as I found a recipe I am going to try in the latest Real Living magazine.  My family and I are all heading away down to my cousin's beach house this weekend so I might just try my hand at this recipe tomorrow night.  I figure that if I post about it then maybe I will actually do it!!


PS.  Thank you all so much for the super kind comments you left me in my last post about my grandmother...Considering your interest in her, I might post more about her in the future.

Island Time

I ran away to the beach this past weekend.  After all of that working, I needed to LIVE.  Work to Live, not Live to work.  My new motto I learned from watching all of the Great Australian Oprah Episodes.  This is what was the difference between Americans and Aussies.  Americans Live to Work and Aussies Work to Live.  Any Who.  A beach house is in my future.  Here are a few ideas I am throwing around.  Enjoy, Heidi

Plenty oil painting of the Ocean.  Image Via Bonesteel Trout Hall

Cozy places for R&R  Found Here

Nothing fussy Kitchen.  Image Via Phoebe Howard

Great use of space for all the kids to come.  Image Via Elle Decor

                                                    Bamboo, Sea shells and Sun Light.  Image Via Tim Clarke

                                        Navy Blue and White.    Image Via Stuart Membery

I Love Her

This is my grandmother.  Her name is Ellie and this is what she was wearing when she came to visit me today at Black & Spiro.  She is one of the most stylish women I have ever met and I am so proud to call her my grandmother.  She has done so much for me in my life and I love her so much.

Butterfly Love.

 Great gifts for the Butterfly Lovers out there.
Click HERE to see and purchase more Pretty Butterfly Stuff.

Butterfly File Folders

                                                                                           

Butterfly Post Cards in Hinged tin box.  Great framed.

3 New LARGE Redento Raffinatos!

We are thrilled with these new Redento Raffinatos!
We think Janusz would be proud of us!
The Olive and Purple one is 33 1/8" tall, 10" wide, & 6" deep!
The Red and Blue one is 31 3/4" tall, 10 1/4" wide, & 4 1/2" deep.
The Olive and Blue one is 30 7/8" tall, 9 1/4" wide, and 4 1/2" deep.
The photographs are decent, but they really don't do them justice. Much for vivid in person!

COMING SOON! - STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATE ON THE NEW LOCATION IN EDMOND WITH PICTURES -

Black & Spiro Today

Today we changed our front window display.  It was a little overdue I must admit.  The fresh blue, white, pink and yellow in the windows is nice for a change.  Our Max range of furniture is now available in a console table which we have placed into this display in yellow.  The nice thing about this furniture we are making is that it can be made in any colour and it only takes a few weeks to have it manufactured and delivered.

Isn't it hot today!!  I can't wait to go for a swim when I get home this afternoon...