giveaway tickets for you...did I really call Better Homes and Gardens daggy?

Yes, I believe I did. But despite that I'm pleased to say I haven't been black listed and they've given me some tickets to give to you for the Better Homes and Gardens Live Event.

 I know many of my bloggy friends have also been given this opportunity to extend the BHG largesse, so if you haven't got tickets from elsewhere, or if you're looking for more for family and friends...then I'm your girl.

Just email me (tranquiltownhouse@gmail.com) with how many you'd like (I have a few) and Bob's your uncle. While you're at it...take him as well!
Think I just might make the trip to Sydney for this myself...and to see the first-born of course..and maybe take a little side trip to Ikea :)

top ten pictures from the week ~ 29.9.10

I have to tell you...

my house looks like the proverbial bomb has gone off in a corner of it

a small one anyway...bomb that is, not corner

and that's not even counting the space the 22 year old is inhabiting

that,my friends, you can only begin to imagine!

but it's where he creates some rather good graphic design...I'll show you some of it one day...

so how wonderful it is to gaze at all this...well, tidyness and order and tranquility...

sometimes my house looks styled...

but not all that often I must confess

maybe this weekend I'll have a styling blitz

or maybe not...I have a wedding to go to...in a paddock near Tumut! Can't wait.

Where, apart from pondering the joys of wedded bliss (and wondering where on earth I went wrong!!), I will think about who to pass this lovely award on to...and make up reveal 5 secret things about me!

Thank you Sara Louise, for thinking I'm stylish...you silly possum...have you forgotten the crochet rock :)  You must check out Sara in Le Petit Village. Go and meet her, the husband, Fifty, and Honey Jr among others. She is an absolute cracker and an definite must read for moi!

p.s. I actually love the rock :))

images via brabourne farm; collage of life; cote de texas; design sponge; driftwood interiors; greige; la maison boheme; shannon fricke; the design files; the diversion project

in trouble with the embroiderer's guild!

This is what happens when you give in to your undisputed procrastination skills. You come a cropper!! I was meant to be finishing a tender document yesterday. Not the most fun thing to do on a Sunday that's for sure.
I didn't think it could hurt to take myself off to the Embroiderer's Guild exhibition at Canberra's Albert Hall. Just for an hour or so...
There were some lovely example of very fine needlework. This amazing boho teacosy was quite old...isn't it fabulous!

I managed to take a couple of pictures before I was accosted by a white gloved wearing official who told me picture taking was definitely, absolutey not allowed. And hadn't I seen the sign in the foyer forbidding it? Well no...obviously not!

I of course apologised profusely and was given a further bollocking and told it was because of copyright issues. Hmmm, copyright? What a catch-all excuse, and slightly bemusing as I certainly wasn't planning on stealing designs and mass producing table runners!

Of course, being told I couldn't take pictures paled into absolute insignificance after the earlier humiliation of being asked if I qualified for a 'seniors discount' when I was paying my entry fee. What the...!!! So that made me determined to post the few photos I did manage to take! This is as rebellious as I get I'm afraid. In my defence I did look up the guild website to see if there were any photos there I could use. The last time photos were uploaded bloggy peeps??2007! I am resting my case! And I don't think I'll be joining the guild any time soon...senior or not!!

On the plus side I scored these great old books for only $5 for the three. Gotta love that.

I'll see you tomorrow. Might have to spend some time today looking up cosmetic surgeons!!

soul food friday ~ don't stop learning

I was facilitating a program this week, trying to give people some insights into being a team leader. We spoke a lot about the need to understand yourself...your drivers, motivators, interests, things that get on your goat...and importantly, your emotions. 

I had a major wake up call a few days ago. I learned that while I may have been saying one thing, I was actually demonstrating through my behaviour something quite different. The opposite of what I had intended. The complete antithesis of what I really believed. My self awareness was shot to pieces...clouded. Actually, to be honest, it was completely smothered by self absorption.

I've learned I need to listen more. Really listen. And hear.

I've learned that I need to be more compassionate. And show it.

I've learned that when the universe revolves around you it can be a pretty small and uninspiring place.

But most of all, I've learned that acknowledging when you've lost the plot and saying sorry for it is one of the best things you can do...for you.

As I said to a friend the other night...you're never too old to learn some new things about yourself. Or about others who you think you know so well. It makes life better, no doubt about that, even if you're not so chuffed about the things you're learning :)

Hope you get to learn something new this weekend.

image from here

my creative space...design gone slightly awry

Since I've almost completed the ten year cat tapestry project...yes, I am easily distracted like to take my time...I thought I'd have a go at designing a little tapestry project myself..something simple...

Graph paper was purchased, the colouring pencils came out and I had myself a little design...but it didn't take long for me to realise that said design was going to look, well...let's say, not quite what I had in mind!

So, I improvised and I'm quite happy with how it's coming along. A little less grandma and a bit more boho!

It's going to be a little cushiony thing with a loop you can hang over a knob of some description :)

Maybe I'll do some Christmas themed ones...joy, Noel, move your arse Santa...that type of thing...or perhaps not!!

top 10 pictures from the week ~ 22.9.10 ~ and thank you

Hello possums. It's nice to be back in the saddle, or whatever the bloggy equivalent is. 

I must confess to being a bit slack about filing pictures away...

It's not because I haven't been looking...

it just required a bit more energy than I could summon...

A bit pathetic? Well...yes! But that's ok.

Here's some nice ones though. A bit more subdued than usual perhaps...

But not entirely...oh, no!

But soothing for sure...

I know this is a picture post, but it's as much about things I've noticed. And perhaps because things are a bit wobbly at the moment, I noticed this from Sarah Wilson's blog and an interview she conducted with Caroline Myss on her new book Defy Gravity. Myss's advice on dealing with things that happen to you...
... just stop relying on reasons, then the answer comes. Which is to say, the graceful whisper of our intuition kicks in and tells us where we’re at and steers us. While ever we defer to reason, we can’t hear the graceful whisper.
Nice. And true. And on a lighter note, because to be honest, I'm completely over myself...something I found on the first-born's tumblr...

Thanks for sticking around. I was so right about the kindness thing. You lot are heaps nice :) And so are my kids...thank you both. Love you to bits.

images from a punch of color; ada and darcy; an indian summer; brabourne farm; color outside the lines; lime in the coconut; la porte rouge; white trash beautiful; chasing satellites

soul food friday ~ friendship, acts of kindness and a break

You hear (or read) about so many acts of kindness in this bloggy world. I hadn't expected that when I started, although I suspect if I'd actually thought about it, it might have gone down as one of those glimpses of the bleeding obvious.

Kindness is pretty much everywhere. Friends rally when you're glum. I've had lots of 'rallying' in the last few days. From my 'here in my home town' peeps and from my online friends. And that has been so lovely.

And when you're feeling out of sorts it's wonderful to come home and find a package in your mailbox. It puts a smile on your face and makes you feel a bit better.

this image is via chasing satellites...the first born's new tumblr (it's lovely - you should visit)

The package was from my friend Mary in Canada. She follows my blog and always leaves lovely comments. We met each other 20 years ago when our husbands were posted to the UK. Mine in the Australian Army, hers in the Canadian. She's still got hers though!!! We only reconnected recently through the wonders of Google and a name search! Thanks so much for doing that you guys :) 

You can tell she reads the blog because she knitted me some dishcloths!

...they even came with a colour coordinated card...

...and instructions in case I want to make some too! Well thank you Mary...I just might do that:)

And last, but not least...thank you everyone for your comments about my blues. I knew you'd understand and I am very grateful. They're still hanging about (blast them to smithereens!), but honestly, I know I have very little to be glum about. Nonetheless, I'm going to take your advice and take it easy for a week or so. I've noticed there are a few others doing that...perhaps it's that time of year!

And when I come back I'm sure I'll be much chirpier (thanks Amanda, such a good word to be reminded of!). In the meantime I'm going to do some of this...a bit of getting fit..or at least starting the process (because boy do I need to do that!) and spend some time in the garden (if it ever stops raining). Oh yeah, and there's that pesky work to go to as well in between knitting dishcloths ;)

I do hope you'll still be around when I come back, because I really do appreciate you. If not, that's ok too. I'll still be blog stalking of course :) And as this lovely picture Jess took last night shows, there's always a rainbow somewhere...very pretty isn't it?

my creative space...the bayeux it's not

I have to confess I didn't do much on my creative day yesterday...just a few stitches...

On this...a tapestry I started a while ago. When the 22 year old saw me drag it out of storage he said 'about time mum...you started that 20 years ago'. Honestly, that child exaggerates...it couldn't have been more than 10!

I found the pattern in a (now) ancient magazine and started it because it reminded me of a lovely black and white cat called Licorice we had back then. Unfortunately she died which made us all very sad. And we were left with this...

Just as I suspected...no better in black and white. And yes, I do know that when Buffy goes to cat heaven I'll probably be sad. Probably. This is for you Edith. For someone so cultured, your affection for the vampire slayer has me completely bemused!

And, lest you think I have been neglecting the first born's crocheted rug...this lovely box I bought a few weeks ago is now full of squares...

...only 15 13 white ones left to make. Then I have to figure out how to put them all together. I'm sure the bloggy world will have the answer! But lest I think I'm getting ever so clever, I saw these bits of textile and embroidery deliciousness on The Selby yesterday...oh how I wish!

Go and check the house out as well. Bohemian heaven. 

And while you're blog surfing, hop on over to Kirsty's Kootoyoo for Thursday's main 'my creative space' event.