my creative space...styling workshop

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went on a little trip last week. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A flying visit to Bangalow and <a href="http://shannonfricke.blogspot.com/">Shannon Fricke</a>'s Little Cottage...for her Styling workshop.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEUCPBABlXHt-ACx_35q_fM8OIRreJLgh_toOLLzMBauAOIXfiZvO5pwiidFhJrrlhvQH-er-GpBlG1rs8NDlg13StTFQE28tffvMswJXvAlYF-QtmbPkcFM7Uy9F6yZLHwHHc02OuvUl/s1600/styling+101+shannons+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEUCPBABlXHt-ACx_35q_fM8OIRreJLgh_toOLLzMBauAOIXfiZvO5pwiidFhJrrlhvQH-er-GpBlG1rs8NDlg13StTFQE28tffvMswJXvAlYF-QtmbPkcFM7Uy9F6yZLHwHHc02OuvUl/s640/styling+101+shannons+studio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a terrific day, for several reasons:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to spend time with my dear bloggy friend <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/">Kerri with an 'i'</a>. We didn't stop talking from the time she picked me up from the airport on Thursday lunchtime until she dropped me back on Friday afternoon. Except maybe when we were being model students...demonstration by Kerri below...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmxLosBScxU0hhzWWfjdsfqqm0UZo-KFuoEAfVGoZr8hPbZodXedStYuqnBS8BT35zIotsdfcqj27upcWJluD13Jl9_uQmwUNFWtLRj04StmO23svVuOqUslczuqW1gS3JoQSy9lORiV1/s1600/styling+101+kerri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmxLosBScxU0hhzWWfjdsfqqm0UZo-KFuoEAfVGoZr8hPbZodXedStYuqnBS8BT35zIotsdfcqj27upcWJluD13Jl9_uQmwUNFWtLRj04StmO23svVuOqUslczuqW1gS3JoQSy9lORiV1/s640/styling+101+kerri.jpg" width="630" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to meet some really lovely women, all of us with a shared interest in the stuff we bloggers love. And three who are doing the Certificate IV in Design that I'm doing as well. That was fortuitous, especially seeing they're all way ahead of where I'm at and I now have their email addresses :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeift-opraLW-RC_WG60Oxnk8uRiJ-Ic_kVfT4Kmq8ByB_4FHoR-b18Hvl8HT9zYcsv2DxnS0BKvtKLon8w1dLkjG3qjqvPLVsMKmFjqLtB3ux00hOeHtr1LqMBTyNpfCMUabpdGcp8B5/s1600/styling+101+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeift-opraLW-RC_WG60Oxnk8uRiJ-Ic_kVfT4Kmq8ByB_4FHoR-b18Hvl8HT9zYcsv2DxnS0BKvtKLon8w1dLkjG3qjqvPLVsMKmFjqLtB3ux00hOeHtr1LqMBTyNpfCMUabpdGcp8B5/s640/styling+101+group.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learnt some really good stuff about concepts</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and I feel that I can apply this process to a whole lot of things</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (my spring concept: 'a carefree life' is shown below)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWADgxhT91E3430TM7sBPiJXwM_7t4hoyw62zgONnDIfVwiMWVNLyclm58Ue5JcMVroEA0eKsUFLnGSw_yRPVqikzBj57wJ3p4OMjUMg2fZ114yOXdKr_crry7sKFITG_OgQhuFqTQSS/s1600/styling+101+spring+concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGWADgxhT91E3430TM7sBPiJXwM_7t4hoyw62zgONnDIfVwiMWVNLyclm58Ue5JcMVroEA0eKsUFLnGSw_yRPVqikzBj57wJ3p4OMjUMg2fZ114yOXdKr_crry7sKFITG_OgQhuFqTQSS/s640/styling+101+spring+concept.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confirmed that I love styling and will continue to do it with gay abandon around my own house and at anyone else's who'll let me in the front door! Here's the little scene I created to demonstrate my springtime 'carefree life' concept...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8LvGSFlRPmsKkdUhZiFi8QwLFfBLOi_pco9844O5oHNvp8VdOFFbtC3BRPYJ17DaYZBfJMQ1CQks0Z9NfIHvn6cnN6utodvV-_F_O9-1dewStBAoq6hKydOwujuM2lWiu5I8BqUzIatO/s1600/styling+101+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8LvGSFlRPmsKkdUhZiFi8QwLFfBLOi_pco9844O5oHNvp8VdOFFbtC3BRPYJ17DaYZBfJMQ1CQks0Z9NfIHvn6cnN6utodvV-_F_O9-1dewStBAoq6hKydOwujuM2lWiu5I8BqUzIatO/s640/styling+101+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... and <b>most importantly</b>...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recognised that styling will NOT be my next career move. But I did come a great deal closer to working out what that might be...words and pictures in some combination...exciting :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKDPJ88aYU5aBf0vaUyURqbqq3VOJRVJLa2JFi6lWtRRkdAV8eVKyWxmHL480Qt_d_43t-bWcA0lKBq4iOW-mdXED-6Pl72xQ_daPWPQksVxOuUUjaJz5rZFTDF0mA96Ecc62MlL8QE-6/s1600/styling+101+vignette5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKDPJ88aYU5aBf0vaUyURqbqq3VOJRVJLa2JFi6lWtRRkdAV8eVKyWxmHL480Qt_d_43t-bWcA0lKBq4iOW-mdXED-6Pl72xQ_daPWPQksVxOuUUjaJz5rZFTDF0mA96Ecc62MlL8QE-6/s640/styling+101+vignette5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And apart from anything else the day offered (and there was lots), if that didn't make it a worthwhile investment, I don't know what on earth would.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the way, that <a href="http://shannonfricke.blogspot.com/">Shannon Fricke</a> is one impressive woman. And super nice as well. Complete bonus :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">all photos taken by me</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my creative space...styling workshop

I went on a little trip last week.  A flying visit to Bangalow and Shannon Fricke 's Little Cottage...for her Styling workshop. It was a...

Read more »

my creative space...certificate IV in design

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bet you didn't expect to see a post the day after I told you I was cutting back did you!! But...I had to share this evidence of my new found cunning plan being put into place! This is one of those creative foci I was talking about :)) I signed up to do this course through the <a href="http://iscd.edu.au/">International School of Colour and Design</a>...oh, just about a year ago now!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiCjSklbqvd25admqdmKHkUaxBuUqZm4VQo18V6upbY-2WsIrmB4z22OIUIkHNxm4vnlrMg4mTc0_sh-nSxNvQliQRUbCOkJEXrt02njubQwfD_PWy8TkCdcSfDakorL9K2x1i9qPKGq9/s1600/cert+IV+secondary+colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiCjSklbqvd25admqdmKHkUaxBuUqZm4VQo18V6upbY-2WsIrmB4z22OIUIkHNxm4vnlrMg4mTc0_sh-nSxNvQliQRUbCOkJEXrt02njubQwfD_PWy8TkCdcSfDakorL9K2x1i9qPKGq9/s640/cert+IV+secondary+colours.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing got in the way, and then another...as happens. And the ISCD very kindly let me defer. Best not to rush these things...you know how it is, right?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now that I've got my <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogging-knowing-when-enoughs-enough.html">focus</a> sorted...this is one of the creative things I'll be working on over the next several months...ok, ok, it'll probably take a year or so!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyEnlmUzRP4SwpmhM4EyxHrNgsR_yE3qkkWDddch9Z7w7t_QlfVwfK59-MXs13kbHlNCDC6QMbT8K60MZ57IqXLnu7HefNKYOcmur71Gxyvo7Rhtgy_wdo25VpGJv4jSPivMWsGutugeR/s1600/cert+IV+secondary+colour+magazine+tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyEnlmUzRP4SwpmhM4EyxHrNgsR_yE3qkkWDddch9Z7w7t_QlfVwfK59-MXs13kbHlNCDC6QMbT8K60MZ57IqXLnu7HefNKYOcmur71Gxyvo7Rhtgy_wdo25VpGJv4jSPivMWsGutugeR/s640/cert+IV+secondary+colour+magazine+tears.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assignment 1 is almost in the bag...I just have to gather up some images that represent these secondary colour spectrums...that shouldn't be too hard should it? I knew I bought all those magazines for a reason :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghha2i27XW1e3Ill-xQTGQcyOHueXo07ixMyvV6Gks6HdOZ1-nDmuEFmIqbHyths9txktc3a6twN0gezCWQf4FKI5h8Q8y0lFZppCPYcm7Ar4jTeR2qo15lRsQehl0Lg7jQ3hExzjAiknQ/s1600/cert+IV+cardboard+backing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghha2i27XW1e3Ill-xQTGQcyOHueXo07ixMyvV6Gks6HdOZ1-nDmuEFmIqbHyths9txktc3a6twN0gezCWQf4FKI5h8Q8y0lFZppCPYcm7Ar4jTeR2qo15lRsQehl0Lg7jQ3hExzjAiknQ/s640/cert+IV+cardboard+backing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even the mess looks quite interesting!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Head on over to <a href="http://www.kootoyoo.com/">kootoyoo</a> for a whole colour wheel of creatives :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and importantly...thank you so much for all your lovely comments yesterday about my decision to cut back. As usual, you made my day. I love that about you lot :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">all images by a tranquil townhouse</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my creative space...certificate IV in design

Bet you didn't expect to see a post the day after I told you I was cutting back did you!! But...I had to share this evidence of my new f...

Read more »

soul food friday...investing in yourself

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hit the 'pay now' button yesterday. I probably do it more than I should, but I had been pondering this buying decision for a while and decided to take the plunge. Have a little splurge. Invest in my future.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t3cpcOJG2m5C9Zf9_8-VrDNehZbIK0e0eXAtdtERAlzW1rdgdEheOBwJkE8OjpM3oj87ueB2amwOS0Zt_Hr5VYdqjCj6SNyjG21WYCuiEs4kfoYsL4hNFy9_LN-vgIAEm_dJ6C-R3Tdr/s1600/shannon+fricke+workshoptable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t3cpcOJG2m5C9Zf9_8-VrDNehZbIK0e0eXAtdtERAlzW1rdgdEheOBwJkE8OjpM3oj87ueB2amwOS0Zt_Hr5VYdqjCj6SNyjG21WYCuiEs4kfoYsL4hNFy9_LN-vgIAEm_dJ6C-R3Tdr/s640/shannon+fricke+workshoptable.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm 53...there you go...I've said it! Don't look it though:) I've had an incredibly satisfying career in HR (and still do), along with a military career and the all important motherhood of course, but there comes a time when you need to think about different things...while there's still the time! </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-TfpVGoAAgSwDWQ6KAuLL9Bi6mWspH1fu0pqWquk7zKdiNNJsQTqXcPWgA1IOA43iAejybw5F95BLXlY8i-IWqvvcprem_SWj0y7Y6E-geiaFyoPGQWqVnUL9fLCvCjMecsJX_q_CoG0/s1600/shannon+fricke+book+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-TfpVGoAAgSwDWQ6KAuLL9Bi6mWspH1fu0pqWquk7zKdiNNJsQTqXcPWgA1IOA43iAejybw5F95BLXlY8i-IWqvvcprem_SWj0y7Y6E-geiaFyoPGQWqVnUL9fLCvCjMecsJX_q_CoG0/s640/shannon+fricke+book+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't see myself giving up my day job for a while yet (there's still a pesky mortgage to pay off) but you can see from my desk that my worlds collide! One day I'll want to move from Canberra and do something else. And I'm incredibly interested in styling and photography....so I'm going here...Shannon Fricke's</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvAbx4ri4yYcaeHmfOqvXqyC3rx6CC95V-vure93qhN3PsP5p5f5qASmTOxonPdhedwIh2ey5dghz55OTw-jRtyLF4j57Cnu1yrqsBzkQOEHwZBFnzivoZK2sV9FxoxSA7apJaljQtscN/s1600/shannon+fricke+little+cottage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvAbx4ri4yYcaeHmfOqvXqyC3rx6CC95V-vure93qhN3PsP5p5f5qASmTOxonPdhedwIh2ey5dghz55OTw-jRtyLF4j57Cnu1yrqsBzkQOEHwZBFnzivoZK2sV9FxoxSA7apJaljQtscN/s400/shannon+fricke+little+cottage.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...to do this...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgm14m5PcVP5H9dbT2DPj46baUkNeYUDkqiappEWtvOgMi7Ho7Mgg8UXLK1_rh5qKGQWkXGDaVtw1UjcM_pg-b8SqTVcPcOd9lkVm_E-UCnrM-nCTRp_-CGifUeA9FmrMOMbq1nb4dfk_/s1600/shannon-fricke-workshop.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgm14m5PcVP5H9dbT2DPj46baUkNeYUDkqiappEWtvOgMi7Ho7Mgg8UXLK1_rh5qKGQWkXGDaVtw1UjcM_pg-b8SqTVcPcOd9lkVm_E-UCnrM-nCTRp_-CGifUeA9FmrMOMbq1nb4dfk_/s640/shannon-fricke-workshop.gif" width="586" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm booked in for the 6th of May. Can't wait. And as they say...it's never too late. What are you looking forward to? And how do you invest in you?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you once again for another lovely week of wonderful, funny and supportive comments. You're the best.</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

soul food friday...investing in yourself

I hit the 'pay now' button yesterday. I probably do it more than I should, but I had been pondering this buying decision for a while...

Read more »

soul food friday...finding a focus (or just getting it done!)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been told a few times that I'm a doer. And that's true...up to a point. It might be more accurate to say that I'm a starter. I start lots of things. It's quite possible that I am guilty of having a short attention span or a low boredom threshold. Although I was told yesterday that I was very patient...that's because yesterday, believe me, it was very necessary!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIE0B1wc8T-WmvqA2TEaC1DFfnkuepWINTt56r63qGCehKL8ZTB9gpIaPKdP2-e5xCyFkl4B777HC39bTQZpt3_VLf_WDOBSXNu0vPx98-gwsvadqUd7E5cKjBXFj77LuQWNvAvxb-cCt/s1600/focus+tumblr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIE0B1wc8T-WmvqA2TEaC1DFfnkuepWINTt56r63qGCehKL8ZTB9gpIaPKdP2-e5xCyFkl4B777HC39bTQZpt3_VLf_WDOBSXNu0vPx98-gwsvadqUd7E5cKjBXFj77LuQWNvAvxb-cCt/s400/focus+tumblr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it has occurred to me lately that perhaps I need a focus. Perhaps all the trying my hand at this and that is distracting me from being really good, or at least a lot better at something, one thing...any bloody thing!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To illustrate: here are a few of the things that I have started and not quite finished...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImeY8iiLg2TmgXk6bILv71-I6LmauPLqBY07Wx0ycB5PN7ab1h0f0VemG-NjmJDQIIdBFMUF5gS-R_kLjGiOr5M6-uX2h15u8-qmFRqenx8sgU5GXWTnHbrydIHfuUTd2fXUXd6XsL-1K/s1600/course+materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImeY8iiLg2TmgXk6bILv71-I6LmauPLqBY07Wx0ycB5PN7ab1h0f0VemG-NjmJDQIIdBFMUF5gS-R_kLjGiOr5M6-uX2h15u8-qmFRqenx8sgU5GXWTnHbrydIHfuUTd2fXUXd6XsL-1K/s400/course+materials.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my design course (but to be fair, I have officially deferred while I sort a few things)  </span></li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZthWwwGi8E97npMnGrdMGyBgyu0cVEj-SHWywwaOCHaeIxIbq_BH9YRtF1hwUO2nN8QCg1bCFrqtki6BBc__Dqxkp5fHL7EKrj533ONOv4VnVj-klFLXhleZiWTGkGIP1rlcFF-s-qIVk/s1600/orange+box+crochet+squares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZthWwwGi8E97npMnGrdMGyBgyu0cVEj-SHWywwaOCHaeIxIbq_BH9YRtF1hwUO2nN8QCg1bCFrqtki6BBc__Dqxkp5fHL7EKrj533ONOv4VnVj-klFLXhleZiWTGkGIP1rlcFF-s-qIVk/s640/orange+box+crochet+squares.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the crocheted blanket...all the squares are done, they just need to be put together (this may be because I'm not quite sure how to do it!)</span></li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnps_PXUeeC8xaoUwIgmiP3nypwhLqrFHS6i8-lS1fqSOkOOojDsmWSubGG-89B0jwtqzHonMZMThyphenhyphensmShF1VGbOOh8G3MauxaWE5gmGP5duW4P35z5yFGOstClzbEYMkJ9_k2jZOmvnjV/s1600/silver+chair+and+mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnps_PXUeeC8xaoUwIgmiP3nypwhLqrFHS6i8-lS1fqSOkOOojDsmWSubGG-89B0jwtqzHonMZMThyphenhyphensmShF1VGbOOh8G3MauxaWE5gmGP5duW4P35z5yFGOstClzbEYMkJ9_k2jZOmvnjV/s640/silver+chair+and+mirror.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the silver chair...remember how it started off silver leafed and I did, to my credit, see the error of my ways and just paint it silver.  But have I reupholstered the seat yet? No I have not.</span></li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Euq6IttLrZIaJJ46oiCV_cmQFZTIJXbicQLJsrIGt397U-tWJBNuvUUu3Ud0rY5RidtilBOiKBT3F6riz7fXKzuNFt-glTZu5hGWeC3I7pHOzE0cTA2k34lbYwWx9RwuBmuQylLqZxl/s1600/bedroom+rug+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Euq6IttLrZIaJJ46oiCV_cmQFZTIJXbicQLJsrIGt397U-tWJBNuvUUu3Ud0rY5RidtilBOiKBT3F6riz7fXKzuNFt-glTZu5hGWeC3I7pHOzE0cTA2k34lbYwWx9RwuBmuQylLqZxl/s640/bedroom+rug+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the bottom part of my bedroom. I got the plastering done months ago, I bought a beautiful rug, the reading chair's been there for yonks...but have I painted it yet so that I can finally finish that room? The one room in the house that will actually be finished. Guilty as charged.</span></li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9E0VidHQMjfGpr3cjRfxjxyqG01wlRhb8agUqvH8GDxeWRj2DhAtE_79HggSiVd7X4oxMthn7bJCcq5QsiIW6_KcgaZdrnlpi-cr0jw_eR3kjgk7O16ywx4K1Gt0P-sgFgdNDK2uCBg3/s1600/study+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9E0VidHQMjfGpr3cjRfxjxyqG01wlRhb8agUqvH8GDxeWRj2DhAtE_79HggSiVd7X4oxMthn7bJCcq5QsiIW6_KcgaZdrnlpi-cr0jw_eR3kjgk7O16ywx4K1Gt0P-sgFgdNDK2uCBg3/s640/study+2.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://gracie-senseandsimplicity.blogspot.com/">Grace</a> and I did a parallel post on what colour I should paint my study to highlight the red accents that are in there. Have I done anything about that? Again, no. But I have decided on white, including painting the bookshelves. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The question is: what white?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note the 'stuff I need to deal with' file...that's now stashed somewhere under the desk so I don't need to see it!! This room has changed quite a bit since then, just not in the ways I need it to :)</span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15sf2mIo0BjpeX5SpQ_HIONnzC5WBqGRhNOY7kUt1E7M3xMPlpRLQpXFNZ9rpOCwBOfrjRlBYGkSPsF4Cd5Yk1sUuFRbzT6ragjTh2dlInEoilpwMF1RTXfA9MSKvgrUh4BxI47o2rWVD/s1600/chandelier+bits3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15sf2mIo0BjpeX5SpQ_HIONnzC5WBqGRhNOY7kUt1E7M3xMPlpRLQpXFNZ9rpOCwBOfrjRlBYGkSPsF4Cd5Yk1sUuFRbzT6ragjTh2dlInEoilpwMF1RTXfA9MSKvgrUh4BxI47o2rWVD/s640/chandelier+bits3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li>Have the chandeliers sourced by the <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/ive-had-visit-from-chandelier-fairy.html">chandelier fairy</a> been put up? Afraid not, but I have decided where they'll go...I think. Now where's that electrician?</li></ul></div></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZze7SHSH-ykEQmh-9gNkSP4xf8_O3qhLWhvK1Gt5vji5Wl_zylgcosyPORV6iirfhNVXAXEtDLygNjiEaf2J5M5ONtYAfUtQQOwg_gq0N8rlB1jAj06CCkcoCXVy6J4zTvXSWRfLh1Umx/s1600/writing+a+novel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZze7SHSH-ykEQmh-9gNkSP4xf8_O3qhLWhvK1Gt5vji5Wl_zylgcosyPORV6iirfhNVXAXEtDLygNjiEaf2J5M5ONtYAfUtQQOwg_gq0N8rlB1jAj06CCkcoCXVy6J4zTvXSWRfLh1Umx/s400/writing+a+novel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and here's something REALLY funny. A few weeks ago I decided I'd write a novel. I kid you not. I've done three very impressive paragraphs. Silly bugger I am :)</span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure I'm not the only one with this lack of focus disease. Am I? What do you do to get stuff finished? I'd love to hear. But right now I'm off to tackle the blue and white tapestry pincushion commission...or maybe I'll go and pick up my new dining room chairs...yes, will definitely do that. Then there's the washing. I have a few new painting ideas...there's fabric galore just waiting to be made into cushions and bags...you can see my dilemma can't you!?! Sigh. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a lovely weekend everyone. I'll be back on Monday, hopefully with something that's finished!</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

soul food friday...finding a focus (or just getting it done!)

I've been told a few times that I'm a doer. And that's true...up to a point. It might be more accurate to say that I'm a sta...

Read more »

nowhere close to being too cool for school

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much excitement around the tranquil townhouse... not that Buffy the Vampire Slayer (aka the truly horrible cat) seemed to care much. She just carried on whining to be fed as usual, not sensing my exhilaration one little bit.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SmH6XJlAWMetaHEFZoUJ2HpZsCbplUZM1yBG8IpgM6j0L2jRaJ7QTSTmzorexyRYUYBrZXc0rUv7yAQzn7LDR-PjRArTNPwrskHEwn7InkTvT6_rRBpZnaBkkKA3B5uf-Pzu_Czk5aE/s1600-h/buffy+and+kangaroo+paws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SmH6XJlAWMetaHEFZoUJ2HpZsCbplUZM1yBG8IpgM6j0L2jRaJ7QTSTmzorexyRYUYBrZXc0rUv7yAQzn7LDR-PjRArTNPwrskHEwn7InkTvT6_rRBpZnaBkkKA3B5uf-Pzu_Czk5aE/s400/buffy+and+kangaroo+paws.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh yes she looks harmless here, but you don't live with her! Just ask my friends who she's taken a swipe at...they'll tell you.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, yesterday I picked up the phone, gave over my credit card details and signed up to do a Certificate IV in Design at the <a href="http://www.iscd.edu.au/">International School of Colour and Design. </a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkArGdgdt3yy1_55rdKvlTnUEXaAfUBedXDRehE5cKMPabQE521oDbQqrAbOZ09tcMmPJB7t4-RL124GnkfTl1L32xNzLCjyuzKQ-rCty69dkDSF14_REP-68e6qDFRG-wBF81dMaOXb8/s1600-h/iscd+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkArGdgdt3yy1_55rdKvlTnUEXaAfUBedXDRehE5cKMPabQE521oDbQqrAbOZ09tcMmPJB7t4-RL124GnkfTl1L32xNzLCjyuzKQ-rCty69dkDSF14_REP-68e6qDFRG-wBF81dMaOXb8/s400/iscd+page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The school's in Sydney and alas I'm not, so I'll be doing it by distance...and there is that little matter of my real job to worry about, so heading off to Sydney is not an option (and I doubt the first born would want to put me up on the couch for that long!)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But distance learning is how I did my Masters so I know it can work...just need to be disciplined Kerry...you can do it...remember your Army training.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpbQT11FKy5EmydBD-T-gfMXqAAXvnwsSXX6oPI9nb2u13b4B7_0vt_abq0QTZL_H8I0ORVH65fPRndPDbHpoYYGYikY9WFeEF6NccrZt9zwLL_6QHNTNcqRH2tdNZaCirsv9XTLRG7o/s1600-h/private+benjamin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpbQT11FKy5EmydBD-T-gfMXqAAXvnwsSXX6oPI9nb2u13b4B7_0vt_abq0QTZL_H8I0ORVH65fPRndPDbHpoYYGYikY9WFeEF6NccrZt9zwLL_6QHNTNcqRH2tdNZaCirsv9XTLRG7o/s400/private+benjamin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">image from </span></span><a href="http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451c17f69e2010535c8ea19970b-400wi"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, maybe not that...it brings me out in a very nasty rash!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The materials should arrive in a few weeks and I can't wait.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lKFCLo235fz_p9bLeTWRdRiU2TipoCr6tu23_i2y8u9CAgiXesZ28tfzZy9mnY4QvoT3TVrILZ65Mm8snMExwH8678pBPm80bsd9TARoRGnYvg6wL6h0GPsSRaHKFnaJ8NufB92Qqso/s1600-h/course+materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lKFCLo235fz_p9bLeTWRdRiU2TipoCr6tu23_i2y8u9CAgiXesZ28tfzZy9mnY4QvoT3TVrILZ65Mm8snMExwH8678pBPm80bsd9TARoRGnYvg6wL6h0GPsSRaHKFnaJ8NufB92Qqso/s400/course+materials.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But to tide me over, I did this great little quiz thingy they have on their website...it tells you what your decorating style is...and my oh my...it was accurate in my case.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's my result...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RnyL0K9Z9rQUpjjYOcai0rFVxQs_pkQy0Jd2oK4Jg9VYYM6Ow-UAJkVjQyUQR0sq01xjj41RZcg1JsQcHWKqDQRNN0qswrjBhqqTX3Xe4WC0naIBYN7qIaE-c7ARS6UWKJoOIMzvdTE/s1600-h/iscd+style+personality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RnyL0K9Z9rQUpjjYOcai0rFVxQs_pkQy0Jd2oK4Jg9VYYM6Ow-UAJkVjQyUQR0sq01xjj41RZcg1JsQcHWKqDQRNN0qswrjBhqqTX3Xe4WC0naIBYN7qIaE-c7ARS6UWKJoOIMzvdTE/s400/iscd+style+personality.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and here is what it tells me a magazine cover designed by me would look like...not so sure about that one</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9cssnPUZHmUE9quXrqSwYga1gyvnYy89h3mvZu-uplifg6IxJxsejLuP_mRo27phDnt2usWw3DSZvLVcD-Rh3oOFmqP5fgiL6Z6C_PuZwnDiL-VtD9De9f40NOI0fSe9V1y6Ye1L0As/s1600-h/iscd+style+magazine+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9cssnPUZHmUE9quXrqSwYga1gyvnYy89h3mvZu-uplifg6IxJxsejLuP_mRo27phDnt2usWw3DSZvLVcD-Rh3oOFmqP5fgiL6Z6C_PuZwnDiL-VtD9De9f40NOI0fSe9V1y6Ye1L0As/s400/iscd+style+magazine+cover.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's such a cool thing to play with...go on, <a href="http://www.iscd.edu.au/personal-style-quiz/">have a go</a>...you know you want to!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">first image by me; second from google; others from the ISCD website</span></span></div>

nowhere close to being too cool for school

Much excitement around the tranquil townhouse... not that Buffy the Vampire Slayer (aka the truly horrible cat) seemed to care much. She jus...

Read more »