I'm going to give it a red hot go...you?

 image: a tranquil townhouse

 

I don't know about you, but I need a bit of a break J

It's been a big year for all sorts of reasons...some good, some things I could have done without, and some significant changes on the horizon!

So while I have a bit of a rest from the blog and as many things electronic as I possibly can, there's some work to be done on my bedroom involving a whole pile of pictures and two Ikea Ribba picture ledges...

I'll be painting the lower half of the room and installing a gallery wall...I can hear it calling to me..."hurry up, I've only been waiting about a year for you to get off your butt and tart me up. Neglected, that's what I am!"  

I'll see you sometime soon, ok?  Early in the new year I'll sort my top ten pics from all of the top ten posts in 2011...I'm looking forward to a trip through the archives. 
In the meantime, have fun, relax, stay safe, hug lots of people. But more than that, congratulate yourselves for being a very fine bunch. Caring, kind, supportive, funny, thoughtful, crafty, nutty, talented, eccentric, intelligent and a few other words that will no doubt spring to mind after I've hit publish. You add another, very lovely dimension to my life. You are admired and appreciated. Lots of love to all of you...even the bits you're not fond of! 
See you on the other side (of the wall). I'm going to have to do it now aren't I?
images 1 and 3: pinterest; image 2: ikea

Last week I told you that I'd show you my Christmas decorating...be warned, I use the term very loosely J I also said, if I remember correctly that you should be prepared to be underwhelmed. I'm not going to be at home for Christmas this year. Jess, Ben and I will be having a Christmas Eve dinner at Jess's home in Sydney and then we'll be making the road trip to and from Newcastle on Christmas Day to have lunch with my mum and dad and our rather odd, extended family! I say that lovingly J

Because of that, I haven't done much in the way of decoration in the townhouse, which is a pity. I've got an awesome black tree that looks fab with silver and pearls flung in, over and around it...but never mind. 

So this is it I'm afraid...a $4.98 string of plastic hearts (from Big W) draped over an embroidered velvet taj mahal cushion cover I bought in India...framed after I spilled something on it and it lost its appeal on the sofa...I do love it and its memories though...even if due to this wonderful gift it's no longer hanging there...things move quickly in the townhouse!

 

...last year's frou frou feather boa wreath with the addition of a $2 string of white lights (last of the big spenders I am!)...

and cherries...because nothing in my view says Christmas in Australia more than cherries. I do hope your hols are the proverbial bowl of them.

While it may not be Christmassy in the strictest sense of the word...this is probably good advice for this time of year. The 2011 birthday present from the first born...it makes me smile every time I come home.

And it's hardly Christmas without the slayer now is it?  With lots of love from me and mine to you and yours....see you sometime after the face stuffing and afternoon napping has ceased. Not that it ever does where that cat's concerned! And as I'm on leave at the end of today, I may just do a bit of that myself!

And most importantly...to those of you who are going through a hard time, who are unwell, who've lost people you love this year, who don't know what to do about something or someone, who are struggling...blessings to you xx

all photos by a tranquil townhouse

Well that year went in the proverbial blink of an eye didn't it J

There have been times when I thought...

this weekly top ten thing is a bit of a pain in the neck bother

and I might give it up and read a book instead

but thank you for encouraging me to keep going 

the truth is, most of the time I quite enjoy doing it

most of the time!

And I have to tell you, I've got the most awesome record of rooms I like now

Ha! Who needs pinterest J

I'm going to attempt to select my top ten pictures for the whole year some time over the holidays...

watch out for that one!

I don't know why we post snow pictures at Christmas in the southern hemisphere...but we do...click on it for a bit of magic!

Covering my bases with this next one...

Only two more days before I get to have a break...yippee! Thanks to all the wonderful bloggers who have provided so much top ten inspiration this year, and especially to Jules, the fabulous woman who owns this blog ...you never fail in the interiors stakes bloss, never. 

kxxx

images seen on: little green notebook/lime in the coconut; rummage; brabourne farm; an indian summer; decorology; elements at home; livet hemma; the diversion project; houzz (2); head over heels; tiny white diaisies; beautifulism

I am more than a little bit in love with this early Christmas present I received on Sunday...and just quietly, the man who painted it  J

It was created by the fella a while ago and it's called Teasels. Don't ask why, I don't know!  Actually...I do know now.  I googled teasel...it's a plant! Makes perfect sense. Richard tells me there are three separate shadows due to three different light sources while he was painting it.
I've been secretly coveting this painting for a long time, so to be given it was a completely lovely surprise...and I couldn't be more chuffed. And I'm super happy to have it in my home, where it looks so good against the red of the antique cabinet, don't you think? Yes, me too. If you look closely you can see that I've hung it a little lower between taking the first and second pictures.

It has of course meant a major rearrangement of the art in the town-house but I don't mind...I love it to pieces. I'm really lucky to have so many creative people in my life J

photos by a tranquil townhouse; artwork by Richard Baldwin

Start saving those champagne wires for next year people J

Who would have imagined you could make a Christmas wreath out of champagne leftovers...my good friend Chris, that's who!

Goodness knows how many bottles of champagne had to be drunk sacrificed to make this little beauty. I'm pleased to say that I may have contributed once in a while throughout the past year. I like to be helpful J Here it is hanging on the mirror.

Chris said she went minimal with the decorating this year (like me!)...but she certainly knows how to fling a few baubles in a bowl!

Chris and Terry are going to let me photograph their beautiful townhouse over the holidays so that I can show you on the blog...here's a sneak peek...

...you won't be disappointed!

all images: a tranquil townhouse

Last week the 23 year old and around 70 of his classmates held their graduating class exhibition at the University of Canberra. To say that I'm more than a little bit proud is putting it mildlyJ

This lovely young man of mine has worked really, really hard to get to where he now finds himself...with a Bachelor of Graphic Design degree that will be conferred next March. Distinction average thank you very much!  I can't wait to see him in a cap and gown...the last time would have been at his christening. Actually no, he wore a little white romper suit to that. Sorry Ben!

I am of course hugely biased, but I think his work is wonderful...

I'm getting this one for Christmas!

Though I'm not a mummy blogger (whatever that is I'm pretty sure it involves having kids much younger than mine!) I am a mum, and if I can't occasionally use my blog to brag about my offspring, then quite honestly it's not worth having as far as I'm concerned!

Ben is talented, clever, kind, handsome, loving...and he is tenacious. He's persevered through some really tough times to achieve this...and it is, indeed, a wonderful achievement. Bursting with admiration for you my fabulous boy xxx

He's looking for a job if you know of anyone who wants to hire a graphic designer with a great attitude J

p.s. the colour scheme of the exhibition was black, white and yellow. I accidentally dressed to match, as you do J
 images 1,2,7 by me; all designs by 88 design

Hooley dooley, life’s a bit frantic at the moment…

I don’t know about you…

But I have about eleventy-seven million things to do

And nowhere near enough time to do them in

And that includes collecting ten pictures this week...which may account for this next one of a toilet, although I do think it's a bit genius!!

And while I told myself this would be a Christmas decorating picture free zone

I couldn’t resist this next one. Subtle. Glamorous.

I’ll show you my Christmas decorating next week….that should only take up about 2.5 seconds of your precious time…and I warn you now...be prepared to be underwhelmed J 

Last top ten for the year is coming up next week...and then I may have a bash at compiling my top ten from the entire year's pickings...that should fill up a few of those non-existent spare hours I have up my sleeve!

Stay calm J 

images, in order, seen on: desire to inspire; 79 ideas; bohemian hunter; bohemian shoebox; design sponge; nomad by sibella court on desire to inspire; 79 ideas; simple everyday glamour; the decorista; the grower's daughter