Pretty Doily Vase Topper

 

Using a vintage crochet doily as a decorative topper for a vase is a beautiful way to enhance your floral displays with a touch of nostalgia. 

Mine certainly brightened up the office space!

Doilies are delicate pieces that not only celebrate the craftsmanship of yesteryear but also infuse your home with warmth and character. 

You can find them to buy in most thrift stores and often at jumble sales or craft markets.

Steps to Use a Vintage Doily as a Vase Topper

1. Choose the Right Vase: The first step is to select a vase that coordinates well with the size and design of your chosen doily. A clear glass or a simple ceramic vase works beautifully, allowing the intricate patterns of the doily to shine through. Consider the colours of the doily as well; a soft white or cream doily might pair elegantly with a colourful vase, while a bold doily could make a classic, understated vase pop.

2. Prepare the Doily: Make sure the doily is clean and intact, free from any stains or blemishes. If it has accumulated dust over time, gently wash it with a mild soap solution by hand. After washing, lay it flat on a clean towel to dry naturally, ensuring the fibres maintains its shape. 

You will need a doily that has reasonably sized gaps in the design.

3. Make sure the vase is clean. Then fill it with water.

4. Position the Doily: Lay the doily over the top of the vase, allowing its edges to cascade gracefully down the sides. 

Use a rubber band to secure the doily in place.

 The vintage lace will add texture and depth, making the floral display more visually interesting. 

5. Arrange Your Flowers: Now comes the fun part—placing your choice of flowers into the water container. Choose blooms that complement the doily, such as soft pastels for a gentle look, or vibrant hues for a more dramatic effect. 

The flower stems need to be slim enough to slip through the gaps in the doily design.

    

6. Adjust as Needed: After your flowers are in place, take a step back and evaluate the arrangement. Make any necessary adjustments to the positioning of the flowers and the doily to achieve a visually appealing balance. Add a ribbon or thin rope twine by tying it around the vase over the top of the elastic band to hide it, finishing with a small bow.

Note: To change the vase water, undo the bow, lift up the dolly and rubber band with the flowers, set aside, change water, and carefully place the flowers back in. Then push the rubber band back into position, tightening the doily, and tie the ribbon or twine bow back in place.

You might also like to make a DIY Doily cushion.

Find out how HERE.

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DIY Halloween Ideas from Mia Bella Passions

 

If crafting and creating are on your mind for the upcoming Halloween season,

then visit Mia Bella Passions' Halloween page 

for easy DIY decor ideas, recipes and FREE printables!

https://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/p/halloween.html

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Delectable Almond Afghan Biscuits

  Home-baked goods offer a unique blend of warmth, comfort, and nostalgia that is hard to replicate in any store-bought alternative. The aroma of freshly baked cookies, cakes, or bread wafting through the house can instantly uplift spirits!

There’s something incredibly special about converting raw ingredients into a delicious treat; the mixing, the kneading, and the anticipation as one watches dough rise or batter transform in the oven evoke a sense of accomplishment. 

Sharing these lovingly crafted treats with others strengthens bonds, fosters friendship, and cultivates a sense of community.

 Each bite can stir memories of past celebrations or Mama's baking time, making home-baked goods a vessel of cherished experiences.

 History of Afghan Biscuits

 Afghan biscuits stand out for their rich chocolate flavour combined with a delightful crunch.

The traditional recipe consists of a creamed butter and white sugar base, to which cocoa and white flour are added, which melds beautifully with the crunchy texture of the cornflakes ingredient. Once baked, the delectable contrast is further enhanced by a thick layer of chocolate icing with a walnut half on top of each biscuit. 

While the precise history of Afghan biscuits remains somewhat ambiguous, they have established themselves as a beloved fixture of New Zealand’s baking culture. 

For decades, these biscuits have held a central place in family baking rituals, often associated with gatherings, celebrations, lunchbox treats, and cup of tea or coffee breaks.

When I purchased my ingredients at the store, the young checkout clerk knew exactly what I was about to bake.

We then had a conversation about various conversions of the original Afghan biscuit recipe.

 Many families regard the recipe as a treasured heirloom, passed down through generations. Others have added adaptations to the original recipe. 

Which is what I have also done.

My Mama's original recipe has been updated with an almond twist!

And it is made with butter that is melted, not creamed, with brown, not white sugar.

Delectable Almond Afghan Biscuits

For the Biscuits:

200 grams (0.88 cup) softened butter

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder

3/4 cup plain flour

1/2 cup of ground almonds

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 and 1/2 cups of lightly crushed cornflakes

For the fudge icing:

50 grams (3 Tablespoons and 2 teaspoons) of butter

2 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons of hot water

1 and 1/2 cups of sieved powdered icing sugar

Flaked Almonds for decoration (optional)

Method For The Biscuits:

In a medium sized pot melt the butter.

Add the cocoa and sugar. Mix.

Then add flour, almond flour, baking powder and the crushed cornflakes.

Mix until mixture forms a dough.

Roll into 12 balls and flatten each slightly with a fork.

Bake for 15 miutes at 180 degrees celcius (356 F).

Make The Fudge Icing While The Biscuits Are Baking:

In a small pot, melt the butter, add the cocoa and hot water.

Mix, then add the icing sugar. Mix until the mixture comes together away from the sides of the pot so that you will be able to roll it into small balls to put atop the baked biscuits.

Note that the mixture will seem extremely buttery, but that is correct.

When the biscuits are baked and just warm to the touch, roll the icing into small balls and place atop the biscuits pressing firmly down with a teaspoon.

You can decorate the tops with slivered almonds pressed into the icing if desired.

Yield 12 biscuits.

They keep well in an airtight container in a cool pantry.

You will find a printable recipe HERE.

Note:  The fudge icing may seem too buttery, but this will dry out and set.

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