Mia Bella Passions

Another Paint It - GOLD - Project!

Have you ever bought something for the home décor online,

thinking it would be fabulous?

And when it arrives in the post is NOTHING like the image you bought it from???

Well, this is what happened with this darling...

French styled - tick ✔

Birds - tick ✔

but...

colour - yuk - tick ✔

almost tacky - tick ✔

Does not fit anywhere in the house - tick ✔

Disastrous purchase - tick ✔

Try and fix said disastrous purchase...

paint the leafy green bird grey to tone the super bright colours down.

Looks a bit better now... and some may even like it...

But for me, it just wasn't right.

Into the cupboard it went, and it stayed - until it was painted white.

But I still didn't like it, so back into the cupboard it went!

I have seen on Pinterest how people are spray painting anything and everything white!

Kids plastic toys, ornaments, books, vases, book ends - EVERYTHING!!!

And as I am having a 'quite fond of gold' moment...
and the red sitting room has now developed accents of gold,

I Painted it gold, as well as an old vase I have had for 20 years.

Best idea ever - tick ✔

I used White Knight Super Gold
(LOVE this paint as it has SUPERB coverage!)

Two items relegated to cupboard life
now...with a funky painted new style.

Up-styled décor pieces that I'm now loving...Painted GOLD!

#gold #upcycled #diy

Easy Persimmon Jam...

Easy to make persimmon jam...

Made from Mia Bella Passions Gardens persimmons...

organic...

and spray-free...

So delicious there is definitely a competition going on as to to whom gets to eat them!

The Wax eye birds LOVE persimmons.

and as it is winter in New Zealand, we don't mind sharing this wonderful food source with them.

To make jam you will need to peel about 6 tree ripe persimmons.

Dice and core

The total weight needs to be 1kg (2.20pounds).

Have your jars sterilised ready to use.

Add 1 teaspoon of water to the microwave bowl containing the diced persimmons.
Cook for 5 minutes on high.
(adjust timing to the power of the microwave you are using.)

Mash roughly with a potato masher.

Add 1 kg (2.20 pounds) of Chelsea Jam setting sugar.

Over low heat stir in sugar until dissolved.
Add 25 grams (0,88 ounces)of butter. mix to melt.
Increase heat and bring the jam to a boil that cannot be stopped by stirring.
Boil for 4-5 minutes.

Bottle.

And enjoy!

Easy Persimmon Jam

Peel and dice approximately 6 large (tree-firm) persimmons. Weigh as you dice as you need 1kg (2.20 pounds) of fruit.

Microwave with 1 teaspoon of water until soft (about 5 minutes, but will depend on your microwave).

Mash roughly with a potato masher.

Put into a heavy base saucepan and add 1kg (2.20 pounds) of Chelsea jam-setting sugar.

Heat mixture over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Add 25 grams (0.88 ounces) of butter. When melted and mixed through increase heat to bring the jam to a boil. When it is a boil that cannot be stopped by stirring, boil for 4 - 5 minutes.

Test on cold saucer. It is ready to jar when a blob is cooled slightly and surfaces of jam wrinkles when you put your finger through it.

Place immediately in hot sterile jars.

Lid, and cool.

Pop over HERE for the printable recipe.

Grab a cuppa, and visit

my Fine Art America gift store

And

'Tracey Lee Cassin Design'

For the latest posts CLICK :)

#jam #persimmon #homemade #preserves

Office Organisation Clip-it Line...

If your office resembles mine, you will have little bit's of paper EVERYWHERE!

A bit of paper with a reminder...

a bit of paper with an idea you just must make...

a cake you must bake...

or a meeting date.

(Oh my - I should have been a poet!)

I decided I needed a system to prioritise and order my notes,

so created an office organisation clip it line, with button embellishments.

You will need:

Needle and cotton

Cord...

Clip pins

And Buttons...

Create a small loop in the end of the cord, which you have cut to desired length.

Stitch the loop to hold in place.

Work out the spacing for the clips and thread onto the cord.

Add the note papers so you have a guide for button placement...

Stitch a button by the loop and clip your clips/paper along the line...

Loop the other end of the cord,

stitch and sew on another button embellishment.

Then sew the other buttons in between each clip it note.

Now you are ready to hang it...

I screwed mini hooks into the wall to hang mine, but you could use stick it hooks.

The Office Organisation Clip-it Line has certainly sorted the most important notes from the rest!

Coconut Apricot Bars...

Forget about the chocolate content, and then you can consider this bar healthy, right?

Let's consider the research, which actually indicates dark chocolate isn't that bad.

Quality dark chocolate has many a health benefit. 'Mr Google' confirms this.

Coconut Apricot Bars

Preheat oven to 160 Celsius

Line a 27.5cm by 18cm (about 11 x 7 inch size) slice pan with baking paper.

Melt 50 grams (1.8 ounces) of butter, 200 grams (7 ounces) of dark cooking chocolate and a half cup of honey in a large pot.

When melted add 2 1/2 cups cooking oats, 1/2 cup coconut and 1/2 cup diced apricots.

Combine mixture.

Press into a prepared slice tin (size 19.5cm x 28.5cm) and bake for 30 minutes.

Cool completely.

Refrigerate overnight then cut into bars.

You can cut into muesli-style bars as shown, or smaller squares...
You now have permission to indulge!

Pop over HERE for the printable recipe.

Grab a cuppa, and visit

my Fine Art America gift store

Photowall Sweden

For beautiful wallpapers and prints.

#healthbars #oatbars #apricotbars

The French Shabby Chair Makeover...

Having acquired this fab wee French inspired metal stool,

the big debate was...to paint or not to paint!

Is the metal too shabby in all it's rusty marked glory?

I decided no it is not.

There is just something about the time worn patina of aged metal that I love.

So the metalwork shabby look remains.

I found a remnant of the most gorgeous fabric, which is called 'Paradiso' in Cobalt by Charles Parsens.
For the local followers you can source this from Peter Clark Interiors.