Easter Table at Mia Bella...

This year's table is a simple pastel theme.

With a gorgeous aqua coloured table cloth, 

and pale pink and white spot table runner.

I filled my spotty aqua bowl with pretty pink Japanese anemones, a few pink geraniums,

and white portulacas.

(Did you know portulacas last really well in a vase?)

 Ombre foil-wrapped chocolate eggs to scatter.

 And a cute white ceramic Easter bunny as a centrepiece focal!

Mister rabbit sits in pride of place

upon a large and small mismatched pair of French-inspired platters.

Some loose flowers were scattered, just to add some more prettiness.

And there you have it...

a simple Easter no fuss, but pretty table!

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#easyeastertabledecor  #easterideas

NO SEW Slip Covers...

I kid you not...

NO SEW Slip Covers!

This project would have been the simplest project I have ever done.

From start to finish, it took half an hour.

It would probably have been finished quicker...

But the first pair of squabs covered

I managed to place the fabric the wrong way round, so I had to redo it.

Remember the 'ZIP TO THE BACK RULE', people!

So here is the end result...

What do you think?

Want to know how?

SIMPLY use small safety pins!

That's the secret NO SEW bit.

(I saw this idea on Pinterest.)

You can use a piece of fabric that is cut to size,

SIMPLY (don't you LOVE that word?) place your squab onto it

on the fabric and wrap it neatly.

Just as if you are wrapping a parcel.

And then all you do is...

SIMPLY place the safety pins in strategic positions to hold it all in place!

I used an old duvet cover to cover both the squabs, as I really liked the piping effect,

and I was being frugal, repurposing what I had.

Minutes after the newly covered squabs were placed on the

covered patio couch, the comfort testing team promptly arrived!

"Yes...superb", said Shanti-Rose!

(Remember that you are inspecting my Mamma's NO SEW Couch Covers, and not my obvious addiction to cat treats!) 

"So comfy, and now I am feeling sleepy"...said Tucker!

"Looks good...comfort approved...we've decided to stay!".

Emmm, Tucker and Shanti-rose
 may have couch to people sharing issues, I think!

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you can join for free HERE.

#diyslipcovers #nosewslipcovers #slipcovers

A little 'French Country'...

 Sharing a sweet French Country tablescape...

 Garden gathered roses in a rustic chippy vase...

 placed on a metal worked and glass plate stand...

 With bird finial...

 Cute, don't you think?

 Can you smell the deliciousness of the roses?

 My grandmother's antique pearls 

 look stunning in this tablescape...

  I love the way they catch the light...

 And add a little class and elegance...

 Placed upon the favourite butterfly table runner...

It brings me joy every time I walk past the table!

You can learn how to sew an easy-to-make table runner by visiting HERE.

I make them all the time, because I adore changing up my tablescapes with new fabrics, and special ones to fit the seasonal decorations.

For updates about the latest blog posts,

you can join for free HERE.

#frenchcountrystyling #simpletablescapes

A Teacup of Pretty!

Today I picked the smallest of posies...

And it looked simply fabulous in my antique china teacup.

 So pretty in fact the camera just clicked...

 and clicked...

 and clicked...

 so that I could share these pretty images with you.

 Sweet alyssum and zinnias in shades of white...

 Pansies...

And mini purple balloon flowers...

In a sweet china teacup displayed on purple ruffled fabric.

Now that's a vignette sure to make you all smile!

Alstroemeria - Princess Lilies...

Sweet princess lilies.

It is a dwarf alstroemeria.

This one is called Louise (zaprilou)

And she is a stunner!  

Alstroemeria has a notorious reputation 

of becoming weedy, 

and being more than just a little bit overpowering in the garden.

But the "Princess Lily" range are simply fabulous

 as they are dwarf in size, 

which is much more suited to the home garden.

The bonus is they have a long flowering season

with a glorious, vibrant colour range...

As well as those endearing whisker markings on the blooms!

The "Princess Lilies" are ideal for growing in containers.

It is incredibly drought-tolerant.

And they are simply perfect for a smaller garden!

For more information, visit:

https://www.irt.org.au/the-good-life/caring-for-your-alstroemerias-princess-lillies/

Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

#alstroemeria #pink #flowers #princesslily

'Cake Works' 21st Birthday Cake...

Oh, how your children grow!

My baby has just turned 21!

Time just did not allow a homemade cake design to eventuate, 

 I enlisted the help of Annalies at 'Cake Works'!
http://www.cakeworksnz.com/

We chose a picture from among the hundreds of cakes on Pinterest.

So this is the pic (from Bella Cupcakes) 

That was emailed to Annalies at 'Cake Works',

with instructions that she was to add

  lemon yellow flowers to her own version of this design.
So right now I am doing a HUGE 'SHOUTOUT' to Annalies at 'CAKEWORKS'
because the cake she created was AMAZING!

Don't you agree?

With delicate flowers in the softest pastels...

On an aqua colored icing with beautiful white stenciling. 

It was simply gorgeous! 
Almost too gorgeous to cut....

Painted Door Mat...

 Take one plain and boring black rubber mat.

A can of spray paint in your chosen colour...

And spray, spray, spray,

until black disappears!

 LOOKING FABULOUS!

Just what my door entrance needed...

a bright funky POP of colour!

AH but ALAS...

less than 24 hours later

the gorgeous GEORGE was back to his naughty habits 
of chewing everything not nailed down!

Remember GEORGE...
Butter wouldn't melt in my mouth, worlds most adorable 
but most destructable Hungarian Vizla...

(read his story here:)

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/george.html

Nothing a little glue can't fix I decided...
the mat was glued back together,
 and now has a new home at the craft room door entrance!

And so far so good...

George has left it alone!
I am now on the look out for 'George-proof' mat ideas for the front porch.
A mat that may have to be made from steel!

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you can join for free HERE.

#frontdoormatideas

Cognac Diamonds...

Sharing a little bit of BLING with you all today...

with pure and natural diamonds ...

Now this is my kind of photo shoot...

(and my kind of ring!)

Stunningly beautiful with the gems set in a gorgeous art deco setting...

The diamonds are white and brown coloured.
Yes - BROWN!

Have you ever seen brown diamonds before?

For more information visit:
what-are-champagne-or-cognac-diamonds-and-why-should-you-choose-one?

The darker colour is called a 'cognac' diamond.
The paler colour of a 'champagne' diamond.

The earthy palette of this diamond colour is simply divine.

They are mined at Argyle Mine in the Eastern Kimberly region of Western Australia.

The colour of the cognac diamond is attributed to internal graining, which

 It is caused by a structural irregularity in the diamond's crystal lattice.

I'm in LOVE with cognac diamonds!

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by joining for free HERE.

#allaboutcognacdiamonds #cognacdiamonds

Today is the tomorrow...

Here is a little bit  of inspiration 
being creative with digital imagery is so much fun!

The rose photo is from 'Mia Bella Gardens'...
and the message is this...

Today 

is the tomorrow

you

dreamed about

yesterday...

Beautiful, don't you think?