Heucherella...

 There's nothing like a bit of stunning foilage in the garden.

This is Heucherella 'Golden Zebra'...

And if you adore Lime green as I do...

meet Heucherella 'Lime Maramalade'.

Camelia bud...

Lovely creamy white camellia bud...

Bird House Gourd...

When the rats decided my gourds were delicious, a lot ended up a bit holey!

So I used the ones with bird sized holes to make birdhouses. 

First I painted the inside of the gourd white, then the outside a lovely yellow.

I love butterflies, so there was no question what to decorate the outside with...

a pretty blue butterfly on a leafy branch.

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DIY Joy Cushion

I LOVE Christmas, and I am starting to think about what creations need creating for this year's display.

I'm not sure where I first saw this cushion idea (may have been on Pinterest).

but here is my version.

I love how this cushion fits into the red and white colour scheme of my sitting room. You could use a red cushion with white felt if you prefer.

I went to the local homeware store and bought an off-white cushion (sale price $8), and some red felt from the fabric store (cost $2). The word joy letter template is off the web.

 

Cut out the template letters.  Pin to felt, cut out felt letters.

Lay out double-sided iron-on fusing, and draw around the outline of the letters using a pencil. Do a mirror image of the J. 
Use a hot iron to bond the fusing to the felt letters. Trim edges.

Peel off the backing paper from the double-sided fusing. Remove the cushion inner from the cushion and place felt letters in the centre overlapping the letters slightly.  Hot iron and fuse in place.

Top stitch with white cotton (red if your felt is white) around the letters using a sewing machine. Embellish (sequins, buttons, etc if you desire), but I chose to leave mine plain.

And there you have it...a joyous Christmas cushion, that's quick and easy to make.

Joy word template

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Aqua Blue Beaded Gourd...

 I went through my gourd growing stage a few years back...

Amazing plants to grow, but you do need a huge amount of room if you grow more than one plant. 

We had gourds coming out of our ears! 

  

Every shed roof, even the miniature pony shelter shed, at Mia Bella Gardens had gourds on top drying!

Oh, and the trampoline was covered in drying gourds too.

 Friends and family got decorated gourd gifts, and people found out we grew them and wanted them for their own crafts or cultural uses.

 A lot got given away, and then the corn field was harvested, and the hungry rats decided they were delicious too.

So that was the end of the gourd growing era. 

I might try again sometime, with maybe just one plant on a trellis, or espaliered.

This gourd was painted a lovely aqua colour once the top was removed.
Holes were drilled around the top edge, so it could be decorated with beads and cord.

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Ella...

Ella is a mixed breed moggy....we are sure she has British Blue in her as she has a big round face and tiny ears.  She's just like a big teddy and has the most stunning green eyes.

She is best friends with Tucker dog...they do everything together.

Very cute to see them sleep together at night, and sunbathe on the driveway on hot days.

Ella smooches Tucker too. 

Dendrobium Orchid...

A cute wee orchid 

with the most powerful perfume you have ever smelt.

This is 'Dendrobium Delicatum'.

Geranium

Wow, what a beautiful geranium. 

Soft whitish pink outer petals with a shocking pink centre.

In my moment of gardeners madness 

I bought four geraniums from the garden centre....

with absolutely no idea where they would go in the garden.

Mia bella Gardens is 'chocka block' so I have to say it took a few days, 

and a few pots brought out of the storeshed to find homes for them all. 

This geranium is 'Zonal Geranium' - Flower Fairy White splash.

Jade...

My name is Jade.  I am an Indian Ringneck Parrot.

My favourite thing to do is tease the dogs.  I whistle to them to come...

I wolf whistle too. 

I can meow like a cat, say hello, how are you...

I live on my own as I don't really like the girls, they stress me out, then I sulk and I won't talk.   So I am really happy on my own, because I get all the treats and lots of delicious food.

Blue Collection

I just love this blue...and when teamed with white is just divine...

I added a few pieces of aqua glass...

and a stamped art picture in black and white...

I love the detail of French Country style pieces...

I'm very tempted to give the old cabinet this collection sits on a makeover...

distressed white of course.  It's on the 'maybe' list.

Stunning Azalea...

This azalea is stunning with the brightest pink edged white blooms.
Now growing in a large pot situated on a sunny deck.  Probably not ideal conditions for it, but it's very happy and has doubled in size since last summer.
I don't know the name of it, as it was an impulse buy from the supermarket plant stand. And it just had a label that said 'azalea'!
Don't you just hate the way they position that stand of flowering plants just as you enter the supermarket.
I always seem to have a plant in my trolley at the start of every grocery shop!

Butterfly Table Top...

 

What fun was had in the creation of this mosaic...
the old oak table had seen better days, so I drew the words and butterfly in black marker pen, then beside it left containers of broken tiles in various colours, old bread and butter knives, and tile glue....
My friends and I chatted and did mosaic over coffee, the kids friends all stopped by to mosaic a bit here and there...it took months and months, but this was the end result.
This table has graced the covered deck for many years now, with wonderful memories attached.