Mia Bella Passions

Can you ever get enough - of Poppies...

Gorgeous opium poppies in Mia Bella Gardens...

all have self-seeded...

This year there are several new varieties that have popped up...

Single and double...
Poppies in subtle soft lavenders and pinks...
Poppies in crisp bright colours...

without a doubt the poppy display has been stunning!

Roses and glass...

Gorgeous art glass and necklace from my collection of beautiful things...

Displayed with white Iceberg roses...

On a gorgeous beaded french inspired table runner....

Iceberg roses are superb for picking...

I have had this art glass swirl dish for many years...

I thought it was an absolute bargain at a mere $3 from the thrift store!

And I just had to share this stunning necklace with you...

made in the 1930's, it is bezel set coloured glass.

Horticultural Therapy And Bougainvillaea

New year's wishes to you all...

How many resolutions have you made?

I have kept mine very simple...to make changes to renew health.

But then I added to the simple by writing two very large 'To Do' lists before Christmas 2013!

Then another resolution to actually succeed in completing everything on the said lists!

I am a list person, you see, I'm sure that was because I homeschooled, and my children needed whiteboard instructions so they could see what was going to occur during the day.

That habit has stuck...and I still write up my whiteboard every day.

It feels so good to rub off everything I do off the list.

Anyway, I have handwritten two lists: one for things to do in the house, and another for things to do in the garden.

I have spent the past two months of ill-health deciding what to do next in various parts of Mia Bella Gardens.

What fun I have had!

There is nothing like horticultural therapy to make you feel better.

It started with researching gardening ideas on the internet and ended up with newfound energy to 'redo' a whole section of the garden. And boy, that felt good!

Digging, weeding, moving citrus trees to new homes, purchasing new plants (which involved visits to three garden centres), planting, watering...Ahhh, the best therapy is horticultural when you feel a bit down!

One thing I really want to do is create a garden room...and in that room will be a feature pot planted with bougainvillaea.

I have purchased the bouganvillea, and am now waiting patiently for the chosen pot to come on sale. Large pots are sooo expensive!

BUT

Bougainvillaea in pots makes such a statement...

I am in love with the idea of this?

I am thinking of purchasing a dwarf bougainvillaea.
There is one variety called 'Evita'...
That would be perfect to pot!

And I am always amazed by bonsai bouganvilleas...

And did you know that with regular pruning and care,

a bougainvillaea makes a stunning small tree.

Inspired yet?

So the moral of the story is....if you are feeling under the weather...there is nothing like a little 'Horticultural Therapy' to make you feel better!

For Mia Bella Passions DIY Porch & Garden ideas,

visit HERE.

Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

#horticulturetherapy #liveinthemoment

French Country Cottage Roses...

I had so much fun taking these photographs...

it took my mind off other things...

Roses in a wire basket...

David Austin Rose "Symphony"...

Beautiful pastel yellow roses....

Perhaps my next 'career' will be as a stylist...

Roses, wire, and French Country....

Roses with a perfume Heaven sent...

Pink Roses and Dewdrops...

Early morning sunlight...

Pink roses...

Dewdrops....

= Beautiful!

Crepuscule - Climbing Rose

Prolific flowering, Crepuscule is a captivating climbing rose that flowers almost non-stop!

Incorporating the Crepuscule climbing rose into your garden design can transform your outdoor space. Consider training the rose along trellises, arbours, or fences to create vertical interest. Pairing it with complementary flora can enhance its beauty; for instance, lavender or salvia can provide a lovely contrast while attracting pollinators.

Cultivation Tips

· Sunlight: Ensure the rose receives at least six hours of sunlight daily for optimal growth.

· Soil: Plant the Crepuscule in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.

· Watering: Regular watering is essential, particularly during dry spells. Avoid waterlogging, which can harm the roots.

· Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to promote healthy growth and to remove any dead or damaged wood.

The plus is that this rose is virtually thornless.

The Crepuscule has charming apricot and copper-colored blooms. The flowers typically bloom in clusters, showcasing a slight fragrance that adds to its allure. The petals exhibit a delightful blend of deeper shades that evolve into soft colors, creating a stunning visual effect as they mature.

A beautiful noisette rose, outstanding colour with soft peach tones, and it is very low-maintenance.

Embrace the allure of the Crepuscule, you won't regret it!

Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

#climbingroses #Roseclimbers #apricotroses

Craft Room update...

The Craft room restyle progress is at snails pace...

with every good intention my days seem to be complicated with 'Stuff'.

Don't you just hate days like that...

I have a list of all the wonderful things I want to complete
and create for the Craft Room,
but seem to be getting absolutely no where!

Painting the create word black was as good as it got.

Though I did find an old shelf that will be perfect for extra storage for all those sewing bits and bobs...
needs a bit of TLC
and of course, a dash of white paint!

Feeling the need to go shopping....
I am thinking some lovely glass jars to keep all those pretty buttons in.

Now that would look great on the shelf,
as well as being functional.

Currently my buttons are unsorted in mixed colours
and I like the idea of a jar for each colour.

Handmade Heart...

Easy to make....fabric heart....

Cut a heart shape in felt and a matching one in fabric. On a small rectangle of Aida cloth, write the word in pencil, then handstitch using embroidery thread.

Your word of choice could be... baby, joy, dream, heart or whatever takes your fancy.

Sew Aida onto the fabric heart.

Sew the fabric heart to the felt heart, leaving a gap for stuffing. Stuff with filler, and stitch the hole.

Fray the edges a bit if you like.

Hand sew a ribbon hanger and embellishments.

I used a pretty flower button.

These are fabulous gifts and fun to make.

And as an added embellishment, I clipped on a little bling using this vintage earring.

You can visit the 'Lavender Bedroom' HERE for more decor and styling ideas.

For updates about the latest blog posts,

you can join for free HERE.

#homemadegiftideas #sewingcrafts #heartcrafts

Passion flower...

photo via Abril es Bella Photography

An intense orange red, passion flower blooms attract butterflies,

and the bees love them too.

This is a tropical variety of passionflower vine.

Fabric Ribbon...

Dress up a whitewashed wooden box with fabric ribbon.

Easy to make, just fray edges of a strip of your favourite fabric (Just make sure it is long enough to go around the box and allow for a bow).

Once frayed, put around the box and tie a bow at the front.

Dahlia...

What more can I say except - simply stunning!

Pretty Tiled Tin Bucket...

We have just retiled our fireplace hearth with these gorgeous tiles, and I had some left...But what to do with them?

On my foraging expedition at 'Bed Bath and Beyond' (I so love their sales table!) I came across these fab tin buckets. Bonus is they are already painted, so I got this ecru coloured one (and a bright red one to be saved for a Christmas project).

The Soaking word is not required, so this is where the tiles come to play...

All I did was cut a strip of tiles wide enough to cover the soaking word and used tile fix to stick it to the bucket.

Measure from the top rim so the tiles are evenly spaced...I used a hair dryer to help the drying process (otherwise the tiles tend to slip downwards).

Leave 24 hours, then grout the tiled strip.

Pop in a lovely potted chrysanthemum.
And there you have it.
A tiled pot of pretty!