Step by step Tutorials. For home, garden, art, DIY, Craft, Baking, All things Food, Inspiration and more. Created by New Zealand Creative Tracey Lee Cassin . Circa 2012.
Pale Pink Snapdragon...
It is amazing how one thing can capture your attention...
And this afternoon, as I was strolling around Mia Bella Gardens, I was captured!
By the beauty of this lone pink snapdragon.
Captured by the joy of seeing the first blooms of Spring.
In the delightful furry buds.
In the exquisiteness of the pink flower.
In the gorgeousness of the contrast between the colours of green and pink.
Captured...by a pale pink snapdragon.
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#snapdragonphotographs #snapdragons #gardenflowers
French Look DIY Mini Terrarium...
There is so many inspirational ideas
for DIY mini terrariums in Net land.
You can use moss, interesting rocks, small stones,
bulbs - like grape hyacinths,
mini varieties of orchids,
and air plants (tillandsias).
Decorate with crystals,
miniature fairy scenes,
or just a singular mini item as a focal point.
You just place your chosen selection of items
into jars, big or small, cloches, fishbowls, lightbulbs or bottles!
I thought I would create one in a large mason jar,
but then I remembered tucked away in a cupboard
was this sweet wee terrarium that my son made many years ago.
It was perfect.
In a not perfect rustic kinda way.
In the bottom I placed a small amount of fine bark.
Arabella (assistant editor) had a little help from Clea today
with her usual pre 'next step' inspections.
With a flick of that chocolate coloured tail,
Arabella declared 'you may proceed to plant!".
A larger piece of moss-covered bark was placed inside,
and a baby fern was planted.
A tiny impatiens seedling joined themalong with the Eiffel Tower!
A quenching spray of water to finish.
The mini metal Eiffel Tower
is the perfect addition to the terrarium as a focal point.
It is official!
I'm in love with it!
Anything French, anything Eiffel tower, and my heart is completely lost!
You would never guess what it really is, though...
Shall I tell you?
This just has to be the cutest Eiffel tower pencil sharpener you've ever seen!
The completed terrarium looks fabulous on the French side table.
DIY Mini Terrarium with a tiny touch of French = LOVE!
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#Frenchdecorideas #DIYterrarium #DIYdecor
Blanket Chest 'No Sew' Cushion Topper...
Don't you just love simplicity?
I do!
And right now I am in love with 'No Sew' projects.
The simple, quick way to update decor in a jiffy!!
All with the help of a box of tiny gold safety pins.
Place your cushion filling wadding onto the previously washed
and pressed fabric, and wrap it up.
Just as if you are wrapping a gift.
It's so easy!
Fold the cut edges like a selvedge as shown.
You can use a hot iron to press them in place to make it easier.
Then bind the seams using the little gold safety pins.
NO SEWING MACHINE REQUIRED!
Place down the centre back seam,
and on the neatly enveloped corners.
From start to finish this wee project took a total of 20 minutes!
Just remove the safety pins to wash the fabric, or to change the fabric to a new design.
Arabella approves!
She thinks the bird design is chirpy!
This gorgeous fabric is vintage English.
It's a heavy cotton.
And so perfect for the red sitting room!
Don't you just adore easy home decor projects?
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#nosewprojects #diycushioncovers #nosewcushioncoverinstructions
I'm In The Garden...
What have you got planned for today?
The weather here is suddenly Spring-like.
There is certainly a little gardening inspiration going on at Mia Bella Gardens, and what a delicious, warm, fuzzy feeling that is!
There is certainly a little gardening inspiration going on at Mia Bella Gardens, and what a delicious, warm, fuzzy feeling that is!
And that makes me feel so happy!
There is an eagerness to don those garden gloves,
so guess where I will be today? :)
French Country Chest...
Did I tell you...
I am in LoVe...
With anything shabby, chic or upcycled!
I wish my house were much bigger so I could fill it with more gorgeous pieces.
I thought you all might like a peek at the new old tallboy recently bought.
I simply Adore -
.....details!
.....details!
And this is a chest with the utmost gorgeous details.
I saw this chest before its makeover, and it most definitely was not as beautiful then as it is now.
It never ceases to amaze me how paint can transform tired old furniture.
We decided to keep the original hardware,
which was given a spruce up.
and don't they look divine?
The chalk paint finish is in Annie Sloan's 'Pure White', which emphasises all that fab detail.
The distress was kept to a minimum because it really just didn't need it!
Are you in LoVe yet?
I am totally in LoVe with upcycled furniture painted with chalk paint!
#upcycled #diy #furniture #chalkpaint
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DIY Table Runner...
A great way to update the decor is to add a table runner to a table.
They are incredibly simple to make.
Here is one I have just made...
It's got a beach theme going on,
but also has a little French Country feel too, with the linen look.
It's is gorgeous, from the Spotlight range of upholstery fabrics.
This one really appealed, as where I live is coastal.
It compliments the stunning painting of one of the Bays in my area.
I also fancy this fabric as it is a bit kiwi
(Kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand,
but also a term used to describe a New Zealand National).
It's kiwi because of the lovely shells depicted on the fabric.
All of which can be found in New Zealand.
To make:
All you need is fabric the length of the dining or coffee table.
Heavier fabric types are best.
If you like an overhang as I do, allow a bit more fabric.
Then allow another 5 cm for hemming on one end.
So all you do is iron your fabric to remove creases.
Fold the fabric lengthways in half with right sides together.
Press with iron again making sure edges are together.
Pin edges and across one end together.
Sew around pinned edges.
(At this stage it is like a huge pillowcase. )
Then turn right way. Use a knitting needle to push corners of sewn end out.
Press with iron again.
On unhemmed end, fold cut end under and press to seams together with iron.
Sew together.
Top stitch other end to look the same.
You can leave the table runner plain,
or stitch beads that have been strung in a row on ends of each corner.
To finish the table,
I added a large glass vessel (from Freedom Furniture)
into which a coffee scented candle resides.
A delicious aroma when lit!
A simple table runner, but visually pleasing.
Half an hour is all you need to complete this sewing project.
#diytablerunnerinstructions
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