Tropical Bedroom Makeover Details...

I am absolutely loving this guest room makeover.

What a transformation!

From how it was before!

Many have messaged me for more details regarding the linen and accessories.

So here are the deets:

Bedside Table from Mocka

Basket from Mocka

Throw blanket from Ezibuy.

Bedside Lamps from Redcurrent.

Succulent in pot - Pickle Plant

Pottery Fish (Bought 30 years ago from an Auckland Gallery).

Canvas print from Photowall Sweden

White Linen European pillowcases - Redcurrent

Green Linen cushion - Adairs

Tray - Spotlight

Body Brush, towel, pink cushion, soap - all from Briscoes

Candle - Blood Orange from Ecoya

Turkish Cotton Waffle Blanket in Snow - Adairs

Emerald Stripe Urban Loft Duvet - Briscoes

DIY Tropical Themed Wood Art Blocks

#bedroommakeover #guestbedroom 

Goodbye Aqua Overload- Hello Tropical!

 All those that follow Mia Bella Passion blog know

all about my love for the colour aqua.

And love, love, love it I do.

It's been an out of control type of love affair!

But it was time for a change.

Aqua everything in my home decor has been in overload mode for years.

And the time to change it up a bit for something new had come.

So when Photowall Sweden approached me to write about and style a product on their behalf, I grabbed the chance.

Photowall Sweden offers wonderfully superb wallpaper, wall mural, plus poster and print choices on canvas or framed.

The selection of images is massively vast.

Or if you prefer you can even create your own masterpiece.

They will print it just for you.

My guestroom window outlook is toward a covered deck.

The colours in this deck space are bright and fun with a tropical aspect.

So this was the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to the aqua overload and hello to tropical!

I chose a gorgeous monstera deliciosa image.

 I honestly spent hours looking at all their images and it was very hard to make a choice!

Deliciosa brings the word delicious to mind as a descriptive word for their selection.

And it seriously is!

 The monstera deliciosa selected also has a fan palm sister in the same colour form. (Just in case you want to do side by side pictures).

But I wanted a single statement canvas wall art piece, so the size of this print is big.

90cm x 120cm.

(The one thing I love about Photowall is the fact you can select the size you want).

Order placed, I waited for it to arrive.

And within 7 days it had left Sweden and arrived in New Zealand at my door.

(That's pretty amazing considering Covid 19 situations have played havoc with shipping and mail services!)

The print to frame DIY happened.

There's a YouTube instructional if you need to visually see the DIY framing process.

It was installed on the wall.

The new bedding, bedside tables and decor accessories 

put in place.

How cute is this pop of lime?

Oh, Hello Tropical.

With a teeny hint of Aqua.

(OK I admit I had 'letting go' issues to say goodbye completely)

You are funky.

Bright.

Fun.

And meld into the deck scape view perfectly.

Tropical...

I think...I love you.

Visit Photowall Sweden here

Before

After

#photowall #artprints #wallart #affilatepost

DIY Tropical Themed Wood Art Blocks

Tropical is my inspiration at the moment.

I'm loving it a lot.

Tropical inspires for me, those warm feelings.

Memories of past Pacific island holidays,

the clear bright colours,

the heat of the sun

and the smell of frangipani and other beautiful tropical flowers.

So because I am adding some new tropical elements to Mia Bella Passions homestead,

I decided to create some simple art blocks for the bedside table.

Which is still on order, and yet to arrive.

Meantime, this little project is a perfect time filler before kitset table antics begin.

First I cut three blocks of wood.

You can make these as big as you wish.

These wood blocks are  70mm x 155mm, 80mm x 120mm and 80mm x 80mm in size.

(mm =millimetres)

Once cut, you can use sandpaper to smooth the rough cut edges.

Or leave raw.

Paint the blocks white leaving the sides of two natural woodgrain.

I used white chalk paint.

I printed some tropical designs off the internet.   

There are many free silhouette images available.

A palm tree, leaf and hibiscus flower were my choices.

If you are not feeling arty to freehand draw in pencil on to the block, use the image as a stencil guide by cutting it out first.

Paint the images.

I chose a lovely green acrylic paint.

Once dry I detailed using a white paint pen.

And a final coat of clear spray varnish for waterproofing.

For now, these are going to be displayed in my TV room on a little white French half table.

I think they look quite lovely here for the moment until I place them in the upcoming Tropical inspired guestroom...that makeover is coming to you soon.

The plant in this post is Rhipsalis Cereuscula.

It's a potless kokedama DIY.

You can find out more about the art of Kokedama HERE.

 #woodblockart #kokedama #potplants

You might like to also visit:

My store at Fine Art America & Redbubble   :)

Self Care with Plants

 Self care is a word thrown about in conversation quite a lot these days.

And rightly so.

For self-care I believe is key to a balanced lifestyle.

It is a conscious act that you as an individual takes to promote your own physical, mental and emotional health.

There the classic forms of self care like...

Fueling your body with healthy food choices.

Face to face (or as it is, currently via video) time with friends.

Quality time with family.

Getting enough sleep at night.

Cutting back on those over indulgences like chocolate and alcohol.

Exercising, yoga, swimming or playing a sport.

Singing, dancing.

Drawing, paining or crafting.

Or simply taking a stroll for some fresh air.

Immersing yourself in nature - a garden, the park, a beach, a bushwalk.

The list could go on.

But what do you do that you consider self-care that is not on that list.

What's something you do that you consider self care.

Or more importantly, if you do none of the above,

what one thing can you place into your life that will help with the feel-good vibes?

One thing I do for my own self care is to enjoy plants and flowers.

I'm really glad to see the resurgence of the popularity of house plants.

Fabulous self care practitioners!

I love flowers.

I often just go to the garden centre to wander around to enjoy the beautiful flowering plant varieties.

Yesterday I had popped into the grocery store for a few items and on the plant stand at the entrance was this beauty.

It is a miniature Calla Lily and it caught my eye immediately.

As my miniature white chrysanthemum on my deck table was due to be planted out into the garden, this darling came home to grace the table in all its glory.

I LOVE IT!

Yellow is my happy colour.

Yellow is my self care colour.

And these tiny calla lilies are so bright and sculptural in form.

Even the leaves are interesting.

So this yellow Calla Lily is my self care floral gift to myself.

And I will enjoy its beauty for weeks to come as I sit at my deck table at dusk waiting to see the sunset.

(Another thing I do for self care).

Miniature Call Lilly Pot Plant Care Tips:

*Keep the soil moist but not soggy

*Bright light.

*Apply liquid fertiliser when flowering - once a week.

*Keep away from heaters and air conditioning vents.

*Reduce watering before plant enters dormancy over winter.

*Cut leaves off at soil level once they have died.

*Rest bulbs in a cool dark place in dormancy.

*Repot in Spring for next growing season.

.

(By the way - this Calla Lily was purchased from New World and cost $14.95)

#callalily #potplants #floweringpotplants

The Buddha

Today I'm sharing what the little Buddha in my garden means to me.

He is there to remind me to take the time,

to be peaceful...

to be gentle...

to be mindful...

to meditate...

to pray...

to be enlightened...

and

to find moments of serenity in the chaos and challenges of life.

This Buddha was a dull grey.

Purchased for $20 from The Warehouse.

Yellow is my go-to happy colour.

And so I spray painted him that colour.

The Buddha who sits on the rusty chair in my garden brings me joy every day.

He's a visual reminder to be kind and love.

As the months have passed he is becoming more weather-worn.

And I am loving that!

#buddha #gardenstatue

Easy Fresh Apple Cookies

Christmas and New Year are done,

 with it all the naughty but nice food choices.

It's time to refocus and get back into the 'healthier' groove of things.

Fresh apple cookies are...

Super easy.

Super healthy.

Super quick to whip up.

Great for the kids to make and eat.

And a great pool party canape idea.  

I eat these for breakfast as they also make a perfect alternative to toasted bread with peanut butter.

These are so EASY to whip up.

Use a crisp, sweet, eating apple variety.

You don't want to use apples that are sour or of floury texture because they are well past their shelf life.

Slice the apple into rings and remove the core.

You get three slices from a medium to large size apple.

So one apple per person served.

Spread one side with peanut, almond, or a nut butter mix like the one shown.

Top with toasted chopped nuts and diced fruit.

(I used almonds and cranberries)

Adapt the nuts and dried fruits to your taste.

And some dark chocolate drops or chips if desired.

And that is it!

EAT and ENJOY!

Printable recipe HERE.

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#healthysnacks #applerecipes #nutbutter