Mia Bella Passions

Mod Podge Craft Session...

Mod Podge is such fun stuff...

and I had so much creating a few new décor pieces...

The other day I painted in the garden!

A terracotta pot and saucer...
with a little bit of white.

Then today gathered together
all the bit and pieces I thought I would need...

mod podge, string, printed images, a painted pot, a jar, and some beads...

a bit of bling and some pretty fabric too...

But what to create?

I had seen a tutorial on how to make a DIY French Country style pot at

'Heaven's Walk' blog...

so thought I'd give it a go.

For the full tutorial visit:

http://heavens-walk.blogspot.co.nz/2011/07/french-flower-pots.html

And I had also seen fabric mod podged onto a tin to make a vase on 'Pinterest'...

and that's what I created first.

And at the same time pasted a 'Graphic's Fairy' French typography graphic on the front of the flip lid jar...

Fabric on old hot chocolate tin, and graphic on jar...
Don't you adore the fabulous graphics available?

Have you seen the wonderful graphics at 'The Graphic's fairy'?

Visit Karen and have a look:

http://thegraphicsfairy.com/

On the bottom of the tin another strip of pretty violet fabric

with the top edge cut with pinking shears for a pretty effect was mod podged .

'Mouse' said "Craft party...where?"

"Oh here...can I play too?"

"I LOVE CRAFT!"

"Beads and wire are soooo much FUN!"

'Mouse' you really are a pain!

How can I create beaded pretties with you trying to eat everything?

Wire is bad for kitty cats, you know!

Eventually the game of cat and mouse was won...

and the 'Mouse' did not win!

A beaded and jewelled bit of bling

was created to accessorise the mod podged fabric tin...

Next another 'Graphic's Fairy' French typography graphic

was cut out to mod podge onto the painted pot...
This one is a mirror or reverse graphic...

What you do is put lots of mod podge onto the printed side of the graphic,

press into position on the pot...
(NOTE: DON'T PASTE OVER THE GRAPHIC once placed on the pot as shown in this photo,
....visit tomorrows post to find out why!)

Then WAIT!

Yes - WAIT - a whole 24 hours...

With no poking or peeking...

which is next to impossible if you are the most impatient person in the world!

But wait I am going to...

because I really want this to work.

Meantime - the graphic on the jar had dried...

so into the cute little jar went the wooden pegs.

(This is for my Laundry revamp currently in progress!)

Why don't you pop back and visit the blog tomorrow to see the end results
at the 'Mod Podge Creation Reveal'?

Butterfly fabric...

Oh my!

I have found the most gorgeous French looking butterfly fabric!

The craziest thing is I was actually shopping for some fabric
to make a new summer skirt...

and then I saw it...

AND I just had to HAVE it!

Sweet Butterflies...

With the word butterfly... in different languages...

I purchased 4 metres

with absolutely no idea what I was to do with it.

Madness I know..
But that is what crazy crafters do!

This stool could do with a little makeover...

And I do need a new table runner...emmm...

So a sewing and reupholstering we will go!

The little stool was first...

This darling piano stool belonged to my mother in law...

She used it as her dressing table stool.

It's well and truly 'antique'!

First I had to pull out a million staples and nails

to get the original and second fabric covers off...

Wasn't that old type of wadding revolting stuff!

On went new wadding...

and the gorgeous butterfly fabric...

Arabella is checking my workwomanship!

Mia Bella Garden cats are big on quality control!

Add a few more new staples...

Did I mention I am forever grateful to whomever invented the staple gun!

Staple gun = best invention EVER!

And this is the end result...

After this do-up, I sewed a lovely table runner to match....

Check out tomorrows post for the end result...

Until then, have a fabulously 'HAPPY' day.

Decadent Chocolate Mousse...

Super rich and decadent is the only way to describe this mousse...

It was so delicious, but next time I would serve in a different way.

To counteract the richness,

I would layer the mousse alternately in a tall parfait glass

with fresh strawberries and raspberries.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream,

and grated chocolate.

Or if you want to get super fancy for a special occasion:

Make a chocolate crafted topper.

Oh my, my mind is in overdrive!

What a fab idea for a Christmas dessert,

top with a Christmas-themed topper made from white or dark chocolate!

Photo via Pinterest

A tree would look fabulous!

Here's a free outline...

From http://printable-cards.s3.amazonaws.com/free-christmas-tree-template.jpg

Or how about an angel, a bell, a star or snowflake....

From http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/images/xmasshapes.gif

All you have to do to is print the image,

place under wax paper,

melt chocolate and pipe the outline,

solid fill with chocolate (like colouring in!),

or do squiggly lines to fill for a filigree look.

Oh my! I have completely gone off track here!

Back to that delicious chocolate mousse.

Here's the recipe:

Combine in a pot...

227 grams chopped dark chocolate (60% cacao)

5 Tablespoons water

2 Tablespoons cocoa powder.

Stir over hot water until melted.

Set aside.

In another bowl whisk 2 egg yolks with 1/2 tablespoon caster sugar until pale and add to the chocolate mixture. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

Whip the two egg whites with 1/2 Tablespoon caster sugar until soft peaks form.

Use a spatula to fold the whites into the chocolate mixture.

Then whip one cup heavy cream until thick,

Fold into chocolate mixture with spatula...

Spoon into individual serving dishes.

Or as suggested: layer between layers of fresh or stewed fruit.

Refrigerate until firm - at least 2 hours.

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you can join for free HERE.

#chocolatemousserecipes

Lillies and French Country...

Fabulous white Belladonna lilies with orange toned throats...

Photographed in the morning sunlight...

The sunlight shows the gorgeous colours

of soft lemon coloured buds...

Lilies and shabby chic...

or do you call it French country style?

There is nothing like the addition of fresh flowers to any vignette...

Just adds something special I think.

Patterns on metal vase...

and a white stick heart...

Metal flower with a delicate pearl centre on a simple corked bottle...

My heart jumps with pure shabby delight!

What joy beautiful things can bring to your day!

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you can join for free HERE.

#frenchcountry

The Queens Gardens...

The Queens Gardens are in Nelson, New Zealand...

There was not a whole lot flowering as it is still early spring,

But I did find the most beautiful tree peony.

It was a delicious bright pink...

The blooms were absolutely enormous.

Tree peonies come in a huge array of colours.
They are extremely hardy and thrive best in a part sun/part shade
and even a full shade site.
It's best to keep an open situation around them
as air movement around the plant helps keep it healthy...
Tree Peonies prefer a fertile soil which is neutral to slightly alkaline.
They hate wet feet so well drained soil is a must.
Now this is something I would love to have in Mia Bella Gardens...

And right now it's top of the list of must haves for my garden!

Here's some more pictures of the Queens gardens...