Mia Bella Passions

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.

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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 Calla 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.

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#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

SAATCHI ART

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#healthysnacks #applerecipes #nutbutter

Sweet Christmas Cookie

Sweet and doughy with chunks of dark chocolate and Toblerone chocolate.

I am not sure why, but Toblerone is thought of as a Christmas gifting chocolate.

Maybe because the wrapping is shiny Christmas gold...the name is in bold red, or because the chocolate has nougat added to it.

Today we blended two types of chocolate - dark and Toblerone to create these delicious cookie dough-inspired (a whole lot naughty) cookies for Christmas visitors to enjoy, and another batch to gift.

They last well in a sealed container in the pantry for a week.

But I give you just days...

and then you will have to bake more!

To make these delicious Toberlone and Dark chocolate cookies:

You Will Need:

170 grams (6 Ounces) Butter

1 cup fine white caster sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

One large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla paste or essence

1 cup of Dark chocolate flakes or chips

1/2 cup of ground almonds

2 cups white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 Toblerone Bar

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 Celcius (350 Farenheight)

Cream butter and sugars until creamy white and fluffy.

Add the egg.

Vanilla essence

Flour and almond

and finally chocolates.

Add more flour if necessary to be able to mould into large balls,

Press lightly with your hand onto the prepared lined baking trays.

Then add a large chunk of Toblerone to the top of the cookie.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Leave to cool completely.

Store in a sealed container.

This recipe made 20 large cookies.

#christmasbaking #christmascookies

DIY Christmas Gift: Coconut Succulent Hanging Planters

There is a certain joy in creating your own gifts for giving.

So here is a little DIY Christmas gift inspiration for you.

Coconut Succulent Hangers are a little bit quirky.

A little bit cute.

They are fabulous for giving this holiday season.

(Or for birthdays, house warming, Mothers day or Fathers Day)

To make two hangers, you will need:

Two small coconuts that have had top 1/4 sawn off and scraped clean of the coconut flesh.

String

Potting mix

Succulent plants (cuttings will work fine)

Cut six lengths of string about 53 inches (135cm) long.

Gather three together, fold in half and knot at loop for the hanger at the top.

Then knot 3 inches (8cm) down two strings together.

Then again at 4 inches (10cm) down.

Knot again 4 inches (10cm) down, but split the strings. As shown.

This makes the holder shape for the coconut shell.

Then split knot again about 2 1/2 inches (7cm) down.

Place the coconut shell in place.

Knot all the strings together under the coconut.

Trim ends of the string.

Fill each coconut with potting mix and add water until damp.

Place the succulent cuttings into the potting mix.

Hang.

I have hung mine under the candle chandelier over my covered deck mosaic table.

Note: There are no drainage holes in the shell,

so only water when the soil has dried out.

Creative Gift

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