DIY OLD Chair Upcycle

This old dining chair has been in the family for over 70 years.

It has worn its natural varnished oak, and it's been dressed up in white and then grey chalk paint in a French Country style, with the seat fabrics changing from tapestry, to butterfly embossed linen, then to tropical palms.

But now it is time for yet another upcycle!

But this time we will be completely funking up the colour palette.

This chair is going to be painted bright banana yellow.

The reason is:

My kitchen where this chair will reside is black and white.

There is a lot of black and white artwork on the walls.

I have a lot of art in my kitchen.

Think 'Kitchen Art Gallery'.

It's contemporary.

But that works well with this room's size and electric mix of furniture.

But that is another blog post where I will be writing about the other furniture and why I styled the room this way.

There are pops of yellow here and there and a touch of green too.

So back to the chair.

Here's the before photo.

After a sand, and prime.

The yellow paint was applied.

Then it was a serious matter of 'careful what you wish for!'

The yellow was BRIGHT!

(It looked good on the paint swatch!)

I had my little OMG moment.

Then sanded and repainted it adding white paint to the original yellow.

Better?

Maybe?

The yellow now has a lime-green undertone. Eeek!

I thought, well it will grow on me!

But it didn't!

Don't you love it when plans go wrong?

A hint of sarcasm there!

So then I added orange to the said paint.

Sanded and repainted yet again.

It's a better yellow colour now.

The seat was recovered with a cushion cover I already had in my stash.

Removing the layers of fabric and staples took some work before the new fabric was stapled on.

To become a yellow tropical-themed funky kitchen chair.

The chair now has a new lease on life once more.

And it may well last another 70 years with all that paint holding those joints together!

Though it is very likely in time the colour on this chair may change yet again.

The potplant in the photograph is a Spider Plant, and you can find out all about them HERE.

I love how the chair colour picks up the yellow tones in some of the smaller artworks.

Like this memorial watercolour, I painted of my sweet Maltese Gracie, who has been over the Rainbow Bridge for many years.

You'll find this artwork as a print and on other giftware HERE.

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Quick Omelette Roll Ups

Next time you are home, hungry and need a snack in a hurry make a 'Quick Omelette Roll Up'.

It's healthy, superbly delicious and filling.

And as said, QUICK to whip up!

It only takes about 10 minutes per roll up from start to serve.

The recipe is for a one-person serving for a brunch or lunch.

Or it serves two for a healthy snack.

So double the recipe if more roll ups are required.

Serve warm or cold.

All you do is:

Whisk the eggs in a small bowl or jug.

Heat a frying pan and coat with spray.

Pour in half of the egg.

Cook until set.

Flip.

Reduce stove element heat to medium.

Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the egg omelette.

Pour over the rest of the egg.

Then top with the flatbread.

I used a diary-free variety.

Cook for 2 minutes pressing the flat bread down with the spatula.

Remove from pan onto a clean board.

Add the sliced tomato.

Salt and pepper to taste. (optional)

The microgreens.

And finish with a dash of aioli.

Use dairy-free aioli if needed.

Roll up.

Cut in half.

Plate and serve.

You can also add some shaved ham or thin sliced smoked salmon before rolling up if you wish.

Omelette Roll Ups

Spray oil

3 eggs

1 large flat Bread (I used one with spinach in it)

1/2 cup tasty cheese

1 tomato (sliced)

A small handful of microgreens

Aoli

To Make:

Whisk the eggs in a small bowl or jug.

Heat a frying pan and coat with spray.

Pour in half of the egg.

Cook until set.

Flip.

Reduce stove element heat to medium.

Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the egg omelette.

Pour over the rest of the egg.

Then top with the flatbread.

Cook for 2 minutes pressing the flat bread down with the spatula.

Flip to the flat bread side and brown a little.

Remove from pan onto a clean board.

Add the sliced tomato.

Salt and pepper to taste. (optional)

The microgreens.

And finish with a dash of aoli.

Roll up.

Cut in half.

Plate and serve.

Note: you can use dairy-free flatbreads and aioli.

Printable recipe HERE.

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DIY Stag Horn Fern Pallet Garden Feature

Staghorn Ferns, they are also known as Platycerium, are a unique and beautiful addition to your home pot plant collection.

But did you know, in the right climate, they can be grown outside in the garden?

More common names they are known by are elkhorn, moose, stag, deer or shield fern.

There are around eighteen different varieties.

These ferns are epiphytic, meaning they naturally grow on trees in tropical forests. Their roots hold them in place, and they get water and nutrients through their fronds.

Many gardeners recreate their natural habitat by mounting staghorn ferns onto wood.

That is what we will be doing today in the DIY tutorial.

Origin of Staghorn Ferns

Staghorn Ferns originate from tropical regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. They are named for their uniquely shaped, antler-like fronds that resemble the horns of a stag.

Growing Staghorn Ferns Outside

When growing staghorn ferns outside, it's important to mimic their natural habitat. So choose a spot with dappled shade or filtered sunlight, as direct sunlight can scorch their fronds.

They do not thrive in low light.

Ensure the mounting board is securely attached to a tree or structure, as staghorn ferns require good support.

I had a staghorn fern-covered pallet by the swimming pool at 'Mia Bella Passions Garden' and it was a showstopper!

But now, since moving to the townhouse, I really wanted to recreate it, in my little garden here.

DIY Staghorn Fern Garden Feature

I used a heavy wood pallet as the base structure.

I painted it a nice dark grey colour.

As the larger of the ferns had flat backs, they were attached to other pieces of wood with a backing of coconut fibre and then strung with twine to the wood.

I then nailed them wood to wood onto the pallet.

The two smaller ferns were placed in coconut fibre nests, with a little soil, and then strung with twine directly to the pallet.

Some people nail the ferns carefully to the wood, but I've had great success using coconut fibre.

The coconut fibre helps keep the moisture around the fern until they are established on the wood.

The twine eventually decomposes.

The ferns will multiply and naturally spread, eventually covering the entire pallet.

Care of Staghorn Ferns

Provide regular watering, ensuring the fern's root ball is kept moist but not waterlogged.

Fertilise with a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month during the growing season (Spring and Summer) for healthy growth.

You can even slip a piece of banana peel under the brown frond shield. It is a great fertiliser.

Staghorn ferns are relatively low-maintenance plants but keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat accordingly.

Spores will develop on the lower fronds but do not remove them.

The brown dry shield fronds should not be removed as this protects the roots.

In a Bay Of Plenty of New Zealand winter, outdoors, the fern can tolerate a temperature of -2 degrees (28.4F).

I found them quite hardy in an area where direct frost was not on the leaves as they were under a tree canopy.

With proper care and attention, your mounted staghorn ferns will thrive and bring exotic tropical beauty to your outdoor space.

You can even grow them under a covered deck on a wall.

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Creme Strawberry Mousse Desserts

The humble strawberry was first bred from wild strawberry varieties in Brittany, France in the 1750s.

And as some folk have allergies to strawberries, a variety that states 'virtually allergen free' has evolved removing the red colour.

How about that!

Creamy yellow-white-coloured strawberries!

This new cultivar is called 'Sofar'.

But let's use the deliciously fragrant and tasty red variety to make this 'Creme Strawberry Mousse Dessert'.

The dessert is not overly sweet.

The strawberry flavour sings loudly!

The tartness of the creme fraiche melds with the cream and berry puree to balance the taste buds brilliantly.

It is a fabulous, no-fuss fresh strawberry dessert that is so good you could eat it for breakfast, too!

I'm guilty of that! :)

Recipe link is HERE.

You will need fresh strawberries.

I use seconds, as we are chopping them up and also pureeing them.

You then mix the whipped cream and creme fraiche together.

Place half the strawberry puree through the creme mixture.

Then mix to blend together.

Place the creme

mixture evenly between four large glasses.

Then pour the rest of the puree over the tops.

Top with more chopped fresh strawberries.

Place a garnish of a viola flower on top

or sprinkle top of desserts with a little more powdered icing sugar.

Creme Strawberry Mousse Desserts

Ingredients:

3 and a 1/2 cups of hulled chopped fresh

strawberries

1/2 cup (and extra to serve) powdered icing sugar

1 cup pure cream

1 extra teaspoon of powdered icing sugar

1 cup Creme Fraiche

To Make:

Hull and dice the strawberries.

Place 2 cups of the diced strawberries into a blender with the icing sugar.

Blitz to a smooth puree until smooth.

Whip the cream with the extra 1 teaspoon of powdered icing sugar until thick(but not to the soft peak stage) and then add the creme fraiche whipping together until thick.

Mix into this mixture, a half a cup of the strawberry puree.

In four tall glasses (I used large plastic wine glasses).

Layer evenly between the glasses:

1/. A few diced strawberries in the bottom.

2/. Then the strawberry cream mixture.

3/. The rest of the strawberry puree.

4/. Top with more diced strawberries.

5/. Garnish with a viola flower, or just sprinkle a little more powdered icing sugar over the top.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Yield: Four servings

Note: Desserts can be made a day before serving.

Cover each dessert glass with plastic film, and store them in the refrigerator.

The Health Benefits of Eating Fresh Strawberries

· High in Vitamin C: Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C, essential for boosting your immune system and promoting healthy skin.

· Rich in Antioxidants: Strawberries are packed with antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

· Good for Heart Health: The high levels of anthocyanins in strawberries have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by improving heart health.

· Rich in Fibre: Strawberries are a good source of dietary fibre, which can aid in digestion and help regulate blood sugar levels.

· Low in Calories: Despite their sweet taste, strawberries are relatively low in calories. Half a cup is around 33 calories.