DIY Pretty Fabric Wrapped Books...

Wrapped books are such a wonderful idea!

They add height and interest to a tabletop, shelf or sideboard vignette.

And they are such an easy thing to create!

Today I am going to make fabric wrapped books!

To make, you will need:

Old books (I used three)
Fabric
soft stick sellotape 
a ruler for measuring
a pen for marking size before cutting fabric
pinking shears

 I've chosen fabric in contrasting colourways
 that will compliment the items on my shelf.

 Because I want to reuse the books for future crafts, 
or to change the fabric colours, I am not using glue.

 The first step is to measure the fabric to cover the book from the cover.

 You need to allow fabric for the inside cover edges.
Also remember the spine of the book fabric allowance.

 These are my very vintage pinking shears.
Using these I am cutting an edge on the long length of the fabric top and bottom.

 Using a soft stick sellotape (one that removes without to much tearing to the paper cover) stick the fabric to the inside of the front and back covers.

On the outside edge you have the pinking pattern which also stops the fabric fraying.

 It doesn't matter if the fabric overhangs the book, 
or it shows a little cover if the cover is a complimentary colour.

This is was the shelf looked like before the books.

 This is with one book added.

If you are interested in finding out how to make the 
Mini Pallet Love Sign, you will find the tutorial HERE.

 And here is the shelf with the three pretty fabric wrapped books.
Essentially what you are doing is adding a riser.
The books are the riser (added height).

It's quite amazing what adding a little height with a riser can do to the visual of a vignette.
This is effective on a coffee table, side board or on a shelf, or bedside table.

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#oldbooks #craft #homedecor #bookstack #fabriccovered

The Pink Hyacinth...

The delightful scent and beautiful form make the hyacinth one of those most sought after flowering bulbs.

 If grown indoors the pot needs to be in a warm position.

 The position of the pot also requires good light conditions.

 Keep the soil slightly moist.

Too much watering will make the hyacinth grow tall and leggy.

The scent will fill the room the plant is in!

 To help stop the plants growing towards the strongest light source,

just give the pot a half turn everyday.

Hyacinths come in the most gorgeous colours.

I chose bright pink for a pop of colour in the decor,

but they come in a range of hues in the colours of white, purple, mauve, pink, and peach.

But:

Classic Banana Cake...

Nothing beats a classic banana cake!

Always popular and delicious too.
Drizzle cake with passionfruit topping for an extra tropical flavour.

It's another sure-fire way to use up your overripe bananas in the fruit bowl!

This cake recipe is from the 'Edmonds Sure To Rise Cookery Book'.

You'll find this iconic cookbook on the shelf
 in most New Zealand Bookstores or supermarkets.

Or online via Fishpond.

This book is probably the most used in my cookery book collection.
It's so used the cover has come off and a few pages are loose!
I just bought my son a new Edmonds cookbook because he is about to leave home, and you simply must have this cookbook in your kitchen!

Banana Cake

• Ingredients: 
•  125g (1/2 cup) butter, softened
•   ¾ cup fine white caster sugar
•   2 eggs
•   1 - 1 ½ cups or 3-4 mashed ripe bananas
•   1 and a half teaspoons Baking soda 
•   2 Tablespoons hot Milk
•   2 cups white flour
•   1 tsp Baking Powder
• 
  
•   Chocolate Icing
•  1 and 1/2 cups powdered icing sugar 
•  1 Tablespoon Dark Cocoa Powder
•  2 Tablespoons of melted butter
• Milk to mix to consistency.

1. Method:
   
2. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (356F). Butter the inside of a 20cm deep round cake tin and line the base with baking paper.
3. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add the mashed banana and mix well.
5. Stir the baking soda into the hot milk and add to the creamed mixture, then sift the dry ingredients together and fold them through the creamed mixture.
6. Scoop the mixture into the prepared tin, level the top, and bake for about 50 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
7. Leave in tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool. When cold ice with Chocolate Icing or dust with icing sugar.

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#banana #bananarecipes #bananacake

A New Pot Plant Standard...

Do you ever go into the garden centre,

 and see a plant that is screaming at you 'make me into a standard?'

Well that is what happened with this Ficus.

The main trunk is so straight.

How more perfect is that!

I bought it with no idea where in the house it would go.

But once home decided it was time for a change in the French Masculine Bedroom.

I have had black wrought iron pieces on the side table for too long.

Time for something new.

Time for a pot plant!

So I just repotted the ficus into a bigger plastic pot that would fit inside the display planter.

Then trimmed the plant into a standard by removing the lower leaves.

A slight prune to round it a little was needed.

As the plant grows the shape will improve with regular trimming.
I always like to do this as a gentle slow process.

This fiscus variety is called 'Baby Ben'.

It's a variety that is great for topiary.

They like part shade, so the filtered light in the bedroom,

 and no draughts means it should thrive.

If you like the black & white photographs that are framed above the Ficus, 

they are available HERE on the Mia Bella Passions Photography page for your free personal use.

Choc Chip & Banana Brownie...

It seems I have an overabundance of very ripe bananas in my fruit bowl!

Now that is a great excuse to make brownie don't ya think?

 Chocolate Chip & Banana Brownie to be precise!

 Serve warmed or cold.

With or without cream.

Too make it extra special add some custard.

 It's a very nice lunchbox treat too!

Printable recipe HERE.

To make the stencil for the icing sugar I  printed a butterfly template from the net and cut it out.
Place on each brownie segment, sieve icing sugar over the top, and carefully remove the stencil.
(My gorgeous daughter came up with this idea and it really works!)

Chocolate Chip & Banana Brownie 

Nom Nom!

.

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

Visit My Saatchi Art Print store HERE

#brownie #chocolate #banana #baking #homemade  #cakedecorating

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Cookies

So this is the cookie that is definitely the most moreish of moreish!

Is that even possible?

Believe me - it is!!

And they are SO SIMPLE to make, bake and dip.

 Three ingredients:

A 500 gram pot of crunchy peanut butter

1 Cup of caster sugar

and

1 egg

Mix together.

Roll into balls and press down slightly.

Bake for 8 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

Remove from oven and cool.

 Melt milk chocoalte.

 Dip each biscuit in the chocolate.

Leave to set.

(These are half dipped, but if you want a little more decadence - chocolate coat the entire top of each biscuit!)

Serve with coffee and devour!

#baking #homemade #peanutbutter #chocolate #cookies

New Photographic Inspirational For YOU...

Have you got a mood or dream board?

I have two!

One in my office and one in my art studio...

The boards are covered in photographs and inspirationals - 

from quotes, art ideas,  garden and decor dreams.

If you are a regular to Mia Bella Passions blog,

you have probably worked out I am quite fond of photographic inspirationals.

This is the latest...a pretty peach dahlia,

with the words that 'Passion Changes Everything'.

Because I believe it does!

For updates about the latest blog posts,

you can join for free HERE.

#quote #quotes #flowerquote #dahlia

Must Have Flowers - Always...

It is nearing the end of Autumn in New Zealand,

and the garden has taken on an autumnal hue of colours.

The light is changing, the temperatures cooling.

It is at this time of year I love to bring more flowers into the home decor.

Not fancy large floral arrangements,
but small containers simply placed here and there.

They just bring such joy into the decor.

Simple and cost effective.

Hand picked from your garden, a friends garden,

 or a price friendly bunch from the supermarket flower section.

This is the little french table in the red sitting room.

On it is a small collection of containers and candles.

The phalenopsis orchid has been moved here from the Master bedroom, so the flowers can be enjoyed.

It has flowered twice this year and is looking the picture of health.

I added a few interesting rocks to the bowl, 

which also help support the air roots.

Find out how to create your own orchid bowl HERE.

The small container has a jar inside, filled with water.

The flowers are camellias.

This camellia is called  'Setsugekka'.
This is an old Japanese variety.

It's a favourite.

Single white blooms with wavy petals and centre yellow stamens.

What I love is that the stamens start off pale, and as the flower ages, they turn bright yellow!

This small corner of the red sitting room,

It's cosy and pretty.

Claude Monet said"

One must have flowers, always and always.

And I agree!

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by joining for free HERE.

#homedecorideas #flowersinthedecor