Bird Bath Upcycle.

 

An old Birdbath has been in Mia Bella Passions gardens for many moons.

It's made of concrete, and I have always enjoyed it.

It once contained water for the birdlife in the garden to quench their thirst or bathe in.

But as time wore on the heavy concrete bowl developed some cracks, it would not contain the water anymore.

I thought about endeavouring to create a colourful mosaic repair on the inside of the bowl, but saw this planting idea in a home and garden magazine and thought 'AHA' I can do that.

So I did!

The succulents were baby plants from another area of the garden.

But you can source these and other varieties of succulent plants from most Garden Depots.

All I needed to do (as it already had some cracks for drainage was fill the birdbath bowl with a quality potting mix, and plant the succulents straight into it.

I didn't use a succulent potting mix as I wanted a mix that would retain a bit more moisture. 

It was not long before the succulents multiplied.

They certainly like the quality potting mix!

The new lease of life of the birdbath looks fabulous!

Visitors to the garden comment on its intriguing style.

So if you have an old birdbath tucked into the back of a garden bed, or one you'd like to simply upcycle, a fun succulent top might be what it needs! 

The succulent variety I have used is called echeveria elegans.

  I also have succulents planted around the base of a magnolia tree.

They really are such easy-care plants as long as you protect them from very cold temperatures (frost and snow).

They are also very easy to propagate from a leaf or baby plant runner.

Just pinch a leaf or the mini baby plant and place it into the potting mix.

The baby plant is the quickest method to grow more plants quickly.

This succulent watercolour print image is available at Fine Art America - you'll find it HERE.

(There are 9 colourways to choose from).

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#succulents #pottedsucculents #succulentprint

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.

Bedside Lamps from Redcurrent.

Succulent in pot - Pickle Plant

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

Canvas print from 'Photowall'.

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

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#bedroommakeover #guestbedroom  #diydecor

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.

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

The selection of images is massively vast.

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 Deliciousa image.

 I spent hours looking through all their images, and it was hard to make a choice!

Deliciosa brings the word delicious to mind as a descriptive word for this print.

And it seriously is!

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

90cm x 120cm.

The print-to-frame DIY happened once it arrived.

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.

Before

After

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#artprints #wallart #bedroomdecorideas

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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You might like to also visit:

My store at Fine Art America    

:)

 #woodblockart #kokedama #potplants

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