Mia Bella Passions

The Christmas Table Display...

This years Christmas tabletop display is red, white with a tablecloth of Christmas patterned blue.

In the centre of the table is a white gorgeously scented candle in a glass container.

Red painted wooden baubles (a pre-made garland from the Ezibuy Christmas range) surround this on the platter...

I love Christmas quirkiness,
so these matches with a deer design on the box are a perfect addition for candle lighting.

I found them at a local Whakatane gift store.

Behind the platter sits the shabby pot with the stitched Christmas decorations.
(To find out how to make these visit: stitched card christmas ornaments)

I added a few....

OK - I added 'A LOT' of red and white candy canes.
Candy canes are perfect for pre-Christmas day snacking.
My grandson taught me this!

A wrap of tulle in white pretties up the shabby white pot.

A blackboard reindeer cut-out finishes the display!

What fun to change the message week by week...

Last week it said 'Santa's Coming!'

I love that little gingham bow on the reindeer's neck!

I hope you are inspired to put a little bit of Christmas on your dining table too.

#christmastable #decor

The Dahlia Birthday Cake...

We are deviating a little from Christmas as it really was a case of
"How could I not share with you the most gorgeous cake"?

Made as a surprise for my recent 'Big Event' birthday

by Cake Works

http://www.cakeworksnz.com/

I am in total awe at the work involved in creating this AMAZING dahlia flower

- made from icing!

Stunning and gorgeous, in one of my favourite colours.
What a wonderful surprise organised by my beautiful daughter!

Life Is A Paradise...

Sharing today,

a new inspirational photo quote....

Free to print for personal use.

#quotes #quote

'Contemplating Flight'...

Title: Contemplating Flight

Medium: Oils

Size: 20cm x 20cm

My painting of a sparrow contemplating flight is a Merit Award recipient

in 'Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards' at Mairangi Arts Centre, Auckland.

Judge: TJ McNamara

I'm so very happy and honoured to have received this award.

This wee painting is the catalyst in a whole series of feather and bird inspired works...

Watch this space!!!

Painterly Expressions...

New work just completed in the Feather series of paintings.

Title: Florale Piuma

(Which is Italian for Floral Feather.)

Oils on box canvas.

#newzealandartist

Stitched Card Christmas Ornaments...

Christmas has surely come a little early here at Mia Bella Passions...

But that's because I LOVE everything Christmas!

To make these cute stitched card Christmas ornaments,
you'll need a selection of Christmas shapes...

I used free templates from sourced via Google.

Print your chosen images from the links directly onto heavy white card.

Cut out the shapes.

Hole punch a hole centred.

Using a sewing machine, place stitching as desired on the cardboard shape.

You could handstitch these if you wanted to...

Embellish with buttons, stickers or ribbon.

Add a string or ribbon hanger.

Perfect for the Christmas tree, or use as a gift label.

I filled this shabby old painted pot with florist foam.
Into that went a twiggy dried branch.

I hung the stitched ornaments onto it.

Oh they look so fabulous!

I love the little dried seed pods on this branch.

My stitching is far from perfect, but I love the effect ...

Embellishments included a few stickers...

And some red buttons...
Such a pretty Christmas vignette on the little French side table!

#christmascraft #diychristmasdecorations

LOVE...

TIM TAM BISCUIT WREATH...

Love Tim Tams?

Love Chocolate?

Then this Christmas creation will be your HEAVEN!

A Tim Tam Chocolate Wreath!

You will need:

For a three layer - 36 Arnotts Tim Tam biscuits
For a four layer as I have made - 48 Arnotts Tim Tam Biscuits.
Milk & white chocolate melts
Red and green lollies

Melt a little milk chocolate over hot water...

On a large round platter, join 12 biscuits to create a circle.

It will look like this.

Then do the same with the second layer as shown.

Continue in this way until you have your three or four layers completed.

Melt white chocolate over hot water....

Dribble over the biscuits so it resembles snowy icicles...
(this is quite funny as the humidity is 90% and it is near 25 degrees today in the Bay Of Plenty - and I'm making snow!!)