Homespun Things....nesting and nurturing...

 

Life has been busy at the Mimi Household.

 

We built a fire pit at the request of First Born Son. He wanted a gathering around an open fire for his 40th birthday. We obliged. A fun time had by all.

 

Gluten free custard filled profiteroles were on offer in lieu of a birthday cake. Topped with chocolate ganache and strawberry slivers, they were a huge hit!

 

 

Best son number two, asked for a cake that had 'something with coffee' for his birthday a few days earlier.

 

I challenged myself with this Gateau Opera. It was a mission. Five layers of vanilla cake (gluten free of course), soaked in coffee, sandwiched with coffee cream and chocolate ganache, then topped with more chocolate ganache and crumbled Flake chocolate and edible gold.

 

 

It's a bit like a Tiramisu, but BETTER. Very much worthwhile!

 

Birthdays done and dusted, we moved into Spring cleaning mode here.

 

First task on the list was to reassess our bedroom which is a bit of a mish-mash of styles and eras, that has evolved over the years.

 

Research suggested to me, that we were already hovering on the edge of a Hollywood Regency-Chinoiserie Chic look, so some culling and redistributing and painting and polishing is going on here, to crystallise that idea.

 

Crystal, tassels, overblown roses...

 

 

...equestrian details, antique books...

 

 

Chinese knots and embroidery on abundant cushions...

 

 ...more tassels...

 

 

Lavish smocking or trellis details.

 

Little Buddhas got the golden treatment. Husband received these for Fathers Day last year, but they were black and most of their detailing was being missed.

 

I donned gloves, squeezed gold acrylic paint into my hand and smoothed it all over them, rubbing it into the pretty details.

 

And look!

 

Transformed!

 

This pic on Pinterest..

 

 

...reminded me that I had the very same stool, about to be repurposed in the garden. I rescued it.

 

It will get a new velvet seat...although with a white cat in the household now, I may live to regret that decision! Perhaps a white velvet seat with fuschia piping is the solution!

 

Speaking of fuschia, I love the pop of fuschia and bright pink in these pictures...

 

I'm not sure that Husband is ready for all-out pink though.

 

Little touches might be nice...

Thinking about pink, led me to purchase this ginger jar for $5 at one of my favourite charity stores...Orson & Blake if you please, so $60-ish retail...

 



 

...not quite Hermes...

 

 

..but with the addition of some hand painted gold embellishment, not too shabby!

 

 

Of course this little gem has been hiding at the back of my kitchen cupboard while crystal and silver vases got the preferential treatment.

 

No more!

 

 

Thankyou to my friend Jane, who suggested cutting Cordyline leaves for this one...

 

...look at that pretty little pagoda shaped detail at the top of the neck of my lamp...

 

 

Here's those little Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil Buddhas again. The golden treatment has done wonders for their good looks.

So what else can I paint now?

 

Have paint, will renovate...

 



Not these little Asian inspired bookends in granite...no-no-no.

 

I've just rescued them. They were husbands until he got some musical note inspired ones and relegated these to doorstops. Goodness!

 



 

Bookends they are once more...

 

 

...with a nod to Chinoiserie Moderne Chartreuse (green), and Fuschia (pink) in the book spines...

 

Here's that real deal full-on pink that I don't think Husband will EVER be ready for...

 

 

….although I have snuck in some vintage Crane statuettes that haven't led to an objection...what is it about Men that resists change??

 

I think these little cranes will get the gloss treatment as seen below.

 

Or maybe metallic.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

Meanwhile, Daughter was about to discard this Bamboo Whatnot Shelf, having grown out of her Teen Boho bedroom.

 

 I grabbed it. It needs a cleanup and a small repair.

 

But perhaps this will be my nod to fuschia or chartreuse.

 

Or maybe I'll just leave it au naturel with some spray clear gloss, and use piping on my cushions as seen here...

 

 

For sure something will get this not-quite-silver-not-quite-gold treatment...

 

 

And whilst this quilt cover covered in Chinese inspired knots and this little plastic frame aren't perfect, they'll get renewed and repurposed too.

 

Did I tell you about the Swallows on my mixer yet?

 

That's a post for another day...

 

 

Meanwhile, look at this pretty Chinoiserie inspired vignette.

 

I love it.

 

What's your favourite decorating style?

 

Nannas' Recipes in 4 sentences...Spiced Whipped Savoury Yoghurt..

  Spiced Whipped Savoury Yoghurt

 Whip 1 cup natural yoghurt until smooth and thickened. Add 1 small onion, peeled and diced finely or grated, 1 small green chilli, finely sliced, 1 small tomato, finely diced, pinch salt, leaves or herbs according to cuisine eg. curry leaves, kaffir lime leaves, or coriander. Dry fry 1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds in a hot pan until the pop and become aromatic and stir them through. Allow to sit to maximise flavours for at least one hour, and preferable overnight. Serve with anything you fancy. Careful...highly addictive!

Nannas Recipes in 4 Sentences...(Slightly) Healthier Fried Chicken...

 

This fried chicken recipe does not use breadcrumbs, so the ability of the crumbs to absorb the oil, is negated. Hence, this is a slightly healthier recipe.

 

Healthier Fried Chicken...

 

Mix 4 tablespoons of cornflour in a bowl with enough water to make a thin batter about the consistency of milk, and add a teaspoon of Smoky Paprika, 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin and a bit of salt and pepper. Heat a wok or frypan with a layer of oil about 3cms (3/4") deep over a high hotplate, then dip chicken pieces (we prefer boneless chicken thighs or drumsticks) into the batter and drop them carefully into the pan. Cook about 4 minutes on each side, turning once, before removing to absorbent kitchen paper or clean tea towels to drain the oil from them. Serve immediately with baked potato and coleslaw or for extra crispiness, dip the chicken into the batter a second time, and fry again until golden brown.

Nannas Recipes in 4 Sentences...Japanese Beef Bundles

Japanese Beef Bundles

 Pound 8 lean steaks into thin fillets. Roll julienned carrots, slivers of shallot (green onion) and capsicum into the middle, forming bundles, and secure with toothpicks. Marinate in Teriyaki sauce for one hour, and pan fry in a smoking hot wok, browning well on all sides. Serve with steamed rice and vegetables.   Yum!