tiny happy

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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

rowan

Olive bag

Here are a few things I've been working on this week: some new pairs of baby shoes, a
forget-me-not purse and some new 'simple satchels' to include in
today's shop update. These are strong and sturdy bags, to be worn
across the body with big pockets on the front. I'm enjoying the freedom
of using up lots of the fabric I had been saving for a mystery
'something' but I now realise I need to just cut into- I won't be able to fit it into my suitcase next month…

Forgetmenot

Liberty lining

Butterflies

Trees 1

Trees 2

Outside the bedroom window, this amazing tree is in bloom- I think the flowers look a little like lace. Do you know what type of tree it is? I got out my trusty 'Trees of Northern Europe' book (kindly sent by my friend Helen) and think it might be a Rowan tree, but I don't really know. Keira has now adopted the Tree Book: "I'm actually quite interested of this, Mum."
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50 responses to “rowan”

  1. Pikku-Kettu Avatar
    Pikku-Kettu

    It looks more like a “Bird Cherry”- tree. The fragnance is really lovely in the Spring. 🙂

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  2. Karuna Peralta Avatar
    Karuna Peralta

    I think it looks like a white lilac – they come out in April in england. and smell unforgetable! happy springtime to you Melissa and family. see you soon, K

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  3. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    ah yes- i thought it looked rather lilac-y or cherry-ish!
    thanks, karuna and pikku. 🙂

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  4. Santa Avatar
    Santa

    Here in Latvia we call these trees in a woman’s name- Ieva (like Eve). When it blooms it is ussually pretty cold outside. I have one outside my window as well, it is so beautiful that it makes me happy every day 🙂

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  5. daria Avatar
    daria

    sorry, but I can’t help you for the tree…I’m not an expert.
    But I want to say my oooooh! for the baby shoes and the purse lining in this post: they are very very delicious!!!

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  6. Guro Avatar
    Guro

    Is it “hegg”, I wonder? (I don’t know the name in English, unfortunately.)
    http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegg
    I adore everything you make, by the way!

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  7. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    I was just lucky enough to secure your butterfly baby shoes for my little one. I’m overjoyed.
    I’m not sure those flowers are quite big enough to be lilac – I have a lilac flowering in my garden at the moment. I shall have to ask my mum – she knows most european tree species x

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  8. Guro Avatar
    Guro

    I don’t think it’s a rowan tree, though, look at these leaves in comparison:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rowan_flowers-oliv.jpg
    The flowers also has a different growth – not the lilac-shape that “hegg” has.

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  9. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    It looks like a type of elder tree. I like a determined little girl with a wool hat, a t-shirt, reading a botanical book!

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  10. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks for the link, guro. you’re right- it can’t be a rowan tree after all.
    hm…

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  11. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    I loved the photos of your purses and i had to buy one. They are just so adorable. I have a mountain of fabric saved for that ‘mystery something’. The real mystery is finding the time to cut into it all.

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  12. lisa Avatar
    lisa

    Love the baby shoes and the lining of the purse. They’re both just darling. I’m not sure about the tree; my identification skills are not very good.

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  13. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    Truly beautiful each and every picture. I usually need close up shots to identify a tree ( leaves, blossoms, bark, branch pattern)

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  14. Plumtickled Avatar
    Plumtickled

    Oh, that’s just so sweet……. What a great girl!

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  15. Ariella Avatar
    Ariella

    those little shoes are totally gorgeous!

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  16. Ariella Avatar
    Ariella

    Your tree looks like a white lilac tree. I have a purple one in my yard.

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  17. Anja Avatar
    Anja

    I’m quite certain it’s not an elder, and it’s definitely not a rowan (my favourite :). Elders have’basket’-shaped flowers. Lilacs have a very characteristic scent, but it doesn’t look quite like a lilac either, I think. Lots of people have them in their gardens, so you should be able to spot one to compare (they come in a purple colour too, and the colour is also called lilac). I vote for a close up shot, too!

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  18. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Oh, the interior fabric of that pouch is incredible! Lucky you with your gorgeous Scandinavian fabric and a deadline to burn it off by! 🙂

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  19. hadley Avatar
    hadley

    Gorgeous! Do you make your living from your shop?
    I love that lining fabric. Will you miss all your fabric resources when you move back to sunny New Zealand?

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  20. Silke Avatar
    Silke

    Oh, I love those satchels and the baby shoes! And that inside lining is gorgeous!! Can’t help you with the tree, but it looks like a white lilac to me. Does is smell wonderful? 🙂 Silke

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  21. mims Avatar
    mims

    A close-up would help but yes, i think this is a prunus virgiania, aka bird cherry or choke cherry. I have one just like it on my backyard. here is a photo
    silent auction donation

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  22. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    Hi Melissa, I’d definitely say that’s a bird cherry. They are lovely trees 🙂

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  23. The 6 O'Clock Stitch Avatar
    The 6 O’Clock Stitch

    It is indeed a beautiful tree…and beautiful tiny shoes. I’m loving those.

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  24. Shalet Avatar
    Shalet

    I have no idea about that tree but I love all the things you made for your shop! Lovely!

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  25. isoinpapu Avatar
    isoinpapu

    To me the tree looks just like a white lilac tree, syringa vulgaris. The timing is right for it, even here they bloom a little later, maybe like in tvo weeks or so.
    They come also in pink and purple(eh, lilac).
    I dont know if they have some special kind of lilac here in north, that is just like the ones we have here.

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  26. lissilulu Avatar
    lissilulu

    love the photo of Keira looking at the tree book.
    We have several bird field books but no tree books. Need to check some out from the library to borrow for now and keep an eye out at the thrift store for one to keep.
    flowering trees are so beautiful..

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  27. Laura A. Avatar
    Laura A.

    I’m with the other folks here–choke cherry tree. The leaves aren’t right for a rowan.
    And those butterfly slippers are gorgeous! Congrats to Emma!

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    Reply
  28. Dorit Avatar
    Dorit

    So much beauty. Love all the pictures. So inspiring to visit your blog 🙂

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    Reply
  29. Daan Avatar
    Daan

    Beautiful and the little reader is very sweet 🙂

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  30. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks for all the suggestions- yes, i must post a closer-up picture. on my
    walk today i saw many more of these trees everywhere in town- so i will ask
    around. 🙂

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  31. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks, mims! yours looks pretty similar to mine.

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  32. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    hi hadley,
    i don’t make my living from my shop- but it certainly helps! i also work
    part-time at a kindergarten.
    and yes, i will miss the scandinavian fabrics! there are lots of lovely kiwi
    ones too though. 🙂

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  33. anna Avatar
    anna

    Rowan is my daughters name – my husband is scottish and is passionate about trees. long before we met he decided if he ever had a daughter she would be named rowan for the tree and so she is. whatever your tree is its beautiful!

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  34. Heart Felt Avatar
    Heart Felt

    All so pretty…..you won’t want to leave with everything coming out in bloom. Hope all your plans are going well. xx

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  35. therese Avatar
    therese

    not a rowan, no (also my favourite!). and the lining – so qute!

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  36. victoria Avatar
    victoria

    Melissa that farm fabric used as lining is WONDERFUL. I will think about it all day!

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  37. Muddlepud Avatar
    Muddlepud

    I love the fabric you chose for the bag, and the little shoes are beautiful.

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  38. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    Where did you get that fabric for the lining of the purse? I love it. I can’t possibly increase my stash at the moment but it would be good to know where you got it from just in case!
    At the risk of sounding ignorant. The flowers look like white lilac. Maybe you could know for sure when the flowers turn to berries.
    If things are getting stressful, don’t forget the chocolate.

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  39. Marilyn Avatar
    Marilyn

    Looks like a Hawthorn Tree to me. We had them where I grew up in Ireland
    Marilyn Mckinnon in Canada

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  40. Annie Avatar
    Annie

    That’s funny that you mention starting to use up the fabric that you’ve been saving for the special, mystery project- that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. We are also moving long distance in a short time and I’ve realized that there is just no sense in hanging on to anything that might get used now and then not have to be packed!

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  41. Cris Avatar
    Cris

    love your fresh blog and your shots
    Cristina from Italy

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  42. Kate Fern Avatar
    Kate Fern

    Yes, the purse with the secret lining looks beautiful!

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  43. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    Those shoes are stunning!!!

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  44. VintagePleasure Avatar
    VintagePleasure

    I think it could be white lilac too. We have one in our garden.

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  45. Silvia Avatar
    Silvia

    I live in Norway too and that is a “hegg”. Don’t know the name in English. It has clusters of black berries in summer which have been traditionally used to make hegg liquor

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  46. louana Avatar
    louana

    I love the pic of Keira, my 3yr daughter has a pocket atlas that she reads (well looks at the pictures and maps) with great interest. Just warms the heart to see little ones interested in books like that.

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  47. Jac Avatar
    Jac

    |can’t help with the tree but it looks beautiful whatever it is! It looks as though you have been busy, your sachel looks lovely, such beautiful fabric – I can’t believe you have so little time before you go back to NZ. Still it’s sometimes nice to use the things you’ve been saving for ‘something special’ so they can be appreciated for their loveliness. 🙂

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  48. k Avatar
    k

    all of it is lovely – but those baby shoes are just wonderful!

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  49. carissa Avatar
    carissa

    those little baby shoes are soooo cute!!!

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  50. Emily Swanson Avatar
    Emily Swanson

    Beautiful shoes!

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