tiny happy

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

felt petals

Hydrangea 1

Hydrangea 4 

Hydrangea 3 

Hydrangea 5 

The house next door to ours has lots of beautiful heavy hydrangeas spilling over the front fence. I've been admiring them for a while now- some are pink, some are blue and some are creamy-green in colour.

They inspired me to make a headband to wear to a wedding we attended last weekend- for which I'd bought a new grey silk dress. I made my headband from a piece of black velvet ribbon, with a small bit of elastic to attach it into a circle. Then I sewed lots of little hydrangea petals on to it, cut from wool felt. A few days later I fulfilled Keira's request for her own version- except hers has white hydrangea petals sewn on to a green ribbon. Also useful for keeping unruly summer hair under control (both hers and mine..)

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40 responses to “felt petals”

  1. liz jury Avatar
    liz jury

    I just adore hydranga’s. So for me that headband is a beautiful idea. I bet it looked gorgeous with your grey silk dress!

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  2. louana Avatar
    louana

    Oh what sweetness! I discovered a paddock full of hydrangeas, they must grow them to sell, it was an amazing site and I wished it was in my backyard. Those headbands are devine, you must have looked beautiful.

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  3. Ali Avatar
    Ali

    How beautiful they are.
    I wonder if my little hydrangea bush will survive being snowed in for a week?

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  4. Liesl Avatar
    Liesl

    Very elegant!

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  5. Heart Felt Avatar
    Heart Felt

    Love, love, love, so pretty. xx

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  6. tiffany Avatar
    tiffany

    i never fully appreciated hydrangeas until moving to japan. here they are a rainy season bloom and go by the name ajisai. the colors of japanese hydrangeas are dark and vibrant, which oddly made me appreciate the pale blossoms of the southern u.s.. i love the headband idea.

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  7. gretchen/juneatnoon Avatar
    gretchen/juneatnoon

    I’m a big fan of hydrangeas. The headbands are really, really beautiful.

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  8. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    How do you come up with these amazing ideas? The headbands are both genius and beautiful!

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  9. Sarah S Avatar
    Sarah S

    Your hydrangeas reminded me that I saw a riot of deep blue and deep pink hydrangeas all around the outside of a white on white renovated cottage on the way home form town today – looked really cool.

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  10. annri Avatar
    annri

    just beautiful! more beautility!

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  11. jennifer Avatar
    jennifer

    oh hydrangeas are soo pretty!! i love the headbands..how lovely!

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  12. cloth.paper.string Avatar
    cloth.paper.string

    oh so pretty!!
    i’m loving the littles from your shop. especially the needlebook. many, mnay thanks, melissa! xxo

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  13. Desiree Fawn Avatar
    Desiree Fawn

    what a pretty headband!

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  14. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    Lovely! I love those pretty clusters of hydrangea florets!

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  15. Rattling On Avatar
    Rattling On

    I love hydrangeas. The headband is such a good idea, a corsage would look nice as well.

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  16. Annie Avatar
    Annie

    I am so envious – those headbands are beautiful, if I saw them in a shop I would snap them up!

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  17. Jenni Avatar
    Jenni

    you must have looked divine!

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  18. Politics Dissertation Avatar
    Politics Dissertation

    Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!

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  19. Lovely World Avatar
    Lovely World

    So very pretty. So delicate-looking.

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  20. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Your headbands are absolutely darling! I just love those sweet felt petals. Your blog is always an inspiration to me. Although I am not especially able with handwork I would love to give this one a try. I can just imagine pink ones for Valentine’s Day. What kind of scissors do you use for cutting? Thanks for providing such beauty every day!

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  21. Courtney Marlowe Avatar
    Courtney Marlowe

    When we first moved into our house in North Carolina, we had a really bad drought, so none of the existing plants bloomed that year. The following spring, I looked out the bathroom window and couldn’t believe what I saw! I called to my husband, “Daniel, there’s a huge hydrangea in the backyard!” His reply: “uh oh, that does not sound good.”. ; )
    These are really lovely, and unique Melissa. You should put some in your shop.

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  22. Chess Avatar
    Chess

    So beautiful! Aren’t hydrangeas just so luxurious? (I just wish I could figure out how to pronounce them properly).
    I’ve never known anyone who admires tansy so much. Here in Canada I’m sure everyone considers it a weed but you’ve given me a new love for it. Next summer I’ll keep my eye open for it…
    The grey dress and headband are soooo pretty. I’ll have to make one now too! Thanks for the idea 🙂

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  23. Charlotta Avatar
    Charlotta

    Hi Melissa, I’m new to your blog…what a delightful World…I have enjoyed reading and seeing your talents.
    Thanks for sharing…I am adding you to my blog faves, so I remember to come back!
    Bye for now.
    Char

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  24. no blog norma Avatar
    no blog norma

    you have made lovely headbands, clever idea indeed, and i agree with Courney about putting them in your shop too….

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  25. Hadley Avatar
    Hadley

    Oh, gorgeous! I’m jealous of your summer!

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  26. Ariella Avatar
    Ariella

    I love hydrangeas! These are lovely!

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  27. elmtree Avatar
    elmtree

    Those headbands are great! I might have to try one in my own handmade felt , multi-coloured. Funny , I just came in from the garden with a bunch of blue hydrangeas , which I am combining with some bright orange lion’s tails. Then I sat down to read my fav blogs, and you are talking about them.
    Hydrangeas that have had the first frost on them also look amazing , when their colours go all muted and veined.

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  28. B Avatar
    B

    so pretty, want to attempt them

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  29. Marina Avatar
    Marina

    So simple and so lovely! I think I will definitely need some of these for myself this summer. Thank you!

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  30. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    very pretty. i love simple satisfying projects like this one

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  31. SmitoniusAndSonata Avatar
    SmitoniusAndSonata

    Very pretty hairbands !
    In Spanish the hydrangea is called Hortensia which I think suits it beautifully , especially the dusty pink ones .

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  32. Anja Avatar
    Anja

    So beautiful. I might steal your idea and make a present for a nine-year old I know… 🙂

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  33. Nathalie Avatar
    Nathalie

    so very pretty, melissa! inspiration is truly in our suroundings… today the sun came out over my town, for the first time in what seems like an eternity. with it the inspiration just came flooding. it’s funny how it can be like that sometimes.
    i have been meaning to ask you something for a little while. beeing a bookworm, i love discussing and sharing books that have touched me in some way or another with others. i would truly love to see what books have inspired you. 🙂 maybe you could make a post about a few books you recommend? i would love that. 🙂
    x

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  34. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks so much, susan. you should definitely give one of these a try- theyre very easy. 🙂 i just used my normal sewing scissors to cut the felt (free-hand) but im sure finer scissors would have been easier.

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  35. corrie Avatar
    corrie

    oh gorgeous! my keira would love them too!
    hydrangeas are my favourite flower! ok well one of!
    Corrie:)

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  36. nicola@which name? Avatar
    nicola@which name?

    beautiful! i love hydrangeas. i just love how pure, clean, and natural your blog is and how garden inspired you are.
    nicola
    http://whichname.blogspot.com

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  37. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    wow- thank you, for such nice compliments!

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  38. kelly Avatar
    kelly

    i’m definitely going to try and make one of these. you’re full of inspiration as always…thank you!

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  39. Mathyld / encore petite Avatar
    Mathyld / encore petite

    Oh la la !
    I adore these headbands, just perfect !
    I picture myself perfectly, wearing one of those.
    x x x
    mathyld
    PS : I don’t know what’s happening to my comments, I’m afraid they get lost, somewhere …

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  40. hiyaluv Avatar
    hiyaluv

    so pretty! you did a great job:)
    gina

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