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

woodlander

Woods 1

Woods 2

Woods 4

Woods 3 

Woods 5 

I was unpacking a box of old things the other day, and came across a vintage book of fairytales that I distinctly remember buying with my own pocket money when I was a child. I think it was from a secondhand book shop, and I bought it pretty much exclusively for the illustrations. The book is called 'Golden Book of Fairytales', published by Collins, 1966. On the front page there is a small squashed spider and the inscription 'To Andrea with love from Auntie Violet, Uncle Bert, Sharon and Janice.'

When I showed Keira the book, she was really into the illustrations and we discovered that many of the fairytales are about a brother and sister setting off in the woods for an adventure. (She liked the idea of that very much.) I liked all the woodlandy themes and illustrations of deer, mushrooms, vines and roses. And those are the things that I based my etsy shop update on this week- vines embroidered onto a linen bag, wild rose printed cards, a rabbit-embroidered needlebook, and a silverbirch forest pin.

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21 responses to “woodlander”

  1. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Your embroidery is so lovely. I hope that one day I’ll have enough money to buy a few of your pieces (I love that rabbit embroidery.) Gorgeous post, as always.
    xo Erin

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  2. gretchen mornin Avatar
    gretchen mornin

    how very dreamy those illustrations are. I love the birch trunks. beautifully depicted.

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  3. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    a very lovely post
    that birch tree pin is so wonderful

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  4. Medelin Phu Avatar
    Medelin Phu

    wow.. you are so creative! Those are beautiful arts. 🙂

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  5. woolies Avatar
    woolies

    hi – omigosh, I seem to have just stumbled on a new favorite etsy shop.
    Uh Oh.
    PS where do you live? that photograph at the top of your blog is incredible.

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  6. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thank you!
    i live in at the top of the south island of new zealand. that photo at the top of my blog was taken in the marlborough sounds- one of my favourite nearby places. 🙂
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlborough_Sounds

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  7. Garden Mama Avatar
    Garden Mama

    it is all so stunning, birch trees are my favorite!

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  8. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    How wonderful. I can see some illustrations in my minds eye from a magical story when I was a child..I can’t ever remember what it was about but I can see children and tree huts and woodland themes. Would love to have that book in my hands again! The power of illustration evokes such fabulous memories!

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  9. Liivia Avatar
    Liivia

    All is beautiful! You are my idol number one!

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  10. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    liivia- wow and thank you!!

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  11. Linh Avatar
    Linh

    Hi Melissa,
    I can’t wait to see your things at Craft 2.0. I just want to say a BIG thank you to you. Last year i was bed bound from surgery for almost 2 months (though it felt more like eternity)and i think i would have gone mad if it wasn’t for your blog. Reading your descriptions of all the special things around you gave me so much joy and inspiration to day dream myself through my recovery. You are rad!

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  12. Linh Avatar
    Linh

    I forgot to say, if you like Joanna Newsom you should listen to Cocorosie. First few albums are magical.

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  13. Mark Sabine Avatar
    Mark Sabine

    I have to just comment on your previous post ‘Mushrooms’! I swear, I had a dream last night about mushrooms made from linen! How bizarre that I should come across that post today!

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  14. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    that is strange! 🙂

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  15. Victoria Avatar
    Victoria

    You have so many inspirational books! How exciting to find a book purchased as a child, I love that feeling of finding old treasures and rediscovering them again with new eyes.

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  16. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Melissa, I love the vines and fern embroidered bag SO MUCH! If only I could justify buying another bag, but I have soooo many already. My husband has taken to calling me his bag lady!
    I use that pretty blue and white floral one I bought from you all the time, and get many compliments for it!

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  17. Jaime Avatar
    Jaime

    the rabbit stitchery is so lovely!

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  18. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    hi nicole, thank you ! for your kind message. im so happy you like the blue bag and its useful. i know just what you mean about having too many though- i have the same problem! 🙂

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  19. Dorien Ruben Avatar
    Dorien Ruben

    Lovely items! May I ask where you have your cards printed? (if you would like, please email it to me?)

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  20. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    hi dorien, thank you! i get my cards printed at a little print-shop near my home. ive heard from other blogs that this is also a good place- http://www.overnightprints.com/
    good luck!

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  21. Mathyld / under the pyramids Avatar
    Mathyld / under the pyramids

    Oooh ! These birch trees ! I have a soft spot for birch trees !
    x x x
    mathyld

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