tiny happy

making journal

Dandelion 1

Dandelion 2

Dandelion 3

I did a quite a bit of work in the garden this weekend, and the end result of that was a giant pile of weeds/wildflowers ready for the compost heap. Even though the dandelion plant seems to be the most pervasive in our garden, I can't help but admire it, anyway. I think it's beautiful and I like the downy seeds, patiently waiting inside the closed bud.

I kept a few flowers to draw, and designed these tea-cups from the drawings, using yellow and black ceramic ink on vintage Crown Lynn mugs: they are cream-coloured with a speckled pattern that makes me think of farm eggs.

Posted in

23 responses to “dandy lions”

  1. Susie Avatar
    Susie

    Love these xxoo

    Like

  2. gretchen/juneatnoon Avatar

    I am a real dandelion lover, so I really enjoyed this post. Weeds, maybe, but such cool flowers nonetheless!

    Like

  3. Marcia Avatar

    The wonderful little dandelion is one of my best loved spring flowers, not just for their cheerful faces but the excellent pollen and nectar they provide for my bees!
    At this time of year before the main nectar flows start, there is not alot around for the bees to gather – unless you let the dandelions flower in your lawn – leave a wild patch in your garden and soon you will have pollinating insects galore ! I like your cups . .

    Like

  4. Anne Avatar

    Beautiful…..:)

    Like

  5. Sylvia Avatar

    amazing! i love those cups!

    Like

  6. Elizabeth Avatar

    My compost heap also got a hefty dose of pulled dandelions this weekend. We kept a few to put in a jar by the windowsill. Your drawings are beautiful!

    Like

  7. Kristi Avatar

    one of my favorite things to drink is dandeloin tea…super nutritious. would love to drink it out of those cups…just lovely.

    Like

  8. Karen at sew and sow life Avatar

    my grandmother used to dig up the first, tender dandelions of the spring, steam them, add a bit of vinegar and eat them! she said they were her spring tonic, they flushed out all the toxins of the winter. she lived to be in her mid nineties, so i think she was on to something!
    thank you for these lovely photos and the sweet memories of my gram.

    Like

  9. Kat Avatar

    Perhaps it is not the same variety, but in Greece dandelion greens are a common cooked salad: rinse well, boil in a little water with some salt, drain and add lemon and olive oil. The cups you made are beautiful!

    Like

  10. Katherine Avatar

    Those cups are beautiful. I am a little sad that there are so few dandelions in our yard, because we wanted to do some dandelion cooking like the girls at 5 orange potatoes. 🙂

    Like

  11. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    look what you’ve done with those cups! So lovely, Melissa 🙂

    Like

  12. Yvette Avatar

    Love your cups. What a cheerful way to have the morning cup of tea or coffee.
    Barb over at “3 Acre Homestead”, collects the dandelion flowers and makes jelly. I want to try that in the spring.

    Like

  13. Susie Avatar

    These are beauiful!

    Like

  14. Nicole Avatar

    Never thought of ceramic ink before. What a wonderful idea! The mugs have such sweet charm to them.

    Like

  15. Carmen Avatar

    sopladores, que lindos, los adoro!…..son la inspiración de mi soplador!

    Like

  16. Margaret Oomen Avatar

    i love how you celebrate with art even the simplest of flowers

    Like

  17. gardenmama Avatar

    i love love the teacups!
    time for some dandelion tea : )

    Like

  18. louana Avatar

    love them! you’ve convinced me that all the dandelions (with their big long tap root) in my garden aren’t that bad.

    Like

  19. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    Your work is absolutely lovely.
    The one on the left – with the multiple flowers at the top – is actually yellow hawkweed, I think.

    Like

  20. elisa rathje Avatar

    lovely! i adore drawing on ceramics. i’d love to try making dandelion and burdock root beer. dandelion is such a healer.

    Like

  21. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Ceramic ink!? I think this is going to change my life. I searched the internet, but couldn’t find much information. Would you mind giving specifics, i.e. the brand you used?
    Many thanks for all your inspiration!

    Like

  22. tinyhappy Avatar

    hi sarah,
    i use the pebeo brand of ceramic inks, which i found in spotlight (a big craft store chain throughout nz and australia.)
    theyre also available online through places like etsy. all the best- have fun!
    melissa

    Like

Leave a comment