tiny happy

making journal

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

botanicals

February 3, 2012

One good thing about moving and packing is discovering old treasures again, like books for example. When I was hastily packing dusty books into cardboard boxes last month, I came across my copy of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden.

I did some botanical-type embroidery on this hand-dyed linen of Margie's, in white thread and totally inspired by Ms Holden. Actually, it's probably not finished yet, and I have no idea what I'll do with it.

This morning I was lucky enough to have tea and cake with this lovely food blogger (and her small girl), who just happens to live up the road from us. I am liking our new community more and more each day.

And this is a lovely version of a favourite old song- Corina, Corina by Conor Oberst.

Enjoy your weekend!

Posted in Uncategorized

20 responses to “botanicals”

Jacqui

February 3, 2012

My mum had a copy of that book when I was young and I’d read it over and over again – must find a copy for me! Of all her books it was that and the Gnomes book, which is similar in a way, that really captured me as a kid.

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Denise | Chez Danisse

February 3, 2012

Beautiful book and embroidery, and great song.

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Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow

February 3, 2012

The book looks charming ~ it looks like one similar to some that I’ve been given recently ~ just LOVE the illustrations!!!!

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Dusty Plum (Jo)

February 3, 2012

I love it Melissa I’ll just hope that you make it into something in your store!

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Isidora

February 3, 2012

those drawings are beautiful, especially the one on the first photo. i like it.

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Mona

February 4, 2012

Love the combo of natural dyed linen and your embroidery! – and the book too 🙂

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kate

February 4, 2012

I’ve moved a lot and the unearthing of a forgotten treasure is such a delight. I love the delicacy of your embroidery, and its gentle paleness against the dark.

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heather

February 4, 2012

How pretty! you’re putting me in the mood for springtime 🙂 I so enjoy the fact that we’re on opposite seasons. Its like you give a taste of good things to come!~

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Angela

February 4, 2012

I have that book too! Love what you did with the embroidery on deyed linen!

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Angela

February 4, 2012

I have that book as well and you’ve reminded me to get it out from storage for my 5 year old daughter who could benefit from the examples of nature drawing that Edith does so well and, might I say, femininely. I am about to venture into cross stitch and embroidery, since mastering knitting and wanting a new challenge. I love the way you paint and embroider whatever you find that day. I am also in Wellington. Glad you are enjoying it here! It’s a fantastic city.

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sundaylarkin

February 5, 2012

We had this book in my house when I was a child and I used to spend hours trying to copy the illustrations in watercolour. I saw it in a second-hand bookshop in town yesterday and spent a long time dithering over whether to but it but didn’t. Maybe this is a sign and I should go back…

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Katie

February 6, 2012

That embroidery is something special. Something about it says light & movement. Window? You are very clever. And the book. How fortunate to be able to browse through such colour and life created with such care.

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Nicole

February 6, 2012

I think the embroidery is perfect as a wall hanging. So lovely.
I’ve always wanted to own a copy of that book! Must try and find one second hand one day!

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Margaret Oomen

February 7, 2012

the white stitches look wonderful on the grey dyed hankie

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Hadley

February 7, 2012

It’s all so pretty!

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elisa

February 7, 2012

So, delicate embroidery, Melissa, I love also the lace around, it’s the perfect frame.
My mum has a copy of an old 1982 Edith Holden calendar and she loves it so much that she has kept it on the kitchen wall since then. Its pages are turning into a yellowish shade after all these years and my mum is still proudly turning the pages every month!

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OhAbigail

February 10, 2012

Your embroidery is absolutely lovely!

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Anne

February 12, 2012

Your embroidery brings on the Spring in my mind. Hope it comes soon! I too have this book, which was gifted to me, from my mother’s childhood friend, after my mother passed on. It is treasured and perused quite often. I too enjoy botanicals and I see where you were so inspired! 🙂

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Kate

February 14, 2012

That book looks amazing! I need to find it…

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Cindy Ward

February 21, 2012

Hello, Tiny Happy. I discovered your beautiful blog quite by accident, and it is now one of the first things I look at each morning. In reference to the four-leaved clovers, I have some friends who always say they have never found any. This is true … I have found more than 700 four-, five-, six- and seven-leaved clovers. Many of them are pressed so that I can carry them around. When I was little, my father always told me to walk with my head up instead of bent down all the time. Now, so many years and clovers later, I am glad that is some advice I never paid attention to! I would have missed out on so much! I have discovered that the multi-leaved clovers so sought after are often a bit taller and apart from all the others. Also, if you find one, chances are there are more closeby. Anyway, thanks for sharing your wonderful life with all of us strangers out here.
Cindy Ward

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