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

four years blogging and a giveaway

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Happy fourth birthday to my blog! I can't believe i've been doing this blogging thing most days for the past four years, but I love it and don't want to stop just yet. Thank you very much for visiting me and for all the emails and comments and real mail you send my way. This blog has really enriched my life. I mean it.

So, to say thank you, I thought I'd offer a small giveaway. I recently bought a copy of this book, The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin and it's great! It's so nicely put together (including illustrations by Emily Martin) and is chocoblock with ideas and advice about selling your crafts and artwork. Now i've finished reading it, I thought I should pass it along to someone else who might enjoy it. I'll package it up with a set of my newly-printed watercolour postcards and another small handmade something. 

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post, telling me something about yourself- anything you like but it would be interesting to hear what music you are enjoying these days. Thank you again for reading my blog and supporting my work over the past four years.

p.s. I'll send the parcel anywhere in the world, and i'll leave this open until Monday morning. Have a good weekend!

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316 responses to “four years blogging and a giveaway”

  1. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    hey abraham, i love your list- thanks for writing!

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  2. Sera Avatar
    Sera

    Exciting! Happy Anniversary 🙂
    I love your little brooches, and the housewives. I think if I weren’t a student I’d buy something from your shop every week hehe
    I’ve been mixing it up with Bach Preludes and Fugues and Cello Suites, Oren Lavie, Vivaldi Cello Sonatas, Keith Jarrett (I love Köln Concert!!), First Aid Kit, and my all time favourite the Beatles. They’re the best for these rainy days. This morning when I stepped out I looked down and all the poor liquid amber leaves were belly up on the ground being soaked by the rain. They looked like rainbow fallen stars.
    Hope you have a lovely (not rainy?) weekend.

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  3. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Hi Melissa. Wow, 4 years – congrats. I’m a mum of twin boys, who will be celebrating their first birthday in a couple of weeks. Exciting times. I love a lot of the popular music from around 97-99 because that’s when I was in my late teens, and songs and memories are so entwined from those days.

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  4. anissa ljanta Avatar
    anissa ljanta

    Right now i am loving hearing my son pick up the various intruments we have lying about and make music in his own way. On the adult music scene i have to admit to digging into my old music…i’m in need of a bit of reminding who i am beyond being mama and beyond the troubles of today and so, it has been a walk down memory lane … it’s a very empowering street full of the likes of ani di franco, the indigo girls, hamsa lila (check them out on you tube, wondrous middle eastern vibe) …a little bit of rocking out while sewing my wee fellow some winter threads and trying to get my head around a market stall…

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  5. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    Happy 4th anniversary! I have been reading your posts almost everyday for the last three years and I love this blog, it always inspire me!…time flies!
    About music… my Spring music (North hemisphere) sounds like this:
    fon.gs/rosario/
    fon.gs/factodelafe/
    fon.gs/ayhaiti/
    fon.gs/entusmanos1/
    fon.gs/beatrizluengo/
    Very Spanish sound 🙂
    For the quiest times, Sade 😀
    Hope you keep writing for the next 44 years,
    Have a nice weekend!

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  6. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    Hi Melissa, Jo from Melbourne here.
    I’ve been following your blog for around two years when I was living in Auckland and you were living in Scandinavia! Now you’re back in NZ and I’m back in Aussie, I think we moved at the same time. I have a real connection with NZ and miss it so, your blog makes me feel very emotional and connected with it still in some way.
    At the moment I’m listening to Fleetwood Mac (Silver Springs/Rumours) Ladyhawke, ummm … Pixies, umm .. look I’ll be honest, it’s usually Hi-5. The two year old rules the roost here.

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  7. roroism-postjelitco Avatar
    roroism-postjelitco

    Hej!
    thanks for a great oportunity!
    all the best for your blog and hail hail to your aesthetics all in all:-)
    Trying to essentialize a bit – I’m a Pole living in Sweden, ethnographer focused on Balkans and a Fashion scholar – writing about personal relationships with object / comodities / wardrobe.
    I am also a ‘small-bisiness-woman’ since ROROISM is a registered company now.
    My fav band for life is Pearl Jam (it means that i don’t have to listen to them ) and recently i mainly listen to sort of ‘world music’ central european, islamic, gypsy – exploring lots of pure human emotion without understanding a word!

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  8. fiona Avatar
    fiona

    wow. happy blog birthday dear m. if i don’t win the book, i still ought to pick it up from a bookstore somewhere. i definitely need the pieces of wisdom.
    i don’t really tune into music these days. where i am, i’ve lost touch of what’s new. the occasional tunes i do listen to i’ve to say are children’s songs! should i say what i like, it would be listening to leslie low, the observatory, a s’pore indie band.
    have a nice weekend. 🙂

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  9. Cushla delaney Avatar
    Cushla delaney

    Well done Melissa, you are an inspiration to so many crafty people out there including myself. Here I am visiting Rotorua at a careers expo & rather bored, lucky for me I packed my knitting at which you will be proud as I am using your wonderful fingerless glove pattern. Can’t wait until they are finished to use them in this fresh nz weather. I have not been on your blog for sometime so look forward to a wee catch up. Hope Nelson is treating you and the family well. Take care cushla xxx

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  10. Lorellin Syben Avatar
    Lorellin Syben

    Well done on creating a such a success from doing something that you love, that is truly an inspiration! I am not particularly ‘crafty’ much to my disappointment but I do love to cook and paint. Books are my favourite things and in lieu of handmade gifts I like to give books. I am currently reading ‘my name is charles saatchi and i am an artoholic’ and listening to the xx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI2eO_mNM88 Being an artoholic seems like such a wonderful vice don’t you think? I look forward to seeing what treasures your next 4 years bring

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  11. Delwyn Avatar
    Delwyn

    It looks like a lovely book.
    I’ve been listening to Andy Irvine and Paul Brady lately… old music, but new to me. I’ve also been listening to some old Indigo Girls – Swamp Ophelia mostly. I’ve really enjoyed it!
    Thanks for your beautiful blog Melissa, it’s always a treat to read and to see the images you share.

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  12. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    Happy Fourth Anniversary! I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now, I love it.
    I’ve been listening to Trevor Hall a lot recently. He’s a great artist. http://www.trevorhallmusic.com/
    Take care.

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  13. Ellie - Petalplum Avatar
    Ellie – Petalplum

    Wonderful 4 years. It’s been so enjoyable to read and share with you – and so good to hear you want to keep doing it. Yah!
    And what a great giveaway – that book looks great. I’m headed off to look at it {but crossing my fingers I’ll win your prize….}.
    Currently I’m listening mainly to the kids CDs – we love Elizabeth Mitchell {http://www.youaremyflower.org/home.html}, Nadia {http://www.nadiasunde.com/}. But adult music I’m still loving after months of listening to is The Audreys {http://www.theaudreys.com.au/music.htm#between}, and always on repeat in my house is anything Joni Mitchell or Miles Davis.
    Right now I’m listening to rain on the tin roof, and the silence of both kids fast asleep.

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  14. Courtney Marlowe Avatar
    Courtney Marlowe

    Hi Melissa! I’m spending the week on a much needed vacation with my family at Folly Beach, South Carolina. I’ve really been enjoying Mumford & Sons and I think you might like them too. Let me know if you end up liking them.

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  15. Paula L. Avatar
    Paula L.

    Happy anniversary and thank you for the giveaway. Please count me in, thanks!
    ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

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  16. camilla Avatar
    camilla

    HI Melissa,
    Happy 4th Birthday, Melissa
    The last few days I have been thinking of you now and then as I started to drag out old material and such to mend
    and fix and be creative. make clothes for Cole and the new one coming any day soon.I saw some material I thought you might love to play with and perhaps ( if I can detach myself) I’ll drop some of it off for you to create something beautiful.I have only been here a couple of times on /in your blog and it is stimulating to read your words and others. I will certainly revisit more often.

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  17. Courtney Marlowe Avatar
    Courtney Marlowe

    I also have te Avett Brothers on heavy rotation in out house. There was a time in my life (teens) when I woul have sworn up and down that this wouldn’t happen: the sound of banjo makes me weak in the knees!

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  18. mary ann Avatar
    mary ann

    Thanks for your blog…I check it regularily. I would love to win your thoughtful prize. Happy 4th! Myself? Well, I have a farm in the coldest spot in the US.

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  19. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Happy Blogiversary! Four years – amazing! I love reading your blog & hearing about different parts of the world as well as seeing all your lovely crafting! Music… hmm… I think the Vitamin String Quartet is really interesting! 🙂

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  20. Thouraya Battye Avatar
    Thouraya Battye

    Happy 4th Blog Birthday
    I love listening the the Eels. The beautiful music seems to be a reflection of the complicated and beautiful character I like to think that I am.

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  21. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Hi Melissa,
    I really enjoy your blog and that looks like a very interesting book. Jane Siberry is quite enjoyable in the sewing room these days!

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  22. redruksha Avatar
    redruksha

    Happy happies to you and your blog. Listening to the newest Sunwrae masterpiece. Vibraphone and strings make me happy!

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  23. caireen Avatar
    caireen

    I’ve been desperate to share this track with someone who would appreciate it – melancholy yet beautiful, I feel it is quite melissaish? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGMHSbcd_qI
    Happy 4th blogiversary!! Cxx

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  24. G Avatar
    G

    .

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  25. Cait Avatar
    Cait

    Congratulations, and what a great idea for recycling that book.
    Lately I’ve been listening to the new Tragically Hip album, and pulling out their old ones as well.
    ~Cait

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  26. Elena Avatar
    Elena

    Congratulations to your four year old blog! It’s been enjoyful reading and seeing all the lovely stuff over there until today, and I’m looking forward to more!
    What great prices in your giveaway! I thought about reading this book but especially the cards and thing made by yourself sounds lovely!
    I have a period listening to old goodies like Bowie and Rolling Stones. Other favourites now are more the modern Basement Jaxx, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Angie Stone etc. Also, now that we’re enjoying summer over here I also tend to listen a lot to greek-cypriot music like Anna Vissi and Michalis Hatzigiannis. With a glas of frappe and some home made cypriot sweets (made by my cypriot relatives – not me).

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  27. dee Avatar
    dee

    Hi- congratulations on your anniversary. I enjoy reading your blog at the end of a busy day with my three children. I’ve been making toys for my children a lot lately, especially Steiner inspired puppets for my two year old, and listening to Rachel Unthank and endless radio 4.

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  28. liane Avatar
    liane

    hi melissa!
    well, i can’t seem to get enough of the bowerbirds. i’m completely infatuated with the accordian. so that’s my music deal right now.
    4 yrs. is a lot. my goodness. you do it well.

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  29. Monica Hartman Avatar
    Monica Hartman

    I love your blog (even though i don’t think i’ve commented before). I love reading your posts –and seeing your inspiring pictures! This book looks neat -thanks for a chance to win!
    Something about me…i’m an organization addict — i love baskets, labels, decluttering.

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  30. cherrie Avatar
    cherrie

    Hi there and congratulations on 4 years. That’s really great. At the moment I mostly listen to my children’s music as the rule in our house is if you drive you get to play your own music and with two L platers I don’t drive much. Otherwise I am mostly a lover of silence – just peace and quiet. Cherrie

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  31. Melinda Avatar
    Melinda

    Happy four years! Such a wonderful blog – your creations are always an inspiration! Lots of M. Ward being listened to in our home – particularly the new She & Him Volume 2 disc. Safe travels, M

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  32. Marijo B. Avatar
    Marijo B.

    Thanks for sharing your work and daily life bits. I enjoy your blog. I’ve been doing wedding planning these days. A lovely giveaway!

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  33. Kay Avatar
    Kay

    Happy 4th b-day!
    I have recently discovered the Avett Brothers and have been listening to them a lot with a bit of the new CocoRosie album in between.
    K.

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  34. ~Heather Avatar
    ~Heather

    Congratulations, your blog has so much work that is inspirational and makes me want to create something – anything!
    For music, Sesame Street is currently on HEAVY rotation, but when it’s just me I like to listen to mixes that have: Caribou, Massive Attack, Dutchess & the Duke, Animal Collective mixed in with some Sly & the Family Stone, David Bowie, Air, The Smiths, Paul Weller, Marvin Gaye… KEXP.org is a great radio station (out of Seattle) to listen to online for super music! ~H

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  35. kelly Avatar
    kelly

    what a lovely giveaway! four years whizzes by…i’m not sure when i first started visiting here but you have inspired me every time i stopped by. so thank you!
    music…still loving richard hawley. also priscilla ahn with some sweet ukulele. for dancing in the kitchen with my baby girl though it has to be dolly parton! x

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  36. Fay Avatar
    Fay

    I look at your blog as the most inspiring resource I know of on the internet. Here’s to another 4 years! My favourite people at the moment are Jesca Hoop and the Robert Plant album Raising sand.

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  37. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    Congratulations on 4 years Melissa! It’s been great to follow you and your crafting as your family moved across the world, thank you!

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  38. denise Avatar
    denise

    4 years! That makes me happy! I look forward to your posts everyday! We are getting ready for a move cross country and I’m working on driving mixes – included are sharon jones, she & him, joy division, jonathan richman, and some devendra banhart.

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  39. Rachel Probert Avatar
    Rachel Probert

    Penblwydd Hapus!!!
    Which is Welsh for Happy Birthday. I read your blog all the way from Wales. I come with my coffee and check daily for my fix of TinyHappy! You are the reason I started to blog myself. So I also understand how much enjoyment can be gained from sharing your life online.
    Musically – Im loving:
    Courtenay Pine,
    Courderoy,
    and Accoustic Lady land.
    Thanks for the lovely posts and homemade everything xxx

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  40. Cyndi Avatar
    Cyndi

    I would love to have this book, but it seems silly to make you ship it around then world, so I wasn’t going to enter. But then I noticed it includes your postcards. So please throw my name in the hat 🙂
    I love rainy days!
    Thanks!

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  41. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    Thank you for such a nice give-away. I’ve been reading your blog for the last 3 1/2 years and it is such a source of inspiration. Thank you!
    I love fiber crafts (which is part of why I love this blog) but my latest craft fixation of late has been glass cutting.

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  42. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    Happy anniversary, dear Melissa!
    Thank you for everything you do — your work brings light and life into our lives 🙂
    Just this morning I pulled out your beautiful lace-cloud bag (I think of the lace as clouds in a beautiful blue sky) — it’s perfect for a sunny, summery day. Makes me smile.
    Hope all’s well in Aotearoa!
    xo

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  43. Lex Avatar
    Lex

    Hi There! I just recently started reading your blog, and I love it! You have inspired me to begin to share some of my work online as well. I’ve been mostly making hooked rugs, quilts, and small oil paintings. I live in Chicago and I’ve been recently listening to Dum Dum Girls. I think they might be up your alley, judging by your “listening and reading” list. Congratulations on four years!

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  44. sarita Avatar
    sarita

    Wow, 4 years! Congrats to you…:) I have been visiting your blog for about 2 years now and it is my favorite!
    At the moment, no music in our house because our CD player has died…so I sing, badly…;)
    I would love the chance to win this book, but I am especially excited about the chance to win one of your goodies.
    Thanks so much and best wishes…xx

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  45. Elizabeth Yule Avatar
    Elizabeth Yule

    Ooh, I’d so like to get my hands on a copy of that book, and some of your beautiful cards too.

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  46. Becca Avatar
    Becca

    Happy anniversary! I’ve enjoyed your blog for the past few years and it truely is an inspiring and refreshing little space to retreat to. Thank you!
    I’ve been listening to Karla Adolphe, The Weepies, She & Him, Martin Sexton, and Jon Foreman. Good stuff!

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  47. T. Bosnjak Avatar
    T. Bosnjak

    Love your blog, Congrats on four years. Very inspirational to visit. My musical taste is all over the place: AC/DC, Groove Armada, Massive Attack, Cowboy Junkies, The Audreys, Angus and Julia Stone,(v. old): Roxy Music, Bowie, Stones, Dean Martin. Could go on and on….

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  48. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Four years is so wonderful – happy birthday tiny happy! Your blog has been such a huge influence on my life in the year I’ve been reading it, and I’ve so valued the sewing and embroidery it’s led me to. All the things I’ve bought from your shop are in my hands daily and make each day feel more calm – tiny islands of happiness in the midst of who knows what will happen next! So thank you hugely for four years of sharing :^)
    I’ve been listening more to audiobooks than music lately but Love Shack (B-52s)and the moving classical piece Affairs of the Heart, both accessible on YouTube, get regular airtime here.

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  49. annri Avatar
    annri

    Happy 4th Blog-Anniversary, Melissa! I always enjoy visiting tiny happy. 🙂
    Norah Jones’ the Fall has been suiting my mood lately. Although Wilco and Putamayo Dreamland are often picked too.
    happy weekend!

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  50. Karuna Avatar
    Karuna

    Happy birthday tinyhappy. Love reading your thoughts and inspiration. I am really enjoying Jess Chambers at the moment on my ipod – and thinking of home whilst doing so. Thank you for sharing. all my love, K

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