tiny happy

making journal

Give 1

Give 2

Give 3

It's my 30th birthday today, and I've had a really nice time with friends and family. And also, I've had lots of treats and kindness shown. Thank you, everyone. I was a bit nervous about turning 30 because it seems properly grown-up, (and also, I happen to remember my parents turning 30), but I think it's going to be okay after all, if today is anything to go by.

And so, just like I did last year, I'd like to offer a little giveaway here to thank you, too, dear blog-friends. I realised today that I've spent the last half of my twenties blogging here- and it's been great. I treasure you, tiny-happy-readers.

I've made up a parcel with an embroidered locket inside (a bit like this one) and also a small embroidery kit, including a wooden hoop, embroidered needlebook with pins and needles and some thread.

If you'd like to go in the draw to win the parcel, (I'll send it anywhere in the world), just leave a comment on this post, telling me something about yourself. Maybe the book you're reading at the moment, or your favourite thing to eat. Or what you're working on at the moment. Something like that.

Have a great weekend! It's going to be party time here.

Posted in

344 responses to “a birthday giveaway”

  1. Chloe Avatar
    Chloe

    Happy Birthday and thank you for your joyous blog! I’m just about to finish my nursing degree – the hardest thing I have ever done. Only a couple of weeks to go 🙂 Before writing any assignments of late I cheer myself up with a peek at your blog

    Like

  2. Karey Avatar
    Karey

    Happy Happy Birthday Melissa! I have been loving the bag that I got from you recently, made from the brown echino material. Also, I just started reading The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, cos I saw it on your blog:) Hope you have had a fantastic weekend!

    Like

  3. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    What a wonderful birthday treat! I’m a stay at home mom; studied ceramics in college and am just getting back into it after a long three year break. It’s just as wonderful as I thought I remembered. Happy birthday, and thank you for sharing spots of your days here with us!

    Like

  4. Therese Avatar
    Therese

    Happy Birthday Melissa, I first discovered you blog years ago through ‘NZ House and Garden’ magazine. You were my first entry to the world of crafty blogs and everyday as I have a little peek into another world I thank you for that. You are very inspiring. Thank you

    Like

  5. Annette Avatar
    Annette

    Thirty is NOTHING!! Enjoy it! I am currently reading The Girl who played with Fire.
    Happy Birthday!
    Annette

    Like

  6. Evelin Avatar
    Evelin

    Oh happy birthday – I can’t really remember turning 30 as it was some years ago… but I’ll tell you a secret about me – I’ve been 39 and ‘a bit’ for some years now! Love reading your blog and seeing your beautiful needlework – thanks for the inspiration!

    Like

  7. Becka Avatar

    Happy Birthday lovely lady! I hope your weekend has been wonderful and full of treats!

    Like

  8. Ingrid Avatar

    Happy Birthday!Well,I’m behind the computer with a dripping nose,writing this.I’m in the middle of moving to another studio.I cannot wait until I can embroider.Love your works and I’m older than you 🙂

    Like

  9. Karina Avatar
    Karina

    Happy B-Day to you… and thank you for sharing all the lovely stories with us – blog readers…
    October is great month, this week I will be planning my daugther’s first b-day!!! Yay for b-day celebrations!

    Like

  10. Joan Avatar

    What nice idea to have a giveaway on your birthday.
    I am a Grandmother now and have 4 Grandchildren and number 5 is due mid November in Nelson. Being a Grandmother is very very special and I love it!
    Joan

    Like

  11. Janette Avatar
    Janette

    Happy Birthday! 30 is a special one. It was a big turning point for me. I decided not to put off anything any more when I turned thirty.
    So I got on a plane to Texas and did a 1000 mile road trip into the desert as a birthday celebration.
    I also wrote a list of all the things I wanted to bring into my life and hid it under my pillow.
    Nearly 6 years on, most of them have happened! There you go – anything is possible!

    Like

  12. lemonmyrtle Avatar
    lemonmyrtle

    Happy 30th Birthday Melissa and do not fear … the 30’s are way cool!!!

    Like

  13. lemonmyrtle Avatar
    lemonmyrtle

    oh something about me … i am closer to 50 than 3O but have such similar musical tastes to you its astounding! Once an indie chick, always … etc etc!

    Like

  14. Julia Avatar

    Happy Birthday Melissa! My thirties were my absolute best years, I moved to the US from the UK, I got married, I had my three beautiful children. Wonderful times indeed!
    At the moment I am trying really hard to finish crocheting a granny square blanket to snuggle under this winter. It’s slow going so I keep trying to remind myself that once it is finished it will be hopefully be around to keep us warm for many winters and so there really is no rush.

    Like

  15. andrea anderson Avatar
    andrea anderson

    Love your blog, happy birthday. I am a mother of three and can’t find enough time to knit (or anything else!).

    Like

  16. maryann johnston Avatar

    Happy Birthday, Melissa. I have wonderful memories of my sister and I pooling our wee allowances to buy stuff, often embroidery floss. I still love to ‘take thread for a walk’!

    Like

  17. Neža Avatar

    Hi Melissa and happy birthday! I like your flowers a lot, such lovely colours.
    Today I’m trying to find a pattern to sew myself a winter coat – I will need it soon!
    Happy spring, from an autumny side of the world!

    Like

  18. Mary Gordon Avatar
    Mary Gordon

    Hi Melissa
    Congratulations! Happy Birthday… My sister used to have a poster above her bed (a very wholesome award prize from girls brigade!) “whoever plants kindness gathers love”. You sound like you’ve cherished your gathering. I’m (just) in my 40s, and loved my 30s – I was in Cambodia at the time, so pretty memorable. I’m currently making the lovely wee eye patches out of Kelly Doust’s “the Crafty Minx” – they’re the ones with the embroidered closed eyelids. Christmas pressies for my busy friends to encourage them to take a 40 winks every now and again for themselves… x PS Thanks for such a beautiful blog.

    Like

  19. VintagePleasure Avatar

    I hope you had a great birthday! You youngster you. I am only just beginning to feel grown up at 40!

    Like

  20. Elsa Avatar
    Elsa

    A Happy Holiday Melissa. I have 42 but still getting used to the idea of having 40. In each stage we lose something and we earn much more, I hope. At the moment I`m struggling to create new perspectives and habits (in a place against the tide) to better focus on what really matter and what brings a real value to our lives.

    Like

  21. Sheelagh Avatar
    Sheelagh

    Happy Birthday Melissa, the 30’s are wonderful years a time to enjoy every part of yourself – I have crossed the next bridge into 40’s, it is still great! Anyway I have been very much enjoying your blog since I heard you on the radio a few weeks ago. Blogs are a whole new world for me – I cant help thinking I want to be in on the fun but feel very nervous about it all, being something of a dinosaur about the internet. It is so nice to know there is a whole world of crafters out there – thankyou very much for bringing that to me.

    Like

  22. Ana Salomé Avatar

    Happy birthday Melissa!
    I hope your 30’s are fabulous…I’m 33 and lots of great things have happened since the big 30 🙂
    At the moment I’m knitting the “Pebbles” top for my (almost) 14 months’ son. It’s great fun.
    PS – I love your blog, it has some kind of poetry in it. Congratulations!

    Like

  23. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    Happy happy birthday to you! I hope you had a wonderful day 🙂 I love reading your blog so much!

    Like

  24. caro Avatar
    caro

    happy birthday!! thank you for your blog – i love your beautiful embroidery.
    at the moment, i’m wondering how i’m going to glaze my bisque fired bowls and vases..mmmm!
    hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend!

    Like

  25. Willa Avatar

    Happy Birthday!
    Favorite food may be cucumbers…..strange?
    I am working on vacating my house so floors can be redone thanks to small stupid fire!
    Would rather be working on the sewing machine…..doing anything!

    Like

  26. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Happy Birthday Melissa – have a wonderful year!!

    Like

  27. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    oh yeah, something about me… I am currently reading “Here If You Need Me” by Kate Braestrup – I recommend it.
    And, I am working on a knitted prayer shawl that I started during a women’s retreat at Chautauqua Institution this fall. It is very simple, just straight knitting, but I’m enjoying it as it has been a long time since I’ve knitted. Hopefully I’ll finish it before your next birthday! 🙂

    Like

  28. Quatrefoil Avatar
    Quatrefoil

    Wow! Look at all the comments! Happy Birthday – I hope you have a lovely year and that your next decade is spent creating as much happiness as you have done in the last five years. Reading your blog always gives me a little island of pleasure and inspiration in my day.
    I’m working away, writing about the history of textiles and knitting socks in my spare time. One of these days I’ll find time to start a blog and tell the world about it.

    Like

  29. Tinylovely Avatar

    Happy Birthday I hope you had a wonderful day!
    Something I am working on at the moment is I am trying to design the perfect cardi. I often lie awake a night dreaming up knitting patterns. Now I am going to finally build up the courage and write up some of them for submission for publication.

    Like

  30. simple things Avatar

    Happy birthday! 30 isn’t really grown up. But I think that you only realise that once you get there.

    Like

  31. Michelle Rice Avatar
    Michelle Rice

    I’m making some felt badges to give to may 3 daughters teachers and teaching assistants to say thanks for all they do. They are a fantastic bunch, really caring and lovely. 🙂

    Like

  32. Merja Avatar

    I don’t know where my previous comment disappeared..
    Anyway, your blog is a daily inspiration to me. I sew a bit myself, and have a love for nature and old houses. We have recently moved back to Finland from California.
    Happy birthday wishes! You are still young.

    Like

  33. Fliss Avatar

    a little late here with my wishes!
    I hope you had a wonderful celebration for your 30th….. the 30’s are great!
    Enjoy,” happy birthday”.
    xx

    Like

  34. Lil Avatar
    Lil

    Hi, Happy birthday ! I never commented on your blog but I like it very much and would like to be part of this giveaway please !
    These past weeks, I have been working on an old embroidery my mother bought decades ago. It is a little tablecloth covered with flowers, doves, and baskets in bright colors…. Yeah, very 80’s lol ! I’m planning to replace the central flower basket by some sassy sentence to make it a little less flowery-mushy. Still thinking about which sentence could be best, so if you had ideas, they’re welcome !

    Like

  35. Frida Avatar

    http://badfriday.blogg.se Look at this, my life in pics!

    Like

  36. Amy from the US Avatar
    Amy from the US

    Hello Melissa and Happy Birthday…. I was told by a neighbor about you, she is from NZ and only here in the United States for another year. Your work is wonderful and I really enjoy the simplicity of it. She was home for a visit and brought the magazine that had your article in it, I really enjoyed reading it. Your gift is amazing, I enjoy doing sewing and jewlery making of my own, when I have time. Keep on posting I will follow all new ideas!

    Like

  37. Thouraya Avatar

    Happy Birthday!!!
    My little something is that I will also be turning 30 in the next month and am getting ready to say goodbye to my 20’s….I am hoping the 30’s are pretty exciting though…really really hoping!!

    Like

  38. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    Happy Birthday Melissa, the whole 30s decade is a good space to be in, I think. Always check out your latest posts during a quiet moment during my public radio programme. Routine goes The Guardian newspaper, tiny happy, etc.

    Like

  39. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkaE__a0vI1GSpKn06TCjSF8pniURCOASw Avatar

    i love your blog. It’s so refreshing at the end of a long day tending my two intense children (4 and 1). I was supposed to live in NZ when I was a teenager (some sort of teacher exchange my mother was considering), but I threw such a fit about leaving my friends that the plan just sort of fizzled. I regret that my parents listened to me all the time. NZ looks amazing. Thanks for the sweet glimpses into a world that might have been mine had I not been a self-absorbed teen! sigh.
    heather
    chickadeeshop.etsy.com

    Like

  40. Kim Avatar

    Hey I turned 32 on the same day! 😉

    Like

  41. Anja Avatar

    I’m obviously too late for the giveaway (a shame really… such a beautiful parcel!) but I wanted to say happy birthday anyway! Hope you had a good time! When I turned 30 I was in a fog from having my son (in a marathon labour) 4 days earlier. I owe myself a party 🙂

    Like

  42. Silvia Avatar

    Happy Birthday Melissa! (sorry I’m a bit late…) I’m glad you enjoyed it! You will see the 30s are great years 🙂 Have a nice weekend!

    Like

  43. ginny Avatar

    a very belated Happy Birthday Melissa. i seem to have missed your threads recently in my reader. Hope you had a wonderful time. 30 is great.. ENJOY,
    warmest wishes
    Ginny x

    Like

  44. lisa cox Avatar
    lisa cox

    Happy Birthday!
    I am packing to move at the moment!

    Like

Leave a comment