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

nearly at home

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I'm honoured to be featured in the latest issue of the NZ magazine Your Home and Garden. My copy just arrived in the post and it was a bit of a thrill to see the pictures of our house that were taken by this clever lady in the summertime. I used 'nearly at home' for the title of this post because i'm learning to feel more comfortable with pictures of myself- especially public ones. I'm sure i'm not the only one who struggles with that though! It was fun to include some of my favourite things in the article- the forest fern quilt made by my Mum, our rocking chair which was made by Tom's Dad, the childrens' toys made by Fliss and Leslie, amongst other things. 

Your Home and Garden is one of my favourite NZ magazines, so it was pretty special to be asked by them- so thank you and welcome to my blog if you're a new visitor.

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56 responses to “nearly at home”

  1. Dusty Plum (Jo) Avatar
    Dusty Plum (Jo)

    Oh wow that is fantastic! I’m going to have to try to track it down here in Melbourne. Congrats it looks absolutely lovely!

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  2. Louana Avatar
    Louana

    oh damn, I was in Whitcoulls today and saw that magazine and decided not to buy it (well couldn’t justify it!) but now I so wish I did. It looks like a lovely article, congrats, I’ll have to pick up a copy next time I’m there 🙂

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  3. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Well done! Dusty Plum, if you find the magazine in Melbourne, it would be great if you could post where! 🙂

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  4. Holly C. Avatar
    Holly C.

    How wonderful to have your home featured in one of your favorite magazines! Congratulations!

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  5. heather Avatar
    heather

    Oh, this is so lovely! Your house is so cozy and inviting and pretty! You look pretty yourself in this photo! I know what you mean though— I was photographed for the newspaper in my studio painting last fall (it was an advetisement for a indie craft show) and it was so weird, strange angle…but my mama liked it 😉
    Your home is so lovely. You’ve inspired me to go clean and straighten up, lol!

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  6. Clare Avatar
    Clare

    Looks gorgeous Melissa I’ll have to pick up a copy! xx

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  7. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Congratulations! And your home is lovely.

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  8. Rosa in the Antipodes Avatar
    Rosa in the Antipodes

    Well done, Melissa! Your home reflects a lot of you! Beautiful and lovely! It’s something not so easy to achieve. XXX

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  9. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    Coolness Mel! I might have to get me a copy of that as my short sighted eyes want to take it all in!

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  10. Renee Avatar
    Renee

    Congratulations on having your name ‘up in lights’!!! How exciting! Looks like some gorgeous photos in there – I’ll be sure to have a look when I spot it!!!

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  11. Seashoreknits Avatar
    Seashoreknits

    Melissa: Congratulations on the magazine spread! How I wish we could get this in the U.S. (I will have to make a search). I’m so proud for you!

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  12. jennie Avatar
    jennie

    Oh Melissa – it looks brilliant!!
    I loved that mag when we lived over there –
    had dolls in a couple of times too!
    I wish I could read the article – the photography looks amazing.
    I’m not sure what we’re doing at the mo – David’s job has ended. So its wait and see!XXX.

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  13. Marine Avatar
    Marine

    This is my favourite NZ magazine for home decorating! So excited and definitely going to buy this issue. A big congratulations!

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  14. Regina Avatar
    Regina

    That is so cool Melissa! I wish I could get a hold of the magazine in the U.S., I’d love to see it. You are a beautiful gal, but I know where your coming from regarding publishing photos of myself. I tend to shy away from it too.

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  15. Fliss Avatar
    Fliss

    It all looks so beautiful and so lovely to see your smiling face published!!! Very sweet of you having the penguin feature too along with Leslie’s works, and i love that rocking chair Tom’s dad made!
    Thankyou for my bag, i have a love affair with it, perfect size, perfect fabric…just great!!!!
    x
    congratulations on the article 🙂

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  16. Kirily Avatar
    Kirily

    Congratulations on the magazine spread! Your Home & Garden is a lovely magazine and I can’t wait to see my copy.

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  17. fiona Avatar
    fiona

    you have a beautiful home, M and you look gorgeous!

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  18. Anna Emilia Avatar
    Anna Emilia

    Dear Melissa,
    So happy to “visit” your home for a few moments. I will stay imagining of that huge window of yours, staring that and playing tic-tac-toe in my mind. And all the evenings in that beautiful rocking chair.
    Such a peaceful place your home. Such a beautiful smile of yours.
    Strawberry filled summer greetings to your winter from behind the seas and oceans.

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  19. KP Avatar
    KP

    Yay Melissa! It’s always so lovely visiting you. Congrats on a beautiful article. lots of love, K

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  20. Ali Avatar
    Ali

    How exciting (though I totally get how it might feel a little odd too!) – congratulations!

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  21. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    Lovely Melissa. This is a good use of the internet, to share the love. The photo of you is just perfect, you look right at home. Also, I love that you do your sewing at a small table – I’ll never complain again about having to share our large kitchen table with school books, dishes and random stuff in order to get some sewing done!:). Hugs.

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  22. jenni Avatar
    jenni

    oh so nice to see you and your family and your lovely home through their eyes, Congratulations…

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  23. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    Congrats to you. Well-deserved! It is always nice to see the person behind the blog. Your work and creative life is an inspiration. Blessings, Tammy

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  24. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    Oooh, how exciting! Congrats! Your home is lovely 🙂

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  25. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    so nice to ‘meet you’ 🙂 I agree wholeheartedly with the oddness of seeing yourself in photos. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never feel entirely comfortable and would prefer a travelling artist to accompany me through life. What a lovely home. Thank you for sharing it with those of us so far away from NZ.

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  26. sian Avatar
    sian

    yay! it looks great – congrats. i wish i could buy the magazine here in the uk for a read!xx

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  27. Liivia Avatar
    Liivia

    Bravo!

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  28. bianca Avatar
    bianca

    Oh that is so exciting for you. I also hate having my photo taken. Your home looks like such an inspiring space, it’s so nice to see the place where your lovely blog and creations come from.

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  29. Annika Avatar
    Annika

    Look at you!
    It’s weird but wonderful to be able to see you and your home as a whole! It’s lovely to see how all the little details you share here daily fit into your world!

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  30. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Lovely to finally see your sweet face. The spread looks beautiful and seems to reflect the lovely world that is Tiny Happy. Congratulations Melissa, a richly deserved spotlight!

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  31. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    you look stunning

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  32. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    It looks good. And so tidy. Am gonna try to see if our library stocks the magazine. It tends to have most things I want. You must have had so much fun and am sure the kids enjoyed it too.

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  33. Brittany Avatar
    Brittany

    congrats! you totally deserve it, crafty mama!

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  34. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    Congratulations! I wish I could read the magazine here in Spain…Your home looks so beautiful…
    And nice to “meet you”…I am also really shy about pictures…

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  35. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Melissa! :o)
    How exciting to be in the magazine…I am thinking it is equal to one of my favorite U.S. mags that is Better Homes and Garden or Country Home.
    Your photo is beautiful as is your home. :o)
    Lori

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  36. Hadley Avatar
    Hadley

    Oh, congratulations! What a lovely spread!

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  37. Caroline Avatar
    Caroline

    I have been reading your blog for about a year now, and it’s lovely to have a face to put to a name! X

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  38. Chara Michele Avatar
    Chara Michele

    How exciting & how fun to see you 🙂 Congrats! Your home is beautiful!

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  39. Rose Avatar
    Rose

    I’ve had my eye on one of those rocking chairs for years!

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  40. Nancy Cook Avatar
    Nancy Cook

    Oh Wow. That is so exciting. Congratulations. And, your home looks so cozy and inviting. Plus, you look beautiful in this photo.

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  41. Kirsten of The Garden Wenches Avatar
    Kirsten of The Garden Wenches

    I was so excited to see you were in my fave mag, I text my fellow Tiny Happy admirers immediately. Love your work and your home looks gorgeous.

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  42. Susannah Ford Avatar
    Susannah Ford

    I was delighted to see you featured in ‘Your Home & Garden’, when the mag arrived in my post box on Monday!
    You have a lovely home!

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  43. Edith Miller Avatar
    Edith Miller

    What a lovely surprise when I opened up this magazine…it is one of my favorite mags. Thanks for sharing. Your home with us all. Keep on crafting and being an inspiration to us all.

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  44. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    Congratulations! I have to laugh & hope you’ll find it funny too. When I saw the words in the first photograph that says “Meet Melissa Wastney”, I kept thinking to myself…hmmm…I know that name, I know that name…but from where? Duh! Double Duh! Never mind me, it’s too early in the morning, and I haven’t had my 1st cup of coffee yet.

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  45. rachelle Avatar
    rachelle

    I’m going out tomorrow to spend some of my precious pennies on a copy. You know I love what you do and stand for. I loved the opportunity to meet you and make with you. I’m looking forward to cheering you on into success, as you continue to grow and achieve in you’re own unique way. I believe in you Melissa, along with your many other supporters. You can do it!
    x

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  46. kaylovesvintage Avatar
    kaylovesvintage

    I wish I can get the mag here.
    looks great
    My home is also in a magazine this months

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  47. amisha Avatar
    amisha

    wow, congratulations!! that is so exciting. you have such a beautiful home, m. so cozy and handcrafted– quite perfect! and you are lovely 🙂 xo

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  48. Denise | Chez Danisse Avatar
    Denise | Chez Danisse

    Oh, this looks fabulous!

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  49. Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow Avatar
    Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow

    WOW ~ so neat you’ve been featured! And what an awesome place you have ~ large but cozy with all the creature comforts!!!!

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  50. Tania Avatar
    Tania

    Congratulations! I do wish we could get a copy over here. But from what I can see it looks like a lovely article. You and the house look gorgeous xo

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