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Giveaway 2

Giveaway 1

Cards 1

I thought it would be nice to start the year with a giveaway – please consider this a small thank you for visiting my blog. 

I have three parcels to send out – one with a copy of my book, one with cards and one with a dress I made. I've never worn it but want to gift it to a bright-frock-loving person.

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The knee-length dress is handmade from a pattern called 'Socialite' (but I promise you don't have to be one to wear it) and lightweight silk cotton in blue and pink, with a fine geometric print. It has side pockets and is about a 'medium' or NZ size 12, or smaller. It would be great for summer with sandals but also with a long cardy and tights in cooler weather, I reckon.

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Sweet and Simple Handmade was published in 2013 and has 25 projects to make for babies and children. All the paper patterns are included in a pocket in the back. You can read more about it here (and you can find it in my shop too).

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I have some of photo-cards to send to the third winner. Ferns, lupins, and some favourite Wellington seascapes.

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To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below and tell me/us the music you're enjoying listening to these days. Or a book you recently finished and enjoyed. 

I'll send the parcels to anywhere in the world and after drawing 3 names randomly after the weekend, I'll email to work out who would prefer what.
Thanks again for reading and for your support of my work.

 

X X X X X Happy 2016 X X X X X

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180 responses to “new year giveaway: dress + book + cards”

  1. tinyhappy Avatar

    thanks sonya – im listening to S.S too! 🙂

    Like

  2. Katie poole Avatar
    Katie poole

    What a beautiful prize! Some music I have been listening to lately is The National and First Aid Kit. Happy 2016 to you. 🙂

    Like

  3. Irina Avatar
    Irina

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    For the recent couple of month I’m listening to The Seasons by Tchaikovsky, usually piano version by Lydia Artymiw. It is so calming on these long dark winter evenings… I can read a book or write a letter while listening, always with a cap of tea or hot chocolate 🙂
    And on the day time it’s usually The Beatles right now (Rubber Soul or Abbey Road), which reminds me of my childhood and always give me the right mood.

    Like

  4. therese.crocker@vuw.ac.nz Avatar
    therese.crocker@vuw.ac.nz

    Hi Melissa, I have enjoyed reading your blog for a long time now & so enjoy your craft style. I have just finished “All the light we cannot see” so moving, so beautiful. I have a feeling it will be the best thing I read this year. Also enjoyed reading “Brooklyn” – an example of simple yet moving writing. Am holding out to read Kate Atkinson (after I submit my PhD thesis in 6 weeks or so). Therese

    Like

  5. Ariadne Avatar

    One of the greatest books I read last year was Jose Saramango’s The cave and inspired me so much to start pottery lessons! I am Large so if I am chosen for the dress please draw again for someone else. I’d love the cards as I don’t sew in case I am drawn. Thanks!AriadnefromGreece!

    Like

  6. Melissa R Avatar
    Melissa R

    Music…I am all about the 70s. Grazing in the Grass… that sort of thing.. SO happy, SO full of joy!
    Here’s a link to that wonderful tune!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UhResTVZ6s

    Like

  7. Zofia Avatar
    Zofia

    Always a joy to swing past your blog.
    I have been enjoying Courtney Barnett’s album- Sometimes I sit and think and something I just sit.
    Bookwises, I have been devouring the Fairyland series by Cathrynne M Valente. So good!
    (One more to go, but my daughter needs to read it first as it is hers! ;))
    Thank you for such a lovely giveaway.

    Like

  8. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Oh this giveaway is so sweet. I recently read Goat Song. I although after reading I am completely convinced that I NEVER want a male goat, I thought the book was very good.

    Like

  9. Becky Avatar
    Becky

    Oh, your giveaways are so fabulous! I just finished Arcadia by Lauren Groff. Music is all over the place…have you heard The Brothers Comotose? Fun, folk-ish, string band from our neck of the woods in CA.

    Like

  10. Becky Avatar
    Becky

    Sorry, haphazard typing caused misspelling in my post — s/b The Brothers Comatose.

    Like

  11. hosanna Avatar
    hosanna

    Wow! Fun! I just finished reading Happy Days in Noisy Village by A Lindgren to my little six year old. I’ve read and re-read this to each of my five children over the years and every time I love it. Thanks again for your blog!

    Like

  12. Ana Salomé Avatar
    Ana Salomé

    Hi Melissa. I must say that I haven’t finished a book since my 3rd baby was born last June…but I have been listening to Kodaline a lot lately (their two albums) – I love it!!

    Like

  13. Jessica Gabbie Avatar
    Jessica Gabbie

    Lovely giveaway, thanks. And beautiful blog as always! I’m reading the parenting magazine at the moment. It’s a battle to read anything longer with young chil

    Like

  14. Jennifer Hayden Avatar
    Jennifer Hayden

    Like the rest of the world, I’ve been loving Adele’s new work but I love so many singer song-writers (Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Ari Heist are some favorites. I absolutely love that dress too! Gorgeous!

    Like

  15. Sabariah Avatar
    Sabariah

    Hi! Really love the giveaways = )
    Been listening to the new releases from Samu Yusuf especially for the 1001 inventions and sometimes reading Jane Austen.
    Love
    Sabariah
    From Singapore

    Like

  16. Morgan Avatar
    Morgan

    Cold and rain in in California, and it’s much appreciated ! Oddly enough we’ve been listening to a lot of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony because my two young girls like to sing Ba-na-na-Na! To it, it’s quite hilarious to see them prancing around the house! I’ve also just finished Mr. Norrel and Jonathan Strange – a lovely fun read!

    Like

  17. helen tophan Avatar
    helen tophan

    Yes please😊

    Like

  18. Sarah R Avatar
    Sarah R

    Hi Melissa,
    I love that dress, but unfortunately it’s a few sizes ago for me! I’d love a copy of your book or cards, though.
    I’ve been reading ‘The Shepherd’s Tale’ – a book about traditional sheep farming in the Lake District – it’s a beautifully written evocation of a seasonal life in an ancient part of the world. I’ve also been wearing a hole in my new CD by the East Pointers – a folk band from Prince Edward Island, since I heard them in concert last week.
    And really, I just like dropping in to your blog to see what you’ve been making and to get a glimpse of lovely Wellington.

    Like

  19. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    I’ve been enjoying Joanna Newsom’s latest album divers 🙂

    Like

  20. Kate Mead Avatar

    Great music and writing recommendations in this stream of comments. I’m enjoying Sweden’s The Real Group in their Södermalm Session and catching up with Pantograph Punch here http://pantograph-punch.com/
    Love reading about your projects and thoughts too.
    Another Kate

    Like

  21. Emma Avatar

    Hi Meliisa what a wonderful giveaway start to the year. If you haven’t read All The Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doer you will love it Google to see what you think. Also The Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, such a haunting but amazing read. Music I find harder to recommend, I still keep revisiting Bjork for sheer quirkiness. Happy New Year, hope yours is a fab one, Emma x

    Like

  22. Santa Avatar
    Santa

    I recently read Alain De Botton’s “The Art of Travel” which inspired me to plan my next adventure and also made me feel very positive and think of beautiful things.
    My favourite music to listen at this moment is anything sung by Nina Simone.

    Like

  23. Nathalie Avatar
    Nathalie

    Oh what a generous giveaway! I recently read poetry, actually. “Teaching my mother how to give birth” by Warsan Shire. I warmly recommend her poetry.

    Like

  24. mar Avatar
    mar

    Hi Melissa,
    Lately I`ve been listening to Isbells.
    I love their sweet and calming music.
    And these days I´m Reading a book about Iceland (it’s called La Isla Secreta by Xavier Moret)
    Thanks a lot
    Wish you a great wekend
    -mar-

    Like

  25. Ellie Parnwell Avatar
    Ellie Parnwell

    Hi Melissa, yay thanks for telling me how to write lol!! I have just finished reading a great book. It was called Think Twice, by Lisa Scottoline. It was awesome drama, murder, mystery and twin sisters. You should definately give it a read.
    Lots of love Ellie xoxo ☺️☺️☺️

    Like

  26. sokkgirl Avatar
    sokkgirl

    Read your blog and links, loving it!
    Thank you for the give-away!

    Like

  27. Marie Biswell Avatar

    Honestly, I miss music! I used to listen to music as I walked to & from work each day but now that I have kids (a 5yo & 2yo), I never have the chance to listen to anything except “incy wincy spider”.

    Like

  28. Ngan Avatar
    Ngan

    Thank you for the beautiful giveaway 🙂 The last book I read is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have been listening to Michael Kiwanuka, he is amazing!

    Like

  29. Saskia Avatar
    Saskia

    I love your book! 😍 At the moment I am reading ” The Pursuit of Unhappiness” from Paul Watzlawick and musically accompany me since a lot of years Depeche Mode 💙

    Like

  30. Samantha Dixon Avatar
    Samantha Dixon

    Hi Melissia, I have bee an avid follower of yours for a while. Your sweet, simple style is so refreshing to the style that is so prevalent today. I have my own little one and your Sweet & Simple book would have so many darling ideas! Music I am listening to these days are Holly Arrowsmith and Josh Garrels.

    Like

  31. Lisa Avatar

    Hi melissa!
    You are truly an inspiration, to me, to many!! I am currently reading & enjoying “the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry” Author rachel joyce. Taking place in england. For musical preference, I am always streaming bluegrass in the background. Keeps me jazzed!
    Wc

    Like

  32. Carla Avatar

    Hi! I love to listen to the cello sonates of Bach – so beautiful!
    I’m reading ‘book of silence’ by Sara Maitland. Recommended!

    Like

  33. Allison Avatar

    I had so much fun reading “The Clasp!”

    Like

  34. muenzeeins Avatar

    Dear Melissa,what a lovely initiative… hope you’ve started the new year well; it’s always such an inspiration to read your blog… for the moment I’ve been relistening a lot “hombre lobo” from eels, especially song two “if i could be that guy”, and i’ve just finished reading Roald Dahl’s “Boy” his childhood memories, it’s a kids book but i loved it :).. Cécile

    Like

  35. Rose Avatar

    What a fun giveaway! Lately I’ve been listening to The Parting Glass(sung by Ed Sheeran) on re-peat!

    Like

  36. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    Lovely giveaways! You’re so clever. I just finished Girl on the train by Paula Hawkins, my first book in a long time. I’m going to aim for 1 a month now. I just saw the movie Brooklyn so I think I’ll read the book by Colm Tóibín next. Always listening to Belle and Sebation. Thank you. X

    Like

  37. Amo-temilmilhoes.blogspot.com Avatar

    Such a beautiful giveaway! January has been a month full of books around here 🙂 but the one I would like you to read, if you don’t know it yet is ” The man who planted trees” by Jean Giono. Such a delicate and inspirational story.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc&hc_location=ufi
    Have a lovely weekend!

    Like

  38. Debbie Hayden Avatar
    Debbie Hayden

    Hi Melissa, love to read your refreshing, grounded blog full of ideas, our beautiful country and inspiration. I make all sorts of things too, so connect with your ideas and projects. Have just finished reading “My brilliant friend” by Elena Ferante. An Italian writer, translated into English about friendship over a lifetime between two girls living in ‘poor’ circumstances in Naples. There are four books in the series, so off to get the second one today!

    Like

  39. victoria smith Avatar
    victoria smith

    Oh what a beautiful dress! I have been listening to Leon Bridges, obviously a lot as my 2 and a half year old can now sing along to most of the album. Good luck everyone.

    Like

  40. Nelia Avatar

    Beautiful! I just finished “A Man Called I’ve”. It was really heartwarming.

    Like

  41. Joy Lines Avatar
    Joy Lines

    I love your blog especially your stitching projects .Ive been reading Moa The Life And Death Of New Zealand’s Legendary Bird by Quinn Berentson. I found a moa leg bone in a bank above a stream and now always looking for more!

    Like

  42. Yasmin Avatar
    Yasmin

    Hi Melissa,
    Thank you for your lovely blog! I just adore your gorgeous pictures and calming words.
    I have been listening to William Fitzsimmons (who is playing a show next month in Melbourne, where I live, but unfortunately we are going to be back home in NZ that weekend!) Have also been listening to the soundtrack to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – it is brilliant.
    Hope that you are having a relaxing weekend – I am just heading out to our local farmers market with my husband and our toddler (he is very cute, but not so relaxing!).
    Yas x

    Like

  43. Marzipan Avatar
    Marzipan

    What a lovely giveaway Melissa – some lucky people out there! I have been reading books by Kate Atkinson lately – she is awesome, I haven’t found one book of hers that I haven’t liked yet 🙂 I have also been reading Quake Cats, it has gorgeous photo’s in it too!
    As for ‘listening’ well, that’s a bit dictated to me by my 2.5 year old, so ‘Garbage Truck’ song and Happy and you know it – not my first choice in listening hehe!

    Like

  44. latanya Avatar
    latanya

    I just finished reading Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin

    Like

  45. Katherine Avatar
    Katherine

    Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve been listening to Francoise Hardy lately.

    Like

  46. Pips Avatar

    Joanna Newsom! I saw her live in concert the other week. Her harp playing and voice are otherwordly! Also reading The Red Queen, last of the Obernewtyn series by Isobelle Caromody. Fabulous read!

    Like

  47. Amy Seven-Stitches Avatar

    I love the dress. I’ve just finished reading Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hr Book Store – it makes me want to climb library ladders, read book and invent the printing press all at once.

    Like

  48. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    I love the dress, saw the pattern in an earlier blog entry and have been contemplating sewing it myself. But I’m not sure that my skills are up there yet. I’ve just finished “the bone clocks”, David mitchells latest novel, and can only recommend it if you like his fantasy/utopian infused character studies.

    Like

  49. Alicja Avatar
    Alicja

    Hello! I check your blog every day but never comment.
    I love everything you make!
    I like to listen to Ryuichi Sakamoto and it reminds me of time when I used to live in Japan and started my adventure with crafts. His music always makes me think about so many things like life, death, destiny and hope.
    Alicja

    Like

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