tiny happy

making journal

Giveaway 1

Giveaway 3

Giveaway 2

This online journal is ten years old! I find it hard to believe.

Yet in some ways it feels like I've been writing about my projects here forever. 

Thank you for dropping by and reading. Thank you for your emails and comments over the years. It's been a lot of fun. I don't know what the future holds for 'tiny happy' – whether I'll keep on writing here or not. I'll just keep going until I get tired of it.

So to celebrate this blog milestone (a decade..!!) I wanted to have a giveaway, because that's always fun.

I have three parcels to send to you, dear readers, to thank you for being part of my blog family. I'll draw three separate winners – they can be from anywhere in the world – and we can work out which is the best parcel for which winner.

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a) knitting parcel – this includes a bento bag I've made from hand-printed linen (it's the perfect size for socks-in-progress), a skein of beautiful hand-dyed merino yarn (handspun and dyed by my Mum) and two balls of one of my favourite local yarns, Silver Lining merino DK (knits up like this)

b) sewing parcel – this has a length of beautiful vintage cotton fabric, some hand-dyed embroidery threads and a sampler needlebook

c) making for children parcel – a new signed copy of my book and half a metre of 'planting seeds' fabric I designed (it's nice for lining bonnets, baby shoes, etc and you can find the patterns for these in the book)

If you're not really a making-things type of person, I also have some nature badges and postcard sets I can send should your name be drawn.

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To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below telling me what you're currently working on – whether it's something you're making or cooking or a book you're reading.

XX Melissa XX

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219 responses to “a decade of blogging, with presents”

  1. Olivia Como Avatar
    Olivia Como

    Hello Melissa currently I am working on embroidered sheets for my best friend as well as reading tomorrow there will be apricots . Fantastic book highly recommended

    Like

  2. annri Avatar
    annri

    congratulations on the ten-year milestone, Melissa! I am so glad I came across your blog all those years ago. thank you for sharing your projects, points of view, recipes, music selections and images, I have enjoyed them every time. I am currently sewing a wrap skirt for myself and knitting a pair of ankle socks as a gift to my sister. I am reading Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
    best ~ annri

    Like

  3. Moira Avatar
    Moira

    I’m knitting a Vitamin D cardi and wishing I could adjust it so it wasn’t so swingy at the front. Feeling grateful for everyday kinda blogs like yours that celebrate the simple arts, that show people like me that it’s possible to have a creative life within the busyness of a working and family life. Especially love that you are writing from my home land cause I live across the ditch but like to be connected in many different ways including following creative blogs. Thank you.

    Like

  4. Fiona Avatar
    Fiona

    Congratulations on your ten years Melissa! I have been dropping in on your blog for a few years now and always feel refreshed by its quiet beauty. At the moment I’m (very slowly) knitting several things: a cowl for my daughter, an alpaca jumper for myself and a colourwork jumper they may end up either with my daughter or with me. Also plenty of items waiting in the mending pile. Reading ‘The new yoga for people over 50’ for some inspiration, and have just finished Elena Ferrante’s wonderful Neapolitan novels.

    Like

  5. Nelia Avatar

    Love, love, love your blog. I’m currently working on a lace wrap in blue. The pattern is by KnitSpot. Surprisingly easy.

    Like

  6. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    I’ve been enjoying your blog, and all your wonderful makes, for many years now Melissa. It’s a joy reading and looking at your photos and finding inspiration! At the moment, I’m working on my garden, planning and preparing for the Spring ahead. Later today I’ll be planting more lettuce as we never have enough of that! On my knitting needles there’s a creamy white washcloth emerging as I learn a new pattern. And, in between the layers of my little flower press, there are sweet little violas for crafty projects to come. It seems also that there are belly rubs for a dog (who keeps flicking my elbow with his cold, wet nose) to work on right now too!

    Like

  7. Maggie Avatar
    Maggie

    I have been reading your blog for about 5 years now, I just love it. Currently I’m working on a hand quilted kaleidoscope quilt, I’m just finishing it up now and reading The Robber Bride by Margret Atwood.

    Like

  8. allison Avatar

    Congratulations on your blogging anniversary! I’ve been reading for years and love seeing what you make. I’m currently finishing up my July socks. I’m down to the wire on these! And I’m test knitting a hat too.

    Like

  9. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    Congratulations on 10 years of blogging here, Melissa! I find your words and photographs an endless source of inspiration. I am currently going through a bit of a creative slump and as such have been reading a lot more. At the moment my nose is constantly buried in the first book of the Outlander series, which has me totally engrossed! Take care, Emma.

    Like

  10. elflyn Avatar
    elflyn

    Congratulations on ten years of blogging. It doesn’t seem that long but then my middle little turns ten in a month and I remember reading your blog whilst pregnant and waiting for him 🙂
    Currently I am knitting all the things…… a shawl, a hat, a blanket, a baby jumper, a hot water bottle cosy, a cowl……
    Phew, I should have everything off the needles by the end of August though….

    Like

  11. Fiona Avatar
    Fiona

    Can’t believe it’s been ten years – I have been reading for about 8 of those years. Always a nice break in my day – thanks:). Love your crafty snippets and opshop finds. I have just bought a beautiful piece of pale pink linen to make a duvet cover with little Liberty floral ties for my two year old daughter. Not much good at sewing and a bit scared to cut into the fabric, but only straight lines required, so hopefully nothing can go too wrong. I’ve just been rearranging the kids playroom to try to incorporate a table for crafts, so that I can do things a bit more easily.

    Like

  12. Lee in MI Avatar
    Lee in MI

    How lovely and amazing – 10 years of blogging! Currently I am reading a book gifted to me – “My Mother’s Quilts” and am making a cat quilt for my niece!

    Like

  13. Pips Avatar

    Congratulations on 10 Years! I’m currently working on saving my hand made tote bag from screen printing disaster by embroidering free style, the way I was taught at the Craft Sessions! xxx

    Like

  14. Alicja Avatar
    Alicja

    Congratulations Melissa!
    You make beautiful things and I check your blog every day!
    At the moment I am crocheting a basket from left over yarns.

    Like

  15. Heather Spence Avatar
    Heather Spence

    Congratulations. Feel a bit of a cheat entering your giveaway as I have just discovered your blog! I’m working away at my stash, knitting beanie hats with fair isle bands. Resizing a Merchant and Mills dress. Reading Quiet by Susan Cain and watching (here in Ireland) sheep shearers from Australia, shearing sheep!

    Like

  16. Esther Avatar
    Esther

    Love reading what you write and looking at the beautiful things you make. Am making a brown cardigan from an old knitting pattern.

    Like

  17. Kim Avatar

    Congratulations on ten years of blogging! I am currently about to start some cream socks – a request from my daughter Emily. I love sock knitting and it’s been a while so I can’t wait to get started. Oh, and today I’m going to make some lemon cake to eat outside and enjoy some of this good weather we’ve been having.
    Best wishes x

    Like

  18. Charlotte Avatar
    Charlotte

    I always like your posts. I am working on a knitted hat and a knitted baby blanket, and a quilt made of little stars.

    Like

  19. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    I’d like to compare your blog to my grandmothers vintage button collection that I loved to look at as a 4 year old. A treasure box where all the little bits and pieces have their own individuality and story. Some fancy, some mundane, some very special but all unique.
    I am remembering how to knit after not having knitted for a very very long time (since my teens actually, I am now over 40). Muscle memory is a funny thing though. It is all coming back. So I am making merino scarves for my 3 daughters with 4 different sea blues – colour blocking style, while I am on bed rest waiting for my 4th baby to arrive. I am normally more of a sewer, so with number 4 arriving soon, I’d love to win your sewing book!

    Like

  20. --Anu Avatar
    –Anu

    Amazing that it has been 10 years! I have been a reader most of this time 🙂
    Right now I am dyeing wool with local weeds with my daughter. Mostly yellows and browns, thought I just hung some nettle dyed yarn to dry and got kind of gray beige. Nice nonetheless 🙂

    Like

  21. --Anu Avatar
    –Anu

    Amazing that it has been 10 years! I have been a reader most of this time 🙂
    Right now I am dyeing wool with local weeds with my daughter. Mostly yellows and browns, thought I just hung some nettle dyed yarn to dry and got kind of gray beige. Nice nonetheless 🙂

    Like

  22. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    Congratulations! What a milestone. Currently working on crocheting a couple of scarves for the little people 🙂

    Like

  23. Louise Avatar
    Louise

    What a feat Melissa ten years- congratulations! I am working on way too many things, mostly sewing related. A cot quilt for our babe due in October, hemming curtains for our new (for us) house, painting the nursery and a few crafty projects to brighten the nursery.

    Like

  24. Melissa R Avatar
    Melissa R

    Now I wonder how long I’ve been reading your blog!
    I am working on planning the upcoming machine sewing class for my homeschool co-op. It makes me so happy to have enthusiastic students! Cooking: blueberry bread from the 5 lbs picked locally. Reading: oh no! I got half way through my book and realized that I’ve read it already! I’m going to finish it anyway!

    Like

  25. Jillayne Avatar

    I love your blog, and your book – sweet and simple things presented in such lovely ways…
    Right now I’m embellishing a purchased children’s storybook, using paper, silk and thread, reinterpreting the illustrations in my own way. It’s such a wonderful thing to immerse yourself in a story written for a child, looking at it with a remembering of other stories I loved when I was young, and drawing from that still held imagination.

    Like

  26. Beate Avatar
    Beate

    Congratulations, Melissa! I love your blog, and it always feels like a little holiday when I drop in here.
    Currently I’m crocheting a lacy scarf, striped in grey, brown and smoky blue tones.

    Like

  27. Marta Baumane Avatar

    Congratulations! I’m working on flower headbands for my friends in Denmark. The next one will be a knitting project.

    Like

  28. Donna B. Avatar
    Donna B.

    Congratulations ! How awesome. I am working in the garden now, along with smocking little dresses. Have a wonderful day………..

    Like

  29. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    Congratulations on a decade of blogging! The temperature in my sewing room has been in the humid and high 80’s and 90’s for the past few week, so I have been sitting on the porch and working on hand-appliqued quilting blocks. I’m looking forward to getting back into the sewing room to make them into a quilt.

    Like

  30. mar Avatar
    mar

    Congratulations on those ten years of sharing lot of inspiration. Always a pleasure to read it!!
    Currently working in painting a beautiful wooden shelf that I found on the thrifty shop.
    Just finished reading some books of Nancy and Jessica Mitford. Brilliant!!!
    Hope to keep on reading your blog…
    Best wishes
    xxx mar

    Like

  31. Gigi Avatar
    Gigi

    Reading: Melina Marchetta & other fabulous Aussie YA authors
    Kntting: green socks
    Drawing: birds & kids
    Snoozing in the hamac on the back porch
    Living on the other side of the planet
    It’s always inspiring coming here 🙂
    Gigi

    Like

  32. Sera Avatar
    Sera

    Congratulations on 10 years!! Amazing 🙂
    I’m mostly working on ideas right now 😉 I bought some fabric for a skirt I want to sew and had planned to learn how to use watercolours this summer…but I’ve mostly just been driving around between performances of My Fair Lady, various events and sleeping. Summer turned out busier than I thought it would be. Oh well!
    I’m reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, just finished ‘Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue’ which is a brilliant exploration of the development of English if you’re into that kind of thing 🙂
    We’re also house hunting, so there’s a considerable amount of dreaming about how I want the new place to look and stalking through Pinterest and the Ikea website!
    I hope your winter is not too wet and windy.
    Love from Austria xx

    Like

  33. Katy Avatar
    Katy

    I’m currently knitting a pair of socks for myself, when I’m not making a mess with my children!

    Like

  34. teresa Avatar

    i’m currently having sewing classes, where i learn how to make patterns from scratch according to my measures, and how to execute them. i’ve already made a skirt and now i’m working on a shirt. next, i’ll learn how to make pants.
    and congratulations! ten years of blogging is something remarkable!

    Like

  35. Frankie Avatar
    Frankie

    How lovely!! Congratulations on 10 years! I am expecting my first child late October so I am currently knitting and seeing lots of baby things. My latest, and perhaps favourite, is a knitted navy blue romper. So much fun

    Like

  36. Meike Avatar
    Meike

    Congratulations, dear Melissa!
    I am a constant reader but not a constant writer in comments on your blog – please forgive me ;0) I’m from Germany and I didn’t know anymore how I met you and your blog. I was so happy to find it because it brings back my memories of NZ which I have since I studied in 2001 in Auckland and visited your beautiful country. And I’m a DIY person as well. For the time being I sew a lot of trousers and shirts for my 9 month old baby girl. For my older daughter I sew little pouches and bags to hide all important things. And for me I’m knitting a cardigan which is hopefully finished until the autumn starts in Germany.
    All the best for you and your family and I hope you will go on for a long time with writing your wonderful blog. I really enjoy it.
    Best regards from Meike (from the North of Germany)

    Like

  37. Carol Avatar

    I have been reading your blog for about 8 years having first read about you in a magazine. I am currently making a scarf called Hitchhiker from wool/linen Madelaine Tosh yarn. Also a second scarf almost identical to the one you made for your husband from Zealania merino/possum wool. If I win I’d love the sewing parcel ( not the book one, I’ve already bought it!) Thanks for so much interesting reading and crafting.

    Like

  38. Neža Avatar

    Congratulations, Melissa and thank you for making our crafty world an even better place. I hope you keep blogging!
    Right now I’m reknitting some sweaters that my mom made decades ago. I love the connection between my and her work in a piece of clothing.

    Like

  39. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    Many thanks for sharing your projects on Tiny Happy. I am currently knitting the kimono baby wrap in NZ wool from Mel Clarke’s “Knitting gifts for baby” and some cotton “Anything animals” (inspired by your blog post using the pattern by Rachel Borello Carroll).

    Like

  40. George Avatar
    George

    Love your blog so much! At the moment I’m painting my living room, and sewing a little quilt blanket for my pug puppy!

    Like

  41. TT Avatar
    TT

    AJul hat (inspired by you)for a friends 40th
    And sewing toys for new nieces and nephews.
    Congrats!

    Like

  42. Sue Cross Avatar
    Sue Cross

    Hello. I’ve been a long time follower. I’ve always enjoyed your blog… And seeing your beautiful creations. Right now I am doing a cross stitch kit called night neighbourhood by Alicia Paulson. It’s been a long while since I’ve done cross stitch and it’s a lot of fun picking it up again.

    Like

  43. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    Congratulations, 10 years already!!! I remember learning sewing following your bag pattern 😀
    These days I am sewing a new bikini from my own pattern 😉
    Please keep writing!

    Like

  44. Julie Avatar

    You were the first blog I discovered through an article in the NZ House & Garden magazine. You opened up a whole new online world to me. Congratulations on 10 years. Don’t worry about entering me in your giveaway, I just wanted to thank you.

    Like

  45. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    Congratulations, Melissa. Such a lovely blog. I just have pockets to sew on and weaving-in to do on a Uniform cardigan (haven’t decided what to cast on next yet), I’m on practice dress two of a Cabin shift dress and I’ve just started Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren. Here’s to many more tiny happy moments!

    Like

  46. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    How kind to have a give away.
    I found your blog after reading an article about the wee baby shoes you made 🙂
    I’m currently reading a novel and knitting a cardigan for me with a cup if tea close at hand.
    Hope the knitting works out, it’s not often I knit for myself.

    Like

  47. Jan Cox Avatar
    Jan Cox

    Hello again this is Jan from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, a tiny rural area in the United States.I have your wonderful book and in the last few years have made animals,pants dresses and hand embroidered book bags for my 10 grandchildren. I have made 8 embroidered project bags for friends and 4 housewives kits Also 30 of the peace doves for my coworkers trees last Christmas. I am currently working on a project bag for my sister in law to take along to Norway mid August. I also knit hats for hospital newborns and have just recently finished #400 hat. I am a full time Registered Nurse (age 65) and your projects give me much needed respite during my off hours. My 79 year old husband once said,”thank the Lord you have that book” LOL!

    Like

  48. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I love your blog! I’m currently knitting a Wolfpup hat (pattern from Tiny Owl Knits). Currently reading Brian Turner’s latest book, which is all about Central Otago (Boundaries).

    Like

  49. Jan Cox Avatar
    Jan Cox

    Wisconsin Jan here again. I also made the scout tee I found linked to your blog. Love it!

    Like

  50. hosanna Avatar
    hosanna

    Hi Melissa, thanks for doing this giveaway! I just want to say I hope you keep writing here for a long, long time–I would so miss your view of the world, not just your pictures, but your thoughts and words. They are special. Thank you. —I’ve got a little embroidery project going, and I’ve been doing some sketching in my journal.

    Like

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