There may be only four million of us, but here in New Zealand we punch above our weight in so many ways. From our artists and sportspeople to our chefs, business-brains and filmmakers, Kiwis are excelling in all sorts of areas and many are making a name for themselves overseas. This week we meet an up-and-coming young baker who’s already produced a stunning book that looks good enough to eat. I suspect we’re going to hear a lot more about her in the future!
Melissa (Missy) Fleming, AKA Miss Melicious, is a busy west Auckland mother with a not-so-secret double life – as a cake baker extraordinaire. At her quirky little Auckland shop, she produces batch after batch of delicious cupcakes, cookies and whoopie pies, delighting the customers who come from near and far for a taste of her creations.
The leopard print lounge suite was a second-hand shop find.
“I’ve always been crafty and wanted to do something creative. The Miss Melicious persona was born about three years ago when I was pregnant with my third daughter, Parker. I had a craving for cupcakes so I started doing a bit of baking, then word got round and the next thing it was all happening!”
On the home front, Missy’s love for all things bright and beautiful is evident too. She’s a clever decorator who mixes functional items such as beer crate bookshelves with one-off artworks for a look that’s friendly and fun without being overbearing.
Old beer crates make super-stylish bookshelves, while the high heel shoe chair was a gift from a friend.
Home to Missy, her husband Gareth and their daughters Aza Paree, (6), Sierra Cherry (5) and Parker Mischelle (3), the small dwelling has to work hard. Missy has cleverly personalised their space while resisting the temptation to clutter.
An avid vintage shopper, she found her leopard print lounge suite for $200 at a second-hand store. Trinkets from The Warehouse jostle for space alongside $2 shop silk flowers and precious articles created by family members; the blankets Gareth’s nana crocheted for the girls and a tea cosy knitted by Missy’s mother.
The bedroom is Missy’s oasis.
In the master bedroom, a wardrobe crammed with an eclectic mix of old and new clothing – and taller-than-a-skyscraper shoes – is Missy’s pride and joy. It’s instantly obvious that she’s attracted to colour. Whether it’s dresses, footwear or her signature baseball jackets – and even the decorations which adorn her hair (with its ever-changing colour) – everything here is designed to stand out. And stand out it does!
“My clothes are a combination of vintage and new,” she explains. While the older girls are at school, Parker is her mother’s constant helper. “She’s grown up around my work, she’s only ever known me as Miss Melicious, and in her world everything is about cupcakes,” smiles Missy. “It’s a true family business and we’re having such fun!”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
