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July 14, 2006
Now We Are 34
Well, another birthday came and went this week, celebrated with an amazing meal at the Anglesea Arms. I had smoked salmon with avocado sorbet (!) and caviar crème fraiche, followed by camomile crème brulee with rasberries and red currants. Certainly not everyday fare. Yum.
I’ve been knitting like anything, as usual, and trying to put together a proposal for a book, which you can imagine is a test to the old nerves. The cotton jacket is coming along nicely, but I should really put it on hold to concentrate on that cardi for Dad. I promised the pattern to Kerrie for mid August, but it would be good to get it out of the way sooner, not leave it to the last minute and panic as per homework in days of yore.
The lace query was in regard to a very brilliant commission, for which I bought the yarn last weekend from Stash (two more skeins of Koigu in reds and some Fleece Artist may also have snuck through: Natalie at Stash clearly adores their stock, and dangled many temptations in my path). The bride (for it is she), loves the Forest Path stole from IK, and also the Print o’ the Wave stole, couldn’t choose between them. I’m putting together blocks of each, together with a wheatsheaf pattern (actually it’s supposed to be Frost Flowers (scroll down) from Gathering of Lace, but I think it looks like wheatsheaves and harvested fields). I’m calling it the ‘Pleasant Land’ stole: fields, the flowers and leaves of the woods and hedgerows, all surrounded by the sea. That’s the plan; so far, I’ve cast on.
Posted by Anna at July 14, 2006 02:18 PM
Comments
I have missed you, Anna. I consoled myself with the knowledge that you were busy planning and knitting beautiful things. And I was right. Happy 34! They do keep getting better, IMO. I'm just starting lace knitting, so I'm eager to watch your stole develop.
Posted by: lorinda at July 14, 2006 02:30 PM
Happy 34th birthday Anna.
Take care you.
Bev xx
Posted by: Bev at July 14, 2006 03:49 PM
Happy, happy birthday!!
Posted by: --Deb at July 14, 2006 04:28 PM
Happy Birthday, dear Anna - and many happy returns.
Posted by: Eunny at July 14, 2006 04:43 PM
Sounds like a good plan - hope it turns out as you (and the bride) want!
Happy Birthday, Anna.
Posted by: Anita at July 14, 2006 04:58 PM
Happy Birthday, my dear. I hope this year of life brings you much happiness and success. My you be granted your wishes.
Posted by: Gina at July 14, 2006 05:03 PM
That's a clever idea--synthesize the best bits of each pattern with your own design sense. Then the bride will have an original.
Happy belated birthday! The feast sounds like one for the ages.
Posted by: Beth S. at July 14, 2006 05:23 PM
It's good to hear from you again, Anna. Seems like forever.
34 is a lovely age to be. I visited an old place of my childhood play last weekend and took this photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodigreen/186505598/), wishing I'd been there and snapped it last fall so that I could have posted it on my 34th birthday. I love that it's a little bit worn and wrinkled but still colourful and strong, like I feel (and I hope you do too). Happy 34.
Posted by: jodi at July 14, 2006 05:52 PM
oooh, a book, how exciting, let us all know how it goes. If it's to do with knitting it should be fabulous.
Posted by: Vanessa at July 14, 2006 06:11 PM
Happy Birthday Anna. I look forward to seeing what you come up with for the lace project.
Posted by: Mary at July 14, 2006 06:40 PM
Many happy returns! And I will personally buy 18 copies of your book at least, so be sure that you put that into the proposal
Posted by: Ashley at July 14, 2006 06:45 PM
Happy Bday!
Can you tell me how the Avacado Sorbet tasted? Sounds interesting.......
Posted by: Gia at July 14, 2006 07:11 PM
Happy B'day!
Posted by: erica b. at July 14, 2006 07:17 PM
34! happy belated birthday, dear anna! fingers crossed for book and pattern writing and lace. go you! :-)
Posted by: kris at July 14, 2006 07:43 PM
Welcome to your 35th year.
A book hunh? I KNEW IT! I love it and look forward to reading and knitting your work. Take your time. It will, no doubt, be lovely.
Posted by: Miss Twiss at July 14, 2006 08:49 PM
I was going to go all Winnie the Pooh on you, and make up a birthday hum, but I'm running late for a hair appointment so I can look fab for my own bday party tonight, so instead just imagine me doing my hum as they snip!
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Leisl at July 14, 2006 10:53 PM
Happy Birthday! And lots of luck with the book
Posted by: Victoria at July 14, 2006 11:34 PM
happy birthday lovely lady! make sure you are at liberty on thursday august 10th. kris and i will be there and i so am looking forward to meeting you. amelia is organising all the details.
Posted by: jacqueline at July 15, 2006 12:37 AM
Happy birthday, Anna!
(Avocado sorbet? Really? Hmmm....)
Posted by: alison at July 15, 2006 04:26 AM
Happy birthday! The stole sounds lovely.
Posted by: Stephanie at July 15, 2006 06:05 AM
Happy! Birthday!
Posted by: Jenny at July 15, 2006 07:00 AM
Yipes that sounds fantastic, and also fiendish - only you could do it, I'm sure!
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Kitty Jimjams at July 15, 2006 12:42 PM
Happy Happy Happy Birthday to you!
I hope you enjoyed it to the fullest and have an absolutely WONDERFUL year. Sounds like it is off to a good start :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at July 15, 2006 08:08 PM
Happy Birthday! I love the Forest Path stole, I might have to try knitting that myself.
Posted by: Kendra at July 16, 2006 03:16 PM
Oh my gosh! Designing your own lace! I will wait with baited breath :)
Happy late birthday! I hope you have a full and joyous year.
Posted by: Philippa at July 16, 2006 06:01 PM
Happy Birthday! I love your new idea of combining the three lace designs to make a "picture" shawl for the bride. I am looking forward to seeing the result...
Posted by: francoise at July 16, 2006 09:48 PM
A book and birthday. Can life get any better?
Posted by: knitannie at July 17, 2006 04:21 AM
Happy Birthday, Anna! I'm a fellow 34er too, soon.
Posted by: Siow Chin at July 17, 2006 08:04 AM
Happy birthday Anna, wish you all the best in life :)
Posted by: yuvee at July 17, 2006 10:43 AM
I was just looking at the show notes for Brenda Dayne's 'Cast on' podcast, and I clicked on the 'Briar Rose Fibers' button (they're one of Brenda's sponsors), and they have some fiber named after you! It's beautiful. Thought you'd like to know!
Posted by: Vanessa at July 17, 2006 02:47 PM
Happy belated birthday!! :)
Posted by: parikha at July 18, 2006 01:43 AM
happy birthday!!!!
Posted by: Janice at July 18, 2006 04:32 PM
happy birthday!!!!
Posted by: Janice at July 18, 2006 04:32 PM
Happy belated birthday .. you are still just a youngin'. Happy to hear you are working on a book proposal, I can't think of a better person, except maybe Eunny... am wondering if I can figure out how to replicate the camomile creme brulee. Glad you had a lovely repast.
Posted by: Birdsong at July 18, 2006 04:58 PM
Hey, a fellow Cancer... I turn 33 tomorrow. bah!
I was just in the UK for an extended trip to see dh's family; it was wonderful! Next time, I will go to that particular pub.
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Aura at July 19, 2006 12:30 AM
Happy Birthday! Same day as my granma and brother in law.
('K, I'm nearly a week late but better late than never! :-)
Posted by: lynne s of Oz at July 19, 2006 10:50 AM
Happy Birthday, Anna! I am sure that you will only improve with age! Meaning your creativity will continue and blossom!
Posted by: christine at July 21, 2006 08:09 PM
Happy (belated) Birthday, Anna!
Good luck with the book. It sounds like quite the difficult undertaking. Feel free to borrow some of my nerves whenever yours run short.
Posted by: Christina at July 23, 2006 07:41 AM
Happy birthday! I love your site, which I discovered just this morning. Very lovely and you are a skilled designer of beautiful knitwear! I'm so sorry to post instead of emailing, but I couldn't find a "contact" button. I just wanted to know whether you think the Jemima pattern might fit a 46" bust with some tweaking or no go? I'd love to purchase one of your designs, but I'm a "busty" lady. hee. thanks for your thoughts.
Posted by: Shannon at July 25, 2006 02:49 PM
Happy Birthday. May it be a great one.
Posted by: Nicole at July 25, 2006 10:33 PM
Happy belated birthday! I slipped into 34 exactly two months ahead of you. So far I have mixed feelings about this age. I just discovered your blog today, and am amazed and delighted by your designs. I arrived here via the Year of the Sweater KAL, and particularly like Jemima - I am just starting to think about designing, and you're quite the inspiration. Happy birthday again, I look forward to reading more from you!
Posted by: Tai at July 28, 2006 02:10 PM
Happy *very* belated birthday. I wanted to write to let you know that because of your post (especially the avocado sorbet) I just had to check out Anglesea Arms when I was in London last week. I'm so glad I did - it was fantastic! Thanks!
Posted by: teresa at September 21, 2006 04:18 AM