Thursday 23 April 2015

Reasons to be cheerful

Today there are three reasons to be cheerful. First, I've started re-reading Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - I'd forgotten what an absolute delight it is. 


Best of all, I've rediscovered Mrs Smiling, one of my favourite ever characters in a book:

"Mrs Smiling's second interest was her collection of brassieres, and her search for a perfect one. She was reputed to have the largest and finest collection of these garments in the world. It was hoped that on her death it would be left to the nation."

Which seems particularly apt in light of my last post!

Second, this month's issue of Love Sewing is out, complete with a baby blanket project written by yours truly!! Look! My name in print!! Yippee!


Third, it's St George's Day here in the UK which means get the bunting out, it's my birthday! Triple hoorah!

I'll be back with a finished dress to crow about as soon as the excitement has died down.  In the meantime, have a wonderful day everyone. x



55 comments:

  1. Happy birthday, m'dear. Looks like it going to be a great one. Congratulations on the magazine spread. Have a splendid day.

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  2. Happy birthday! Have a fabulous day and eat lots of cake x

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  3. Happy Birthday from windy Norway :)

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    1. Thank you - I love birthday wishes from afar! x

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  4. Congratulations on the magazine spread! And wishing you a very happy birthday!

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  5. Happy Birthday . i too love cold comfort farm we watched a version on the tv which has now entered family speak. we will be a quivering and there is no butter in hell. not sure if these were in the book so I may sound as mad as a stick (another quaint ashman saying)

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    1. No, you're not mad, they're both in the book - there'll be no butter in hell to put on your burns!! Let that be a lesson! And thank you! x

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  6. Happy birthday! And congratulations for the article!

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  7. Happy Birthday!!!...and happy st georges day :-)

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  8. Happy Birthday, have a lovely day and congratulations on being in print

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  9. Bon anniversaire, Jane! Your article in the magazine looks fabulous. Just looking at the picture inspires me to make a baby blanket, or even a queen-size bed blanket. This is so cute with the elephant prints and, at the same time, so graphic with the black biais stripe. You certainly have something to be proud of!

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    1. Thank you so much Helene! I did actually make the blanket for a v special baby who's due in about two weeks, so I put a lot of effort into it. x

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  10. Jane! I am usually silent blog-stalker, but let me say how wonderful it is to read such a positive, happy note on your birthday - and long may your positivity continue.

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    1. Thank you Heather! It's been a very happy birthday! x

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  11. Happy Birthday! Looking forward to seeing your dress. I'm on the home stretch of my denim Ginger skirt. Just the hem left.

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    1. Ooooh that's exciting. Sadly my denim Ginger is about to be retired as it's falling to bits but I wore the hell out of it! I bet you'll wear yours a lot too, it seems to go with everything. x

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    2. I am ridiculously excited about it! I can't believe how well it fits straight from the pattern, with no adjustments. You'll have to make another.

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  12. Happy birthday! I adore the film version of Cold Comfort Farm, but I've never read it. I may have to pick up a copy.

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    1. Oh you should definitely read it, it's so funny! x

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  13. Happy birthday. Congratulations on the Love Sewing spread. I flicked through when the msg arrived and saw the baby blanket but didn't realise it was you. I've still to read properly.

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    1. Yep, it's me! The tutorial will go on my blog in a few weeks too, in slightly more detail. And thank you! x

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  14. And the sun is shining. Hip Hip Hoorah.

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  15. Happy birthday!! Exciting to be in print!

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    1. I know!!!!!!! Just a tiny bit over excited! And thank you. x

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  16. Wowzers! Happy birthday Jane! X

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  17. Great book!!! Oh, and happy birthday! And congratulations on your article! I'd better go cletter the dishes now...

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    1. Get yourself a gert big twig for those dishes! x

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  18. HA! Cold Comfort is so funny! The movie version (or maybe it was a tv version like for public tv? Cannot remember) is a family favorite. "I saw something naaaaasty in the woodshed!!" Also oversexed farmboys named Seth and Ruben. hahaha Omg I forgot how funny! Also happy birthday!

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    1. Thank you! It's hilarious, I was laughing out loud on the tube today reading it! x

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  19. Happy birthday and happy St G
    Georges day, I bet your name is at the top of the list to make it a national holiday :)

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    1. Thank you! And yes, a national holiday on my birthday would be splendid! x

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  20. Happy birthday and congrats on the magazine feature!

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  21. Happy Birthday - hope you have had fun! Great to be in print - still waiting for a shirt workshop btw!

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    1. Thanks Joanne! The collar on the Granville is way too scary! I'll put on my thinking cap for another shirt pattern though! x

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  22. I'm on page 100 of this book and am really enjoying it! I've also just subscribed to Love Sewing and your project is bookmarked as my first ever quilt - you must be sending out vibes! I hope you've had a great birthday.

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    1. Oh wow, that's wonderful! Just noticed that the magazine published a couple of the step by step photos in the wrong order on the baby blanket tutorial. So look out for the tutorial on my blog too for extra clarification! Good luck with it. x

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  23. Cold comfort farm is my favourite book, I really wanted to name my cats after the cows!

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    1. You should have! I'm really enjoying re-reading it - I'm trying to go slowly but it's difficult! x

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  24. Oh, you're making me want to re-read this now! Happy birthday for yesterday!!

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    1. Thanks! You should go out and buy Cold Comfort Farm immediately, it's a fine book! x

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  25. Happy belated birthday! And congratulations on your article, I love seeing bloggers in print-based magazines too. It feels like one, big, happy community :-)

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    1. Thank you! I love seeing bloggers in print too, I get so excited! x

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  26. Oooh, happy belated birthday! Cold Comfort Farm is one of my all time favourite books, I could read it over, and over again. Congratulations on your article!

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