Comment from Yolande in NB
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:16 am

Visiting this eco-museum was amazing: London-Wul farm which you can see at http://www.thewoolworks.com/ The wool is sheared from the sheep, carded, spun and then dyed with the plants and flowers which grow on their land. They give knitting and spinning courses and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting and often go back.

Comment from Linda S
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:21 am

I have 3 books to recommend ( if you haven’t already read them).
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the nighttime by Mark Haddon
2. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
3. Small Island by Andrea Levy.
They are all great books which I think you would enjoy.

Comment from Max
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:30 am

Hey hey! This knitimation music video inspired me to pick up a pair of knittting needles. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=asdN1jJw4EE
It’s beautiful with crazy colourful knitting madness.

Comment from Annika
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:36 am

There is a new(ish) movie called The Fall that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I think you would like it.

Comment from Whistlepea
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:37 am

A book: What is the What by Dave Eggers
A movie: The Toll of the Sea
A t.v. show: Big Love
A podcast: This American Life
A recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Vegetarian-Sweet-and-Sour-Meatballs/Detail.aspx

Comment from Rebecca
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:39 am

While not exactly in your neighborhood (Nova Scotia), Gaspereau Valley Fibres in the Annapolis Valley is one of my favourite places. The yarn shop is in old barn, complete with warm woodstove and filled with lovely Fleece Artist yarns. They raise their own sheep and have a clawfoot bathtub overflowing with beautifully dyed rovings. It’s a little piece of knitting heaven.

Thanks for the great patterns and congratulations on your blogiversary. Cheers!

Comment from TheBon
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:41 am

I highly highly recommend both Never Have Your Dog Stuff and Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself both by Alan Alda. I don’t know if M*A*S*H* was popular in the UK, but Alan is a brilliant man with some great things to say about living a meaningful life.

Comment from Elspeth
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:45 am

I’ve love to recommend the sadly canceled television show Carnivale, produced by HBO. It ran for two seasons, combining many philosophies, characters and ideas. If you can ignore the American/Dust Bowl/1930s setting, you might really enjoy it. Congratulations on your third blogoversary!

Comment from abigail
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:50 am

happy blogiversary!

hmmmmm. my recommendation would have to be bride and prejudice. its a bollywood re-telling of pride and prejudice, directed by the same person that directed bend it like beckham. it has totally over the songs, amazing dance numbers, and some truly hilarious characters.

Comment from Liz
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:52 am

congratulations! Here’s to another year.

check out:
blog: http://www.cupcakeblog.com (sadly recently finished but an amazing source of recipes)
Foreign Film: Les Diaboliques
book: The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomassi di Lampedusa

Comment from Rachel
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:53 am

3 years of you making our lives happier! Huzzah!

My treasure for you is hardly sentimental or deep, but it is certainly entertaining & meaningful! If you haven’t already been introduced to the show Arrested Development, I can think of no better gift. It is pure brilliance put on screen.

Congratulations again!

Comment from Rose Red
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:55 am

Happy Blogthday!

I thought you might like these artworks, Red Shoe Girls (can also be purchased as small badges!) by an Australian artist: http://shelbyville.typepad.com/shelbyville/2007/05/have_zine_will_.html

Comment from Jennifer
Time: June 6, 2008, 12:55 am

I’ve just recently discovered your blog, and I’m enjoying reading it.
My suggestions:
Visit - Petra in Jordan - it’s truly incredible. I spent only a few hours there and must go back one day. There are bus tours there from Eilat in southern Israel.
Read - The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger (sp?) - it’s a wonderful book. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn - it and the sequels totally changed how I view the world.
Eat - ground cherries - our CSA in Massachusetts, USA grows them. I don’t know where else they can grow, but they’re amazing and almost no one has heard of them. They look like mini tomatillos, but they’re super-sweet. I can’t get enough of them!

Comment from marri
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:02 am

congrats!

one of my most treasured books is a recent discovery (via an online recommendation by julia rothman) - The Night Life of Trees. each page contains an absolutely unbelievably beautiful image hand screened by a commune of artists in india.

my most treasured film is probably the philadelphia story. it never fails to make me feel good and loved and happy!

Comment from Lindsey
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:06 am

watch: Discovery Atlas (if you haven’t seen any of them already)

Comment from Moriah
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:07 am

Congrats!!

I recommend The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It’s both a book and a YouTube video and it’s possibly one of the most amazing things I seen in a very long time.

I love reading your blog, you always manage to brighten my day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Comment from jenn
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:07 am

Grey Gardens. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073076/
incredible.

Comment from Miki
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:09 am

A book: Life of Pi
A food: pho
A place: the scene from a mountaintop on a clear day all the down to the wooded bottom.

Happy 3 year anniversaire!

Comment from Dana
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:10 am

The novel Breath and Shadows by Ella Leffland; Hitchcock’s movie Vertigo; the combination of dark chocolate and passionfruit; the soundtrack from the movie Nashville

Comment from Mackenzie
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:10 am

I am very glad that you decided to start this blog! I enjoy your every post.

Movie: The Secret Life of Words. Beautiful movie about a young refugee who nurses an injured man on an offshore mining facility. It was very touching

Book: The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue. A wonderful book about a young girl in the 1920s America and her ghostly presence in the present. It’s so good and I keep meaning to reread it.

Comment from Leah
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:10 am

Happy blogiversary!!!

It seems like just yesterday I was following you all over craftster in awe of your work!

As far as recommendations go I have 3:

1. Coraline
a wonderfully dark tale by Neil Gaiman which is becoming a graphic novel this summer.
2. this video of Jens Lekman live. It’s lovely.
3. this downloadable recipe card set.

I hope something there brightens your day! :)

Comment from Viv
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:11 am

Ysolda:

I don’t know whether or not this independent movie has made it to your neck of the woods (I’m in the US) but if so, please see it. It’s called Young at Heart, it’s about an octogenarian choir and I found it one of the most moving, uplifting films I’ve seen in awhile. Here’s a clip of one of the performances and I would bet there are others worth watching on YouTube as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u6k-99qcCE

In this clip, one of the singers (in his last performance, because of health reasons) is pinch-hitting for a friend who died shortly before the performance.

Viv from Maine, USA

Comment from Jessica
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:11 am

Treasures you shouldn’t live without having/making/doing:

1. Homemade caramels. They’re a bitch to make (you have to stir a pot for about an hour and a half) but they are heavenly to taste.
2. TV show: Nip/Tuck. An awesome look at how society deals with outward appearance. Deep, thought provoking, and addresses many issues most other tv shows don’t or won’t.
3. Place: the Swiss Alps.
4. Music: Nickel Creek - beautiful bluegrass/folk music

Comment from Kat
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:15 am

tv show (now canceled but available on DVD): Dead Like Me every one I know who has seen this show loves it!

place: the grand canyon there is nothing quite like standing at the edge and looking down with the wind whipping past

Comment from that chick
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:26 am

if you haven’t yet seen juno, you need to. she’s the girl that we all wish we could have been.

Comment from Tess
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:31 am

I might be late, not sure what time it is GMT. But here is my list anyway.
Book: Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
Movie: Local Hero - you probably know it since it was filmed in Scotland, but maybe not?
Place: if you have never been to the Isle of May, go!!! It is close to you and wondrous.
Blog: here’s a wonderful photo blog of a place near where I grew up 50 years ago, surprisingly unchanged by time in most ways: http://www.durhamtownship.com/about.html
Never stop looking for treasures, they are always around if you keep your eyes & ears & heart open!

Comment from Alex
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:31 am

congrats on three years!!
one of my favorite movies recently:
cashback
really interesting and gorgeous film :]

Comment from Jordan
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:32 am

I really enjoyed the movie Delicatessen- it may contain a bit of cannibalism but it’s very charming.

Comment from Constance
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:35 am

Charles Simic is a lovely poet. He creates the most interesting images with succinct wording.
Also, perhaps Wild Strawberries, by Ingmar Bergman. Interesting view of life and aging.

Comment from marianne
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:37 am

here’s to three years! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and following your patterns.

I think Ferraby Lionheart’s music would be right up your alley. there’s something quirky and sweet and melancholy and wistful about it that I think you might appreciate. you can hear it on his myspace and website. itunes and emusic and all those as well. if you only listen to one or two songs, I recommend Tickets to Crickets and Crack in Time.

Comment from Pam
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:38 am

My latest treasure (aside from knitting) is a CD. Worrisome Heart by Melody Gardot. She is a young woman who was hit by a car at the age of 19 and used music as a way to regain her cognitive ability. She’s jazzy and soulful with a beautiful voice. She was just in Edinburgh in May, but her website says she’s coming around the UK/Europe again in July.

Comment from MrPuffy
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:40 am

I’m really loving knitting with “royal” alpaca (Blue Sky Alpaca yarn). It really is nice to knit with. For a vacation sometime you need to visit the islands of Greece.

Comment from courtney
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:42 am

Happy Three Years!
I have a few recommendations:
Book: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Movie: The Scent of Green Papaya
Food: Nuoc Cham

Comment from Chelsey
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:47 am

A book: Atonement by Ian Mcewan. The movie has made this very popular at the moment, but the book is just fantastic. Such detail and emotion. I love it.
A movie: A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiancailles). 1920s France, love story with a determined heroine who I much admire.
TV: Quite Interesting. Popular in the UK, so you probably know it, but it’s very refreshing for a yankee such as myself.

:)

Comment from Davy
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:49 am

Congrats! Here’s to your next three!

My contribution is to suggest watching all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. A few recent ones have garnered a lot of attention (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke), but all of his movies are just so cute and wonderful. He also seems to have an affection for cats, so maybe he was a knitter in a past life?

Comment from Shani
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:49 am

Well, thank YOU for your blog and being you and your designs that helped get me out of my knitting lethargy and be excited about making things again.

These are a few things that are extremely dear to my heart…

A movie: Joyeux Noel
It’s amazing how a movie about WWI can make you want to run out and hug the world.

A book: The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
(And the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett)

A tv show: Pushing Daisies
It’s a little slice of whimsical perfection.

Music: Matt Nathanson
He is my favorite musician in the world. He can be wickedly funny (as here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/rhwbjk) or break your heart with a song (as here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/0b1e67).

Beirut isn’t just music, it’s an experience.

I also really like Emmy the Great. She’s got heart.

Happy anniversary!

Comment from Lauren
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:52 am

read: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

see: The Lives of Others (German)

local: climb Arthur’s Seat and watch Edinburgh light up after sunset

Comment from Lauren
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:53 am

and congratulations on three years! I look forward to more…

Comment from Orli
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:56 am

A place not to miss…Mount Masada in Israel. It’s next to the Dead Sea, and it’s where a rebel camp of Jews held their own against a Roman army until they were overwhelmed, and then rather than be taken as slaves they cast lots for one man who would kill them all, then kill himself.
It’s an incredibly sad story told in an amazingly heartbreaking, beautiful way by the mosaics in the ruins and by the light shows on the cold desert night.

Comment from Lucy
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:57 am

3! Congratulations!

My newly discovered gems are music by the band Beirut, Lucy Ann Polk singing “Come to Baby, Do” and the movie series “Wonderfalls.” Have fun finding new discoveries!

Comment from Marnie
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:57 am

If you’ve never played with polymer clay, you have got to give it a try. I think your natural spacial talents and eye for color would serve you well. You can use it to make fantastic finials on the ends of straight needles, and if you ever spin, handles for an orifice hook.

Ooh, and if you’ve not tried dragon pearl tea, YUM, it’s my all time favorite.

Also, if you haven’t I love the blooming (flowering/tied/whatever you call it) teas and I brew mine in a french press, which shows it off nicely and filters out any stray leaves.

I think that’s all I’ve got

But, goodness, i feel stupid for not finding your blog sooner. Silly me.

Comment from Gladys
Time: June 6, 2008, 1:59 am

I’m so glad that I discovered the new series of Dr. Who. It’s, silly, serious and wacky, and totally fun. The spinoff, Torchwood, is also really campy and fun to watch.

Comment from Heather
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:04 am

Kamikaze Girls (movie)
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson (book)
Grand Canyon (place) it really is truly mind blowing

Comment from Teresa
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:09 am

Poetry by Mary Oliver.
Beautiful. Organic. Spiritual.

Comment from Farrah
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:10 am

I’ll suggest my favorite band in the whole world, the Old 97s. My favorite album is Too Far To Care, and if you’re so inclined you can listen to some of the songs here:
http://www.hitbyatrain.com/discography/index.html#toofar

Thanks for the contest, but thanks even more for your designs!

Comment from Eva
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:11 am

Oh my! Three years old! That’s like… 30 years old in blog years!

There are so many great recommendations here, but I can’t resist.

If you have never seen the Thin Man movies, starring Myrna Loy and William Powell, I cannot recommend them enough. There are six of them, and you should see them in order if possible. They were filmed in the 1930s and ’40s, based on the book by Dashiell Hammett (of Maltese Falcon fame). Hilarious whodunnits. What could be better?

Musically, I recommend Laura Gibson, who happens to be from Portland (where I live right now). Her album is called ‘If You Come to Greet Me’; if you want an idea of what she sounds like, I think ‘Hands in Pockets’ is a good song to listen to. Her style is not what I usually like, but I’m addicted!

Here’s to three more happy knitting/baking/blogging years! L’chaim!

Comment from Mary
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:11 am

Oh, how contests never fail to bring the lurkers out of hiding…here I am, at least!

I must definitely second the Hayao Miyazaki films…they are really wonderful.

And though it is thousands and thousands of miles away from your home, you must someday go out to California and drive along the coast on Highway 1. The road is narrow and windy, but the scenery is so worth it. In fact, anywhere up in the part of California that I have been so fortunate to grow up in - the Russian River area, Wine Country, Point Reyes,. It’s all gorgeous.

Comment from michelle
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:12 am

My good friend Sherrill’s knitting podcast– Belle of the Ball:

http://belleoftheballpodcast.blogspot.com/

is a fun little gem that a lot of people don’t know about and might enjoy. :) Happy 3rd!

Comment from Kate
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:13 am

City of Lost Children is my favorite! I highly recommend “Delicatessen” also. Some of the same actors. Vegetarians living in the sewer. Same beautiful cinematography. I think you’ll like it.

Comment from Jennifer
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:14 am

I highly recommend the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It is meant for teen audiences but Every! Single! Person! I’ve recommended it to has read and loooooved it, regardless of what type of books they usually read. Happy Blogiversary, yay!

Comment from Elizabeth
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:31 am

This comic always makes me smile, in one way or another:

http://www.sinfest.net

Comment from the Lady
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:32 am

I’m so glad you’re here!

Movie: The Fountain with Hugh Jackman

Poet: Eugenio de Andrade

Eateries: Los Bagels, Eureka, California (the most amazing and perfect bagel you will ever eat, plus always awesome vegan/vegetarian soup.)
Arcata Pizza & Deli - the best cheese slice in Humboldt County, California
Zachary’s Pizza - the best pepperoni pizza (I’ve yet tasted) in the Bay Area, California

Authors: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Terry Goodkind, Diana Gabaldon

Listen Live: khum.com & somafm.com

Musical Artist: Vast

Fun textural experience: buying & using an old typewriter

Comment from Minty
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:32 am

I recommend that you journey to the city of Newport, in the state of Rhode Island, in the USA. You wouldn’t want to miss the beautiful, historic mansions. I find them to be very inspirational for crafting and photographing.

Comment from Leona
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:32 am

Happy blog birthday! :)
music: Eva Cassidy’s cd Songbird She has a beautiful rich bluesy voice. I love this cd
book: Doomesday Book by Connie Willis One of my favorite books- history and time travel done right.
movie: Clue Because it has Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn in it. Plus it is just plain fun.

Comment from bobigail
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:34 am

Having moved to the US from London I would recommend exploring the hidden jewels of London (and the rest of the UK) on Heritage Open House Days http://www.heritagedays.net/. Mindblowingly beautiful buildings that are normally closed to the public open their doors on selected days of the year and it is such a treat.

Happy Blogiversary. Here’s to many more!

Comment from chrispy
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:39 am

There is a book series that I almost missed if it had not been for a vacation that we forgot to actually take stuff with us for entertainment. So we stumbled into a Target to grab a book or two. I have learned they are the perfect diversion from a long day of designing when I want to get lost in a story but not so lost that I can’t get some rest.

They are the series of unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket.

http://www.lemonysnicket.com/

Comment from shannon
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:41 am

happy blogiversary!
books: Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murukami
places: Yosemite National Monument (if you ever come to California, and if you do…Article Pract yarn shop in Berkeley is my favorite. Then you can go to Far Leaves teahouse on College Ave.).
:)

Comment from stariel
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:43 am

Both Carnivale and Dead Like Me were already mentioned, but I’ll add that they truly are *that* awesome.

And I’ll add a TV show that’s on currently - Pushing Daisies.

Comment from Kitty Kitty
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:47 am

Happy Blogiversary.

The treasure I would have to recommend is a designer that the world kind of forgot as time passed. Charles Kleibacker; http://www.oac.state.oh.us/News/NewsArticle.asp?intArticleId=336

He was given credit for the midi skirt in the ’60’s but more improtantly was his mastery of the Bias and the Houses he worked at before he opened his collection.

Comment from carrie
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:55 am

Dead Like Me was cancelled? Dammit! That’s what I get for not having cable. :( (Yes, I have been living under a rock.) I will second the recommenation for Pushing Daisies - quite funny. And Doomsday Book (not funny, just good).

I would like to recommend Howl’s Moving Castle by that master of movies, Hayao Miyazaki - it is thoroughly enchanting and I am sure you would love it.
Happy Birthday! Anniversary! Blogoversary! Whatever!

Comment from Caitlin
Time: June 6, 2008, 2:58 am

HI! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months and really enjoy it. This is my first time to comment… nothing like a contest to bring out the lurkers!

Some things that I’m glad not to have missed were the Planet Earth series, Fall On Your Knees by Ann MacDonald, and Jane Campion’s The Piano.

There are some great ideas from all the commenters, it’s like a reward in itself. Congratulations on your blog’s anniversary!

Comment from Malia
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:00 am

Ok, I have two.

The first is one of my favorite short-lived TV series. It’s called Wonderfalls. It was on in the states for about a month, but I love it. The other is a book you may have already read. It’s by Jeanette Winterson. It’s called Written on the Body. It’s a love story where the narrator’s sex is never explicitely revealed. For a movie I would recommend When Night is Falling. I think it was made in Canada (but I could be wrong) but it has one of those lines that if anyone ever said it to me in real life I would just melt. (But I won’t tell you, just in case you actually watch it) Happy Blogiversary!

Comment from soknitpicky
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:03 am

Congratulations on your anniversary! Wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for so much inspiration :-) OK, here are my recs:

Movie: Amelie. My all-time favorite. And there is a bit in the movie where Amelie helps shows a home-bound man interesting video tidbits of can’t-miss things, kinda like this fun contest.

YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

TV Series: 30 Days, from Morgan Spurlock, the documentarian who made Supersize Me. Don’t know if it shows where you are, but the 1st 2 seasons are on DVD

Comment from Ben
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:04 am

If you want your heart to feel like it is going in a million directions for about two hours: http://www.amazon.com/Blankets-Craig-Thompson/dp/1891830430/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212721342&sr=8-1

2. You undoubtedly know of this place, but after having returned to the states, I find myself missing The Mosque Kitchen bi-weekly at the very least.

Comment from melanie watts
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:04 am

Happy blog anniversary,

If you haven’t seen it the funniest movie I’ve seen recently is called Death At A Funeral.

Comment from emily
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:06 am

happy 3 years! thank YOU for keeping it up; knitting vicariously through you has been great fun.

some lovely things:

yarn: yarn chef on etsy, specifically her buttercream merino laceweight. lovely stuff, and very nice service

book: Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Jack Hodgins’ Innocent Cities

music: Mahler Symphony No. 7

movie: High Fidelity

cheers

Comment from Elizabeth
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:06 am

Happy Blog-iversary!

A treasure I think you might have missed out on is a Canadian singer named Feist. She’s pretty big around here, but I somehow doubt she’s made it across the water in the same way. She’s kind of jazzy mixed with folky mixed with awesome!

Comment from cosymakes
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:07 am

hurrah! happy third birthday. i’m going to highly recommend two food related things, since i know you like to cook. robert farrar capon writes a brilliant cookbook/memoir called supper of the lamb and the movie babette’s feast is one of my favorites.

Comment from Caroline
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:09 am

I just finished a book I throughly enjoyed: “Home” by Julie Andrews. Even if you’re not into Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music, this is an awesome memoir of her life from birth to right before she began filming Mary Poppins. I just read and read and read, because I wanted to find out what happend next.

Comment from Heather R.
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:15 am

I recommend Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, There Will Be Blood, and homemade hot chocolate. A winning combination!

Comment from emilyjoy
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:17 am

A song: Philip Glass - Mad Rush (might also be known as Metamorphosis V). It reminds me of the way light plays through the trees, or the shadows that pass over fields as clouds pass over the sun, or of old home movies. It’s beautiful.

Movie: Children of Men. It’s apparently a few years old dystopian film, but I just recently saw it and love it.

Activity: explore something abandoned. From what I’ve heard word of mouth, Scotland has very relaxed trespassing laws, and even here you can usually just apologize and leave (if caught) and nothing happens. It might seem like a sort of weird thing, but it’s what I love to do. The sense of people and the place, and seeing nature reclaim or the craftsmanship that has just been left to rot…the feeling is amazing. And it’s just beautiful–and sometimes what you find is completely unexpected.
Example: http://kabang.org/plantroom.jpg
(I certainly have many links [including some in your area] if you’re interested.)

Comment from Hannah
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:17 am

I recommend a wool rug by angela adams, a designer here in my home town of Portland, Maine.
http://www.angelaadams.com
Enjoy!

Comment from Shayna
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:19 am

The coolest thing I’ve ever done is climb a ladder, stand on a board and jump off to fly on the trapeze. Seriously, it’s the best experience. You get to fly, and have a completely controlled freefall into a giant net. I’m doing a really bad job of explaining how incredible it is, but once you try for yourself, you’ll understand.

And if you’re looking for a place to go, better make it Australia. I did 6 months there for study abroad and it was the best time of my life. Melbourne is the first place I’ve ever been that I really felt like I could make my permanent home (of course, except where I grew up and live). And while you’re down under, go to Australia Zoo in Beerwah, QLD (home of the late Croc Hunter). Best zoo ever (and really clean).

Enjoy and happy blogiversary.

Comment from Yael
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:23 am

Happy Anniversary! Thank you for your lovely work and your conscientious approach to your business. May you have many creative and prosperous year ahead!

Have you read Italo Calvino’s novel The Baron in the Trees? It’s a treasure.

Comment from Jessica Kaufman
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:33 am

My favorite secret thing that not enough people know about: an island off the coast of Vietnam. Sure, airfare is ridiculously expensive to get there, but once you’ve made your way to Southeast Asia, it’s just a short hop skip or jump to the island of Phu Quoc. The Cambodians think it’s theirs; the Vietnamese disagree. However, it is on the same longitude as those well-known and overrun Thai islands, yet virtually undeveloped by greedy Westerners. We spent a week shacking up in a beach hut, on the most breathtaking cay, for a few dollars a day– renting motorbikes to visit the local fruit markets, eating the freshest and tastiest seafood ever, and meeting the few but kind visitors. If you ever find yourself anywhere near the South China Sea, get yourself to Phu Quoc Island. I recommend the east coast– sunrises kick sunsets’ butts, no question.

Comment from Elli
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:35 am

Happy 3! 2 Movies: Truly, Madly, Deeply, and Mixed Nuts. 1 Author: John Irving. 1 food: Carr’s Ginger Lemon Cremes. Also, my favorite preview is for the movie “the fall” I haven’t actually seen the movie yet (it requires driving an hour and a half) but I can watch the preview all day long. weird, I know.

Comment from Susan
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:36 am

Congrats on 3 years, Ysolda! I always look forward to seeing pictures of what you’ve got on the needles. And congrats on Twist Collective, too. How exciting!

My all time fave tv show which I’m sure you’ve seen but will recommend anyway: As Time Goes By (BBC) with Judi Dench and Geoffery Palmer. Pure comedic genius.

Really sweet movie: Chacun Cherche son Chat (When the cat’s away)

Best musical group: Cafe Accordion Orchestra

Comment from Cupcake
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:42 am

The book “The Family Nobody Wanted” by Helen Doss. It might be out of print, but it’s a great true story about a family in the US in the 1940s who ended up adopting a multi-racial, multi-ethnic dozen of children. It’s a really sweet story.

Comment from Rachel
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:53 am

We’re lucky to have you in this great world of knitting blogs. Congrats on a 3-year anniversary!

A movie not to miss is ‘The Lives of Others’…beautiful, moving movie. A book not to miss is ‘Truckstop Rainbows’ by Iva Pekarkova…it’s an amazing story about maintaining individuality. And finally, I think everybody should watch the trilogy of Godfrey Reggio/Philip Glass….Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi.

Comment from Lia
Time: June 6, 2008, 3:56 am

I’d recommend a tv series: Slings & Arrows. It’s Canadian, and about theatre, but most of all it’s just awesome. It has entertaining ghosts, and wonderful acting.

Happy blogiversary! I look forward to reading this for many more years to come!

Comment from CurlyToot
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:02 am

Happy blogiversary :)

Wow, now how are you ever going to get any knitting done with all these great recommendations?!?

My additions are:
Reading: Janet Evanovich’s stephanie Plum novels. There are 13 of them with the 14th comming out this month. They are halarious! I think you’d love them, best to start with “One for the Money”.
TV: Battlestar Galactica, its techinicaly Science Fiction but its really a drama set in space. I’ve found it very thought provoking and entertaining. It’s not everyones cup of tea but usually when people give it a go they end up loving it!

I’d also second making a trip down under (Australia that is) we’re a very laid back kind of people, and you’ve got to check out our beaches nothing like the ones in Scotland ;)

Comment from Lolo
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:19 am

It has already been mentioned, but the show Carnivale is great and I think you would enjoy it. I also second the recommendation for the movie Local Hero.
I recommend the author Tom Robbins, and the book Lunch Poems by Frank O’Hara.
Lately I have been making my own salad rolls and those are totally awesome. Also peach pie.

Comment from jaci
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:37 am

books that have changed my life.

a portrait of the artist by james joyce. walden by henry david thoreau.

my most influential/inspiring movies…

2001 a space odyssey. noi albinoi. fargo. harold and maude.

Comment from sheila Bingham
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:40 am

recommend
book- A Woman in Amber
movies- Dan in Real Life, Lars and the Real Girl
video- Fatboy Slim, Weapon of Choice on Youtube
song- Norah Jones Rosie’s Lullaby

Comment from Pam
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:46 am

Best movie for me in recent memory include Wong Kar Wai’s 2026 and Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother.

If you don’t want to read subtitles (ie. knitting with charts or beads or cable needles) how about Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man

Comment from jo
Time: June 6, 2008, 4:58 am

A book by Jeremy Dronfield - The Alchemist’s Apprentice, a meal - Green Pawpaw salad and coconut rice, a place - the South Island of New Zealand, in particular the glaciers and Milford Sound, and a song - Sweet Jane, the version by the Cowboy Junkies. Love your blog Ysolda, happy blogversary :)

Comment from dorina cragnotti
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:03 am

oh my goodness. over 80 entries to go through? (sigh).
a treasure of a movie: children of heaven by majid majidi (http://www.cinemajidi.com/children). a little boy misplaces his sister’s only shoes that have been repaired by the shoeman. they do not have the heart to tell their parents who are struggling to feed them and so take turns wearing the shoes to school. the little boy enters a race to try and win a new pair of sneakers for his sister. he must come in third to do this! how does he place in the race? does he win the sneakers? the children are precious, the story heartrending. i’ve been recommending this movie to so many friends. have you seen it yet? much peace to you, dorina (homeschooling, knitting mama to three beautiful girls in nyc).

Comment from KateMet
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:05 am

I second The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, even if fantasy isn’t your thing… A non-fiction must has to be The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring by Richard Preston, all about a group of people who climb California’s Giant Redwoods, because noone else ever has.

Comment from Sweetp
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:16 am

Happy Blog-versary! I was going to say the TIme Travellers Wife too. Awesome! Movie…In my Father’s Den. Its a NZ film so maybe more difficult to come by but it is also a novel and you may find that easier perhaps. Also one day you must come visit to NZ. I think you would really enjoy the gorgeous scenery

Comment from Nell
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:35 am

Happy Blogaversary!!!!

I’m recommending Pushing Daisies. It’s an ABC TV show that was interrupted by the writer’s strike. But it’s really cute and has a very whimsical feel to it.

Comment from Mari-Ann
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:51 am

Congratulations! Today is also my birthday, i’m 20 years older than your blog, so 23 :)

Comment from sophia
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:52 am

Alright, so I’ve got a couple movie recommendations:

Turtles Can Fly
Harold and Maude

Some great radio programs, which can be listened to online:

This American Life
Third Coast Audio Festival

Enjoy!

Comment from Tijm
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:55 am

Don’t be afraid to mis something. Then you miss something.
Enjoy the small things in live: the sun on your head, the beautiful colours in the landscape, the flower who opens, a nice talk with someone you love. That are the things that matter. And the beauty of these things is that they are always around you.
Don’t rush to much from one to another event, take it easy.

Happy 3 years of blogging Ysolda, I like your blog a lot!!!!!!

Comment from Sarah
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:57 am

Congratulations on 3 years of blogging :o)

Treasure I would recommend: a book - Prep - Curtis Sittenfeld - about being a teenage girl - a wonderful read

Comment from Megan
Time: June 6, 2008, 5:57 am

1. 24 hours daylight in the Arctic. I’ve been up here for 5 years now and every summer it amazes me. If you’re a bit of a night owl, 24hrs daylight is awesome - you can go out for a walk at 2am and it’s still bright.

2. The Great Northern Arts Festival (gnaf.org). A great arts festival that showcases northern artists. This is my second year participating and it’s always a lot of fun. One of my favourite parts are the workshops - you can learn a neat technique (like birch bark basket making) in an afternoon.

3. I’m loving this song & video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=sXPlhNIjq3g <3!

Comment from Jessica
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:12 am

Food: Mushroom masala
Movie: Harold & Maude
Book: The Poisonwood Bible

Comment from Tui
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:18 am

My pic is a band, The Arcade Fire. If you haven’t heard it yet, you should! They are awesome!

Comment from Charis
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:36 am

Hi Ysolda!

I love your diary so much that my best friend and I are planning to come see Edinburgh on our next trip. I think you would absolutely adore Catherine Fox’s novels “Angel and Men” and “The Benefits of Passion”. I think they’re out of print, but you can catch a used copy from time to time on Amazon. AMAZING books, completely enthralling.

Anyway, happy 3rd birthday to your blog and you! Greetings from Germany, Charis :-)

Comment from Laure
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:41 am

Happy blog anniversary!
I’d recommend visiting the Briksdale glacier in Norway in the morning, and then crossing the Geiranger fjord from Hellesylt in the afternoon on a ferry, and knit knit knit one of your awesome patterns while absorbing the views. Nearly as good as Scotland!
Maybe the best treasure is to seize the day wherever you are, whatever you may be doing.
Cheers from Belgium

Comment from Sarah
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:44 am

The comic “Fables” by Bill Willingham, it’s about storybook characters that are sort of refugees in New York, and really fantastic!

Comment from ballee
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:44 am

Thanks for 3 year of blogging!
Your style is very attractive, strong and pure.

I think you should know this shop:
http://www.stormontheattic.com. She sells handdyed biologic wool (sockyarn, lace etc).
She’s also on Ravelry.

And if you’re travelling/visiting The Netherlands, please come by in Rotterdam!
Puk
http://www.ballee.etsy.com

Comment from sparklycat
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:46 am

Congratulations on reaching 3!
I love your blog…thanks for lighting up my days.

Here are my treasures

Yoga - if you’ve never tried it give it a go.
Rooibos tea - delicious and healthy
Film - Etre et Avoir. Its a heart warming documentary about a school teacher in a small french village. He teaches a class ranging from 4-10 year olds all in the same room. Lucky children to have such a wonderful man teach them.

Comment from Yuliana
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:48 am

Happy bloganniversary!
I really love your patterns and blog.
My suggestions for you:
This american life (podcast)
Born in brothels (movie)

Comment from Christina
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:52 am

Happy anniversary! I just love to read your blog and see what you’re up to. I suggest you try out Beaverslide’s yarn. It’s a hazzle to live in Europe and have it shipped over - at least in Denmark where it is heavily taxed upon arrival. But it is sooooo worth it. Try it :0)

Comment from Berlinswhimsy
Time: June 6, 2008, 6:59 am

I love this contest! Congratulations and I’m so happy you started your blog and pattern career…

Well, I think you MUST visit us in Oregon over in the states and more precisely Central Oregon (Bend)! It’s beautiful and we have knitting stores, too!

Also, I love your patterns so much and have been a fan of yours ever since discovering them on Ravelry—-following along with my own recent endeavor, I wondered if you crochet? I love crocheted borders and Irish Lace and I wondered if you do that, too? I’m trying to teach myself so as to add to my knitting….

Comment from Katya
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:02 am

Happy bloggerversary, you did do fantastically well in the last 3 years. I never really posted here before, at least I don’t think I did but have been lurking for much of the last two years and I love your blog.
Anyway,
there is a little cooking blog called The Journal of a Girl who loves to cook which I love http://cookingismypassion.blogspot.com/
Yoga
A book called Prey, by Michael Crichton. It’s a sci-fi thriller that came out few years ago, the same one that scared Prince Charles away from nanotechnology:) It’s pretty good.

Comment from sally
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:05 am

Film: Lost in Translation
Book: Memoirs of a Geisha
Place: Japan

Both the film and the book inspired me to visit Japan which I did in 2005. The best holiday I have had in my adult life!

Comment from elke
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:09 am

Congratulations on the 3 years. I only started reading about 6 months ago but I am hooked.

So what I suggest: Dragon Pearl tea, perfect to enjoy while kntting and an absolute joy to watch the jasmine leaves unfold in hot water.

Comment from Caroline
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:09 am

To read/watch: The tin drum by Gunter Grass
To listen to: Joanna Newsom
To eat: Butternut squash risotto with rocket

Comment from Laura
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:25 am

Congratulations!

I have two recommendations: firstly, a TV show called Dead Like Me and secondly, a series of Alice in Wonderland books written by Frank Beddor called the Looking Glass Wars.

Comment from Tora
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:32 am

Congratulations on your third blogiversary!

My recommendations:
Two books: Lasso Round the Moon by Agnar Mykle (Norwegian author) and Sinuhe, The Egyptian by Mika Waltari (Finnish author)
One musician: Solveig Slettahjell - lovely Norwegian vocal jazz!

Comment from Donna
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:40 am

Book: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom-I thought it was a very moving story about the human connection.

Happy Bloggo-versary!

Comment from Rhian
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:41 am

Happy third birthday to the blog! I hope there are many more to come.

I would recommend the film “La Reine Margot”, and the book “A Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James. They’re both about fascinating women, and very rewarding to watch/read.

Comment from Justclaire
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:45 am

Happy Blogiversary!

My suggestion is a book called Miss Garnet’s Angel by Sally Vickers. It’s a wonderful story!

Comment from Etoile
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:47 am

Happy blog anniversary!!!

My recommandation is a french regional recipie: le kouign amann (lots of sugar and butter mmmmmh délicious!) You can find it here: http://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette.cfm?num_recette=18270

Comment from Katherine
Time: June 6, 2008, 7:56 am

Happy blog anniversary!
My recommandation is the film Dancer in the Dark staring Bjork. It is heart-breaking and a film that has made an impression on me.

Comment from Kerry
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:04 am

Congratulations! I have been reading your blog for a while but this is the first time I have commented. I am fascinated by your work, you have such a talent.

As for suggestions, if you are ever in Glasgow, I would recommend going to the restaurant Roastit Bubbly Jocks for some hearty Scottish food!

Comment from Rose Red
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:09 am

I thought I commented before but not sure it made it (if so, ignore one of them, I’m not trying to double dip!).

I think you’ll like the red shoe girls, by Australian artist/blogger Shelbyville - paintings and also much cheaper and very cute little buttons/badges - here:http://shelbyville.typepad.com/shelbyville/2007/05/have_zine_will_.html#comment-71131060

Comment from angela
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:11 am

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Have you tried swing dancing? I recommend it. Check out this video on YouTube (http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=KZfX3OVW7k4), and join the fun in Edinburgh, with the Edinburgh Swing Dance Society (http://www.hopscotch-swing.co.uk/)

Comment from jane
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:11 am

These recommendations are wonderful! I’m going through them all and picking out lovely things to read, watch and do. Thank you so much for eliciting them!

Off the top of my head, I’d like to recommend:
Films:
* Almodovar films, if you’ve not seem them already. Wonderful, all of them. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown would be as good a place to start as any other, though. Or Hable Con Ella.
* Au Revoir Les Enfants. It’s a French film, about a boarding school, set during the war, and it’s just so touching and perfect.
* Maria full of Grace. I loved this. It’s in Spanish and it’s about a Columbian girl who ends up working as a drug mule. It’s very sad but excellently made, and well-acted.

Books:
* Jane Eyre - you’ve probably already read it. If not, though, you should.
* Daphne du Maurier. Ditto. Rebecca is probably my favourite book of all time.
* Wilkie Collins novels - the Moonstone and the Woman in White. Beautifully crafted stories.
* Roald Dahl’s short stories are amazing. It was a while before I even realised that he wrote for adults, but there’s a collection published of all of his short stories, and it’s really wonderful. His imagination is so captivating.
* I love short stories, so I’d also like to recommend First Love, Last Rites which is a collection of short stories on the theme of love by Ian McEwan. They’re incredibly powerful.
* More short stories! I love them. I must have a very short attention span. But, Somerset Maugham’s collected short stories are excellent.
* Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. The film is awful, so if you’ve seen it, don’t let it put you off. The story is wonderful and it left me with a very strong desire to set off to Savannah and explore that part of America. It’s really evocative.

Comment from Katherine
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:15 am

I must go through this thread and make notes! Another vote for the Time Traveller’s Wife, it’s fantastic. And I also recommend another Miyazaki film, Kiki’s Delivery Service, it’s my comfort film.

Comment from curlycustard
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:15 am

Ysolda, if you ever find yourself wanting to escape Edinburgh for the day & why not head to Fife. There is a fantastic shop in Newburgh called Twist Fibre Craft Studio (http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk/).
It is run by a very friendly couple & they offer a vast varity of courses & stock the most amazing UK natural fibres to spin your own yarn. Not far away (In Falkland), there is a place called ‘Pillars of Hercules’ Organic Farm, Shop & Cafe (http://www.pillars.co.uk/contact.htm) who make delicious food daily from their own produce & stock. You could end the day with a walk on the beach in St Andrews watching the sun go down. (You’d need a vehicle of some kind however, to get to them)

Comment from Ali
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:21 am

Happy Blogaversary!

Only thing I can think of is a Disney movie that one of my friends described as, “Well, that was the most random hour-an-a-half of my life.” - The Emperor’s New Groove.

Comment from Alexandra
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:24 am

Happy 3!

I think you should check out the swedish designer nygårdsanna, I think you´d like her aesthetic.

http://www.nygardsanna.se/

Also, the swedish shoe designer Åsa Westlund;

http://www.asawestlund.com/shoeindex_2007.html

Comment from Simone
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:25 am

Congratulations!!!

Three books I really like:

The history of love by Nicole Krauss
The book thief by Markus Zusak
The end of Mr. Y. by Scarlett Thomas

I’m definitely coming back to these comments when I need some inspiration!

Comment from Sophie
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:34 am

i haven’t read all 116 comments, so apologies if i double up on others suggestions (of course i couldn’t just pick one…)

tv show: northern exposure

book: the inspector montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri (translated in english from italian). really great detective series. also made into an excellent tv series.

movie: the enlglish patient. the setting. the actors. the drama. the sensuality. the passion.

love you blog - beautiful knitting, wonderful writing, and a whole lot of recipes i ought to try. thanks for blogging.

Comment from kathryn
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:36 am

hi, and congrats,

1. if you like city of lost children they you’ll love:
delicatessen
it’s beautiful.

2. science of sleep
again, magical and beautiful and funny and set in paris

3. make friends with a sausage dog.
xx

Comment from Cassie
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:41 am

Congratulations!

Thank you for 3 years of such a wonderful blog… and for asking people to contribute things that are ‘good’ - it’s great to read so many suggestions!!

I’ve tried to think of 3 things that you may not have come across before. I think they are all etherially beautiful, but with an unexpected edge:

Film: Alice by Jan Svankmajer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095715/

Book: The Child Garden by Geoff Rymann
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Garden-S-F-Masterworks/dp/0575076909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212740129&sr=8-1

Music: Spirit of Eden by Talk Talk
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9fwxq85ldse

I’d also like to second the suggestion of Joanna Newsom… and I think that Alan Benett’s Talking Heads TV series was British Television at its best (but I figured you were likely to have come across these before).

Comment from Joanna Kostrzewa
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:42 am

Happy bloggiversary! *^v^*
I highly recommend watching the “MirrorMask” movie by Neil Gaiman (http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/mirrormask/).

Comment from teresa c.
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:44 am

Hi Ysolda, happy bloganniversary!
Be sure not to miss Serralves 10 hours non-stop - this weekend the Serralves museum and park will be open from 8 am saturday to midnight sunday, with all sort of activities. Please come and visit us! I’m sure we could get some knitting done in the park (actually, I never tried it, but that’s quite a nice idea!)
:)

Comment from Beth
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:46 am

My electricity supply is about to go off for the day, so I don’t really have opportunity to make a thoughtful post here. I’d like to recommend my island (Sanday, home of Orkney Angora yarn) as a place to visit; to be quiet, to contemplate, and to re-charge. But it is a long way out of the way - so here is an alternative much more accessible to you: Wanlockhead, if you don’t already know it, is the highest village in Scotland. It nestles high in the Lowther Hills of Dumfriesshire; boasts the Scottish Museum of Mining; sits right on the Southern Upland Way; is stunningly, stunnngly beautiful. Sheep roam free in the village. You can visit an old miner’s cottage and the miners’ library, even ride a wee train in the neighbouring village of Leadhills. If you like to walk, you can get up on the hill tops and literally walk all day without seeing another human being. A wonderful place to gain inspiration or recharge batteries. And just an hour’s drive away from Auld Reekie - with the opportunity to stop off for a home-made ice cream in Biggar on the way home. Or drive on down the Mennock Pass (stunning) from Wanlockhead for just a few miles, to pay knitter’s homage in the nearby town of Sanquhar.

I’ll throw in a film too: The Draughtsman’s Contract or The Belly of an Architect - heck, anything at all by Peter Greenaway!

Congratulations on the bloggiversary - and thank you for all the wonderful designs.

Comment from Jennifer
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:50 am

I just recently discovered your blog and now I am addicted!

My recommendations (I had so many so had to narrow it down):
Yarn: my lovely friend Felicia’s hand-dyed yarn, at SweetGeorgia Yarns (especially the yummy naturally dyed skeins);
Place: halfway up Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia, at night, gazing down on a bowlful of stars;
Sight: St. Paul’s from the Millennium Bridge at about 7:30 a.m. (well, it depends on the time of year) with the morning sun on it;
Book: A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth. Despite the length, I have read it again, AND again, AND again….

Congratulations on your three-year anniversary!

Comment from Helen
Time: June 6, 2008, 8:50 am

Likewise I’m going to have to make a note of some of these - lots of ideas for holiday reads!
Congratulations on your Blog Birthday! For your 3 years, here are 3 of my favourite things:
1) Watching the albatrosses fly, off the coast of Taiaroa Head, New Zealand
2) The movie ‘Once’, starring Glen Hansard from The Frames. A story of how a heartbroken busker in Dublin meets a Czec girl who helps him get a little closer to fulfilling his dreams. The soundtrack is amazing too.
3) Josh Ritter - a wonderful singer songwriter, he & his band put on the most energetic & fun live shows I’ve ever witnessed, plus he’s one of the nicest guys ever. One of my favourite lyrics of his (from Thin Blue Flame) ‘Heaven’s so big there ain’t no need to look up’.

I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while, I’m a very novice knitter so I’m working up to feeling confident enough to try one of your patterns!!

Comment from Elly
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:02 am

Hmm.. mine are all books…

Anything by Tamora Pierce for teenage aimed fantasy fiction with great female characters. (Sure, they’re teenage/young adult books, but I still reread them from time to time)

Any thing by Laurell K Hamilton (raunchy detective fantasy/horror)

And I’ve just finished The Chocolate Run by Dorothy Koomson - a bit like run of the mill light chic lit, but much less vacuous, and also set outside of London - shockgasphorror! :D

Comment from Rachel
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:05 am

A place: the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London.
A movie: the straight story, by David Lynch.

Comment from anushka
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:09 am

wow, you’ve got a lot of comments! happy three-years-blog - you deserve your success.
as for reccomendations, i say, watch Vertigo, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, if you haven’t already. Fabulous, fabulous. xoxox

Comment from Zsuzsanna
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:11 am

I would recommend the movie ‘House of Sand and Fog’. It’s sad, but beautiful. There are a lot of great books out there - when I want to relax and read something light I usually turn to Alexander McCall Smith. On the more serious side, I loved Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. Or War and Peace by Tolstoy if you are looking for a long, epic saga.

Comment from Rachael
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:14 am

I really enjoy reading your blog, looking at your lovely photographs and knitting your designs.
My recommendations are:
1. HV Mortons travel guides around Scotland and England that were written in the 1920’s and describe wonderfully the people and landscape of a bygone era.
2. Walking amongst the ancient Oak trees in Sherwood Forest.
3. Motherhood and the feeling I get when my baby boy smiles at me when he wakes up.

I wish you every success with your design career!

Comment from Lizzy
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:30 am

I recommend Filatura di Crosa “Superior” just to feel it, not even to knit with.

Film: Twelve Angry Men - makes you think.

Love what you do :)

Comment from Emma In France
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:32 am

As others have said, The Time Traveller’s Wife is the most wonderful love story. I recently read Halting State by Charles Stross, it’s SF set mostly in Edinburgh with a bit of Glasgow and is very funny. Also, A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski is an SF book about pacifism, it’d truly amazing.

It’s a very long time since I’ve been but Kellie Castle is wonderful and reasonably close to you to visit. If you’re ever in Wales then Carreg Cenin and Castell Coch are two very different castles that are well worth visiting. Finally, if you’re ever in Brittany then Rochefort en Terre is a beautiful place and also happens to be where one of my favourite artists, Eric B. (forgotten his last name, bugger) has his gallery.

Comment from Bridget
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:34 am

I love your blog, it always makes me happy to read.

I used to live in Edinburgh and my favoriet “secret” place is Doctor Neils Garden in Duddingston. It’s an old patch of waste land by Duddingston Loch, that was turned into a private garden over 20 years ago by two Edinburgh doctors. It’s now run by a trust and open to the public, but not many people seem aware thats it’s there. You may have seen it, it’s the piece of land with the old curling tower on it and its full of old pine trees and intresting plants. It’s a great spot to sit and relax.

To make a day of it I’d get up and walk over Aurthurs Seat in the morning, head down the far side into Duddingston (going via the exelent climbing frame on the sports ground). Stop and have lunch in the Sheeps Heid Inn(Edinburghs oldest public house), which does great food, ale and has a skittle alley. Explore round the village and then head to the Doctors garden. To find it you walk to the church by the loch and go through the gates of the manse next door. It feels like your walking into someones private garden, but if you turn right there’s a path that leads to a village garden with a gate at the end which takes you into the doctors garden by the loch. Enterance into the garden is free, they do accept donations, and normally the gates are unlocked. Have fun pottering around, then walk round the loch and head home via the Innocent Railway. (I’ve written this on the assumption you live on the Newington side of Aurthurs Seat).

Enjoy your blogiversary.

Comment from TheKnittingBee
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:34 am

Recent films I enjoyed at my local independent cinema:

Persepolis, a mainly black’n'white cartoon based on a graphic novel about a girl growing up in Iran. Utterly amazing, and really funny (plus: educational).

Happy-go-lucky: I spent the first half of this film angrily whispering to Mr Bee “is there going to be a plot? When is the plot going to start?”, but by the end I didn’t want the film to finish! A British film set in London.

(I also went to see Indy IV there, but I’m not sure I would recommend spending money on that ;) )

Comment from Alison
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:37 am

Happy third blogiversary! My suggestions -
- a lemon sorbet thickshake on a warm summer’s day, yum!
- Tim Tams, the defiinition of heaven in a biscuit ;-)
- falling asleep while listening to the sound of rain on a tin roof.
- watching a glorious sunrise and savouring the peace and quiet, while the birds start to wake and break the stillness with their calls.

Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your blog - it’s a joy to read. Best wishes for the continued success of your business!

Comment from christine
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:40 am

Congrats! I would say be sure to check out the book The Time Travelers Wife.

Comment from Calephetos
Time: June 6, 2008, 9:42 am

*delurk*

Read: Love in the Time of Cholera. I know it’s just been made into a film (though I missed the two nights it was at our local independent cinema) but the book was one I’ve loved since I was 15 or so. My comfort reads are Diana Wynne Jones (like Elly, I still love ‘children’s books’) or Jasper Fforde - if you’ve never picked up The Eyre Affair, go borrow it!

Listen to: The Wild Colonials: This Can’t Be Life. Wiki describes it as jazz-rock, which makes a sort of sense. I was lent a CD by my US flatmate in my first year at uni, along with Peppermint Sampler #2 (which I would also reccomend). This being ‘99, I taped them, and only tracked them down years later.

Go to the stone shops in Edinburgh (or anywhere) and run your fingers over the smooth polished gemstones. Make chocolate chip ginger nuts or white chocolate brownies. Pick up some Lavender incense from Oxfam’s One Village range and burn it on a long, drifting summer evening. Grow purple sprouting broccoli for next year and steam it gently, or throw it into just about anything.

Comment from Verena
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:08 am

Just watch this “must-have-seen” film: LAWN DOGS. it’s from the 90’s, but it’s never out of time and you will never ever see such an impressive, heart-turning, crazy and “eyes wide open” story like this!

Thanx for all the inspiration on your blog!!!

Comment from sally
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:14 am

Just thought of something else:

Ice-cream from Luca’s in Musselburgh

My favourite flavour is Stawberry…Yum!

Comment from little red hen
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:16 am

oh my goodness! when I looked on here this morning before work there were 2 comments. I thought I’d reflect on the question today and add my comment this evening! I am finding it difficult to pin point one or two things. Books there are many that are beautiful and leave a lasting impression- one that springs to mind is Immortality by Milan Kundera. Anything by him has been worth reading. 100 years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (also wrote Love in the time of cholera) is beautiful too.
A warm, funny, visually lovely film worth watching is “My family and other animals” based on the book of the same title.

Comment from Philippa
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:16 am

Jon McGregor’s So Many Ways to Begin, and, particularly his first novel If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things. Small, beautiful books that nestle into your heart. Asakusa restaurant in Mornington Crescent next time you’re in London, and Maison Bertaux on Greek Street if you’re in search of tea and cake and feeling extravagant. I’m sure you’ve seen it, but Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite films; Twelve Angry Men is good too.

Happy blogiversary, and many happy returns!

Comment from Alice from france
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:16 am

It’s been almost two years that i read you and i love all what you’ve done!

My recommendations:

Alela Diane with the album The Pirate Gospel and Mariee Sioux with Faces in the rocks , both american folk singer and maybe if you don’t already know this other one Joanna Newsome.

A place to see, the Ventoux mount in provence with Avignon and the Palais of the Popes. =) You will be welcome!

A movie to see, any of Stanley Kubrick, or maybe a Gus Van Sant one, paranoid park if you haven’t seen.

Happy Blog Anniversary!!

Comment from Froggiegirl
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:20 am

Happy 3rd blog birthday! All of us are so glad that you decided to start this blog so thank you too.
Recently I read Frances Mayes “A Year in the World” and found it to be as delicious as a good piece of chocolate.

One thing that I almost missed and was glad that that someone loaned it to me was the TV show Flight of the Concords. Those two guys from New Zealand made me laugh so hard with their own brand of humor.

Comment from Dabhand
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:26 am

Congratulations! I love everyone’s suggestions…

I recommend:

A book: Carson McCullers, “The Ballad of the Sad Cafe”
A film: Wim Wenders, “Wings of Desire”
A place: Machu Picchu, Peru.

Comment from Brittany
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:26 am

Did you ever watch Pan’s Labyrinth? That’s another movie that has amazing, almost fantasy-ish cinematography.

And I second the vote from Flight of the Conchords above. Brilliantly funny.

Comment from Lorraine
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:30 am

Awesome places/ things:
1. Mendocino, California (Mendocino Yarn Company)
2. The show “Firefly”
3. The movie “I was a male war bride”
4. Books by Barbara Tuchman, especially “A Distant Mirror: the calamitous fourteenth century”

Comment from Pigwotknits
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:31 am

A book: In Parenthesis by David Jones. It’s a beautiful and moving book about a Welsh regiment in the First World War.

Comment from Inga
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:36 am

Happy third birthday!
As you are so crafty and love all the little things that make life, you should watch the Science of sleep by Michel Gondry. Not really for the story in itself but for the imaginary world created by the characters : dreamy worlds, the little objects and animals made by the main character in her little studio, the differents textures and materials used in the film. It reminds you have to enjoy life for all the teeny tiny things and that you have to enjoy the crazy world you have in your head!
There is one other thing that upset my world a couple of months ago : the first Cd of the Guillemots Through the windowpane. A mind-blowing album that just breaks your heart.
Anyway thank you for all the blog posts, all the nice glimpses of your life in Scotland. All the best.

Comment from lauren
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:47 am

Congratulations on reaching 3 years! I didn’t read all the entries above, so I’m sorry if any of these are duplicated. Here are three of my favourite things…

film: the squid and the whale
book: the snow geese, william fiennes
music: iron and wine

I’m coming to Edinburgh for a day next week, to decide whether to take up the offer of a place there for a masters…if you know of any treasures of the city that I wouldn’t find otherwise, please do let me know!

Comment from Suzanne Maughan
Time: June 6, 2008, 10:58 am

Hi, and happy blogiversary! I’m a fairly new knitter and happened across your blog by accident, but now read avidly.

I would recommend an absolute treasure of a read called ‘The Death and Life of Charlie St-Cloud’ by Ben Sherwood. Its an amazing novel of love, life and death - a real tearjerker, but one that really makes you think, all the same.

Enjoy,
Suzanne x

Comment from Hazy
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:15 am

Happy blogiversary for yesterday!

Okay, a little gems that I have found lately:

Book: Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale (I was captivated)
Film: Atonement (probably best if you haven’t read the book)
Music: Alphabeat (I defy you not to smile and dance at their songs)

I also would have suggested the Shakeaway milkshake shop but there aren’t any in Scotland yet. They are fab.

Comment from Kelly
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:21 am

Happy 3rd blogiversary!!!
Books-Twilight by Stephine Meyer
Movie-Manna From Heven
Congrats!

Comment from PrincessPea
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:23 am

A French film: The Hairdresser’s Husband, directed by Patrice Leconte is the story of a love affair that is too good to last.

Happy birthday to your blog! I have enjoyed reading it and seeing you evolve from a student to a fully-fledged designer.

Comment from Gem
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:29 am

Happy Blogiversary! I am de lurking because it’s worth it for a competition :)

Obvious, but I’m going to recommend my yarn!

Comment from Katie
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:34 am

Congrats!
My suggestion is a simple pleasure but delicious treasure: bite each end off a twix and use it as a straw to drink your tea ;o) Be sure to eat the twix quick! Yum.

Comment from Amy
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:35 am

To read: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
To watch: Say Anything
To listen: Jens Lekman, “The Opposite of Hallelujah”
To visit: Rome, Italy …
To drink: Acai green tea

Happy blogaversary!

Comment from lucie
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:36 am

Thank YOU Ysolda - my little boy loves Elijah beyond all other toys. I love your blog. I hanker to live in Edinburgh.
Movie: Pan’s Labyrinth
Place to visit: Knoydart Peninsula on the W Coast of Scotland. We honeymooned at Doone which was fantastic.
Book: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

Comment from Felix
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:37 am

I think you would adore this website:

http://notionnanny.net/

…I know you didn’t say websites, but this one is especially wonderful to a travelling crafter.

I also think that if you haven’t already seen I capture the castle, You me and everyone we know, little miss sunshine or the shipping news, you need to put those movies on your rental list quickly!

Books that have changed my life: Inventory by Christine Hill, 101 Experiments in the philosophy of everyday living by Roger Pol Droit, knitted gardens by Jan Messent and Art Objects: essays in ecstasy and effrontery, by Jeanette Winterson.

If you haven’t ever visited the small town of Glastonbury, you must go.

And if you haven’t knit with Wensleydale from the farm of Julia Desch, or the lovely hand-dyed stuff sold by Oxford Kitchen Yarns, then you must try both.

Also, you need to spend an afternoon in Prick Your Finger; it is the best yarn store I’ve ever been in. Expensive, but all the yarns come from small, independent suppliers and are of an excellent quality.

Finally, I love the designs from Domestic Bliss; it is a tea-towel range featuring prints from old, old recipe books.

http://www.juliehaslam.co.uk/domestic%20bliss.htm

beautiful.

Good luck treasure-hunting!

Comment from Emilie
Time: June 6, 2008, 11:37 am

Hello. Happy Blogiversary!

I recommend the following:

- Beignet: Lovely and tasty. Good with coffee or hot chocolate.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beignet)
-Calke Abbey in Derbyshire: An amazing snapshot of history. It’s like it’s frozen in time.(http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-calkeabbey/)
-The Hoh Rainforest in Washington State (my home) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoh_Rain_Forest)
- The X-Files (my best show)
-The Green Wing (my second best show)
- Pan’s Labyrinth (the film)

I’m sure you’ve heard of the last 3. :) But I recommend them anyway. I’ve loads of books to recommend you but since you’re a lit. major I doubt there’s any point in mentioning them. :) (You’ll know books better than I will!)

(I just found out that I missed you at the sleepover at Socktopus Alice’s. I didn’t know you were staying over. I was trying to move house that weekend…)