We recently heard that Kate Davies Designs is a finalist for the award of UK microbusiness of the year! Across all UK business sectors, out of hundreds of different SMEs who entered, we have reached the final four! This is a major endorsement from the UK business community, and really is very exciting indeed. As you all know, I began my business in less than ideal circumstances (when I had to leave my academic post following my stroke). I had six months sick pay, no business “experience” to speak of, and was still very ill. A few years later, developing projects slowly, recovering as I went, and with a lot of hard work, I’ve built a successful company as a designer, writer, small publisher, and manufacturer of my own yarn line. I feel proud of what I’ve achieved so far (with the help of Tom, Mel, and the rest of my team). But none of this would have been possible without YOUR SUPPORT.
THANKYOU, ALL OF YOU, KNITTERS AND READERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WISH US LUCK AT THE BUSINESS AWARDS ON FEBRUARY 2nd!
—-HERE ENDETH THE BLOWING OF THE KDD TRUMPET—-
Keep blowing your trumpet as long as you like. You deserve every triumphant blast. Congratulations and best of luck!
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Congratulations to Kate Davies and Co. Well deserved and as so many of your other supporters say, my fingers are crossed for you.
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Congrats!!!
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Many congratulations, and fingers firmly crossed for the final!!
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Excellent work! Makes knitting a bit tricky, but all my fingers are crossed for you!
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Congratulations! A most splendid recognition. You truly are an inspiration.
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I’m very pleased for you Kate – a very well-deserved acknowledgement of your talent and dedication.
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Congratulations! I enjoy your blog and admire your designs and I’m so happy for your success.
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Very exciting indeed! Congratulations to you and all your team!!
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Brilliant, brilliant! You must be so pleased with this recognition of your inspirational post-stroke venture. And so appreciative of the support and participation of your team. Thousands of us out here are shouting for you.
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Congratulations!!! I hope Bruce’s foot is feeling better, too :)
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Congratulations Kate and team! This is such an honor and you have done nothing but inspire us all with your struggles/challenges and yet put the best foot forward and carried on! (No pun intended there.) You have delivered great patterns, yarns, writings, books . . . you have taken your talents and redirected them to make a living! I must say this makes saying no to the publishers all the more the right thing to have done!
I am just thrilled for you all!
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Blow your trumpet louder Kate! I am super happy to see you have been recognised and hope your whole team will have the best news ever on 2nd February. I have you to thank for the wonderful patterns, blog and wool and inspiring me to knit and this in turn is helping me to keep on top of issues I have. Well done kate!
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Hurrah for you and the team! You are an incredible example of making lemonade with life’s lemons. Love the blog, the patterns, and I am sure I will love the yarn when I get to try it. :-)
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Good Luck! You, and your team, are great !
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I am not surprised at all. The writing and research in your blog are excellent. The marketing of your yarn through the Seven Skeins Club fiendishly clever. Good Luck – We, who are your fans, are cheering you on.
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Many congratulations, you fully deserve to win. Such a role-model: Eng Lit academic, all-round craftswoman, knitting historian, super-business woman and so much more. Yay!!
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Awesome news! I hope you regard all these comments as lovely harmony to the great trumpet blowing!
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Kate, I wish you all the best. It is truly amazing what you have accomplished. Thank you for sharing your talent and gifts with us all. And for opening your life to us .
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Congrats Kate! Very best of luck for the 2nd of Feb.
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Paws crossed for you! Congratulations
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Congratulations – but it is well deserved. I will still have my fingers crossed for you.
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wonderful news and well deserved! good luck with the awards!
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I am not surprised. I have no idea what goes into the judging mix for such an award but they have to have have credited the tremendous care you take at every stage and level of your business. And so many other businesses have benefited from your energy and enthusiasm.
The fact that you did the difficult start up stage while facing straightened financial circumstances and horrendous health challenges makes your success phenomenal.
If you win, would Tom celebrate by publishing his Eccles Cakes recipe.:) This is shallow I know, but i would do worse for the recipe. hugs to everyone, robin.
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Thankyou, Robin! I’m sure Tom can be persuaded …
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How wonderful, good luck, I hope you win, you deserve it !
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Congratulations! It is well deserved for sure. All the best of luck!
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Congratulations!! You deserve all the best!!!
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Fingers crossed
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Good luck……your work is beautiful!
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Well deserved. Your work is awesome. Your patterns are accurate, your designs beautiful, your story of recovery an inspiration and your dedication humbling. Win or not you look happy and fufilled. Always the first prize.
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CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’RE THE BEST! I HAVE LOVED READING YOUR BLOGS THESE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU ARE A PLEASURE!
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Congratulations Kate, what an incredibly awesome achievement , and coming from behind the 8 ball….
You are a shining example of how when life gives you lemons…you make lemonade…GOOD LUCK…ā”ā„ā”
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You are an inspiration and an amazing woman. I’m so glad you are receiving the recognition that you deserve. Wishing you luck!!!!
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Congratulations Kate, you never gave up or gave in as many people would who have suffered any type of illness! The strong survive and I salute you! You are a Warrior!
Maureen Mino Listowel Ontario Canada
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You are an amazing and inspiring role model. Your whole team has an outstanding commitment to quality that delivers a very special experience to your clientele. Your business has promoted original British design and materials, and conveyed a unique sense of place that resonates through all your work. Recognition has been well earned by you all. I wish you success in the final round.
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Well deserved and well done! Congratulations. You are an inspiration, a gem.
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Toot toot toot toooooooo! Congratulations KDD! You’ll rock it!!
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Buena suerte! Well deserved, love your designs!
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This is SO wonderful; what and endorsement! Heartiest congratulations to you (and your team)!
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I raise my cup of tea to you this afternoon. The tenacity with which you have rebuilt a life for yourself helps remind me that I can and will do the same. Congratulations.
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Bravo and congrats from the bottom of my heart. Having had 2 strokes a year ago this month, you’ve been my inspiration to keep trying ever since Kephren shared your blog with me. You’ve already “won” in more ways than most people can begin to understand. Thank you and Tom for all you’ve shared including your talent and creativity.
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All the very best to you. Keep on keeping on!
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That’s great – have one for me at the Awards Ceremony x
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This is such an achievement Kate. Big hug from Australia
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That is such an exciting affirmation! Warmest congratulations! Good luck to you, Feb. 2!!!
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Oh how exciting and deserved! Fingers and toes crossed you win!
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Congratulations. Well Deserved.
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What exciting news! It must feel wonderful that your hard work has been acknowledged. Savor the good feelings.
Best regards, Jolanta
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Keeping my fingers crossed for KDD – you both deserve every accolade for the courage that you have shown in rebuilding your life and making dreams come true with determination and hard work.
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You are such an inspiration to me Kate. Congrats on this and I will be thinking of you on the 2nd. Super Kate for the win!
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This is wonderful! Well deserved! Congratulations to YOU & your TEAM!!
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Bravo ! FĆ©licitations ! C’est mĆ©ritĆ©. J’adore votre travail…
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Realy proud – Ma&Pa
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Congratulations! even if you don’t get the final award to be among the first 4 is a great accomplishment. Thank you for all you share with us, I look forward to the future!
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Congratulations!!! Wonderful news and well deserved.
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Fantastic – the very best of luck. Your designs are am inspiration as is your hard work and achievements
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Kudos to you and your team! – echoing all that has been said above, you have taken such a negative situation and slowly but surely turned it into a rewarding life – may you be richly rewarded!
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How wonderful, many congratulations and all the best!!
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Great news! Congratulations one & all for your creativity & hard work. And thanks for sharing what you do with all of us.
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Congratulations!!! You deserve it. You have an admirable outlook and aesthetic to all you do and who you are. AND you are a GREAT inspiration ;) Thanks and enjoy yourself at the awards!!!
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Regardless of the award outcome, you are a WINNER! Thanks for all you do to inspire us, lifestyle-wise and knitting-wise. Go ahead and toot your horn! xos from Oregon
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You should be so proud. No one deserves it more. In my eyes, you have already won.
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A well deserved blue of the trumpet! Many congrats and good luck !
All best wishes
Lynn
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Fantastic news and good luck.
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Felicitations!Ce que vous faites est superbe,vos creations magnifiques
Tous mes meilleurs voeux pour la suite
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fantastic news good luck.
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Good luck with the award. So pleased and proud to be an across the pond supporter! You deserve to win this!
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That is wonderful news – and richly deserved!
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Congratulations on your nomination, Kate, and all the team. It would be a very well-deserved honor. Got my fingers crossed for you!
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Congratulations Kate to you and your whole team! Your work is very beautiful, best of luck!
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Brilliant! You SO deserve this x
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Congratulations! It’s amazing what you have built in such a short amount of time under very difficult circumstances. You’re an inspiration for us all! Looking forward to your future enterprises….
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Great work!
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Congratulations! There is no doubt you are that rare combination of recognized artist and successful business woman.
Good luck and here’s hoping that you win!
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Such great news!!! I’m so happy for you, Kate! You deserve this and much, much more! You are an inspiration to us all!
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The award would be the cherry on the top of all your inspiring accomplishments, but we will all still be here after February 2, no matter the outcome. Congratulations from the USA & fingers crossed for you.
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your beautiful designs, your squishy warm yarn and your inspiring story are easy to support. Well done Kate, you are an inspiration. I currently have a close friend recovering from stroke at an early age. She is in the stage of being in an upside down world, being very sick and not knowing how it all will work out. Your story helps her to believe a new and better life is her future. A tough road for sure. Huge Congrats on navigating past your very rough spot and coming out here!
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Great news congatulations think you deserve to win plus Tom. Hope Bruce is on the mend!! Sorry we did not have much time to see you both at Xmas. Pure will power got me home all’ swell now. Good luck from Geordie land fingers crossed xx
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Best of luck you deserve to win for all your hard work & ofcoarse Tom pleased to here your business is doing well. Congratulations from June & Tommy in Geordie land sorry we did not have long with you at Xmas hope Bruce is on the mend!!!
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Congratulations on this nomination, You are an inspiration. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed wishing that you are the winner! Best wishes to you and Ted, Bruce , Mel and your entire team.
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A huge congrats to you and your team! Well done and fingers crossed on the big day.
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Congratulations !!! You really deserve this honor! Not only you worked hard, but you took risks, jumped into something you didn’t know, you trusted yourself, you listened to your inner voice to do something that you really liked, but you also achieved lots of things, create beautiful designs, books, yarns.
I’m following you since a year now and I feel most happy that you got this distinction.
Bises
Sandrine
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Congratulations! I wish there was more we could do to get you closer to that award…vote? Your hard work shines and we so hope to hear that you and the team get this award. You’ve already won in our hearts & minds! Wooohoo!
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love, love, love. nobody deserves it more than we …..erhm…..YOU do..
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Fantastic !!! Congratulations !!!
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Well deserved. Congrats on the nom. I would think just being nominated has merits of its own. We will all wait with anxious hope that you will win.
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Congratulations! Good luck
,
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Congratulations, Kate! What an honor to have bestowed on you! Here’s hoping that you get the number one spot. You, Tom, Bruce, and your whole KDD team deserve it!
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What fantastic news ! You deserve to win ….so I’m wishing you lots of luck and keeping everything crossed for you .
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Congrats, Kate! Best of luck ~ you are an inspiration!
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Congratulations & best of luck! I can’t imagine anyone more deserving.
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What a thrill to hear this news! It must be so gratifying to have your work and your team recognized in this way. I have to say, though, that your knitting fans do not need a committee to tell us that you are the best. We’ve known it …..for a very long time. Congratulations!
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Congratulations, so well deserved!
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Congratulations and best of luck,it’s well deserved
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Congratulations Kate, Tom and Bruce the Brave,
You Blow that Horn from the Highest Mountain in Scotland! I know there are the other 3 businesses to consider, but I think your the Best! It takes love and guts, to do what seems impossible and make it come true! I think all the Folks that follow you closely, would say that the “Heart and Soul of Kate, and those she Loves”, reflects in what you design, the Yarn that you offer, the people that call you friend before employer. All that is what, “Kate Davies Designs” is really about! these things are reflected every time you send a post with Pictures, of the Land , Your Garden, the Walks, the Mists that settle and then slip away like ghosts, as Bruce runs and delights at finding a small friend or 2. When Tom slips in a special recipe in with a Book, your love of Birds and Puffins that make you smile….all that and more than I can write in this space, are what make you a number 1 business to me. I always know that the pattern I download is more than just a pattern. It has a story, some inspiration and you encourage me to add my inspiration to make it even more, to add a bit of “Me” to that story, that design. So You grab that whistle, give one to Tom and Tell Bruce to Howl away from that Mountain, and your Friends and Fans will Blow theirs right along with you!
P.S. I hope Bruce is Cone free and feeling Himself again!
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Congratulations!
You deserve it.
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That’s awesome, congratulations!!
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Fabulous news!
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Wow! We knitters have been inspired by you for years, so no surprise here, but it’s brilliant to be recognized by the wider business community. Congratulations!
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An absolutely brilliant achievement whether you win or not. And so well deserved. Congratulations.
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Congratulations – very well deserved!
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Well done and congratulations!
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Couldn’t be more well deserved. Thank you for all you’ve given us. My GD loved her owlet Christmas cards and now my daughter wants one.
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Ooh! Congratulations! This is wonderful!
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You have worked very hard and I do hope you win !
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Huge congratulations, if anyone deserves it you do! x
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So excited and happy for you! Much deserved! Congratulations! And thank you for all the beauty you provide for us with your business.
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Wonderful news and huge congratulations to you and the fab team! Fingers crossed for the next stage, but you are a winner here already xx
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Congratulions ššš
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Congratulations! Well deserved!
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What you’ve done, Kate, is really inspirational. You took your unfortunate circumstances, and, with support from your friends and family, created a new life plan that is successful (public recognition or not). That’s HUGE. Congratulations.
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That is very exciting, and well deserved!!! What an honor even to be nominated!! Kudos to all (including Bruce!)
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Congratulations, Kate! You are an inspiration!
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Fingers crossed for you – that’s such fantastic news. You are such an inspiration to us all.
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Most excellent choice.
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this is amazing. trumpet away! you deserve it x
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Wow! Congratulations.
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Wonderful, congratulations …… You three are so deserving of this.
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Wonderful, congratulations Kate
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Congratulation!! You deserve it!!! Wishes from Italian knitter !
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Congratulations! And thanks again for the wonderful Rams and Ewes pattern — I love my blanket!
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And as it might be said here on the other side of the pond …. you TOTALLY earned it! Congratulations!
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Best of luck on the 2nd! Congratulations on achieving finalist status!
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Congratulations! I faithfully read your blog and follow all of Tom and your adventures as well as your puppy, Bruce’s ! I find myself longing to live where you live with its beauty and spirit. You have done and will continue to do wonderful work. This shows how perseverance, courage, and creativity-well light always wins out over darkness. Your success is a symbol we all need. I’m in the US, New Hampshire. I don’t often comment on your blog but know I am over here reading, dreaming, and celebrating all that you do.
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Wonderful news!
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Congratulations! So well deserved. Fingers are crossed on Feb 2. To me/us you are the winner!
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Congratulations! That’s good news. You deserve it for all your efforts and inspirations.
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Hip-hip-hooray! And we’ll add a few tootles to the fanfare! You have certainly earned and deserve it! Congratulations to all.
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Congratulations! It is well deserved and is yet another reminder that we can never tell how our life is going to work out.
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Brilliant!
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What wonderful news…..so very well-deserved! Congratulations to the whole team.
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Wonderful news, heartiest congratulations. Proud to be a KDD fan and knitter.
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WOW!!That is fabulous news!!Congratulations:)!!!
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Well done and good luck.
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It never ceases to amaze how out of seemingly tragedy and hopelessness therein lies a new beginning. Many never share about their experiences that are so encouraging and give such hope. Thank you for taking your readers on the journey through your business and personal recovery. Your work is so lovely, the patterns inspiring and with the addition of your yarn line, well, what a wonderful testimony to how life will pull us through, if we just keep moving. My favorite victory was you getting your driver’s license! Quite the accomplishment. Truly pulling for this win in your favor. Continued blessings and new beginnings in 2016 for you, your new marriage to Tom and your faithful team. What joy you spread. Thanks again and again.
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fĆ©licitations !! c’est mille fois mĆ©ritĆ© tant au plan personnel que professionnel!
je vous souhaite le meilleur pour l’avenir pour vous Tom et Bruce
je croise les doigts pour le 2 FƩvrier
amitiƩs fanfan
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Well Done! Congratulations! God bless you on the rest of your new walk. I’m so happy for all of you!
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Very man congratulations – and so very well deserved! The best of luck for February 7th !
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How perfectly marvelous !!! All trumpet blowing is followed by applause !!!
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I have to agree with greenrabbitdesigns in blow that trumpety fanfare Kate, you’ve worked so hard and I think you totally deserve to win…fingers crossed and good luck on the 2nd of Feb.
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That’s wonderful!
Congratulations and Good Luck :-)
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Well Done! Congratulations! God bless you on the rest of your new path. I’m so happy for you all!
Debrielle
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You deserve to win kate. Good luck. xxx
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Congratulations to you and to your team !
It’s so nice !
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So happy for you, you deserve it!
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so happy for you. you deserve it!
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Wonderful! Congratulations! I’m happy to be a big fan (and purchaser) of your designs, books, and yarns.
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Thrilled for you and your team. You thoroughly deserve this award. Speaking personally, my knowledge of techniques and collection of beautifully designed garments continue to grow thanks to your influence. I’m keeping everything crossed for the big day.
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Well done Kate and team. A great boost for you on a wintry day.
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Woop woop woop! Well done you. Well deserved and so much nicer than REF, no?
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Congrats! My knitter friend turned me on to your posts which I enjoy so much. She gifted me with the hat I am wearing!
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You really deserve this, so exciting. I really hope that you win.
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Bravo Bravo Bravo.
Vos modèles sont merveilleux ! vous le méritez :-)
Bonne chance
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SO exciting!! Well done, and feel free to blow that trumpet all you like, you’re among friends ;-) Congratulations and good luck xx
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Excellent work! You deserve this honor! You give so much to your community of knitters and landscape lovers!
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Congratulations, very well done, no mean feat! May you win on the day…
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Congratulations! What a journey you have shared with your readers and knitters all over the world. Wishing you, Tom, and Bruce (of course) the best.
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If you hadn’t found the right designs, venues, “marketing,” and story-in short, if you hadn’t found a voice that resonated, none of us would be on board. Pat yourself on the back.
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Such exciting news. Best of luck in the final phase.,
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OMG…….that is fantastic and SOOOOOOOOOO exciting!!! Very pleased for you and your team, and Bruce!
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Well done, that is so fantastic – keep blowing your trumpet, you deserve it.
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Congratulations Kate! I’ll be cheering you on from this side of the Atlantic!
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Well done Kate and all the team . Perseverance pays and you have persevered! Well deserved . I am not a knitter but have had your designs made up for me and family . I always enjoy your blog and wonderful photos. Keep up the good work .
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Well done, fingers crossed hope you win. You deserve it.
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Well done and much deserved. Congratulations!
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Congratulations and honor well deserved!
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Kate, Enjoy the accolades because you have earned every one! And know that there are many, many of us who admire your talent and aesthetic and fortitude as we’ve followed your story over the years (beautifully illustrated by Tom!). Lighting a candle and raising a glass to your continued good health and wooly endeavors! Warm hugs to you, Tom, Bruce, and the team! (You deserve all these exclamation points and more :-)
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Fantastic! Couldn’t have happened to a more talented or worthy group!
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You won’t need good luck; you are already a winner.
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Congratulations. I am so happy for you. Very best wishes.
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Congratulations, deserved icing on the cake I’d say! Cheers, Johanna
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Congratulations!
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Dear Kate – I’m *so* very pleased to hear this. I have delighted from afar in all you are doing since you were at Newcastle. We miss you in the Toon, although I think you are in a far better place now – on a dreary city day, the shots of your walks (and Bruce) are much needed. Stacy x
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Totally deserved, and if there were an award for “Most Inspiring Small Business”, you’d get it, for sure.
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Warm congratulations! How very exciting for you!
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Congratulations. I do enjoy your emails so much and can see how hard you have worked and really, how famous you have become by being good at what you do…you really deserve an award and I hope you are the winner!
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Well done indeed to my favourite knitter (and so much more). You are an inspiration!
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Brilliant, well done and definitely deserved. Congratulations
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Congratulations!
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Congratulations!
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So proud of you. Keep blowing that horn!
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I wish you TONS OF GOOD LUCK!!!
Kate, always remember that is you in the first place who makes us all a little happier with your blog, wool designs and your wool. :)
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Congratulations! Get that champagn on ice ready for the celebrations.
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Congratulations!
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Félicitations Kate, vous êtes formidable!
Brigitte/France
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Congratulations! And so well deserved, by you and Tom and the rest of the team.
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Congratulations!! This will be a well deserved award, as I am sure you will be their final choice.
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Oh, fantastic! Many congratulations to you all, but you deserve it so much!
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you’ve earned it!
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Congratulations Kate you and your team deserve it …. good luck x
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Oh blow away, many congratulations Kate, it is so very well deserved!!
Best of luck for the next stage! :)
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How exciting! Good luck!!!
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Congratulations! A well deserved honor for sure!
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I totally agree! You so deserve this award. You are a role model and very courageous!
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[raises glass to you]
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