Congratulations to winners Barbara and Shadowlilies (check your email, ladies!) for winning free downloads of both the Magnolia Cowl and the Clara Shawl! My mom sent me a bunch of old photographs recently, and this one inspired the Clara Shawl:

I danced for years and lived and breathed all things ballet. This photo was taken from my Boston Ballet days and I'm trying on Clara's dress from the Nutcracker. I remember how incredibly thrilling it was and seeing this photo again after so many years brought me back to the excitement and joy in trying on such a famous dress. No doubt my mom has only memories of driving me back and forth to practice multiple times a week, helping me sew the ribbons on my pointe shoes and during Nutcracker season she probably wanted me to take up a sport closer to home with significantly less driving, but this picture reminds me of a wonderful day we spent together in Boston, culminating with me trying on this dress and her snapping away with her camera.

It was a wonderful day, thanks Mom.

What inspires your knitting, dear readers?