Gray, gray, go away

When the weather is wet and gloomy and the skies are dark and gray, sometimes you have to import your own bit of sunshine!  Mine arrived yesterday from Nordic Fiber Arts.  I'm having so much fun with the mittens that I ordered more Finullgarn colors to play around with, complementing the more basic selection that I started with.  This should keep me busy for a while.

I've been the grateful recipient of a number of *You Make My Day* awards this week.  What a nice way to celebrate my blogiversary! Thank you, Lisa, LaurieG and KT.  Since I could never possibly whittle my favorites to a list of ten, instead of passing this award along, I'll use the opportunity to link to a few recent blog finds that might make your day.

• Kathryn Ivy, a wonderful blog, mostly knitting but not exclusively.  Great photos and meticulous documentation of a variety of projects, some designed by the authors.  Nice list of free tutorials in the left sidebar...check out the mushrooms.  (Here are some made by a reader.)
• Susan B. Anderson is the blog and the name of the author of Itty Bitty Hats.  Her work is lovely and her posts are always bright and entertaining.  My favorite recent post was about her young daughter and a children's book about knitting.  I think you'd enjoy it.
• Pat's Knitting and Quilting is a treasure trove of wonderful work.  (This little Norse pullover!!)  Unfortunately, Pat's recovering from a shoulder injury so she's not posting as regularly, but I'm sure you could find plenty to look at in her archives.
• I know I've mentioned Kathy & Sarah before and many of you probably already read it, but there's always something inspiring on the quilt front over at Material Obsession.  This post alone has me itching to dig through the stash and start something new. 
• And finally, when I need a blast of color and inspiration, I love to visit iHanna.  You never quite know what she'll be up to over there, but it often shakes me out of my chair at the computer to go make something! 

If you want to chase away your gray skies this weekend, this post of Hanna's would be a good start.

Comments

[Chris]

I love that picture - yarn rainbow!

[Jean-o]

The colors are wonderful! So cheery, about as far from grey as you can get! Have fun! Jean-o

[Diane]

Honestly, you make the simplest things look so beautiful! A visit to your blog always brightens my day.

[Hobbygåsa]

Wow, this is beautiful! Looking forward to see this yarn knitted up and become mittens!

[Carole]

The sun is out here this morning and it's the first time in a week. But I hear it won't last and we'll have rain, drizzle and snow again by late afternoon. Your new yarn is just the thing for brightening a gray day!

[Dawn]

Yum. It looks like a newly opened box of crayons.

[elizabeth]

Hi I met you at the Ravelry meetup! I'm so inspired by your mittens. I love your color choices. They make me happy.

[iHanna]

Jan, thank you so much for your kind words. All the other picks are great too, I'm surfing around looking right now! You make my day by being so generous and kind!

xxxo!

[Sarah]

Hey thanks for the tag Jan! I read your blog all the time and always have fun with your colourful posts. Right back attcha! x

[Dorothee Klein]

I confess to being hooked on knitting now too but by far not as intricately as you. Love them mittens!

Also: ages ago you posted dangly glas contraptions / luminaries that were colourfully decorated. Do you remember when that was? I'd like to look at them again because I'm planning something similar for a present ...

Thanks a lot!

[Pat]

Well - Thank you so much for this nice award (although, I don't think I'll be making anyone's day soon!)and for your nice compliments!
I am very inspired by your beautiful quilts - they are GORGEOUS - every one of them!!! - your knitting is beautiful too, but those quilts WOW!

[Lynn]

What great colors in that box!!!!

[Tammy]

You have such a nice blog and your knitting is phenomenal!