Smoking and Crocheting/Knitting....

So looking at several swaps/travelling item groups... I realized that a lot of knitters/crocheters do not like to do swaps with someone who smokes, or has a smoker in the household. So upon doing a quick search on Ravelry for smokers, I found a wonderful group, Smoking Knitters & Crocheters.

They are hosting a picture scavenger hunt for February, which I am loving. This scavenger hunt has prompted a few new projects to be completed recently.
First, a cigarette carton cozy. This is for the "Smoking Related" project.

This next one is for the "What Was I Thinking Yarn & Project" category...
Plarn... a very involved and tedious process to make it...

But the project I made from it turned out rather cute...

PlanetJune Heart CAL

Made these cute little hearts for PlanetJune's Love Heart CAL.

Valentine Monster

Using the pattern for this Valentine Monster on Ravelry, this little guy went to a friend at work.

The rose was made from PlanetJune's Basic Rose free pattern. My friend, Kelly, absolutely loved the gift. Another coworker requested one to give to her daughter, which I also gladly made.

Bookmarks

Another couple of projects I completed. The apple bookmark went to my sister Rebecca, in michigan. The teddy bear bookmark went to her daughter Amber.

Hello Kitty!

So I finally finished those belated Christmas presents for my twin sister and her two daughters. I made two of my little birds (free pattern found in this blog) for her, and a Hello Kitty for each of her daughters.

Explaining my abscense

I recently started a new job, and therefore have little time left to work on my projects. I have completed a few new projects, and hope to have pictures posted soon. I made a scarf to go with my Bella hat, finished the dinosaur for my son (my own pattern, to be posted for free as soon as I figure it out :p), as well as a Valentine Monster holding a Crocheted Rose. I forgot to take a picture of the monster after I made it, before giving it to a friend, but am making another one, which I hope to remember to take a picture of.

In the meantime, things are very much changed for me. Instead of being home all day and taking care of the house, I now leave for work before the kids get on the bus, and get home a few hours after they do. My mother retired from her job, and has taken over the role of caregiver while I'm gone, as well as taking care of the house and meals. It is quite an adjustment, and we are still trying to get used to our new roles.

For now, my new job has me working Monday through Friday, leaving the house at 6:45am, and not getting home until 5:45pm. This is the training period though, and my schedule will soon change. Hopefully I'll be able to have a day off during the week, and not leave until after the kids are on the bus. Although it feels good to be back in the working world, I do miss the time with my children.