*contented sigh*

I have nothing of note to report really...just that I think that I have finally gotten my blog to look a lot more like I wanted it to!  :)

Oh, and if you have the chance...Banjo Billy's Bus Tours is fab!  My friend Stacey and I were supposed to go to Breckenridge today for the annual Snow Sculpture Competition.  Alas, Feb weather in Colorado prevented a trip up the mountains.  I'm bummed, it is the first time in at least 4 years I haven't been able to go, plus, Stacey had never been and was SO looking forward to it.  So as a last minute change of plans, we went with the tour of Denver with Banjo Billy...and it was GREAT!!

Check them out!

www.banjobilly.com

Catching Up...

So, I have the following to add to the finished objects list...and my queue of upcoming is getting longer by the day!  This is when I would love to still be unemployed so I could work on them so much more!

I have an afghan (for me) that has been in progress for over a year.  A friend has finished hers, and is definitely inspiring to get mine done.  However, in the meantime, I have (as of today) 14 (omg, FOURTEEN) pieces that are on "order", not counting the two that are in progress.  THIS is why I could never do this for money.  My life is busy, and sadly things end up going by the wayside. (In other news, I'm actually trying to un-busy my life some this year...not a resolution so much as an overall goal.)

On the needles now is a hat for CMM that I promised him months ago, but thankfully, 1) he's understanding, and 2) he took forever deciding on what colors and 3) kept forgetting to get me his noggin measurements.  Pictures will be posted after he receives his hat, as I never like spoiling the surprise for the recipient.

In the meantime...two finished objects to show!  One for Shannon, as a birthday present (I busted butt on his, I had a short turnaround!) and then there was Philip's Roar.  What could be better for a 2 year old who loves dinosaurs??

Up first: Shannon's Dream Catcher.  Same pattern as Bailey and Robin's hats, but without the pom-poms!

This is the picture that arrived at my phone right after he opened his package!

Up next:  Birthday Boy Philly's Dino!

But of course, how CUTE does little brother Jake look in Philly's Roar hat???

Munchkin-Love

I am a lucky girl.

I have amazing friends who have absolutely adorable kids.

Now, don't get me wrong, when I become an aunt by blood, I'm gonna be all over that...but in the meantime (and trust me Sister and Sister In Law, no rush...) I will continue to be Auntie Jolene to some of the cutest munchkins in the land.

I would have to say that list is at about 7 kiddos right now.  I'm not trying to play favorites, but those are the ones that immediately come to mind.

So to my munchkins, Kathryn, Brent, Phillip, Jake, Bailey, Grace and Jackson...Auntie Jolene loves you so much!!!!

Kathryn, Brent, Phillip and Jake

Photo by LifeReflected Photography

Bailey

Grace

Jackson

Oh the Life of the Unemployed...

So, as of Dec 2, I became unemployed.  Something that is definitely scary in this economic climate.  (Wow...that was very grown up sounding.)  I wrote about this earlier in a short blurb here, and I promise this won't be a misery-laden diatribe.  (That word was for my Scrabble loving sister in law and BFF English teacher...)

I have honestly LOVED being unemployed.  I know that sounds so weird.  I was lucky to get severance pay so I have had income...but I've been able to spend time resting (something I'm not normally too familiar with), knitting and crocheting (something I am so loving), spending quality time at the gym (something I need to still be better about) and spending time with good friends (something I always love).

I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy this unemployment over the holidays, so I could actually relax and enjoy the holidays for one of the first times since working retail.  I seriously think everyone should be forced to work at Target the day after Thanksgiving and WalMart the day after Christmas at LEAST once in their lives, so that they will have a respect for those that do that every day anyways.  (sorry...sidenote...)

I am now amongst the employed once again, and I can with all honesty, say that I didn't miss it.  The office politics, the waking up at a "decent" hour (although, to be honest, my body never adapted to my "vacation", I still woke up at 745 every morning), the need for caffeine to be functioning, etc.  However, it's the patients I did miss.  The interaction with some amazing folks, and some, well folks that are just going through some really hard times in their lives.  I look forward to being able to help them again.

As I did say above, I did get some serious knitting and crochet time while I was w/o a job.  I love how portable this hobby is.  Throw it in a bag...and go.  I've posted some of the stuff I've done, just need to catch up on a few others...

Employment...here we go...

Whipped Up in a Frenzy...

Since being unemployed, there are 3 things I've been able to do a lot of: rest, knit/crochet and go to the gym.

My friend ITGD saw Bailey's birthday hat and requested a version for HIS 5 year old, Livy.  I didn't take pictures of it, so imagine Bailey's hat w/o the funky teeny white stripes.  :)  Just the big ones, pink, white, orange, repeat.

I have had the yarn and pattern for what seems like FOREVER to do a hat for my dear friend Samantha (who doesn't know her hat is done and coming yet) and it is finally off the needles.  Pictured below!

Then, since I was actually able to whip out ITGD's daughter's hat in time, he asked if I could do a beanie for his sister in law, who just finished breast cancer treatments and is bald as a cue ball.  Oh, and by the way, she's a huge Denver Bronco's fan...think you can whip something up by Christmas?  Good thing I can crochet like the wind, and the pattern was nice and easy!!!

I was truly excited to do this one for ITGD's sister in law...anything for a chemo cue ball!!!  :)

Bailey's Birthday Present

My friends Casey and Bethany's little munchkin has a birthday this month.  Happy Birthday Bailey!!!

Since I always get the kids pj's for their Christmas presents, I needed something for her birthday present!

Mom said that Bailey's favorite color is red, however I wanted to do a few colors in her hat, so I needed a little more help.  When I called, she said that Bailey's other favorite colors were pink and orange.

Red. Pink. Orange.   Well crap.  Those don't work together.  However, you leave red out, add white...and VOILA!!!

YOU GET THIS:

Can't wait to see it on her!  :)

Hats Hats Hats!!!!!

Now granted, I did have these done prior to being unemployed, just haven't had time to post them!

My bff Spartacus saw Sister's newsboy hat I was working on, and I knew she'd look fantastic in it...so I whipped one up for her too!  She (like me) has a love for things that are that beautiful combo of robin's egg blue and chocolate brown, so when I got this Spud and Chloe yarn, I knew it was perfect for her hat!

"Jack" for Spartacus

Yay!

My friend Robin, saw me making the pink hats for my friend from high school (see here) and asked if I would make her a hat for running.  I had her look at a couple patterns and as soon as she saw the pattern for a hat with pom poms...that was it...and THIS was born...er...made...

Ummm...ignore the badge on the counter and cords on the floor!  :)

Fun right???  I've already made another hat in this pattern, but for a munchkin.  I just haven't gotten pictures taken of it yet.  Plus, I'm not as thrilled with the pom pom placement, stay tuned for that in the next post or two!

Life...

So, as of 12/3/10, I lost my job.  Actually...technically, I lost my job the evening of 12/2/10.  What a blow. I'm doing okay.  I know what I did was right, and if that is what it takes, then so be it.  As one of my good friends (ITGD from "fanny pack" fame) said...now nothing is standing between me and Seattle.

That's right.  I'm not limiting myself to job searching in Colorado.  I have a prospect here in Colorado, and I'm eagerly waiting to hear what the details might or might not be.  I'm just not putting all my eggs in that basket.  :)

Anyways, I'll be happy to tell you all the details if you just call...it takes too long to write out, and Lord knows what someone might do with my words if I put them here.  :)

In the meantime, I have been having lunch with friends, working my network, spiffing up my resume, doing a LOT of knitting (and those pictures and posts are to come) and actually getting some rest.  I know that all these things happen for a reason...even if I don't know what it is, HE does.  Just have to keep reminding myself of that.

Enough seriousness...on to the knitting posts!!!  :)

The Year Round Faux-Hawk

So, Audrey's momma ordered a Roar hat (just like Jackson's) so that her super cute faux hawk could rock year round!

Here's a picture of the adorable faux hawk in it's natural warm-weather state:

This also one of my all time favs I've seen of her yet!

And here is the year-round, cold-weather version:

Can't wait to see it on her noggin at Christmas time!

Jack Kelly

Hello all!!

So, Sister and I were chatting one day last week and I sent her the link to a pattern I had found that I had fallen in love with to which she too fell in love with and HAD to have.  One trip to Knit Knack later, some stash yarn and the holiday weekend and voila!  Her Perfect Newsboy Cap!  I love how fast this worked up, and already have another request for one for BFFR.  I just might have to make one for me!

Didn't it turn out cute???  BTW, mad props if you can figure out why I called it "Jack Kelly"!!!

Sister came by today and picked up her hat, snapped a couple pictures!  She looks so cute!

Yay!  Sister!

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