Gracie Knits

Settling In

I found the cable to the camera yesterday!  Woot!  Most of the boxes are unpacked and we are starting to feel like this is home.  It is going to take awhile, but at least we don't feel as much like nomads anymore.  I still have a few boxes stuffed into a closet that I need to go through, but all in due time.  My sewing/knitting room is coming along well and I now have the task of how to organize the yarn.  I know I can put all sock yarns together but beyond that I'm at a loss.  Color or type?  Baby or adult?  By weight?  Hmmmm.....

I've been making good progress on my Ravalympic Feb. Lady Sweater and started one of the sleeves last night.  I don't know if I will get it done before the Closing Ceremonies are over, but it is going to be close.  I feel like it has been a slow knit despite the quick time frame.  I think it is all of the purling that the wrong side of the lace requires.  But, it is the whole body of the sweater so that explains the slower progress.  However, I've discovered that I love knitting from the top down.  It is so nice to know that I won't have to do side seams or sleeve seams.  And, I love Malbrigo so much that I want to marry it. 

Ladybug and I have a busy day today so I'll leave you with some pics cause she is so darn cute.

Playing at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile before we moved.

With R at the Watermelon Patch before we moved.

Lexie and I at Wings at our goodbye dinner.  Can you tell we had been crying all day?!

Boxes Breed

Did yall know that boxes breed?  Somehow, you think you are making progress but there are suddenly everywhere you turn!  I've also found that I move stuff from room to room and the mess doesn't get put up, it just gets transferred.  Eventually it will all get done and things will find a home.

The move went as smoothly as moves go, and we've been here almost 2 weeks and we are settling in.  We miss our friends in Mobile terribly and it is strange not to be seeing K as much as what we did and hanging out with Alexis and Remy.  I get too sad when I think about it, so I'm just putting my head down and putting one foot in front of the other.  We've found a MOMS Club and I've gotten hooked up with the Junior League and we've been to church so we are starting to meet people.  My goal is to next find some knitting groups, there are a lot in the area (more than Mobile) so it should be fun.

I've made it by 2 yarn stores but no knit nights yet.  I ended up getting some Cascade 220 Heathers which was originally going to be for the Feb Lady Sweater for the Ravalympics.  However, I went to another store and found some Malbrigo.  I decided that like K, I love it so much that I want to marry it, so I bought some for that.  So, now I'm going to make Wicked from the Cascade 220 and then use the Malbrigo for the Feb Lady Sweater. 

Here is a cute pic of my Ladybug.  K took it at her house.  Does the girl not look happier when surrounded by yarn?!  I sense greatness.  I'm not sure what the hat pattern she is wearing is, K made it.

Shetland Shorty

Ta da!  A brand spanking new FO!  Love this one. 

Excuse the no makeup and not so great angle.  DH took the pictures and so it wasn't a spectacular photo, but better than the picture in the mirror shot. 

(BTW - the hair is a new cut (but doesn't look too great, we are moving away from red and back to blonde, but it is going to take awhile.)

The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in supersock merino, and I"m not sure of the colorway, it just said blues/greens on the ball band.  Kathleen got it for me when she was on vacay last year.  More detailed specs are here on Ravelry.

And, just cause she is cute here is Miss Ladybug with her best friend.  We are going to miss him a lot when we go!

It is our last week here in Mobile.  Saturday we are going to be loading up the car with Olive and the guinea pig and heading north to Indiana.  We close on our house on the 21st at 3:30 so think all of your positive house closing thoughts that everything goes smoothly. 

Yard Art

Check out our new yard art!  Sure beats pink flamingos, doesn't it?!  Our house went on the market this morning, so hopefully it will sell quickly.  Hope burns eternal. 

We've been in Evansville, found, and bought another house.  I love love love it.   It is a Cape Cod style house from the 60's but has been renovated inside.  Do you wanna know the best part?!  KNITTING AND SEWING ROOM FOR ME!!  Yep, a whole room for yarn and fabric.  Ok, I have to share it with the laundry room, but I have my own space now and I'm so so happy about that.  All of my stashes will finally be organized in nice cabinets. 

I took a sock with me and this is what we have so far....

It is the Shimmer pattern from Knitty and I'm loving it so far.  I'm using Lorna's Laces in Uptown that I got at Heidi's four forevers ago.  It is a great easy pattern that goes quickly without having to look at a chart.  I think it would have looked better with shorter and more colorchanges, but I like the way it is striping.

Shetland Shorty pics manana.....

Starbucks and Yarn Swap

Swap Questionnaire! 

1. Full name  - Gracie Bell
2. Ravelry ID - graciebell
3. Email address - graciebell at gmail dot com
4. Blog address (if you have one)
5. Handmade item you desire in the swap (bag, cup cozy, etc.) - coaster
6. Starbucks item you desire (gift card, mug, beans, etc.) - mug
7. Favorite Starbucks beverage/bean - right now, mocha frappuchino
8. Favorite snack food - granola if I"m being healthy and sour patch kids if I'm not
9. Favorite color(s) - pink!
10. Favorite fragrance - floral scents but not too sweet
11. What types of things do you like to knit? I'm a pretty equal opportunity knitter, allthough I'm not a fan of knitting blankets, I can be a selfish knitter and knit the big things for myself
12. Do you spin? I"m trying to learn but it is slow going
13. Do you dye your own yarn? not on a regular basis, but I've tried it before
14. Favorite yarns - anything soft, I'll try anything once!  I hate mohair though... yuck
15. Favorite needles - addis but I've been wanting to try the new Knit Picks metal
16. Do you have any allergies? - nope
17. Would you be willing to prepare an angel kit if necessary? - sure
18. Do you have any special requests? nope!
19. Do you have any pets? Olive our dog and Hendrix our guinea pig.  does a husband count?
20. Is your home smoking or non-smoking? non

Happy Friday!

Hurrah!  It's the weekend! 

We have family in town this weekend, so it will be a busy one!  We got the house, driveway and area around the pool powerwashed and it looks so good!  Isn't it amazing how much you do to help your house sell when you should do it before while you are living there?  I'm hoping it sells fast.  We are planning on going up next weekend to look at houses.  Hopefully we will find one and won't have to be in temporary housing. 

Sitcom Chic and I are on a timeout.  I finished it last night except for the neckband.  Well, the top is huge.  It fits pretty well everywhere else except for the front shoulderblade area.  It will be going with me to knit night to see if it can be salvaged.  I may need to rip it and fix the decreases.  It is knit in the round so it is a lot of knitting.  I may just frog it all together, I don't know if I love it enough to redo it.  Hence, the timeout. 

I'm casting on for the Shetland Shorty tonight.  I'm ready for something a little more complicated after my hours of stockinette stitch of the Sitcom Chic.  I'm going to use some Cherry Tree Hill that the fab Kathleen got me.  It is all pretty and blue and green, aren't we all surprised that it isn't pink?!

Finally, thank yall so much for the warm welcome back into blogland.  Knitters are wonderful friends and I'm lucky to have great support.

Time Flies

Lordy lordy!  I didn't realize I had neglected my poor blog for almost a year!  That is so so sad! 

Ladybug is getting so big - she is 19 months and running and talking some.  I can't believe how big girl she has gotten.  New pictures are at http://gkbphotos.shutterfly.com.  I can't believe she is a toddler!  I absolutely adore this age.  She is much more interactive and developing her own personality.  Her top favorite things are purses, balloons, Elmo and the Disney Princesses.  A girl after my own heart!

We've had a rough past couple of months, but I'm back on the right track.  I kind of lost my way back again, but thanks to good friends and my darling husband, I'm coming out of my funk.  It has been a long, hard road and post-pardum depression is not a fun thing. 

Our exciting news is that we are moving!  We are moving to Evansville, Indiana!  DH got a job with a different company and is going to be starting there at the end of July.  So, we have to pack up our house and head north!  I know it will be a big adventure.  It looks like there is a lot more knitterly activity going on there, so that is fantastic. 

I'm hoping to update the blog more regularly now that I'm getting back into my creating mode.  I've started sewing and smocking so much of that is to come.  I'm almost done with my Sitcom Chic cardi and in the planning process for the next project.  In my fresh start mode, I scrapped everything I was working on cause I figured if I really didn't like it, I wouldn't finish it.  Except this cardi cause it was almost done and everyone needs a white cardi.

War Eagle Baby!

War Eagle!  Tomorrow is the official start of the Auburn football season, and our house is busy with activity.  We aren't going up for the game, but will celebrate here.  Claire has a new outfit that my mom made for her.  It says "Aubie's Girl" and has an applique of Aubie on the front and it says "Grrrr..." on the butt.  Since she will be asleep for most of the game, she will sleep in her Auburn pajamas.  Nobody can say we aren't festive in this house.  We took a Baby Sign class at the Watermelon Patch and we even learned "Glory, Glory to Old Auburn" in sign.  She showed us the fight song in sign language, but it was way to complicated for us to remember. 

So, you remember my resolve to be better with blogging?  Well, computer problems happen.  A lovely friend graciously let us borrow his computer so we are up and running again.  I know I was being a bit of a slacker before, but I'm going to stick with that as my excuse.

Ladybug is getting bigger by the day.  She will be 10 months on Tuesday.  Yes, 10.  Isn't it scary how time flies by?!  She isn't walking yet, but she is starting to try and stand by herself.  She feels very big girl. 

WAR EAGLE!

Ladybug on the Move!

She is coming to get you!!  I can't believe she is already 9 months!

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Eveyone go and wish Kathleen and The Hubby a Happy Anniversary!  It's the big 0-3!  I hope that yall have a wonderful night and we will miss you at Knit Night tonight!

Just a drive by post....

.....  to drop off some pictures of the Ladybug.  We have discovered Cherrios this past week, and they are her favorite food.

I adore my girl.

I'll be back next time with pictures of Christmas in July and a new UFO.