just ordered a copy of Herbert Niebling knitted lace designs book!!

so excited i can't wait for it to arrive ...

Knitted Lace Designs of Herbert Neibling
—Herbert Niebling

The name of Herbert Niebling has become legendary among lace-knitters.In his designs you may find familiar leaves and flowers - but frequently his extraordinary and unique motifs will make you gasp; he seems to bend the "rules" of knitting to near-impossible lengths. Over two dozen patterns are included - edited and revised by Mary Frances Wogec - along with her full English translation. What a treat.

This beautiful book, Knitted Lace Designs of Herbert Niebling is a reprint of Gestrickte Spitzendecken by Eva Maria Leszner. However, the English translator discovered errors in many of the instructions - and has corrected everything she found. Most comforting as you launch into one of these spectacular designs. $28

If only Dr. Seuss would learn to curse 

when the multiple sclerosis symptoms are worser and worse. 

I want to bitch and scream and cry 

Goddam it to hell oh why oh why 

the spasms, the aching, the paralysis oh my. 

The brain fogginess and slogginess and bitchiness too.

I just want to move and groove and be who’ve 

I’ve meant to be and not this thingamajiggy 

that  crumbles and rumbles along with rust in my pipes 

Who grumbles and mumbles with complaints and gripes 

about this body that used to be fine 

and now I don’t recognize that it even is mine. 

so I’ll pick myself up by the scruff of the neck 

without giving a damn or giving a heck. 

What the flickety, flackity, fluckity, fluck. 

maybe I just shouldn’t give a big ol’ flying fuck 

but I keep cursing along with with this dastardly disease, 

the bastard, the brute, this putrid if you please. 

And if the cursing helps me get through each day 

then I’ll just keep doing that and I’ll leave you to pray. 

Good Bye Auntie Mona, One Day I Will Meet You on the Flip Side

She always sang this song "How Great Thou Art" ~ (as sung by Andy Griffith)

My aunt Mona (Velta) passed away quietly in the early morning hours of January 14th surrounded by her loved ones. Velta lived life with a deep abiding faith, genuine love for people, and always offering hope to those around her. She will be missed by those she touched as she continues her life as a saint in God's presence. We love you wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend.

Good Bye Auntie Mona

I close my eyes as I wipe a tear.

I just keep wishing you were still here.

I will hold all the memories deep in my heart.

Through these memories will never part.

I close my eyes as I wipe a tear.

I just keep wishing this pain would disappear.

I so wish we didn’t have to say our last good-bye.

I just didn’t think you could ever die.

I close my eyes as I wipe a tear.

All of your love I will always hold near.

In my heart and my mind I will never be alone.

When my time comes......

I will meet you in heaven!

You were the BEST! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU!

[Good Bye poem originally © Joan C. Johnson ]

Below are the words on the birthday card that I sent to her back in November, two months before she died. I am so glad that I was able to share with her just how important she has always been in my life.

HaPpY bIrThDaY aunt Monie!!!

I dedicate this ‘Aunt Poem’ to a very special Aunt of mine.
For My Aunt

My aunt is to me the greatest person in this world,
one of a kind and one in a million.

She has the biggest heart with the most caring touch,
which she shares with so many of us.

Her soul is made of pure love,
yet she's worth way more than gold.

In my eyes, she will always be, 
the most beautiful person to walk the earth.

To me she's the smartest woman I know,
and it truly does show.

There is no one that compares to her,
no one that even comes close.

I appreciate all the advise she has given me,
I take it in with immense gratitude.

The memories I will forever cherish,
for they are priceless.

For all she has done, I will forever be thankful,
and my love for her only grows more with each day that passes.

On a high pedestal is where I hold her,
for I admire her so much more than she knows.

Having her apart of my life is the greatest gift of all,
being in her presence is god's blessing to me.

Looking deep inside of her,
I see that strong, wise woman I hope to become.

Giving, helpful, loving, caring, and kind,
is what defines her.

She is not only my favorite Aunt but she is my role model,
and to be like her, would be my only wish.

Genuine Trust and Faith

My aunt monie is one of the most beautiful and wonderful women that I have ever known. The flu has put her in the hospital this past week and she is now in comfort care.

Lord Jesus Christ,

As you stood by the bed of good Saint Joseph and gently led him home to heaven, so shepherd aunt mona, a precious soul about to pass to your paradise of perfect peace. Let the tears of all who knew her stand witness to their love for her and the depth of our thanksgiving for the gift of her life and that of her genuine trust and faith in you and the grace of a good death. Amen.

What a Blessing that must feel like !

I have never truly experienced it for myself yet, but I am comforted when I see/hear another's expression of their sentiments. The type of genuine faith that especially when you can hear the smile of it in their voice ~ 

What a Blessing that must feel like !

Happy New Years ~ I ended the month with fabulous knitting time!

Happy New Years! I ended 2012 year with a month of fabulous knitting time. For long time I've wanted to make felted footies/houseslippers so I finally dove headfirst into this project. 

Pattons Classic 100% Wool.

Suggested Knitting Needle 4.50 mm, US - 7  / Recommended Knitting Tension 20 sts - 26 rows = 4" (10 cm)

Weight category: 3.50 oz / 100 g, 210 yd / 192 meters per skein.

My needles: US 9 addi circs

My gauge: before felting ended up being 6st - 6 rows = 1 inch

3rd time's a charm.  the orangish ones bottom left..finally got the shape i want. but i really like the colorway & patterning on dark bluish purples ones much better. It so hard to envision how the striping pattern is gonna work out when you buy a skein. the orangish ones started out great than went into wide spirals.

Note: all slippers in above photo are post-felting. 

I used needle size 9 addi circs on all three pairs. This was my first ever felting project and I just went to Ravelry, chose two patterns and than on the first pair I threw all my faith & belief into it that all would work out ok!  [psst...I'll tell you secret. With top grey one this is first time in my life I've ever consciously put blind faith into something based on someone elses word and forged ahead without alot of thinking, rechecking and math... and you know what..it wasn't such a bad feeling after all. See I think that's why I haven't done as much knitting as other people. I love to Knit, but sometimes I'm terrified and it's hard for me believe that it's going to work out like their pattern says it will. I guess if I was rich and could buy real yarn at a whim any ole time it'd be a different story for me. But it's as if I have to make sure each and every skein of yarn is not wasted !  Maybe this experiment will get me a step closer to achieving that feeling in my spiritual world.]

My gauge ended up being 6 sts - 6 rows = 1 inch

These are listed in the order that I knitted them.

1. top - tall grey [colorway: 00225 Dark Grey Mix ]= single strand, 60 stitches cast-on.

 (followed pattern Fjord Felted Slippers). I have these stuffed down inside a pair of LL Bean winter boots as felt liners. Working great !

2. right - wide bluish purple socks [colorway: 77436 Palais ]= double strand, 60 stitches cast-on; heel flap is 14 rows.  (pattern based on Fireside Footies Noro) Also knit from 2 center pull balls made from one skein held together for double strands. If you look at this pair you will see that both the left & right socks pretty much match up! But there is a bit more pooling of color on the right sock and more clear striping on the left sock. These turned out W.I.D.E ! silly me forgot to change down my cast-on #. apparently single strand felts much more than double stranded. Is it because the dbl stranded is so much thicher?? anywho  they'd be great for someone who has really swollen feet due to health problems. Since I don't anyone like that I'm using them ;) I have a pair of storebought fluffy doggie houseslippers that I adore but the soles are so THIN and not warm at all.  So I just stuffed them into my doggie slippers and I don't have to worry about them being too wide & falling off my feet  because they stay perfectly put inside the doggie slippers !

3. left - orangish ones [colorway: 77236 Harvest = double strand, 48 stitches cast-on; heel flap is 16 rows. After gusset, after I decreased two extra stitches (46) and knit the foot 27 rows before toe decrease begins. Also knit from 2 center pull balls made from one skein held together for double strands but this time paid particular attention to make sure my starting strands matched with each other as best I could. As far as the left matching the right it was spot on! But for some reason after the gusset the pattern effect took a turn into wide distinctive bee stripes until I got to the toes ! ?  why?

Notes to self: for sock #3 begin with cast-on of 46 sts; increase heel flap to 18 rows; maybe increase foot rows to 28

-Major lesson learned for me was difference in felting properites between single and double stranded knitting.

-Another lesson learned for me was about self-striping effect when two strands are held together. 

CANCER BENEFIT for DONNIE SPENARD in FISHER, IL~     please come share some support !

Just wanted to share this flyer for my brother-in-law benefit in case anyone is in our neck of the woods. Cancer Benefit for Donnie Spenard ~ Please come join us for a benefit and help Donnie Spenard. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic and liver Cancer only two months ago. He is a single Father of Six kids, four of which are still living at home and two small grandchildren. He is unable to work due to this terrible disease. He needs our help. The Benefit is Saturday July 28th, 2012 12:00-5:00pm at Fisher Community Center Building on Third Street in Fisher, Illinois 61843

Food will be served. An Auction and Raffle will be held.
Adults $10; Kids & under $3

Donnie is the son of Ivan Floyd Spenard & grandson of Edward David Spenard, great-grandson of Joseph Paul 'Zotique' Spenard of Kankakee, IL and 2nd great-grandson of Abdon Spenard of Quebec, Canada