Happy Valentines Day to my husband Rob!!

• Barbra Streisand • Iv´e Dreamed Of You [1999] •
All of you enjoy the song, but it really does tell the story of
my husband and I.
I prayed for 9 months and the Lord sent Rob my way, later we found our paths crossed many times.
This is our 25th year of marriage.
Happy 25th Valentine to my Darling Rob,
love, forever, from me

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Josh Groban and Mireille Mathieu sing the song I have loved since childhood.
May this brighten your day.
hugs, grace

Andy Paiko Glass Spinning Wheel

This is like a Fairy Tale Spinning Wheel. It spins GREAT I would LOVE ONE,, wouldn' you?

How to Knit Basics - Rib Cable Cast on Method

I hope that I can now make a very flexible cast on for socks... check this video out!
Yes, I am STILL trying to KNIT SOCKS!!

How to Knit Decreases - SSK aka slip slip knit decrease

This decrease has always confused me. This videos helped me understand that SSK Decrease and I hope this one helps you too!

Twisted German Cast On

i SO ENJOY HER VIDEOS, VERY CLEAR AND WELL DONE! tHIS CAST ON MAKES A NICE CUFF FOR SOCKS AND MITTENS.

I WON a BLUE RIBBON 1ST PRIZE for my ART YARN & MORE.

Dear ones, I went over the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds for the VERMONT Sheep and Wool festival and guess what??? For the first time in my life I entered a spinning contest.I renamed both skeins so have to post the New Names here when I get the skeins home. I forgot to put them up for sale! I entered the Novelty yarn category i where i won My First ever lovely blue ribbon!! The skein that won First plae in the Novelty division is made from Dorset wool & Bombyx Silk & Angelina Fiber. I have carded what you see by hand about 6 times, and you can See how it started out here when I was preparing the fiber.
I will be winning a wonderful felted sliced bracelet as a PRIZE! ( I had a peek! will post pics later)
I won third place in the same division for another skein, a 2 ply Art Yarn. One ply is mettalic hologram fiber, and the other ply is made from Dorset/Suffolk Vermont wool that I get from my friend Lynne of Rest Harrow Farm in Vermont. See the whole skein here, and enjoy.

BTW I make artistic well spinning traveling hand DROP spindles ( small enough to spin in a car...) I love to spin fiber ( right now Llama Cloud is my favorite of the week, I picked up ONE ounce at the fest!) I spin and ply by hand spindle as my ashford wheel is need of surgery. I will SOON be getting my dream spinner electric wheel from Teri, Honey package will be going out soon! Waiting for funds to send it!! WATCH A WONDERFUL VIDEO ON THE SILENT ELECTRIC DREAM SPINNER. There is some really nice celtic music in background too.

See a few photos of spindles on my etsy store , Hopefully I will be able to open by end of September! I just went through a procedure for the Trigeminal Neuralgia and am recuperating.
I am also on Ravelry under halalsilks.

Chris Tomlin How Great is Our God Worship Video with Lyrics

Beauty from Pain (Narnia)

Beauty from Pain (Narnia)

Part 2 of Hand Carding With Sue

Carding Wool with Sue Video !

Spinning, part 1 & 2 with foot action for your wheel

How to spin, Sue teaches you foot motion and this is quite relaxing!
Something I have not seen taught anywhere else!

Wood Rose Angora Spun by Tami Mulder at Etsy

Wood Rose Angora Spun by Tami Mulder at Etsy, originally uploaded by FIBERS OF GRACE & HALALSILKS.

ISN"T THIS GORGEOUS!!! Tami Mulder, who has an etsy store where she is BQAngoras spun this and dyed this amazing Bunny Angora for me
The color is Wood Rose. It is a PERFECT color for me, the funny thing is that I HAD THE BEADS BEFORE I Knew what color she would do. God made this turn out perfect!! I will use the ICE Queen pattern at
www.knitty.com/issuewinter07/PATTicequeen.html
I have to learn how to knit lace to make a number of these to help treat the trigeminal neuralgia I fight.
It will become a GORGEOUS Beaded Wimple!!
Follow my journey on ravelry, I am Halalsilks.

Get Some WONDERFUL FREE E BOOKS ON CRAFTS

I LOVE MY CRAFTY BOOK E BOOK, IT is FREE to sign up and read. Learn How to Crochet, or make Your own Bath and Body Products! How about recipes, she has TONS, Even 1000 punch recipes too! In these hard times, how about turning your trash to profit. YOU CAN FREELY READ THESE!! Just click here or on the title above and GET THIS FREE CRAFTY EBOOKS SET! I love them and you will too!

The Music of the Bible Revealed - NPR Morning Edition

Tammy Rizzo's Ply-on-the-fly technique

How to knit my-so-called Scarf MANOS DEL URUGUAY

The dear creator of this wonderful scarf has FILMED the how tos!! I love this! See pattern here

Beauty from Pain (Narnia)

I really like this song, and having it set to Narnia is touching. I fought 23 years of Trigeminal Neuralgia as of July 5th... but I had special prayers and I am doing much better. However, I do not forget those who suffer daily. DO NOT GIVE UP. FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER CARES! Just, if you can try this... see yourself falling into HIS arms, rest your head on HIS Chest and RECEIVE SOLACE AND RELIEF. HUGS From Grace

FINALLY, A WEE TRIP for ROB AND I !

Well, I am so very happy to get away with Rob for a few days. We have been gifted 2 nights at Basin Harbor Vermont for the Artist In Residence Program "REFLECTIONS 'O8". It is a great place, over 700 acres,with Audubon sanctuary and GREAT food. We will be in one of the cottages. It is sort of our early celebration too of 25 years of happy wedlock... with our formal anniversary being in Dec.
To think, I married Rob after only knowing him for 3 months.. We are true soul mates. This is our third trip to Basin Harbor, and the place is so quiet. NO TV, Just relaxation! Those famous painted Adirondack Chairs come from Basin Harbor!
Ahh, a place to relax, unwind.. and we hope the weather won't be awful.. but good and absolutely perfect. IT has been way too hot and humid for me.
To be married to an artist has it's perks! Rob says I am an artist too... and though I be unconventional in using fiber rather than paint, I hope He is right!
Well off to pack!

Continental knitting demo

Wow, this video looks so easy I will try to do this form of knitting. I have always knit as A Thrower. I want to speed up. I do knit tightly too, and in this video she points out it will loosen up your knitting. I shall see! Enjoy!

Universal Electronic Dream Spinner ~ MY NEW WHEEL!!

MY DREAM SPINNING WHEEL IS COMING SOON!!
WAIT FOR VIDEO TO LOAD PLEASE.

Teri creates these Amazing QUIET Electric Spinning wheels ~~ "Universal Electronic Dream Spinners" ~~. I have looked for an electric spinning wheel for years and finally found THE DREAM SPINNER. She does a lot of custom work, She herself is a "DREAM " to work with, CONTACT TERI and tell her GRACE Sent you!


One thing I will love when I receive MY wheel is that I can create ANY size art yarn!! The Orifice Posts are multi-sized to fit anything from a std. 1/4" diam. brass orifice tube up to a 7/8" diameter orifice tube ( If you have a huge BABE "BULKY" Flyer. )It fits ANY standard name brand spinning wheel flyers & bobbins.
I have a problem with my hip and if I spin on my ashford too long I really ache. As I am getting shots for my hip, repetitious actions are not good for me. I looked for a very long time for a quiet classy electric wheel and It was a serendipitous web surf that led me to Teri. I can't wait, Teri is adapting my wheel to fit my ashford bobbins too.
IN THE NEXT VIDEO, WATCH TERI CREATE SUPER THIN LACE WEIGHT PLY WITH HER SLING BLADE HAND SPINDLES... You can even use these in a limited space like as a passenger in a car or a plane.

"SLING BLADE HAND SPINDLE" by TERI

Please wait for this video to load and enjoy the background harp music and see this wonderful Sling Blade spindle. All her work is done meticulously.She invented this particular method to make spinning fine guaged yarn comfortably in small spaces such as planes and automobiles!
TELL TERI THAT GRACE SENT YOU ! CLICK TO ENQUIRE.

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA AWARENESS

I wanted to write you all to again bring to the forfront the disorder/disease of Trigeminal Neuralgia. I have been fighting this for 23 years. TN is called by the Medical Community to be "THE WORST PAIN KNOWN TO MANKIND, THE PAIN IS SUICIDAL".
I have fought this and it is very life altering. The pain is so intense and makes you really give up at times.
I am blessed to know a few who fight this. My doctors are using various injections to help me along with medications. I not only fight this but Post Herpetic Neuralgia in the same area, that is from SHINGLES On the Trigeminal Nerve. So Lyrica works well but the Trigeminal Aspect is quite difficult. I need help for a lot of things in my life. I can't be the mom I want to be, My husband misses the way I used to cook. I fight many side effects from so many drugs.
To those who feel like they have electric pain or a toothache that won't go away, or if you can not tolerate breezes or even a draft or touch to your face, If you get pain so severe when you kiss or even brushing your teeth or eating you might go to a neurologist and ask them to check you out for Trigeminal Neuralgia, It is a Long process to get diagnosed, because they rule out everything else. The pain though is the hallmark. To me it felt like an electric spike with an elephant pounding it into areas of my mouth, head, face. I am doing better with Botulism Toxin injections but that takes me about 3 weeks to recuperate from. There are side effects from that too, I had paralysis of my eye of my mouth, I have had drooping. But as my specialist and I work together and look at reams of info I know it will work because GOD LOVES ME. I honestly do not know how people survive this with NO FAITH or HOPE in GOD. One time I was wailing in pain for hours wanting to die, I phoned my pastor who prayed with me as my husband went to get yet another experimental drugat the hospital,an hour from our home. The LORD guided me to the hammered dulcimer where I plucked out an inspired tune. Then He led me to the electric piano, and I have no formal training.. but a song erupted with chords and orchestration. It sounded like a boat heading toward shore in a stormy ocean.. and I could see the boat would make it safely. When The song ended my husband came in with the medication. The Lord kept me playing in HOPE for hours. I give the glory of my survival to God! HE IS WONDERFUL.
If you fight TN visit Kathy's website Or see the Main TN site.

X IS FOR Xerxes!! Digital Art Work in Process

I created this for the Christian Paper artist Group. We create INCHIES, Listen to the message by pressing the arrow to learn more!

Make on Snapvine | Copy This

BEST EVER SOCK PATTERN

The UNIVERSAL TOE UP SOCK PATTERN or if you are on Ravelry see this link is perfect when you have a person who has a foot that might not fit into conventional socks or if you want to Knit Toe Up and have a custom made sock.
I THINK i may do this this sock for Rob because i can really adjust it to him.
The pattern has specifics for any weight yarn. You fill in the blank for the person's unique measurements and knit on!
I have some really wonderful alpaca 4 ply to try this on, Thank you Dear Nicole for the fantastic yarn!
smiles, grace

DESTASH Wool Yarn To Barter or Sell

Chocolate Brown Carnival DK 100% PURE NEW WOOL TOP YARN, From Crystal Palace Yarns
Guage is 14 sts/4 inch Use Needle 10
Stored in my special drawer in cool dry mothproof save place in my home. No pets, No smoking.
ONLY $3.50 a ball!! I have 10 balls, each is 100 grams and 110 yads.
THE YARN ON BOTTOM LEFT IS CLOSEST TO ACTUAL COLOR!!!
I have many needs for knit items and spin items so would enjoy BARTERING... I need circular needles, knitting and spinning Books,nice Fiber to spin, Yarn for Socks etc. PLEASE LET ME KNOW....
WHAT HAVE YOU? Please email me at Fibersofgrace@gmail.com
God keep you all. thank you!!

Pics of Yarn to Barter!

SEE POST BELOW FOR DETAILS!! 10 balls NEW WOOL TOP FROM BRAZIL BARTER PLEASE!!

A good Mens Knit sock Pattern

Here is a very generous knitter/designer who has some really nice patterns.
I think I might be able to make this one work for Rob but I want a toe up pattern first.
It is quite a nice summer sock.
smiles,grace

Save the Knitty Gritty Show Petition

Save the Knitty Gritty Show Petition

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION! This show got me back into knitting. It is very helpful to all levels of knitters and knitting is a HUGE industry. PLUS we get free patterns from the show!
PLEASE do sign now!! Thanks for doing a good deed, grace

2 CIRCULAR NEEDLE CAST ON FOR TOE UPS

Thought you would enjoy an interesting way to cast on for knitting a hat top down or for socks toe up! I need this one for the socks i want to make Rob. He has large wide feet and will have to customize them for him, If you have a great men's sock pattern or link please let me know, smiles,grace

CHAT ON DYEING FLEECE WITH JACQUARD ACID DYES

LILACS OF BEAUTY

Not having a green thumb... I was so Overjoyed to see that the Lord had grown this for me! I had given up
on this Lilac Tree last year. I chopped it Radically, afraid it would not survive our Vermont winters and ice...
but to my amazement this normally pale plain Lilac tree Burst into the Most gorgeous blooms I ever saw on my own property. Thank you O Dear Lord for giving me this beauty. We made 2 vases and the house is full of the fragrance!

How to Knit Basics - Rib Cable Cast on Method

Dear Those casting on! Last but not least, Here is how to do a Cable Cast on, which shows you also how to work it in rib stitch so that your k1 , p1 rib extends into the very edge. blessings,grace who is still learning and honing skills

Knitting - Long-Tail Cast-on

This is the method I use Most of all, except for socks and other items , I figured that I would try to present a few videos on knitting starting with casting on and then progressing so that you, my dear viewer will learn and enjoy as well,
blessings, grace

Twisted German Cast On

This is yet another cast on that is used a lot in socks. I have to get this one down and figured you would enjoy watching it too!
Next one I am posting will be the one I am presently using, the Long tail cast on...however it is not stretchy enough for socks...at least for my plump legs!
blessings, grace

Double Needle Cast On

Rosemary does a really nice job here. I Hope you enjoy this really stretchy Cast on, good for socks, cuffs, sweaters and any place you need a good stretchy cast on. I will be posting more videos that will help you on your knit, crochet, spin and fiber journey!

Singing Knitting Blues

Those knitting blues have got me down... I had to frog down BOTH my socks because of problems with heel flaps... and this is my first pair of socks... see all about them on my Ravelry Site.
So I figured I would pick up Rob 's hat ( I am a SLOW knitter).. and I found in the basketweave accents I made a MESS in spots. I frogged it and tried to redo it so now that is sitting alongside sad socks.
I started on a gorgeous lace hat for our new niece and guess what? The hat pattern is in tiny print but parts of the lace are in the sweater section, This pattern has me flipping back and forth.. and I ended up doing the WRONG rows!! I had to rip that out.
I was thinking this might be a NON knit week.... but my fingers were "itching " to move... and I had a friend over for tea, I figured we might spin or card some wool but I had a big SURPRISE...
My darling dear girlfriend gifted me for no reason at all with some cash...so we RAN to the nearest LYS for YARN and some New Circs... and some new yarn. Kelly at the shop has this tiny hat pattern, sort of like a fruit hat but the decreasing is different and it can be made in a couple days. So I got some Cascade Fixation in baby hues of pinks yellow blue and white and I am going to go and KNIT ThisBaby hat!!
God is so kind. He knew i was going to throw in the towel if I did not have some success too! So he sent my friend to cheer me up.
Oh and in some web searching I found a WONDERFUL Knit site... check it out!
Have fun !

I have a new Blog about ME

Make on Snapvine | Copy This

A MESSAGE FROM GRACE from

I AM ON ETSY

Whittle your own crochet hooks ( also abouta MIRACLE)

YES, you can make your own crochet hooks!
Being without that green stuff called cash makes one think in new ways.
I saw some fancy woods and thought.. hmm I can Possibly make that!
So i scrounged in the yard and cut up some dry Cedar, Birch, White Pine and Lilac. It is my hope to be able to carve some crochet hooks. I don't think you can make a small one but any that is sort of ergonomic and very smooth would be fun.
So give it a try and let me see what you created!

Spinwise, I am trying to ply using a ball of yarn and yarn on a hand spindle , to put both on a second spindle.. NOT FUN. I also decided I can't do andean ply!

Knitwise, I have discovered that ssk is not ssk psso and so have frogged my LILAC SOCKS about 3 inches. I am also TRYING to learn magic loop knittting. After my 10th attempt ( HONESTLY), I still can not overcome a space of yarn between the needles, even after row 4. So if you know what i am talking about and can help, please post!
I am starting to think the double circular needle knit method of small size circles is BETTER. I just have to find a way to barter for some more circs.

Lifewise... heading over in September to Mercy Hospital to see if they can help me with my 22 year battle with Trigeminal Neuralgia. It is excrutiating pain that is called" worst pain known to mankind !~ the suicide disorder" by MEDICAL DOCTORS! It really is the worst thing I have ever fought. BUT GOD is amazing. GOD HEALED A WOMAN FROM TN and it is DOCUMENTED! I met Kathy through divine circumstances. Please visit Her site and learn how she was healed from TN and GET SOME HOPE THERE FOR YOU.
Please keep me in prayer that the pain will end.

BOOK TO TRADE/SELL

Well, have some items to trade or sell, 301 knitting hints and tips from Bond. $8 plus shipping soft cover in Very good condition. Only slight dibbet on cover right side. Stored dry, no pets, no odor.
just reply to this blog if interested!

PRE DRAFTED ROVING VIDEO ~ takes a second to load

WATCH ONE OF MY SPINNING VIDEOS

Saturday Spin In

First, I have been Offline, my dear baby computer, a mere 3 years old has to have a completely new hard drive, so have been OFFLINE for over a week~! Many tears were shed. I learned I am not supposed to DEPEND on the computer like an adjunct brain! So this is why I missed last Saturday's Spin In Dear Cindy and gang! Below is my spindle experiment for your perusal for this Saturday! I am on by remote access or would post MORE pics!

I also wanted to know if anyone can tell me how to NOT overtwist when spinning a short fiber. I am preferring hand spindling by far! However i do like plying better by wheel. How about You?
If you can't comment because of an issue on my blog, please email me, because I never ever get comments and would love to hear your opinion on my spinning!

My Spindle Experiment

I created these spindles from cd's. The left is on a 1/4" dowel with mini cd's ( If you know where i can get MORE of these Mini CD's please comment!) It is the most used spindle i own and spins forever! The right one is about a 1/2" dowel I hand painted and used 2, yes 2 heavy reg cd's. Get this.....

I think I broke a rule or something. The spindle on right is WAY heavier,, but I spun THINNER as you can see by the double up ply. How can That be?? Hmmm, I Heard you have to always go LIGHT in spindle weight to go THIN.. hmm, not for me. By the way my cd spindles have the LONGEST SPINS I have ever experienced with a hand spindle~ am thinking of possibly getting into making them to sell. Do you think there would be interest? How much could I ask?
Thanks for looking, come back NEXT SAT too!

SATURDAY SPIN IN!

Hi dear ones! I have had quite the spinning week!! I am fighting a sinus infection so was really in a hard week, so I spun up a storm! This is my ROSE AGATE coming off the hand made kniddy knoddy I made to my yarn winder after setting the twist on this single . Then I changed my mind and unwound it to make a hank again... Nothing like not making up your mind!!
MORE PICS of ROSE AGATE at my online web album ( FIBERS OF GRACE)

SATURDAY SPIN IN Part 2~

A self challenge in Teal... for the Saturday Spin in..
How many different LOOKS can I get with the exact same Ply of teal and ....

1. KOOL AID DYED PURPLE/MAUVE & TEAL named Rosalie

Top to Bottom: 1. Rosalie 2. Rosy Teal is a 4 ply reinforcing yarn for sock knitting with 2 componet threads in pink poly, a very thin nylon bluish teal, mauve dyed with Kool Aid ( I think it was tropical punch) and Teal
3 Ocean Teal is a 3 ply of the same bluish teal component thread, the teal wool and natural dorset wool.

Lastly is 4. Amethyst Sea is 3 ply of the teal, the bluish teal and straight plum hand dyed dorset wool.
Let me know what you think of this experiment... One more post!

FUN SITES FOR YOU FIBERWISE

Cat not only spins but she knits. See cool videos on many fiber things, including even knitting with beads and how to spin with a drop spindle HERE.

I am trying to learn how to use my new Spindolyn, a self supported hand spindle.

I have LOTS to show you to sell or SWAP on my album

Here is a great spot to learn how to card fiber, use a turkish spindle and wash raw wool PLUS MORE.

Have a happy time linking around!

SURGERY ON MY ASHFORD SPINNING WHEEL :(

My baby Traditional Ashford Wheel had surgery!!!I am trying to hide the scars on my dear wheel with ribbons that I tie my spinning tools on.

Utter Sadness!! My baby had it's maiden uprights operated on. I was plying and my wheel fell apart! I was so worried, because I can't afford a wheel. This one is about 15 or so years old. It is an ashford traditional. And the fact that we are rural and there are NO dealers here.. well Rob had to do the operation and I had to trust the Lord. Rob got wisdom. He put screw eyes in the sides of the uprights and then put a bolt through with a nut below to hold the upright in place
On the front bolt He made it easy to remove so i can take the bobbin off. A lot of work and He shortened my knob so it is more upright than it used to be... used to lean outward.

Here you can see the way I have to tension the wheel. In her travels to another owner she lost her tension assembly completely. We are so poor.. and This is what Rob did to try to fix it... he took 2 screw hooks, string and rubber bands, blue for spinning a single, yellow to ply! I am sunk if I break one! However, the wheel runs the Best It has ever run, Rob tightened everything. Now i have to go and give this beloved wheel some TLC!
Let's see if my spinning improves!