It promised to be a quiet evening when I came home tonight. The day had been relatively routine - programming, coding, cursing the computer the SAS God (I love to live dangerously). The evening would be filled with piano lessons, and competing basketball games - would our beloved Spurs and Rockets prevail. And don't forget the Astros.
As I walked up to the porch, there was a small brown package bearing a German postage mark. Ah, an eBay find has arrived!! It isn't the infamous Lyra - hereafter referred to as the Hope Diamond of Knitting. More on that sordid story of intrigue later.
The first pattern book is Orella 1, Kunststricken, eine alte Technik neu entdeckt, für Anfängerinnen und Fortgeschrittene, Modelle von Erich Engeln (translated: Orella 1, Art Knitting, an Old Technology Newly Discovered, for Beginners and Advanced, Models of Erich Engeln or amazing lace to knit, no matter what the language!!) and the second is Orella 2, Spitzenstricken von Erich Engeln, 1984 (translated: Orella2, Top Knitting of Erich Engeln or even MORE amazing lace to knit!!!).
Just to whet you appetite, here are some pictures of these amazing pieces of work (from the amazing website http://www.blatt-und-bluetensammelsurium.de):
Are you drooling yet........? Me, the keyboard is kind of gross. But then there's this:
OOPS - my beloved just brought me a bib! Must control myself. But who can resist:
And the worst part --- as luscious as these patterns are, there are MORE. Also in the package was Kunst Stricken: Grosse und Kleine Decken (translation: Art Knitting: Blankets Large and Small) which includes patterns by Herbert Neibling. Here is a taste:
From Z's momma (http://yarnandnomoreoil.blogspot.com/) - there is Anemone:
I can hardly contain myself - the challenge, the itsy-bitsy-ness, the sheer knitting machisma of attempting and completing just one, let alone **ALL** of these patterns --- and the others that I have on the way.
But, what to do about all of the other projects I have on the needles? Is it possible to have more than 24 hours in a day? If I learn to knit with my toes and do it under my desk - is that the ultimate multitasking or will I get busted at work for knitting on the clock?
God grant me the serenity to accept that I cannot knit all things...
the
courage to finish the things I start...
and the wisdom to know when to frog...
Stumble on Over 
I am in awe that you are contemplating any of these works of art, much less all of them. They are absolutely incredible. At least you haven't bought the yarn for all of them yet, right? ;-)
As amazing as they are, I'd still prefer the chocolate...that much lace would make my eyes hurt! Not to mention my hands, and fingertips, and wrists, etc. Good luck!
Posted by: porpoise | May 06, 2008 at 07:08 AM
Ooooooo! Nice haul! Which is first??
Posted by: Andrea | May 07, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Which to choose ... which to choose ... I don't know. They are all so pretty!!!! It is such agony to try to decide.
As far as purchasing yarn - I have oodles in the ol' stash to start one..or two..or three..or eight or these babies tonight! That's why I like lace - takes up less room.
But I am trying discipline -- I will try and finish one of the, oh, say 20 projects already on the needles before starting one of these beauties.
~~T
Posted by: Terri | May 07, 2008 at 09:28 PM