Receiving His Gift

God’s gift to the world when Jesus was born is ours to enjoy all year long.
Each day can be brightened with peace and good will as the angels proclaimed in their song.


Worried souls can be calmed, broken hearts can be healed if we listen and truly believe
In His teachings and power to transform our lives.  Let us open our hearts and receive.


We receive His gift fully by doing His will.  It’s not ours if we simply admire.
By our taking His hand and our following Him, it’s our legacy, full and entire.


Does someone have burdens I might help to lift or tears I could help cease to flow
Or wounds I could heal that I know nothing of or need comfort that I could bestow?


I’m already busy, of course; aren’t we all?  Our schedules we needn’t belabor.
Even if I had time, I have scarcely a dime I can spare for a friend or a neighbor.


So why should I worry about other people?  I’ve got such a big load to pull.
And then through my protests I hear words profound: Serving others enlarges your soul.


In serving your fellows, you’re serving your Lord.  As you have done unto the least,
So have you done unto the greatest of all.  And your love and your joy are increased.


So come unto God as you give of yourself, and thereby you are storing up treasure
In heaven.  Meanwhile here on earth you will give and receive sheaves of joy beyond measure.


Don’t tackle the world.  Start small, close to home.  And gradually you’ll come to know
The difference that even small efforts can make.  From little starts good things can grow.


Merry Christmas to All
December 2010             

Each year since 1971 my husband and I have crafted a Christmas poem.  This poem is number 39.

"Net Like A Lacemaker" Class Is Done

It's done, it's DONE, IT'S FINALLY DONE!

You can finally register to take my basic netting class - "Net Like a Lacemaker."

I feel like I've been working toward this forever, even though it's only been a year. But now the class is ready (at least I hope it's ready).

All the instruction videos are done.
All the handouts are done.
All the patterns have been made (at least twice).
All the pattern instructions are written.

It's time to actually hold the class and hope the nice, wonderful, understanding people registering for the class will work with me in taking care of any problems that come up.

There are a couple of things you need to know about registering for this class:

1. Class size is limited this time.
   
2. You need to join Rita's Netting Nook as a free member or login if you are already a member.
3. Register for the class.
4. Get the supplies you will need for the class.
   
5. Wait until Jan. 3, 2011 when the classroom opens.

Basic information about the class:

Cost: $35 USD
Start Date: 3 Jan 2011
Length: 8 weeks


If you want to see what is included in the class, look at the syllabus.

If you have questions or problems registering, contact me.

I hope to see you there.

"Net Like A Lacemaker" Class Is Almost Done

It’s been almost a year since I started Stefanie Japel’s very informative class: How to Teach an Online Class Workshop. The class started November 30, 2009.

While I was hoping to get my beginning netting class finished and open for students many months ago, I am very excited to report that I just finished another video and accompanying handout. I only have one video left to get done, and I’m half way done with it. Check out the syllabus to see what will be included in the class (and which video still needs to be finished).

This past year has certainly been one learning experience after another.

Instructional Handouts for Netting Class

I finally met a goal in connection with my netting class. (I wondered if I ever would considering the way things have gone for the past 9 months.)

I said by Nov 1 I would have the handouts for Net Like a Lacemaker posted for view and I do!


There are a couple of things that should be stated. These handouts can only be viewed by members of the site. Since that is a free membership, I don't see a problem.

Second, these handouts do not contain anything pertaining to the patterns that will be used in the class.

That being said, go take a look. Then come back and give me some comments.

Basic Netting Instructions Coming

After working part-time (8-11 hours a week) for 7 years as a custodian for my church, I will no longer be paid to clean the meetinghouse. The church has decided to turn the cleaning of the meetinghouse over to all the members. This was my first week of not being responsible to have the church clean. It felt a bit strange. It also felt wonderful.

Now I have time to work on my netting class!

I have also come to a decision this week. As a special thank-you to all who have signed up for membership on Rita's Netting Nook, and have been patiently waiting for me to finish Netting Like a Lacemaker, I'm going to release the basic netting handouts for the class in PDF format. My plan is to do it on or before November 1, 2010 (though we all know where my plans have taken us this past year). This release will not include anything to do with the patterns. I'm still working on finishing them.

So, keep watching here or at Nook News for updates.

P.S. As soon as you sign up for the free membership you are eligible to look at and download the handouts -- once I have them posted.

I Love the Internet

Isn't the Internet wonderful.

I was looking for something yesterday and stumbled across some wonderful netting blog entries from A Stitch in Time.

I don't remember what I was looking for or even whether I found it, but I fell in love with the netting needle shown in Netting Needles, part II and Hairnets, part III.

Now to figure out how can I justify spending 55 Euro (about $70 USD) on one netting needle.


Netting Needles, part I
Netting Needles, part II

Hairnets, part I
Hairnets, part II
Hairnets, part III
Hairnet, current status
Hairnet finished - well, almost...
New Hairnet
Hairnet: Finished and Reloaded
News about Netting!
Hairnets, part IV
Work weekend, here I come.

New Home for Rita's Netting Nook

At the end of February I announced the opening of Rita’s Netting Nook (nettingnook.ning.com). It contained 3 free pre-netting classes. I hoped to put the first netting class together faster than I had done the pre-classes. It didn’t work out that way.

On May 3rd I blogged about how close I was to being ready with the class. On May 4th Ning sent out a message stating that by July their sites would no longer be free. (They have since given site owners until August 20th to choose a paid option.)

It soon became evident that only the most expensive option would allow me to use video the way I wanted to in my classes. Since there were other features of Ning that I did not like, including a limit on the number of classes I could offer, I decided to look for something that would better meet my needs.

So, for the past several months I have been busy creating a new home for Rita’s Netting Nook.

The new home for Rita's Netting Nook is nettingnook.com.


Come join us. Register for Free Membership.

As of August 19th nettingnook.NING.com will close.

Since I am still building parts of the site, there may be some things that are not yet finished. I appreciate your understanding and working with me. Feel free to make suggestions; just realize that I may not be able to implement them as quickly as either of us would like. Much of my time will be spent finishing up the videos for my class. I really want to make my class available to those who want to learn to net.

Since you have been so patient with me, I want to share some of the handouts and maybe a video that I have prepared for Net Like a Lacemaker, my beginning netting class. Keep an eye on the class syllabus and we'll see how quickly I can put something up for members.

A Water Bottle Bag

Several weeks ago I was busily netting away at the local library's Knit-Along. The conversation turned to net bags, and particularly how well a net bag would hold a water bottle. One family seemed very interested, so I committed to make at least one for the daughter on the condition that I could take pictures of the bag being used.

Today I remembered to take my video camera to the Knit-Along, and they remembered to bring the bag and a water bottle. So, thanks to Dora and her mother, here is how to use the long-handled net water bottle bag. (Please excuse the background noise; the Knit-Along was right around the corner and there were many people there today.)

If you would like to make a water bottle bag like this one, come on over to Rita's Netting Nook. The first class, which will include this pattern, is almost ready.

String Bag Patterns for Upcoming Online Netting Class

And I thought the free netting classes took time to create. I've really not been playing video games with my son but I have finished 12 videos with 5 more to go for my first netting class. Some days I feel like I'll never get it done; then other days I think it'll be done in a couple of weeks. I hadn't realized it would take months to complete.

Besides working on handouts and videos I have been working on some patterns that are easy but useful.

First, there are a couple of water bottle bags.


Then there are medium sized bags. Some have short handles; some have long handles.
This one is even filled with baby bibs for a baby shower.
Finally there is the full size large shopping bag.

Rita's Netting Nook

It's taken much longer than I thought it would, but

Rita's Netting Nook is now online.

[For updated information see this later post.]

There are photos, forums, videos, and opportunities to chat.


There is even some free classes that shows what my online classes will be like. The classes have videos and handouts about:

• netting equipment and where to find it
  

• knots you should know before learning to net
  

• how to fill netting needles and shuttles

Come visit.

Happy New Year - - to the winner

And the winner of a Klein Bottle Bag is . . .

Bettina Groh.


Congratulations Bettina.


Happy New Year everyone.