Humbling Experience!

I generally see myself as a rather accomplished crafter. I pick up things quickly, and before you know it, I'm dinking around with patterns and projects, making them my own. So you can imagine my surprise...nah, my disbelief, when I picked up a BEGINNER'S GUIDE to thread crocheting and found not only didn't I grasp the craft immediately, I literally have yet to produce anything that even closely resembles what I set out to make! I thought I'd make a bit of lace to adorn something. How cool would it be to say, Yes, I made it...even the lace!? But, alas, instead of producing a light and airy work of art, I keep turning out objects that look more like tangled kite string! Well, I am stubborn, and I'm not ready to cry uncle yet, but this experience has certainly been humbling! If I ever manage to turn out something that resembles lace, I'll let you know. In the mean time, if anyone knows of a great book or website that does a good job of talking you through the process, please share!