Happy Birthday Elizabeth Zimmerman

For All You Knitters, I felt this post was worth repeating-
Happy 102nd Birthday to Elizabeth Zimmerman
Born August 9, 1910.



If you are a knitter then 

 Elizabeth Zimmerman needs no introductions!  

But for those of you who are unfamiliar with this knitting icon let me tell you a little about her.
Elizabeth was a knitter, teacher, designer and author. She believed in personal creativity and encouraged knitters to experiment and think outside of the box. Her goal was to have knitters make every design their own and not worry about following a pattern!  The legacy of information and design she left behind is the mantra for many knitters and her books are an absolute must in every knitting library.  She presents information in a clear and precise manner with a dash of witty commentary.  Her books have been a lifeline for me on many occasions when I needed help with a

knitting dilemma or catastrophe.  I have knitted my share of Elizabeth's designs in a Zimmermania Class I took in State College at a wonderful little yarn store 
 Stitch Your Art Out.  

Baby Surprise Jacket worn by my grandson Dylan!

 My mentor and knitting teacher "Cynthia" instilled in me the importance of of Elizabeth Zimmerman's place in the knitting community.

I am very fortunate to have two books that have been autographed by Elizabeth!  Her wit and light-hearted attitude is most evident in the inscription that can be found in my copy of "The Knitter's Almanac". 

And do you believe the amazing price of $8.95 for a hard back book! 

Knitting Without Tears also inscribed by Elizabeth!

So thank you Elizabeth Zimmerman for all you did to inspire creativity in knitters everywhere.
Including me!

Summer Fun!

Today I realized that I have been lacking in my blog posts.  So I decided to catch up on what has kept me so busy this summer.  Remember when you were a kid and summer seemed to last forever.  

Boy does that change when you grow up.  Time is just racing by.  

I attribute some of that to age - but I hope that it is mostly because 

LIFE IS GOOD and I am having such a good time!

My summer adventures began with a trip to Savannah to Paula Deen's annual blood drive.  Of course a few side stops to our favorite shops were definitely on the agenda!

Next came a visit from my sister and her husband.  
We had a great time with lots of beach days ....

...and an interesting evening watching a cactus bloom.  Yes, you heard me right - our friends Monica & Mike have a cactus that blooms one evening a year-so a bunch of us sat around drinking Margaritas and watching the cactus bloom.  Luckily for my sister and her husband, they arrived just in time to join in the festivities! After 3 Margaritas the flower did bloom and it was beautiful.

 I think this is now a annual party!

Next came the hours I spent on the front porch observing the anoles.  They are all over the place.  And they don't seem to be afraid of humans.  Look how this one slept right in front of my chair.

We also took a trip to the Antique Road Show in Myrtle Beach.

While there we visited Brookgreen Gardens which is beautiful and well worth the trip!

Then there is the knitting... which has definitely taken a back seat.  I guess that's what happens when summer gets in the way.  I do have some new patterns and some mods that I made on my

 Flaming June.  

Watch my next blog post for these updates.

So - as you can see I have had a wonderful summer and it isn't over yet.  Next week my son and his family will be visiting.

 I can't wait for them to get here! 

Summer Fun - Everyone needs it.

Enjoy your friend and family and the little joys life has to offer!

And never forget that

America Does Have Talent!

Last night I put down my knitting needles and went to see last season's America's Got Talent's 

MILLION DOLLAR WINNER Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. 

 He was just as fabulous as he was during his million dollar performance. He and his wife Jennifer put on a wonderful show and both were very gracious when Joe and I met up with them outside of 

Sun City's Magnolia Hall.  

Where else but here in Sun City can you see such a wide variety of talent without traveling to large metropolitan areas or Las Vegas.  Thank You Landau for visiting us here in Sun City!

 As I always say, " Life is Good!"

This Will Make You Smile

Oh how I love guacamole!  And making it is so much fun!!   You'll get a chuckle out of this recipe.

TALK about Mad Men

For those of you who love Mad Men like I do - make sure you visit the AMC Mad Men Site.  They have the scoop on the March 25 premiere of SEASON 5!  Oh I can't wait to see what happens to Don Draper!!

And you can put yourself in a Mad Men scene and make your own Avatar.  What fun!

I'm so glad Betty is out of the way. 

More room for me!!!

Happy Anniversary to Me

It is hard for me to believe that my blog has been up and running for a year now. Boy time does really fly when you are retired and having so much fun!

  In celebration of my first anniversary I am going to list some great links for knitters that will help you make the most out of your craft.  I hope that you enjoy them - in fact please leave a comment below and let me know.  Posting is easy - just click on the comments button at the bottom of this post and a comment box will appear.  Write your comment in the box and then choose your identity by writing your name in the box (first name only please).  If you have a blog you can add your blog address under your name in the url - but you can also leave that blank.  Then just hit publish your comment and voila you have made a comment on my blog.   If you leave me a published comment I will send you a coupon code for 

a free copy of my Loopy Snecklace pattern which you can download right from my blog! Just post your comment and then email me at purlsbythesea@gmail.com and I will send you the coupon code!   Easy as pie!!

Knitting Web Sites

Zinio - Is a great site to download magazines to your iPad or computer.  They have lots of knitting and beading magazines.

EZ's Better Bind Off by Purlbee - this is a great bind off that makes your b/o edge look the same as your cast on edge!  EZ certainly knew what she was doing!

Interweave has a great tutorial for converting a stitch pattern so you can work in the round.

Polka Dot Cottage gives great instructions on how to make polymer buttons for all your knitting and beading projects!

Yarns in the Farm has really unique patterns including the really popular Floffy Skirt.

I hope you enjoy these helpful links and by all means if you have a link you think may be helpful to other knitters please post it!

Enjoy & Happy Knitting!!

Free pattern offer expires March 19, 2012.  Thanks for all the comments and interest.

SHORT ROWS & PAULA DEEN

I hate short rows!  And I especially hate them when I start something and then put it down for 2 months because I am on to something else (remember startitis!) - and to make things worse the darn thing is knit in a boucle with lots of loops

 on the short rows - 

and I don't know where the heck I am

 when I pick it back up 

because I haven't taken very good notes! 

WOW -  I know that was a mouthful!!  

Well Joe was tired of hearing me complain about this unfortunate circumstance 

- and that is putting it mildly 

- so on this warm 75° December day 

he suggested we head to Savannah 

and walk off my frustrations.  

 While gliding across the river on 

the Savannah Belles Ferry 

I recalled that Miss Paula Deen was having a blood drive today and afterwards she would be signings books at The Lady and Sons.  So as soon as we disembarked we headed on to 

The Inn at Ellis Square to donate blood.  

Two hours later Joe had successfully made his donation but unfortunately I was not able to because of a prior illness.  The Red Cross however, is very grateful for the effort and we were both rewarded with two aprons autographed by Paula Deen and two buffet dinners at her famous restaurant.  Next it was off to see the lady herself for the much anticipated book signing.  The line was very long.....

 .....and to everyone's delight

Jamie Deen came out for a visit.  

   

Well --  another two hours went by -- we met lots of nice people and finally we reached the holy grail --

Miss Paula Deen and her sons Bobbie and Jamie.  And yes she is really a SOUTHERN LADY and she does speak with a southern drawl.  She is just as pretty as she looks on TV and was very gracious and chatted like we were old friends asking us about our lives and thanking us for our participation in the blood drive.

And she personalized all our treasures!

Finally it was time for dinner at "The Lady and Sons" complements of Paula herself. 

 I have to say the southern fried chicken and mac and cheese (which I don't eat very often) was absolutely delicious.

We ended the day with a romantic walk on 

River Street.  

The entire river walk and all the shops are lit up for the holidays including our favorite stop 

"River Street Sweets". Even the Riverboat Cruise ships are decked out in their holiday best.

Thanks "Miss Paula" for another great Savannah experience.  Oh and yes - I did not think about my short row problem all day.  

In fact I feel like the famous Southern Lady 

Miss Scarlett O'Hara

"After all, tomorrow is another day!"