What have I been up to, you ask? Oh, lots. And 2008 is going to be good — I can feel it! (Even if Barack Obama doesn’t take NH tonight.)

Christmas was super-nice. We spent time with my family in NJ, then planned to head back up to the Cape to Sean’s family, but everyone had the flu! :( We’re heading up to Loon Mtn. this week with his family, so we’ll have our Secret Santa trade then. I am so fricking excited for that. I can. not. wait. to give my gift. I’ll post more when it’s been gifted.

And on to the most important part … what did I get??! A new sewing machine. A super beautiful, non-thread jamming, easy glide along, non-scary buttonhole-making Janome. It’s a real peach. I started this dress (the one on the right) in a nice goldy-yellow herringbone, but have had some achy back problems, so I’ve taken a week or so off of sewing. Among other gifts (my family goes a little gift-crazy) I also got some new Earth boots, and a really amazing pair of hand-made scissors I’d asked for.

My knitting, as usual, is slightly complicated. I have one “I’m stuck,” another “I have to back pedal a bit, but it’ll be a quickie once I get going” sweater, an inch of ribbing for a vest that that I ripped and restarted the other day, an EZ hat that I am about to rip and restart on a larger needle … and there are a few more, but I’ll spare you the drama.

For houses, we decided that neither of the two houses we’ve been looking at (see my Flickr account) are quite right, so we’re going to keep on looking. We’re leaning more toward staying in the city at this point — I don’t know if we can roll in the ‘burbs just yet.

I can’t believe I only have three more days of work, then I’m on vacation again, but you’ll hear no complaints from me! Hopefully by the next time I post I’ll have learned how to snowboard. And if that doesn’t work out, I’ll likely spend the week finishing up all those knits I mentioned …

Posted by Tina as Knitting, Funny little things, Sewing at 10:50 PM PST

If you eat your ice cream with mindfulness, you understand you are eating a cloud.

I’ve been listening to this Buddhist Dharma podcast for about a month now, usually on my way to work in the morning. I highly recommend Zencast, which is a series of lectures by Gil Fronsdal and several others. The podcast offers many tidbits of wisdom …

I’ve been knitting quite a bit, and also sewing as well. I was going to wear this dress to a friend’s wedding a few weeks ago, but it just felt a bit too tenty, and not quite wedding-y, so I have yet to break it in. I hope it’s not too much of a waste of fabric, but I may take it in a bit. I’ve been running, and I’m feeling in shape, and the dress doesn’t really show that :)

During my morning commute, I’m usually knitting if I can get a seat. As I got off and switched to the red line yesterday, a woman asked me if I teach knitting. It’s not the first time I’ve been asked, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s something I should try at some point. I shyly told her no, but sent her off to find Windsor Button.

I’ve been working on a gift for someone, so can’t really post on that, but my Rib Yoke Cardigan is done, and I’m very flattered that one of my all-time favorite knitters gave me a nice compliment.

Posted by Tina as Knitting, Funny little things, Sewing at 10:48 AM PDT

I finished up this Built by Wendy top, pattern #3835, this weekend. It’s a great, simple little pattern. The fabric is part of a two yard remnant I picked up at either Joann or Winmil Fabrics — it was so long ago I honestly can’t remember. It frayed a bit, so I did a nice little seam finish on the inside. Just a straight stitch and pinking shears to finish off, but it really made a difference. I’ll post pics of the dress I made from the same pattern as soon as my photographer’s available :)

Posted by Tina as Sewing at 10:01 AM PDT