New hobby ideas?

[bacarver]

Has anyone started a new hobby or interest lately? I decided a couple years ago that I was going to learn to bake homemade bread. This has gone well and now I'm eager to tackle a new challenge since my confidence is up. I also enjoy decorating gourds and large snapping turtle shells. I tried ceramics and didn't really get the hang of it. I haven't been able to find anyone who can teach me to knit. Thanks - Barb

[Tuckervill]

www.knittinghelp.com. Free videos about how to knit. It's how I learned to knit, just a few weeks ago. Took me about 3 weeks to knit that first sock, but then about 3 days to do the second one!

So I guess that's a new hobby I acquired, but I haven't done it in a while. The weather has been unseasonably warm this week, so I have been OUTSIDE! Now that the tornadoes have ushered in more January-like weather, I'll probably start another pair of socks. That's all I want...hand-knit socks.

Karen

[mimitabby]

Barb, it took me about 3 years before I "got" Pottery. It's a skill that takes time, and you also have to build strength. Don't give up so easily.
I took up watercolors this spring, and I figure in 5 years I might be good enough to sell stuff.

[bmccasland]

My fascination with things renaissance has taken to include gold work. I ordered a kit and some books to try gold thread embroidery with the real stuff. The techniques are different than with "regular" embroidery (cotton or silk floss), and sparkly! Doesn't help that BonnieCat trys to *help* - more by getting in the way, than actually swatting the thread.

[Jones]

Pie, I think baking home made pies, from scratch that would be a great hobby.
Sometimes major craft stores like "Micheal's" have knitting and other classes for free or cheap and also local yarn shops usually have classes.
Good Luck,
Jones

[GLC1968]

I taught myself to knit about a month ago using a beginner's kit I got at Michael's. I'm in the middle of making my first scarf and hat set from the same book. It's not hard, I just don't have a lot of time right now. Next I want to learn how to spin my own yarn.

You also could take up beading. There are about a million different types of things you could do (making jewelry, sculptures, decorating clothing, etc.). A great resource is http://www.firemountaingems.com.

[spokewench]

Pie, I think baking home made pies, from scratch that would be a great hobby.
Sometimes major craft stores like "Micheal's" have knitting and other classes for free or cheap and also local yarn shops usually have classes.
Good Luck,
Jones

Baking home made pies is a great hobby - but it is not great for the waist line! I've been baking pies since I was pretty young. We learned from Grandma. My sister has even won first prize for her apple pie at the County Fair that is held in Pleasanton California.

It's just not something you can do every weekend if you want to watch the weight!

[Chile Pepper]

My fascination with things renaissance has taken to include gold work. I ordered a kit and some books to try gold thread embroidery with the real stuff. The techniques are different than with "regular" embroidery (cotton or silk floss), and sparkly!

I love to embroider (silk thread), but I haven't done anything for a long time because I can't find decent patterns. Everything is either dorky or cutesy or juvenile. I want something more artistic--but I haven't been inspired to come up with my own. Any ideas on sourcing more complex, interesting, artsy patterns? Thanks!

[bmccasland]

I love to embroider (silk thread), but I haven't done anything for a long time because I can't find decent patterns. Everything is either dorky or cutesy or juvenile. I want something more artistic--but I haven't been inspired to come up with my own. Any ideas on sourcing more complex, interesting, artsy patterns? Thanks!

Jen - my tastes go to more natural or realistic looking. I generally don't like abstract art. SO I look to nature for inspiration, and old paintings. I've just gotten started in gold work, the kit I ordered was from Berlin Embroidery in Canada http://www.berlinembroidery.com/
She has some beautiful kits. If nothing else, I drool over her work.

There are also embroidery books out of Japan and China - their old school embroidery techniques seem a bit different than european techniques. What truely amazes me is the silk screen embroidery - same on both sides (can't remember off hand if this is out of Japan or China).

Some countries - England, Australia, and Japan - come to mind, actually have a sanctioned and judged embroidery master program. You might find inspiration chasing that angle.

What I need is TIME!!! Some many projects, so little time. That working 40 hrs per week to fund the hobbies really cuts into my hobby time! And bike riding time.