New hobby ideas?

[Duck on Wheels]

I spent my sabbatical year two years ago in an unfurnished apartment in an unfamiliar town all on my own. There was a yarn and quilting shop just across the street, alongside a bakery and café. I would pick up my daily breads and coffee and then browse among all the colors and patterns and textures of the yarns and materials. I did several knitting projects that year, including learning some unusual techniques such as moebius (sp?) strip knitting. Then just before heading back home I took the one quilting course they offered where you didn't have to bring a sewing machine with you -- a course on color and design. After the course I bought a couple of books, some cutting tools, materials for a quilt, and got to work when I got back home to my machine. I gave the first one (you could call it "The G@y Olympics Cycling Flag quilt") to my sister (Trek420). Then made another (a quilted, patchwork messenger bag) for my daughter (UK Elephant), then another (in soft flannels with inset photos printed on muslin) for my grand-nephew. Now I'm about to start on a rock-climbing themed quilt for my son. In the course if 1 year, I guess it's turned into a new hobby, and with retirement looming a few years down the line that's probably a good thing. If you can sew at all, quilts are surprisingly simple to make, so I've discovered, and can give impressive results in spite of numerous simplifications and even downright mistakes. Here are my very first three: nr. 1 overview, nr. 2 finished and in use, and nr. 3 front and back. [announcer's voiceover: Only the mistakes are hidden to protect the incomptent.]