Hobbies

[libby]

I am half way through knitting a scarf. Knitting is a hobby I find very enjoyable and I try spend some time everyday knitting. So what are your hobbies and how much time do you spend on them? I guess the reason I'm asking is my DH has no hobbies and no understanding at all as to why anyone would pursue them. What a shame... Anyways I was just wondering what activities give you joy.

[domestic goddess]

I like to crochet, and I also enjoy beadwork and rubber stamping and counted thread embroidery. I also read and listen to music, but don't really consider those "hobbies".
My dh could never consider a "hobby" unless it involved the purchase of a lot of expensive equipment. I think the rush came more from the purchase of the equipment than the actual hobby. That seems to be a "man" thing. I have not known a man who had an inexpensive hobby.
Don't know if this thread should be in the "Hobby" forum.

[JaneV2.0]

Indeed. My hobby is buying art and craft supplies; the only really cheap pastime I've ever enjoyed was reading. I'm in the midst of moving my workspace around, so I may get around to actually pursuing some of my interests, like playing with polymer and fabric, drawing/painting, quilting, and making little jewelry items.

[sweetana3]

My DH had a hard time transitioning to retirement. He now helps with Habitat for Humanity, helps deliver food to a local food bank, plays way too many games on the computer, reads, etc. He really does not enjoy creating or "art" projects.

I on the other hand have to edit my hobbies to those I already have supplies for and have to make myself stop trying new ones. I enjoy the color of things and really enjoy the company and friendship with others who like the same things. The hobbies create a wonderful social outlet. I quilt, cross stitch, rug hook, punchneedle, embroider, etc.

[JaneV2.0]

I get so excited by color, texture, and pattern, fabric and beads and wire, acrylics and mica powders and polymers and everything you can do with them that I don't know what to start first so I end up like some manic pooch chasing its tail. And "manic" is the last thing I normally am. Lately, I've been wanting to get back to some of my old pursuits and maybe dabble in a bit of crochet. I have supplies; all I need is a muse and organization. Though I'm not crazy about social activities in general, I've found that being active in a guild forces me to actually focus on the craft at hand.

[iris lily]

I'm happy that I've always been passionate about my interests and hobbies. It's been iris and lilies (growing and arranging) for the past 10 or so years, plus bulldogs and old houses. I read far less than I once did, but I still love beyond all else a really good book.

[IshbelRobertson]

I love tapestry work. I used to love knitting, but arthritis has kind of put paid to knitting anything that is heavy to support, such as one of my old-time favourites Arran and Fairisle work.

I love to garden - we have a fairly large one, laid out in flower beds, lawns, rosegarden and veggies/fruits and a herb knot garden. Too much for us really, so we have a gardener come in once a week for 3-4 hours to keep the shrubs, fruit trees etc under control.

I find reading a great hobby. And much more so since I've had my kindle (a Christmas gift last year) - so much lighter than many of the research works and blockbuster novels that I used to have to hold in my arthritic hands/wrists!

I love the theatre - and go to various performances at least once a month, some months (like the Edinburgh Festival(s)) many, many more daily!

[Bastelmutti]

Volunteering - for an ethnic community organization where I am newsletter editor and a cultural program where I teach kids.

Knitting, crochet, sewing.

Any type of crafts, really - My sister and I like to do homemade Halloween (costumes not necessarily all sewed by hand, but pieced together creatively, mostly from household or thriftshop items, rather than bought off the rack) and I also do homemade Christmas (filling in the gaps with Etsy and similar items).

Cooking and researching recipes and different ethnic cuisines, but not baking.

I used to read like crazy, but since my job involves lots of reading all day, I don't as much anymore. Sometimes I get on "kicks" with an author or series I really like.

DH's main hobby is cycling.

[Simpler at Fifty]

DHs hobby is woodworking. He has made several pieces of furniture for our home. Mine are sewing and crocheting. I am crafty but mostly do single projects. If I need/want a new wreath, I buy the materials, make it and am done. I can knit a little and would like to pursue that before I retire. Many years ago I did a lot of cross stitch but don't think I would be able to see it now.

[CathyA]

I like to cross-stitch, but sometimes its hard for me to get a project started. I also like to cook. I have watergardens that I like alot too. I enjoy birdwatching, riding my electric golf cart through our woods and taking care of my chickens. I have recently gotten into crossword puzzles! Go figure.

[Mrs-M]

Gardening tops my list, and before the kid count got so high, I loved to sew. Going to seriously look at introducing a craft or two into my days, especially after reading everyone's interesting posts!

[Tradd]

Reading, cooking. I like to do some writing, and some tinkering with techy stuff. I also love photography, but I do things like shoot friends' weddings, baptisms, as well as special church events and the things surrounding Christmas and Holy Week/Easter. I've become my parish's unofficial yet official photgrapher! :) I also love singing (very faithful church choir member).

[Maxamillion]

I love video & computer games, sewing, machine embroidery (both stitching and digitizing/designing patterns), reading, and gardening. I also like to cook. And I do the occasional bit of painting, making miniatures, computer graphics, scrapbooking (though I haven't done that in awhile), beading/jewelry making, hand embroidery (also using beads and ribbons), drawing, and writing. I picked up a set of knitting needles and some yarn a few months ago, but haven't gotten around to figuring out knitting yet. I'd like to do some woodworking/carpentry but don't have the money or space for the supplies. My cupboards, shelves, drawers, and counter are already overflowing with craft stuff. I'd make a great househusband, lol.

When I can afford it, I take the occasional camping trip. A few things that I'd like to do but don't have the money for are canoeing, martial arts, traveling, going to the gym (especially the weight-lifting machines) and scuba diving. Back when I had a gym membership (before I lost my job), it really helped keep me motivated to stay physically active.

[jania]

I like working with fiber, knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning and dying although through the years I've really down-sized and decluttered my equipment. Recently, for another opportunity to be creative on a small and inexpensive scale, I've started creating an artist trading card each week as a form of personal journal and find it very satisfying and fun.

Gardening and reading are other activities that I find interesting.

[iris lily]

I like working with fiber, knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning and dying although through the years I've really down-sized and decluttered my equipment. Recently, for another opportunity to be creative on a small and inexpensive scale, I've started creating an artist trading card each week as a form of personal journal and find it very satisfying and fun.

Gardening and reading are other activities that I find interesting.

Artist trading card--tell us more about that, please.

[libby]

It's nice to see so many others who enjoy various hobbies! I am still wondering though how much time do you all put into your hobbies? Inquiring minds need to know!

[Gardenarian]

Gardening, reading, calligraphy, drawing, writing, birdwatching.

This is an exciting time for gardeners in California - we get to rip out the summer garden and put in all our winter crops now (though it did reach 80 degrees at my house yesterday.)

Calligraphy is something I've been off and on about for a long time, but I've been really enjoying it for the past year and I think I will stick with it. I've been incorporating calligraphy into my artwork. I do a lot of drawings of animals, birds, flowers, and trees. It's an inexpensive hobby, and can actually be a money saver if you make your own invitations, cards, and so on. Right now I'm working on a botany coloring book for children - I don't really plan to have it published, but will make it available to other homeschoolers via the web.

I'm really not very crafty, but I do have a sewing machine and would like to use it more. I find it very frustrating! I can never set the tension right, thread breaks, the bobbin tangles. Maybe I need to take it to the shop for a tune up and adjustment...maybe I'll start a sewing machine thread!

I tried knitting a sweater last year and the front came out a foot longer than the back. :0!

[Spartana]

I So what are your hobbies and how much time do you spend on them? I guess the reason I'm asking is my DH has no hobbies and no understanding at all as to why anyone would pursue them. What a shame... Anyways I was just wondering what activities give you joy.

My hobbies are mostly playing sports and recreational stuff. Some I do competetively so spend time training. Most I do for fun and enjoyment. Spend about 3/4 of my day on those hobbies. I also am a science-geek, so read alot of science stuff (and sci-fi too) and have some social groups (nerds and geeks) that I get together with to talk science with - and sci-fi.

[jania]

Iris lily, artist trading cards are small 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch cards used to express artistic impressions. The art/craft work can be anything as long as it stays in the stated card size. There are many groups (you can find them on-line pretty easily) and a popular activity is to make your cards and trade them with other "artists".

I liked the idea of the small format. It gives me a chance to think of a theme, event or feeling/emotion I've had during the week and express it in a creative way (usually mixed-media collage). I have tried written journals in the past but always destroy them, they just don't seem to click with me. The trading cards are fun and as small projects can be done quickly with little fuss, using things I already have on hand. As an example, I make the cards by cutting up cereal or cracker boxes, easy-peasy. I'm not planning to trade them, just keep them for a year, review them, see if maybe there's some pattern to consider, then most likely destroy them.

[pinkytoe]

My foremost hobby is gardening which has been severely thwarted by our ongoing drought. I never really got into cactus and other desert plants but if this continues, looks like I will be learning about that as we replace dying plants.
I also spend a lot of time looking at recipes and trying new ones. And reading nonfiction books.
Funny what someone said about men and their hobbies being expensive - dh's hobby is photography and I swear he gets more of a kick by finding another old camera to buy than of actually taking photos.