Hobbies – The Sanity Saver
I’ve told the story before, my mother was a lover of crafting. She tried loads of things and enjoyed most of them. I give her credit for sharing that love of ‘what if and why not’ with me.
I think many times people get stuck with the idea that there are not many crafts to be done or that some are more cumbersome than others or the mess or the expense or the time… You get the drift.
The thing is, there are hundreds of options that can evolve into thousands of projects.
Off the top of my head
- Sewing
- Clothes
- Quilting
- Home Decor (pillows, curtains, etc.)
- Cookery
- Food preservation (canning, drying)
- Specialty vinegars and oils
- Baking (breads and pastries)
- Candle Making
- Soap Making
- Basket Weaving
- Paper Crafting
- Mixed Media
- Furniture Refinishing
- Wood Working
- Whittling
- Upholstering
- Painting (Oil or watercolor or pastels)
- Painting (Furniture, rooms, decor pieces)
- Pottery
Whew!
One of the things I enjoy about watching others practice or teach their craft is learning about the process. I might never venture to do it myself, but I do learn a bit.
I watch Antiques Road Trip not only for the armchair traveler in me, but I learn a lot about things and history. Quilting shows teach me ideas and patterns. Cookery shows open my eyes to possibilities that might be found lurking in my local market waiting for me to bring it home and play in my kitchen. A trip to my local hobby shop or hardware store opens loads of possibilities as there are often classes that help me decide if I want to dive in or just dabble.
The thing is, the dabbling can create a space in your life where you can let go of the day to day grind and wander through the project at hand. I have a friend who loves her garden not only for the beauty in it but the peace it provides as she cares for her plants. She loves it so much I’ve told her she might consider doing it as a sideline. I doubt that will happen because that would cross the line between pleasure and work, but it is an option for some.
There are some folks who are good at a hobby craft and love to share it. Some of those will sell their arts and others who teach their arts.
For me, I love to observe, learn, get my hands dirty a bit and find things that I can do in my own time.
What do you love to do that lets you relax and unwind?
