Taking up a new hobby?

[BriarRose]

Well you see my life is getting a major change next week - the divorce will be final! So my friends have decided I need to keep myself occupied :D

No my new hobby is not going to be dating even though that has been suggested!

I'm taking up quiliting :D

So anyone thinking of a new hobby for a change of pace?

[SusanL]

Hugs to you Kristen.

My new hobby is trying to organize my life. From sorting and cleaning out my condo, to getting my work load at work into some kind of managable order. I have been using the flylady system and it seems to be coming together.

Great question.

[Ursulinda]

Hang tough, Kristen!

My new hobby is like Susan's - This is the year My house WILL SHOW that it's been dejunked! This is the year I won't buy anything I don't need. This is the year I'll lose 20 pounds and KEEP THEM OFF. This is the year I *will* learn photoshop elements.

[Moley]

I love the idea of learning photoshop skills. Oh what fun I can think of. :mrgreen:

[OhMickeyYoureSoFine]

Cooking.

I visited a bunch of relatives in Australia and they cooked some beautiful roasts.
I can't cook a roast to save my life.

I feel there is a gaping hole in my life because I cannot cook a roast.
Therefore I will set about learning to cook this to impress the relatives on my next trip.
Behold, a Pork Crown Roast:

http://www.porkpeople.com/images/recipes/crownroast/img_1.jpg

[Barrie]

My hobby is photography and all things related to it. I'm still pretty new at it so I hope it counts. The last couple days I've been obsessed about making calendar pages.

Another thing that I have just started playing with is making books - I guess they are photo albums. I've only finished one so far and am working on another one. They start out as those little kids chipboard books ($.49 at goodwill). Then I use scrapbook paper (or recycled calendar photos) to decorate them. The one I finished I gave to a friend with enough photo corners to add her own photos to each page. They are designed to sit open on a shelf where they can be seen.

[MissBianca]

This year I'm going to learn to program for the web, starting with Flash animation and scripting.

Dunno if this will stay at the hobby level or what.

[Aimfred]

Kristen - hugs to you! Having been through a divorce myself, I think it is a great time to "reinvent" yourself and focus on things you want to do. Quilting sounds like an excellent idea. It's on my list of things to learn "eventually".

This year I am attempting to learn Photoshop Elements, so I can get a handle on my scrapbooking. I used to paper scrap, but between being in school, and having a toddler, I just don't have time or energy to dragout all those dang supplies! I want to be able to put together simple, but elegant digital albums I can print out & share. Any suggestions on where to start would be appreiciated!

[MissBianca]

Aimfred, I'm experienced with digital scrapbooking and Photoshop Elements. If you have any questions, let me know. I can also direct you to some tutorials if you tell me what kind of thing you need to learn.

[kathleena]

Hugs from me also Kristen.

I've never quilted, so I have no advice for that. It would be hard for me to quilt, because making one would take so long......I would only have a little time to give it each week.

I like the shorter projects, like scrapbooking, where I can make a page or two at a time and feel that I accomplished something just in a few hours.

Cake decorating is fun, but you have to be careful not to eat the project! :D

[Belle]

{{{Kristen}}} Keep your chin up girl :)

Hobbies - cleaning out my house :D Yes, I am working on organizing and decluttering.... I just can't live like this anymore :? heeeeeeeelllllllppppppp!!!!!

[SueV]

:hug: Kristen:hug: Hang in there! I think taking up a new hobby is a great idea!
My new hobby is focusing more energy on myself, totally selfish;) But I mean that in a good way by trying to get healthy! That will be my new hobby!

For you I do think that dating could make for a fun new hobby and you should definately give it a try!

[SusanP]

My new hobby is also organization....the 20 pounds off me will seem like nothing compared to the hundreds that need to leave this house! I bought a new shelf thingy and 2 new cupboards so I am good to sort...then toss...LOTS!!!

Then I will have time and the space to get back into my other hobbies!

[Topaz]

Big hugs for you Kristen. :nicehug: :nicehug: :nicehug:

I always admire the quilts at the fair. They are so beautiful. Sounds like something you and your daughter can do together. Do they still have quilting bees?

Have fun with it.:)

[Collette]

:hug: Kristen

I don't have any hobbies in the plans because I don't seem to stick with any one thing for too long, but I do have one quilt kit and fabric for a quilted tree skirt that needs my attention. My friend who has helped me endlessly with quilting has moved though.

I have made two. The summer before our daughter left for college, she asked if I would make her a quilt to curl up in when she moved there. I then made one for our son who was also in college. It just felt so good knowing they were wrapped up in the quilts I made that were such a labor of love. Of course your daughter could have several quilts to take along by that time!

I quilt the same as I knit - squares and rectangles :) My kit has a few triangles in it so will see how that goes - if I ever get at it.

Keep us posted on how it's going. I love to see the patterns everyone chooses and the fabrics. Love the fabrics!!! It's no wonder quilters have a "stash".

[BetsyBoo]

Oh I am with Ursalinda, I have really started to clean out the house, organize my life and getting my personal self back in order.

BetsyBoo

[ChrisR]

I too have added organizing/decluttering on my to do list. So far I have taken a full van load of stuff to the consignment store, 4 large boxes of stuff to Purple Heart, and 12 bags of garbage. And that was only 3 rooms. I am have a ton of baby clothes that will be disposed of soon. I have 2 relatives due in June. Whoever is expecting a boy, will soon receive boxes in the mail from me. If they both end up being girls, then they will go to Purple Heart as well. DH is actually caught the bug and is working on our home office. The next room to be purged will be our bedroom, which should only take a couple of hours since it isn't that bad.

[Carrie]

One thing I have done lately is along the lines of everyone else...organization. I carry around a personal planner in a case that carries like a purse. I put everything in it and then I won't forget so much. I make "to do" lists all the time so I can get things done ontime. I learned that accomplishing things is so much easier when you're organized.

Oh, I guess I do sort of have a new hobby...I'm getting a Cricut to make my scrapbook life easier and more creative. As as soon as it arrives in the mail I'll have to play around with it and make lots of new layouts. I also signed up for a monthly Cricut class at my local Michaels store.

[Sheryl]

Hugs to you little sister.:hug:

I'm with many of you on getting reorganized around here. I lost my urge to be a total neat freak last year, and while my house is not dirty, it is not as organized as I like being. My goal is little steps, to get back in the groove.

[Carrie]

Sheryl, do you have any tips on how to become a neat freak? I need to be one of those as my house is slowly going downhill.

[TiggersPal]

good for you for taking up quilting! I have been quilting for about 15 years or so, but I do all kinds of sewing, too, and some of my greatest relaxation and most fun times have been at quilting shops or quilting classes! I'm 40, which seems old sometimes :) but I'm usually at least 20 years younger than the next youngest person in the classes!

I love it, it's fun, it's an obsession, but something productive does come out of it and when I give someone a quilt, it's like giving them a piece of my heart, I never forget them and I hope they never forget me.

If you have any questions or need any help, I'm not an expert, but I can certainly advise you if you need to! Find your local quilt shop and they are always so glad to help and convert someone else:D

[BriarRose]

Well thank you all for the hugs :D I'm excited and scared to start a new chapter but well it happens :D

I'll let you know how the quilting goes and thanks for the offer of help :D I guess then I have also taken up organization again. It will be so easy since I won't have to pick up after a messy man who doesn't know how to throw things out :D

[Master Mason]

It will be so easy since I won't have to pick up after a messy man who doesn't know how to throw things out :D

Hey you can't throw stuff out, you might need it again. :)

[BriarRose]

LOL! You need empty coke cans?

[Master Mason]

LOL! You need empty coke cans? Well no, but thats not stuff, thats garbage. Stuff is something like your college calculus book. You never know when that thing might come in handy...

[BriarRose]

Well I did say throw THINGS out not stuff :D I still have some books from college :D

[lynner5996]

Okay, I'm excited about your new hobby, really! But I have to say that quilting is a real stick-to-it thing and not for everyone! My girlfriend's sister has been a quilter for years and I am amazed at the beautiful quilts she has done for all occasions. But when I see her at the lake sitting down with her quilt in the hot weather, I just say yuck - I wouldn't want to work on a hot quilt in the summer.

Now, I took quilting classes and did a quilt top with the idea that it would be in Brooks' bedroom by the time he was born....he's 24. Never finished. It's pretty though! I also have some quilt blocks that my grandmother did, and I always said I would finish them and frame them and give a quilt block to each granddaughter....that was about 1979...oh well, just not my thing.

But somewhere I bet I have some stuff I can send you....

As you know, scrapbooking is my thing. But I really need to get organized too.

[BillJ]

Have you considered combat shooting?

I can teach you.

If that isn't your cup of tea... would you consider making rosaries or prayer beads?

Those things, and cooking are just about all I know.... good thing I can make a living out of one of them.

Cheers.

[SusanP]

Have you considered combat shooting?

I can teach you.

If that isn't your cup of tea... would you consider making rosaries or prayer beads?

Those things, and cooking are just about all I know.... good thing I can make a living out of one of them.

Cheers.

Too funny!!!
I have a 16 yr old boy that would love to take you up on one of those...actually 2, he loves to cook. I think the beads are your own territory though!