I need to get a hobby

**Palooka** · 05-25-2008, 12:38 AM

Stupid question coming...How did you guys find a hobby that you liked? I feel like I have no talent or nothing intrest me.

My dh bought me a candle maker and that was cute for about 20 minutes of making an ugly one.(well it came with orange wax and a shape I don't like) I am a candle lover but rather buy one. lol

When I was young my mom had me get into things like I cant even spell. I loved it...too bad I can't even come close to the spelling because I know you guys would know what I was talking about..

Scrapbooking seemed really cool with all my thousands of pictures of my kids, but still could not get into it. Never really tried though..

Maybe I have ADD. Who knows. I just can't find something I am intrested in.

I would love one day to make something way cool for my kids or furture grandkids. But uhhh...Something to do on the side that I would enjoy..I just don't know what that would be.

Maybe it is not for me.

**Lady_V** · 05-25-2008, 12:43 AM

Hmmm, I know you said you can't spell the things you did with your Mom... but you can describe it and maybe we can understand...

As far as finding one, what do you like?

I pick things that can do double duty... no stamp collecting for me... if I can't use it when I am done, it's no use to me... by making blankets, doll clothes etc... I can justify spending the money on my hobbies because I benefit from their use and it's cheaper to make them than buy them...

**Jamauk** · 05-25-2008, 12:47 AM

I actually stumbled onto quilting - and now I'm addicted! Being crafty is not something I ever considered myself. However, once I got my sewing machine a whole new world opened up to me!

I would just pick some things that might sound interesting to you and research them online and at the library.

One of these days I hope to make gardening/canning a hobby - but for now there just aren't enough hours in the day (or square footage in my yard!)

**Palooka** · 05-25-2008, 12:58 AM

Here is the spelling.. I think google could not figure it out.

macromay,embroudry, and latch hook I used to love. Things with beads I like. I made this huge plant holder when I was young. That was macromay.lol sp

I always thought I would love to garden. So one year I did tomato pots and cucumbers. Uh....nevermind there. See, but I had a young one then too. Maybe it is a time issue too? I feel like I never have time for me.

**Palooka** · 05-25-2008, 01:02 AM

A sewing machine does intrest me. A few years ago I bought a simple pattern. I got stuck on it and no one to help me so I gave up. This was just the cutting and my mom had an old machine, but I never got that far..

Well maybe years ago before the net was here.lol

How much are sewing machines now days?

**Jamauk** · 05-25-2008, 01:11 AM

Sewing machines come in a HUGE range of prices. You can get a basic Singer or Viking for a just a couple hundred dollars.

If you wanted a nicer, sturdier (with German engineering), I'd go with Bernina or Pfaff.

Brother is also a good machine and they run the gammut from small, beginner machine to industrial, commercial machines and everything in between!

Here is the machine I have: http://www.pfaffusa.com/184.html

It retails for about $1499 (we did NOT pay that much!). If you really think its something you're interested in, I'd go to a local dealer and just ask some questions and look around. Most dealers have machines set up for you to "test drive" and just see what feels comfortable.

You also need to ask yourself "what is this machine going to be used for?" Because I knew my machine would be used mostly for quilting with a little bit of sewing thrown in - I looked for different features than someone that wants to make curtains, dresses, pillows, etc....

This is probably WAY MORE info than you needed since all you asked was "how much do they run these days?" I got a little carried away!

Also - craigslist is a good place to find sewing machines. Many people buy them with grand ideas and they end up collecting dust and then they just offer them up for pennies on craigslist!

**Jamauk** · 05-25-2008, 01:12 AM

If you like macromay (I can't spell it, either!) have you ever tried knitting or crocheting?

I know exactly ONE crochet stitch - and I'm currently trying to teach myself how to knit...

**zakity** · 05-25-2008, 01:24 AM

Yep, what she said. Get a free machine off freecyle or a cheap/free one off craigslist. Try it out.

You can make a straight stitch quilt. Cut up old clothes into squares and sew them together. When it is as big as you want it, get a thrift store sheet and use that as a back. To quilt it, either tie it or stitch it (because it is thin, it will be easier to stitch). Don't put a "filling" in it. Just have it be the quilt top and the sheet. You can use it for a picnic blanket so it doesn't matter if it turns out that great.

Of course, those are really "brief" instructions. Google quilts and read how to do them.

**Palooka** · 05-25-2008, 01:33 AM

Where are the spelling geeks when we need them? lol

In grade school me and my best friend did crochet. We made those 80's pony tails and those ugly doilies.sp lol I seriously can't remember how to do that now.

**hwmabire3** · 05-25-2008, 03:21 AM

May I make a suggestion?

I have some ADD tendencies as well...I'm known for starting things and never finishing them. I don't have the patience to knit or crochet an afghan, or to sew anything. I'm no good at drawing or painting. I need instant gratification.

The one thing I have found that meets my need to be creative AND to get a quick result is photography. Get yourself a digital camera if you don't already have one, and just walk around taking pictures. Get pictures of trees, flowers, animals, the sky, landscapes...the possibilities are endless. This is the one hobby I have been able to stick with for over 10 years now. I never took any classes, I'm just an amateur.

Not only does photography keep you busy and allow you to express creativity, but the pictures often make wonderful gifts.

**Palooka** · 05-25-2008, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by hwmabire3

May I make a suggestion?

I have some ADD tendencies as well...I'm known for starting things and never finishing them. I don't have the patience to knit or crochet an afghan, or to sew anything. I'm no good at drawing or painting. I need instant gratification.

The one thing I have found that meets my need to be creative AND to get a quick result is photography. Get yourself a digital camera if you don't already have one, and just walk around taking pictures. Get pictures of trees, flowers, animals, the sky, landscapes...the possibilities are endless. This is the one hobby I have been able to stick with for over 10 years now. I never took any classes, I'm just an amateur.

Not only does photography keep you busy and allow you to express creativity, but the pictures often make wonderful gifts.

So funny is that I have a digital camera and have a ton of pics on the computor and print them off with the sizes I want. I do this all the time. I just didn't think this was a 'hobby.' Thank you for sharing this!

Some day I will share some of my photobucket pics here.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-25-2008, 08:13 AM

Macrame. The art of tying and twisted twine.

Very popular in the 70's

Embroidery. The tedious art of stitching thread by hand.

I think everyone finds a certain hobby by chance. You have to try them all to see which one you like.
You become passionate over time.

Nothing comes out right at first, that's why it's a hobby- you keep doing it for the FUN of it. Not because you need a perfect item at the end.

A hobby could also be bike riding- mountain, road, long distance, tour.
It could be hiking - same thing

It could be photography - pick a theme for a year. How about taking pictures of things (man-made or natural) you see that resemble the alphabet. And you're finished when you've completed the alphabet.
Another theme - waterfalls. Make it your task to photograph all the waterfalls in your surrounding... xx miles. Hobbys cost a bit of money.
Other themes - people, children, flowers, nature, bridges, metal, industrial, landscape, I could go on and on.

All you need is that digital camera and your computer.
And you'll be hooked.. buying books on the subject- borrowing them from the library would be a more frugal thing to do. but sometimes you need the book with you for reference.

You could even delve into B+W photography, film, developing, portrait.. GOD! I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!!

Wait... where was I.
Okay... so, I have lots of hobbies and I posted a thread somewhere else where I am concerned that my sewing room is out of line. Jam packed with stuff. Too many hobbies. Embroidery machine, serger, sewing, fabric, scrapbook, fabric, fabric, photography stuff, lights, film.. and I could go on and on.

And all you need is to find one hobby. Sheesh!

**Ceashels** · 05-25-2008, 08:24 AM

Macrame, I googled it 3 times each with a different spelling to get there. LOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macram%C3%A9

I remember my Mom doing this too and also made hanging plant holders. It was fun. I did a choker when I was little and it became a cat toy since it had fringes. hehehe.

**IntlMom** · 05-25-2008, 08:33 AM

With all your photos on the computer, maybe you could try givign a digital scrapbooking a try. I actually LOVE the process of scrapbooking the "old fashioned way" haha, but there are plenty of digital scrapbook programs out there. I think if you google it, you'll find them online and you can do that whole thing online and then they send you a book that you done all online with your photos...... I think.

**Samigirl** · 05-25-2008, 11:14 AM

Since you're into photography, you might try scrapbooking via the computer. I don't enjoy traditional scrapbooking, but I do enjoy creating pages with my scrapbooking program. The only problem I foresee would be the cost. Walmart will print them out, but I'm not sure how much they charge. I'm able to get mine printed for free.