NeedHelpWithMom Posted October 2019
What’s your favorite hobby to escape? This discussion is open to caregivers and former caregivers.
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I am going to get back into being creative. I started doing some of my favorite hobbies again and planning to learn some new ones. Please share what you enjoy or what you are interested in possibly learning to do.
Years ago I managed a craft shop. I loved it!
Does anyone have an Etsy shop or participate in craft fairs?
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Love to knit, crochet and more recently, quilt. I’d love to learn free motion-quilting on my very basic Brother.
I had some of my items in a local craft store some years back. KathysCreativeCasual on Etsy.
I had a lot of fun designing and embroidering the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, but for some reason I couldn't get the steeple straight, so it's lopsided. Still, I had fun with it.
Used to make jewelry but I have enough now, and haven't gotten "dressed up" in years, having become accustomed to living in sweats, sweatshirts, t-shirts and shorts.
I used to enjoy furniture assembly but now I have enough furniture, so I'm planning to switch to building additions to existing furniture, such as a hutch for a desk or table.
I also enjoy walking, but in areas away from cars; I like the fresh air, not the exhaust air.
Reading is another favorite escape hobby, whether it's a gardening or craft magazine, or a good novel.
And there's always chocolate; cultivating good chocolates can be a wonderful hobby, and it's a great stress reliever!
I experimented with synthetic and cotton batting; synthetic lost its loft over a few years.
My mom crocheted, knitted, sewed, embroidered, etc. beautifully. Unfortunately with her being a perfectionist she wasn’t very patient with me as a child trying to learn. So I never truly succeeded doing these past the basic stages.
I wish I would have thought to have my grandma teach me. She crocheted and knitted beautifully also and she was lovely. Grandma did teach me how to cook certain dishes. She was an excellent teacher!
I may try these again one day.
I so enjoy chatting with you! Remember us talking about starting a craft/hobby thread? Took you up on it!
You’re talking my language about St. Louis Cathedral. You know that I am a native of New Orleans. My mother was christened at the cathedral. It’s a spectacular church. Truly is a beautiful historic cathedral.
I’m so glad you joined in the conversation. I so love hearing about your gardening. I believe I told you that my favorite memories as a child with my grandfather was gardening.
I am inspired by you! I just love all the same things that you do. I feel if we met that we would be great friends!
I have started making jewelry again.
I just bought some wood to make key and dog leash holder plaques for the wall.
In the past I did wall vases for flowers because my daughters wanted them for their apartments. They were fun to do.
I enjoy making etched wine glasses. I have sold these for weddings as a bridesmaid thank you gift. Some brides do not want jewelry as a gift because so many people do that.
I like doing a ‘fleur de lis’ design on the glasses. It is our state symbol. It’s also the symbol of our football team.
I used to manage a craft/gift shop here in New Orleans and I loved it. I made a lot of things, sold the majority of what I made. I loved teaching classes, from the brownie Girl Scouts to senior citizens. I also did craft shows. Have considered Etsy. Some people do really well on Etsy.
Of course, I have always loved cooking.
My good friend does the scrapbook stuff. She’s into it big time! She has spent a fortune on it! I have done a few projects with her but never got hooked on it like she did.
I need to learn more about your crafts, especially the kind of jewelry you make, what wood you use (and if you harvest it yourself and how you cure it) for your dog leash holder placques, etching, and other crafts.
Specifically, do you use hand or electrical tools to etch in the glass? How to you protect it from breakage, as glass can be so delicate?
More questions later. I'm lazy today and haven't gotten any work done yet.
I think this will be a great thread; thanks for starting it!
And, BTW, I might be returning to NO for a visit before climate change cause any more changes. I have fond memories of the Maison Blanche mints; they are incomparable. I've found nothing like them in this area. I would probably leaved NO with a dozen boxes of mints!
NeedHelpwithMom,
Sorry that I missed your comment that you bought wood. What kind do you buy? I'd like to find good uses for all the wood that's cut down or falls down over the year, although some of it is much too thin to be of any use.
When I first bought my house, my father showed me how to cut down large trees (something I really wouldn't feel comfortable doing alone). That produced a lot of wood, so we cut it up in lengths about 1.5' to 2' and I used the chunks as outlines for my garden beds.
I wished I had saved the Colorado Blue Spruce that I had cut down as it was deteriorating in health, but I do have Arborvitae and Junipers that I could cut. And unfortunately, the Arborvitaes seem to be infected with some kind of blight. But I've always wanted to try rooting them to create more trees. I've found that Yews root fairly easily though.
And eventually I'd like to harvest the wood. So I'm interested in what others do and where they procure their woods.
Kbuser,
what kind of wood do you use, and how do you use it to make lanterns? This really intrigues me. I could make a lot of lanterns from the scrap wood in my yard. Or from grapevines, although making something smaller would be more challenging with vines.
I hope you enjoy crochet; I really like it; it's so relaxing, and so creative.
If anyone ever comes across Mon Tricot magazines, snap them up. I bought them years ago, back in the 1970s, b/c of the unique French and European styles and directions they had. Of course, I still have them!
Does anyone use European and Japanese style diagrams instead of instructions?
Kind of sad that you couldn’t save all of your wood. Good lumber is expensive! Nice that you were able to have some though.
I etch chemically. Super easy!
I do beading now but want to do more with metals.
Maison Blanche is closed! They closed years ago. Was a nice store. When I was a child they always had beautiful Christmas displays!
Southern Candy on Decatur St. is a fantastic candy company. The very best pralines!
I bought some 7x7 craft plaques, used wood glue and hot glue to put the dowels on all four corners, then put a craft plaque on the top as well. I cut little wedges for between the dowels and put a candle in the middle. (there are step by step instructions on the website). You could definitely use wood around your yard, it would make it unique. I bought outdoor battery operated timer candles from Amazon for $7 a piece. You do need to weather protect the lantern, I sprayed some protectant on mine and they've been good all summer.It was such a fun project I'm making more to give as Christmas presents :)
I went back to counted cross stitch, which I did for years as DH is addicted to TV and if I wanted to even see him, I had to have something to DO while he flipped channels.
I make 5 really intricate and beautiful CC stitch pictures for my kids for Christmas. It eats up the time-I can sew for hours and not be aware of the time passing.
My kids won't 'like' what I have made them, it's not their taste, but hey, I am going to just ask for them back of they truly don't want them.
Also started quilting and making soft stuffed animals. And the usual crafty stuff that is just seasonal. I try to get the g-kids who are interested in crafting to do stuff with me.
And then there's sewing jammies and dresses for the kids who will wear home sewing, mostly the under 10's are the only ones who will.
I used to craft a LOT to deal with anxiety and I am enjoying the things I have made so far.
Christmas tree this year will have little sheep on it with a hemp ribbon that has stenciled on it "FLEECE NAVIDAD" and then about 20 small sheep with bells and black & white checked ribbon. Red balls and bells. I may as well say it--they're adorable and have lifted my spirits a TON. (Cancer sucks).
Funny thing, I cannnot knit nor crochet. My poor grandmas--I really tried. Just..can't.
Those lanterns sound so wonderful!
Ahhhhh, a woman after my own heart! I love music. It’s therapeutic, isn’t it?
Music saved me as a kid. It still centers me.
I’ve been taking lessons on euphonium (small tenor tuba) for almost 7 months. I am ASTOUNDED at how far I’ve gotten, and how much joy this experience has given me.
When I’m at my lesson or band practice, NOTHING enters my mind but what I have to do to make beautiful sounds.
Throw a pot, throw a javelin, sew a skirt, macrame a pot holder, sing in a choir, give it your whole heart and discover how it can fill the places that are empty. YOU DESERVE IT!
I am not part of the tennis crowd either. I used to cycle before an accident. Have steel rods on both bones in my arm. Open compound fracture. Orthopedic doc does not want me cycling because it was a difficult surgery and if I injure it again he can’t fix it. Debris was in the street that I didn’t see and I hit the pavement hard.
I do an exercise bike now. I like to walk. I used to skateboard as a kid. I was really good at jump rope, Jax and hopscotch. I was the mom who played with my kids. I loved jumping rope with them and doing hopscotch too. I was horrible on roller skates. Oh my gosh, tried ice skating on vacation once and nearly killed myself! Love swimming! Like playing cards but not with hubby. He cheats! Not on purpose. He just makes up new rules! Hahaha.
I may still have a jump rope someplace, probably with the exercise equipment that's around here someplace. Maybe I'll go out and jump rope in front of the house and freak out the neighbors.
Anyone remember the songs? All I remember is "Mabel, Mabel, set the table; don't forget the red hot pepper."
Just did a quick check and found there are other versions of this:
"Mabel, Mabel, young and able; Get your elbows off the table. This is not a horse's stable."
Marbles? I have a collection with some lovely specimens. Steelies, something like that? Anyone remember those? Cats' eyes? I have a lovely marble and rock collection that I began after taking geology and becoming fascinated with rocks, especially those with quartz in them.
Marbles aren't naturally made, but they are lovely, and soothing. I find that just looking at their lovely colors reduces stress.
Anyone else a geology student? Do you collect fossils? I have a magnificent brachiopod I discovered, right next to my house when creating my rose garden.
I often wonder how and when it was fossilized, and if it was brought down in the last glacial period. Imagine the journeys it must have taken, even if it was fossilized and unware of its travels.
Does anyone remember how to play cat's cradle? I remember holding strings between both hands, and wrapping them in a specific pattern. I found these instructions, but I don't recall it being that complicated:
http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/book/chten_cats1105.htm
Those were the good old days....playing outside, no cares in the world, then getting money from Mom for popsicles on hot days.
NeedHelp, remember those old roller skates that were tightened with screws, and that sometimes came loose and fell off? And then tripping and falling on the sidewalk?
My father macramed when they were Winter Texans; he left some beautiful macramed lawn chairs that I'm saving for posterity.
AnnReid, Jmcleod, MidKid58, what kind of music do you like? What soothes you, and what inspires you to get up and dance?
Music is truly a transcendental experience. Does anyone watch the Strauss waltz performances from Vienna on New Years Eve?
Has anyone sung in a choir? I think one of the best times in my life was when I was actually accepted into a university choir. All the performances we gave were special, but singing the Hallelujah Chorus as an encore one Christmas was one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had.
We hadn't even rehearsed it, and it was never discussed as a potential encore, but we all just fell into the performance so easily. It was incredible, absolutely incredible.
And on the subject of powerful music, has anyone ever watched the PBS Classical Rewind? Familiar with Carmina Burana? It's another incredibly powerful composition.
Dance - we haven't discussed that. Surely there must be someone here with tap or ballet experience? Or Flamenco? That's been one of my lifelong desires, to learn Flamenco.
(If I've missed any comments, it's because I'm off on a tangent; I'm not deliberately ignoring anyone's posts!)
,
I loved Cat’s cradle! I loved shooting marbles too. Enjoyed my etch a sketch and Spirograph! I was good at spinning wooden tops, really good but not good at yo yo’s. I remember childhood skates. I’m telling you that I was an absolutely horrible skater! My friends could skate. I was so jealous.
Oh and don’t get me started on bowling! I threw a gutter ball in the neighbors alley! Hahaha. I was a teenager. It was a date with someone and he never asked me to go bowling again, thank God! Hahaha
Oh, the serious middle aged man bowler gave me a dirty look and got mad. He had a tournament coming up that he was practicing for. I ruined his concentration! Who wants to see a ball being thrown in your gutter from the alley next to you? Poor guy, of course I apologized to him.
As a teen I went through my ‘hippie chick’ days. I would tie die t shirts or batik fabric. I would take a big scarf and sew it into a halter top! I would rip the seams in my jeans and insert floral fabric. Yep, I was the ‘flower child.’ I would make necklaces out of acorns by stringing them together! Was hard getting the needle through but I was determined and did it! I made necklaces out of clovers as a little girl by stringing the stems together.
GA, you just made me smile so big with your post. Thanks!
My grandfather loved to waltz! My grandma was the rebel who liked the early jazz! I love any type of music as long as it’s good. I live in New Orleans and we have great music! Our jazz and heritage festival is top notch but year round you can find fantastic live music here any night of the week from nice venues down to funky neighborhood dive bars.
GA,
My music teacher was so incredible. I sang in the school chorus. This nun was a phenomenal pianist. I swear I never saw her without a smile on her face. She lived to teach us to sing! She had us doing the most amazing harmonies. It was so much fun. We learned so much music, all types, from musicals, patriotic tunes to hymns.
I kept in touch with the nuns long after I graduated. I would attend their St. Joseph’s Day alter. The alters are so beautiful with beautifully homemade dishes and bread. Donations are given to the poor. I love St. Joseph alters. St. Joseph isn’t mentioned very much in the Bible but he was a special man. Wonderful husband to Mary and lovely father to Jesus. A carpenter like my grandpa. A hard worker. He is patron saint for workers.
The nuns run a program here where they teach all kinds of crafts to those who want to learn. Painting, quilting, weaving, etc. It’s a great opportunity for the community and the money earned goes to good uses. I love it! They don’t just ask for people to write a check to them like television preachers do!
Those nuns work hard. They were teachers, worked in hospitals and nursing homes. I received a good education from them but I respect them as viable people in our community.
Songs as a kid, Red Rover. Red Rover was fun to play.
Jump rope, there was a song that we spelled out Mississippi. Another one was, I like coffee, I like tea, I want (kid’s name) to jump in with me. We had a bunch of songs to jump to. We also did double Dutch jump roping.
GA,
How much did popsicles cost in your neighborhood? Here they were 7 cents. I got 25 cents a week for my allowance after my chores were all done. So, I could buy one a week. I saved the rest of my money.
Now my dog got a vanilla ice cream cup for free! The ice cream man loved our dog and gave him one every week. Sweetheart of a guy.
You asked about dances. The dances during our days were so funny. The jerk, the monkey, hahaha