Keeping One's Hands Busy

I hope no one is super disappointed after reading what this
thread is about, (the title might be a bit misleading..)
:p

I am curious about your hobbies.

I am thinking of taking up Counted Cross Stitich
to create some gifts for Christmas 2004.
(after my hand heals)
Anyone here have this hobby?
If so, any tips for a "newbie" taking it up?
I am looking for some good websites that might offer
nice kits or other cross stitch supplies.

I would also love to read about
what hobbies you all have.
I also like to sew, quilt and put together
dried flower arrangements.

What creative stuff do you do with your hands?

For those of us without a sweetheart right now-
maybe a new hobby will give us something to do with
our idle hands?
LOL

But in all seriousness,
I would love to read about your creative side
and what kind of things you make or do.

I love to cook. I find new recipes or just think of things that might taste well together and then try them out. My latest was to make wild rice with a garlic sauce mixed in with pan fried calamari (dipped in egg whites, flour & seasonings). It's a lot of fun, especially if I have someone to cook for. I like trying out pizzas and different side dishes on the grill in the summer.

My other fun hobby is photography. I've taken a few cool pics, mostly in black & white, though some of the nature photos are in color. Recently I went to this amazing cemetary in Cambridge (Mt. Auburn) and took photos there. So beautiful and haunting.

Originally posted by onetiger
I love to cook. I find new recipes or just think of things that might taste well together and then try them out. My latest was to make wild rice with a garlic sauce mixed in with pan fried calamari (dipped in egg whites, flour & seasonings). It's a lot of fun, especially if I have someone to cook for. I like trying out pizzas and different side dishes on the grill in the summer.

My other fun hobby is photography. I've taken a few cool pics, mostly in black & white, though some of the nature photos are in color. Recently I went to this amazing cemetary in Cambridge (Mt. Auburn) and took photos there. So beautiful and haunting.

Funny how I never think to list cooking as
one of my hobbies.
When ya do it for a living,
it kinda takes the fun out of it.
I still enjoy trying new recipes though,
or making up my own like you just described Liane.
You should share some of your recipes with
the recipe thread!

I like photography too.
Taking shots at the cemetery sounds wonderful!!
I love photos like that!
How did they turn out?
B/W photography intrigues me a lot.
My very first camera was a "Swinger"-
it was a poloroid camera that took B/W shots.
I have experimented a bit with my Pentax
and I was pleased with about 50% of the shots.
Lately I have been bombarding my new granddaughter
with having her picture taken.
Poor kid...
LOL

I spoke a bit with a photographer from the Smithsonian. He said that one should be happy if 5 percent of your photos turn out great, and 15 percent turn out really good. I usually get around that...I have one photo that I'm extremely proud of and a few that I really just like...but lots and lots of photos that are in bags in the basement...don't know why I'm keeping them but I have.

I couldn't put my recipes anywhere cause I really don't measure - and so I wouldn't know what to write so that people could redo them. Perhaps the next time I'll try writing stuff down and figure out approximate measurements.

I've done counted cross-stitch before and really enjoyed the satisfaction of watching the pattern come out just right. I used to make cross-stitch ornaments and bookmarks to give as gifts, too. Sorry, but I don't know any good websites. I don't cross-stitch as often as I used to since I have arthritis now, but I usually found some really nice patterns at the fabric store.

I also used to crochet quite a bit. Made many afghans. Also used to quilt. I've also embroidered as well. But, now I just cannot do things like that anymore or my hands will start hurting.

Another hobby I used to have was scrapbooking before it became popular. It was fun to create all sorts of scrapbooks. Gave some away as gifts too.

I have always had a huge interest in pottery. One day maybe I'll take some classes --- when I have time (sigh).

I used to do alot of counted cross-stitch as well BK(before kids). I did several cute wallhangings for their rooms when I was pregnant and had all the time in the world.It is very time consuming if you choose a large project, but yet a great feeling of accomplishment when completed. It's funny, but I had been thinking of getting back "into" it and had not mentioned anything about it to my sweety,Brian, and for my birthday a few months ago he got me this kit that is a beautiful picture of horses. He knew that I used to do it (and I love horses) but it is HUGE. And I don't have all the time in the world anymore. I've started it, but sheesh....it's gonna take me a year or more probably. I told him he would have to stay around to see it finished! I thought that was a sweet and thoughtful gift.
I would suggest to start small like Christmas ornaments. Craft shops carry lots of kits. Dimensions is the brand name of my kit.

Also, for xmas, I got my two sons some paint by number kits because they had never done them. And I got me one too! And so we all sit at the table and paint and it's fun. We looked some others up on the computer and WOW they have some really pretty pictures that you can paint. And while xmas shopping, I saw at Wallyworld a really neat paint-by-number on wood kit. They were really big pretty wall hangings that were all wooden. You kinda stained the wood and then pieced them together. They were really nice and I think would be fun to do.


Dabrake

Well...you could...

Throw confetti at people! Hehehehe...
You could throw PIES at people! HAHAHAHA!!!
You could even toss banana peels on the ground so people can slip on them! HAHAHAHA-HOHOHOHO-HEHEHEHE!!

<img src="http://web.ecomplanet.com/DAN9015/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/DAN9015CustomImage0198775.jpg">

Put a joy buzzer on your hand....it can be...SHOCKING! Hehehee!! WHoWHoWHoWho....

Oh...come on! You know you love me and my clown! Hehehehe!!

Actually, seriously...I use to build scale models of race cars when I was younger. It was the 1/24th scale, skill level 3 models. Use to hand paint every piece and put alot of detail in them. Real cloth for belts...the spark plug wires were of like thread...various things like that. It taught me hand/eye cooridination...as well as patience...

Now...I just work with the insides of computers! *LOL*

I know that most of us would prefer
keeping our hands busy by playing a little "Slap & Tickle"
with out sweethearts,
but ya can't be groping another person 24/7,
so it's nice to have something creative to do too.
:p

I think I got the "Creative Bug" from my Dad.
He was always doing something-
back in the 70's he made candles, tie dyed t-shirts
and got into silk screening.
He did a lot of wood carving too and we had
a totem pole at our summer home that he did all himself.
It was cool.
He was a rather well known artist in the Seattle area,
specialising in landscape oil paintings.
I treasure the pieces that I have of his,
as he passed away a little over 5 years ago.
My Mother, on the other hand, wasn't too artistic,
but she was an excellent seamstress and spent most
of her free time digging and planting out
in our gardens and yards.
She loves to be in the garden!

Blondie-
your textiles class sounds very interesting!
I'd love to see your creations if you have pics of them!
I have never seen what you are creating-
sounds pretty!

Dabrake-
I used to do the "paint-by-numbers" when I was a
kid and a teen.
I was wondering if they still had them!?

As soon as my hand heals,
I am going to start the counted cross-stitch.
I am planning on starting with small projects
to learn by.
Maybe ornaments?
The big kits are so lovely-
I can't wait to learn well enough to take on
one of those!
I'd like to do one for my Mother and also my
daughter, Sarah, for Christmas.
Being that it's January, I thought giving myself a
year might be enough time!
LOL

Thanks for writing in-
I love reading about how other's get creative.
There is so much out there to do!!
Just wish new hobbies didn't cost
so much each time I start one!
LOL

Oh Dan-
my brother used to build the same type of models.
He still has them and they are still really cool to me!
My son likes models too, but they aren't the same as
they used to be.
Now you don't even need to paint them.
Where's the fun in that?

Well, if anyone does know of some good
counted cross-stitch websites, l
et me know where they are!
Thanks much!

Another thought is basketweaving. You can find classes on this most everywhere.

I have a friend who is an artist and he makes baskets out of honeysuckle vines that he harvests from his town. He sells them as functional art.

Here's what they look like:

basket bowl (http://www.kentuckyvirtual.com/shop/uscitemdetail.asp?item=2&stk_code=ma00002)

I have always enjoyed wood work, I made some really cool stuff when I was at school, I knew all the joints, and would spend loads of time finishing them off, so they looked really good.
Shortly after leaving school, I got a job for a year repairing and finishing antique furniture, since then I haven't done any, and I would like to do some again, I would probably make some of my own furniture with nice wood.

I love to lift weights.

http://www.delimit.net/users/deekay/pages/bbwomen.htm

i know one really good way to: "Keep my hands busy" for a long time too!:D