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Arts & crafts

Has anyone taken up something new?

(156 Posts)
mollie Sun 08-May-11 09:04:08

Now that I have a lot of time on my hands I want to try something new...after a working life using my brain I'd love to use my hands to be more creative but can't decide what or how to begin...I've signed up for courses locally but inevitably they are cancelled 'through lack of interest'...

Has anyone taken up a new interest - how did you start? Are you enjoying it?

Sweetiepie Wed 11-Apr-12 14:30:26

I am into this card making lark,as well as the Needle Felting previosly mentioned.Not having much sucees with that hobby though.
I prefer making the Parchment cards.especially the grid work ones.
They take a bit more time and patients.
Iv'e got two de-coupage christmas cards made ready.

Ariadne Wed 11-Apr-12 15:53:22

Tried to get onto pin interest, but can't find quite the right website! Help, please. Ta.

Carol Wed 11-Apr-12 16:26:25

pinterest.com/all/

Ariadne

fadedglory Thu 19-Jul-12 21:55:11

I've been retired a long time so I'm forever taking up new interests to stave off boredom, the latest is quilting.smile

Caro1000 Fri 05-Oct-12 23:21:37

Taken up lots of new hobbies,the main ones being sculpture which I love, both in clay and stone, started this at my local day/evening class centre but joined a group that meets every week to do it. Stained glass which I love, digital photography, silversmithing to name a few. Have a look at the ARCA colleges, they do wonderful residential courses all over the country which are great fun and cover almost every activity you could want. Everyone is so friendly it is no problem going on your own as many other people also do.

angiebaby Sun 07-Oct-12 17:29:00

hi lesleyann.....welcome to gransnet,,,,,we are a nice bunch on here,,,,i havent long joined it,,,,scrapbooking is great i love it too,,,,i have just bought the seriff disc.. i made a 8x8 scrapbook for my brothers birthday,,,im the eldest so there was things he didnt know about mum and dad and the pleces we lived etc,,,,he is in his 50,s he thought it was great,,,photos he hadnt seen etc,,,,,,,his family loved it to so much that they want to make books, i learn a lot from watching you tube tutorials,,,,look at arleens tags scrapbooking the americans make amazing things, look for the victorian paper shoe on there too mazing,.......i also make cupcakes wedding cakes, and have started home baking and i just give it all away,,,,the neighbors just love it,

angiebaby Sun 07-Oct-12 17:32:19

parchment cards are beautiful,,,but i would only send them to people who i know would appreciate them as they take such a long time to make, they should be saved too, i love them,,,,

infoengineering Tue 16-Oct-12 07:04:51

Message deleted by Gransnet.

Supernannyx3 Mon 29-Jul-13 08:14:36

I am recently retired and have found quilting quite a good hobby. It was just on a whim really. I'd just been for a wonderful facial with my friend and we went for lunch (as one does) and there it was - this lovely shop with materials all lined up like sweets begging us to come and check them out. So we did and we both love it. We signed up to a course so we could learn the fundamentals and I'm now making quilts. Bearing in mind I couldn't sew a thing when I was working. Hubby sewed all his buttons etc himself or got my mother to do it. I didn't feel any guilt whatsoever. And still don't! I'm going to teach my granddaughter if she shows any interest.

Nelliemoser Tue 30-Jul-13 07:23:45

Try joining a choir. There are lots about these days. Some just for fun some "serious" stuff. by which I mean you can choose what sort of music you want to sing.

I joined a community choir ?7 or8 yrs ago when I was in my late 50s and a choral society two years ago when I retired at 63. I am getting better at it every year. The new choir is challenging in a good way.

Singing is good for you physically and makes you feel good by getting the happy hormones going in your brain.

Not bad as I was told I was tone deaf at the age of 13. When you are very shy to start with and are then asked to go out to the front of a class in turn to sing to the teacher was for me so scary I could barely open my mouth. Singing is very confidence building .

grannyA Fri 02-Aug-13 12:48:00

I have recently started knitting again, having not done it for a few years, after recently joining Pinterest and seeing all of these lovely projects that I wanted to do! I'm currently knitting a blanket for my grandson smile
Have a look at all these lovely images!
pinterest.com/loveknittingcom/pins/

liminetta Sun 04-Aug-13 22:10:17

When I wa 45 I took 4 years of Keyboard lessons, and enjoyed that and then I wanted a piano, so I saved up and bought one.Then I had 2 years of piano lessons.A bit difficult fitting all this in what with looking after my Mother, and two baby grandchildren, but I kept at it.Years later I can sit down and practice my music, and the time flies by., because I enjoy it so much.Highly recommended.[Smile].

Aka Sun 04-Aug-13 22:24:59

I've just started trampolining ...first time this morning.

Nonu Sun 04-Aug-13 22:34:52

Goodness me Aka you are putting us all to shame . You Show off

Aka Sun 04-Aug-13 22:39:43

grin

Aka Sun 04-Aug-13 22:40:41

I have a cunning plan....

ItsOnlyNan Tue 06-Aug-13 14:43:28

Before retiring I made cards for family & friends and knitted. I have made a couple of scrapbooks and am busy scanning old photos. I had to stop knitting due to rsi and decided to try crochet, which I hadn't done for 30 odd years. I've made handbags, toys, hats, hairslides and am attempting a short-sleeved cardi for me but am having to go slower as my wrist swells and aches little.

I've taken up jewellery making (which I love) and acrylic & watercolour painting and have got the sewing machine out of the cupboard. I've made a couple of dresses for my GD but it's mostly used for alterations. I'd like to have a go at quilting/patchwork.

I have joined a photography group and Local History group with the U3A and go on the occasional visit with them.

As you might have realised - I live alone!!
I learned crochet from library books and you tube and the painting from DVD's and you tube. I use the internet for learning and buying to keep costs down. Started small - and stayed that way - it will grow with me as I try to keep to a budget.

j08 Tue 06-Aug-13 15:27:44

I have just signed up for an online French course. So far, I can't even find the next button to click on. hmm

j08 Tue 06-Aug-13 15:30:16

Abandoning it for now. #gameofthrones

Rosiebee Wed 04-Sept-13 18:04:38

Thanks Carol for the pinterest website. I've been looking for something as there are only so many cross-stitch samplers the walls will hold. I love the tutorials, they make everything look so clear and easy. I really fancy all the patchwork items. Just need to dust off the sewing machine now. That's when I can drag myself away from the website. smile

susieb755 Wed 04-Sept-13 18:51:55

I do scrapbooking as well, its very addictive , and makes lovely presents - on my friends 60th she had stipulated no presents, but I facebooked her DDs and got loads of old family photos and made a mini book for her - she loved it

Anniebach Tue 10-Sept-13 20:51:34

How clever everyone is, I am so boring, my passion is geneology , work at it every day, family trees, transcribing , carrying out research for people in Australia, Canada and America. I don't mean this is boring, just I can bore friends and family senseless with all my useless info

I love cross stitching too, have never given trampolining a thought and never likely to, it sounds fun though

Greatnan Tue 10-Sept-13 21:06:59

Well done, liminetta - it must be wonderful to be able to play an instrument.

Galen Tue 10-Sept-13 21:18:08

Taking up archery, oh and trying to be grandmothergrin

LizG Tue 10-Sept-13 21:22:58

I have just joined our local choral society Nelliemoser and loving it so far. I have belonged to WI for many years GrandmaH so definitely not laughing. After a five year stint as President and four years as Treasurer I am looking forward to hanging up my quill pen and being a 'normal' member smile