Has anyone taken up something new?

Just home from the community choir I joined last October. I can be on a "high" from one Tuesday to the next singing all the different songs around the house and annoying DH with the noise I make, but guess what, I don't care. I feel better mentally and physically and would recommend it to anyone of any age.

I've just discovered a great way of dipping into new crafts. Try going on
You Tube/the craftchannel. Lots of professional short videos demonstrating various crafts and projects. Found more info on the Sissix machine here. Also I've been using the pinterest site where people put up pictures / videos of things they've been making. I've just finished making some quilted placemats, after looking at this site. Plus there was a step by step instruction with photos on how to do the binding around the edge. My previous attempts had looked like the proverbial dog's dinner. Lots and lots of projects to inspire you.

I have just started a "things to do when I retire" list for May when I finish work. I am collecting details of lots of different things to do crafting wise. I have some really good ideas from my magazine Essentials and also from the Hobbycraft website. I need inspiration to encourage me to make things but am always pleased when I produce anything homemade and unique. One of my ideas is to do a memory frame for my daughters containing their wristbands from their birth, their first pair of shoes, a favourite book from their childhood, etc. etc. The trouble is it is growing so fast it may have to be a memory box!

If there are long enough waiting lists for the U3A groups you want to join it may well be possible to set up a second group, for example there are in 5 book groups in my area because people got tired of waiting and took on the leadership themselves.

I used to be an avid gardener but since breaking my leg and having a plate inserted I can no longer do as much and started to extend my hobby of card making and now am well and truly addicted! I am gradually acquiring a large selection of dies having treated myself to a Grand Caibar machine and often make cards for Family and friends to give for special occasions.
I would love to exchange ideas etc with any other paper crafters out there.

You can buy some beads to make a beautiful necklace or jewelry
www.eozy.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=beads

I very recently took up watercolour painting, very enjoyable.
I had not intended to start a new hobby. The owner of a local art cafe had bought his teenage son a woodturning lathe. he new I was a woodturner and asked me to help him get started. I gave him some lessons. The owner wanted to pay me, but that's not my way, so he gave me art lessons instead - a new hobby was started

I have also got back into aero modelling after a few years break.

Nothing new for me apart from Loom Band bracelets. Followed some Youtube turorials for more complicated ones on a rainy day last week.

I would love to have a go at wood turning pompa, but there must be a limit to the number if useful items one can find homes for.

A few years ago, I decided to learn one new thing every year.

Year one: I took golf lessons - and hated it, every single boring minute of it and have never played it again since.

Year two: horse riding - I couldn't even get on the blasted thing without being given the little steps that children have to use . I don't even like horses so no idea why I even thought I'd learn!

I've given up and now enjoy whatever comes along as I seem to be sadly lacking in the planning department.

HollyDaze

Most people, when they ride horses will do anything to stay on them. My approach to riding was very White Knight'ish. The slightest bit of danger [ie breaking into a canter] and I'd just bail out over the side . I gave up while I was still in one piece [my dream of being the first woman to ride the winner of the Grand National in tatters]. Having retired last autumn all I've taken up is staying in bed as much as possible .

I have just joined our local village Drama group. I loved acting at school but have never done anything since. (My Mum always said I liked the sound of my own voice!). My Dad was an actor when he was young and my youngest DD followed in his footsteps, so maybe it's in the blood; I am absolutely loving it but have one problem - I can't remember a thing, not even a phone number without writing it down, so it will have to be a walk-on part or Prompt

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Reported. It's those beads again.

I submit 3 pieces of my artwork in the Open Art Exhibition in our town every year. Last year I engraved a Celtic design into a sheep's skull. I'd not done it before & not sounding as tho I'm boasting, but it was really beautiful. This year I wanted to try something new again & got a book about fusing fabric. It's reading like gobble-do-gook at present. Has anyone ever used this technique? If so, how the heck do you do it? Any help appreciated. No pressure but I've only got til end of September!

I have recently started making rag rugs. My mother used to make them in the fifties, as a way of using up old bits of fabric to make hearth rugs for the kitchen, and I saw (an old, well-used) one in an exhibition at the National Coalmining Museum so I thought I'd have a go. I have so far managed to "recycle" several cast off tee shirts and polo shirts (both do which are very good as they don't fray), some of my old dresses, and my SIL's dressing gown, making a very colourful rug for my grandson's bedroom. I was surprised, after I started, to find how many people still do this for a hobby and there are some beautiful examples.

I have sung a couple of folk songs at our pub folk night. Not on my own, not brave enough, but with a friend. I love folk but I don't have a wonderful voice and don't carry a tune very well, but it was great to contribute to the evening. We'd practised a bit and had our words on paper and everyone there is very kind. I hope we can do it again and I hope that the day will come when I can do it on my own.

Well ... if anyone wants to know what the Grannies are up to they should read this thread - and be very impressed. Has anyone else come to the conclusion that this work lark is overated?

Like so many others I started (thanks to a certain craft sales TV channel) card making. Well to be honest I was ill just before I retired and at first could only watch but later got into the craft. I was not really my thing - although it was very therapeutic so I got back into sewing, knitting, crochet, the original decoupage and on and on. I am very easily tempted.

Eventually I realised I had to cut this down to one or two crafts so I have - Christmas . I make presents for Christmas (I love handmade Christmases) Christmas decorations - I have gone mad for red work this year and cooking and preserving for Christmas hampers. Oh, and making memory books for younger members of the family as presents of course. I have no doubt the means to making Christmas will change slightly next year but at least I have pinned my hobby down to one thing

(someone asked for photos - I previously put a few on the "Celebrate Alfie's Christmas" thread, sadly I haven't improved in the photography field yet.)

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See my blog this month, I tried quilting and am thoroughly enjoying it.Such a contrast with writing, my first love.

I have started dress-making classes one afternoon a week. I had a new sewing machine a few years ago, really to turn up new clothes that are always too long in the arms and legs department (I'm just under 5'tall)
I have made firstly a bag for my granddaughter to keep her PE shoes in, then I went to make her a little skirt that she loves and wore to a party; twirling around in it.
I made a huge bag for a leaf collecting machine to hang in the garage, as OH and I kept falling over the blasted thing as it couldn't stand upright.
Now I'm currently sewing a loose summer top with elbow length sleeves that can be worn over t-shirts and blouses, for when it is too warm for jackets or coats. I started the classes in September, they are always busy and chatty. It's a great way of making new friends as well as putting my redundant sewing machine to good use. I will have next term off, before returning in September. The summer term is to return to my other love gardening.

Painting with awful results! Also cross stitch with a similar outcome....
Also a gruesome adults painting/colouring book. Artists in my family did not include me!

I think I've bitten off more than I can chew....and volunteered to learn to play the trumpet as our community band has no trumpet players any more

Your own trumpet, Anya?

Oh goodness - better get some lip salve in! And start doing facial exercises! You will end up with a beautifully toned face and jawline. maybe we should all take it up!