Sometimes I am not great at relaxing. Does that sound weird? Like, if I stop moving and stop working, I feel guilty. I have been trying to change that though, because relaxing is important too. We all need to recharge and do things just for fun, without a purpose other than just that thing, no ulterior motive or need other than just to enjoy. Other than reading I guess lol. And it is way better for my brain than just playing on my phone when I have some downtime.
Some of these may not count as hobbies per se, but…if it is done for recreation or relaxation, I am counting it.
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What I am Doing:
Stitching and embroidery. I had no idea how much I needed to do something with my hands when I am watching tv. And this is so fun to do .. anytime honestly. I like to listen to podcasts and books and sew, and I even took my project with me to my friend Kelly’s house the other night and stitched on it while we hung out in her yard. I turned this corgi needle punch into a stitching project, but I am actually attempting the embroidery stitches in my new cat project. So far I can do satin, straight, and stem! Woohoo! Nothing fancy but I am having a nice time learning. I think I might make a few things for presents this year, and I have a feeling I might just start putting little embroidered touches on clothes. But I might be getting ahead of myself!
Speaking of Kelly’s yard…this is a pastime I share with my little tribe. Birding. Spotting birds, identifying birds, and even just sitting quietly and listening to birds, letting our Merlin App capture the songs and identifying them for us. I love that app, it identifies the bird/birds and makes a little list. Then when the bird sings again, it lights that bird name up so you can start to learn the songs by ear yourself. I love it. I have added more birds to my life list with the app, and it is so peaceful to just sit with a cup of tea or a glass of lemonade and just listen and let the app do its thing. The other night we were all gathered at Kelly’s, drinking our tea and all of us had our Merlin apps recording. Lol.
I was surprised to catch that Baltimore Oriole on there! We were on a picnic at the park, enjoying a nice breezy day under the trees just relaxing, and I left the Merlin running for a bit to see what I could pick up. We love a picnic in our family, and this just added a little extra to it.
I am also coloring. I feel super weird saying that, but it really is quite relaxing. I now color while Wyatt is drawing or coloring and we just sit there next to each other, listening to music, absorbed in what we are doing. I am just hopping around my Cottagecore coloring book, happily coloring, sharing colored pencils with Wyatt. It is so fun, honestly.
Finally, maybe this isn’t a hobby but since I am not doing it for a job or school I am counting it as one. Annotating my books as I read. My books obviously, not the library’s books. But maybe it is a hobby since I bought some special highlighters and pretty sticky tabs for it. And I love doing it, so I guess that counts! What is funny is that if Wyatt is sitting next to me when I am doing it, he likes to watch me highlight. It must be soothing to watch for him as well. Which I guess makes sense, he watches YouTube channels like Cups and Thoughts with me, and just rests his head on my shoulder, taking it in as well.
And not a hobby or pastime or whatever, but I am also having fun tracking my books graphically.
What Billy is doing:
One thing Billy is doing is leatherwork. Not as frequently as some of his other hobbies, because it requires more time and more space, but he will venture to his worktable and sew a little something. He does beautiful work, and has made gorgeous leather nature bags for Mermaid Girl and my friend Kelly’s daughter E. He still has to make one for Wyatt and one for Lisa’s Little Miss (Lisa over at Boondock Ramblings) but that is a time issue rather than anything else. He did whip up a small tiny cat wallet at my request the other day, and I love it. It is perfect for summer when I just want to carry some cash, my license, and my debit card.
However, what he is making the most are his tiny clay terrarium creatures. I have shared these before but this is what he is working on when he feels like making something. They are so cute, and I have asked him to make some cute ghosts in preparation for Halloween. I think he is going to wait a little longer though, something something about rushing summer… lol. This idea was actually born when he found the little tiny cloches online, and randomly ordered them. He asked what he should do and I said, make me a mushroom. So he did! And then from there he was off and creating these cute little critters!
As a Family:
Painting!
Our library is having its tiny art show again, just like it did last year. These are our entries this year! I am the sunset, Billy is the snail and the plop, and Wyatt is the green snail on a yellow background. We always have fun painting together.
Future Projects:
In true Billy and Erin fashion, we are already thinking of different things we want to make. I have asked him to learn to crochet this winter since I can’t do it no matter how hard I try, and I want him to make a few things. Lol. First however he is working on a little mini paint and go kit. He made small little canvases, and bought a cute little paint set and he took it with him when he went backpacking on Manitou Island a few weeks ago. He has a few things he wants to add and he wants to make a little bag to keep it in for future camping trips or even picnics. I want to make bracelets out of waxed thread and crystals and bells because at heart I am an elf or goblin or something.
I also have a two month free membership to CreativeBug and as I was browsing different project ideas, I found something I wanted to do with Wyatt! It is less hobby and more school, but it sounded really neat. It is a month of painting based on and inspired by different picture books. I thought it would be fun to do in August, to fill those hot yucky days and also to sort of get him used to a school and learning scenario again since we have taken the summer off for the most part.
What about you all? What hobbies do you have?
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I particularly like the leather work. Looks great!
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Thank you! He did a great job. I love it!
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I love this!! My husband and I are firm believers in making and living a cozy life (we’re basically trying to be the best hobbits we can be, haha), and I love this celebration of hobbies! I used to do embroidery some, and have been feeling the need to pick up my needle and threads again. 🙂
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We try as well!! We are big believers in it as well. And I love that you refer to yourselves as hobbits! I find it more difficult to get that cozy feeling in the summer but we are finding ways. 🙂 I am just starting out on the whole embroidery thing and I really love it. I am not very good at it right now and have to start over a million times but it is really enjoyable.
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The only hobby I feel I consistently keep up with well is paper crafting– card making, scrapbooking, etc. I do paint though and enjoy making wreaths and home decor items with fake flowers. I’ve dabbled in jewelry making, sewing, photography, cake & cupcake decorating, working with vinyl and my Cricut to make gifts for family.
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Paper crafting is always so pretty! I love when I get a card someone has made; I always always save them. It’s fun to play around and try new things! It is really good for brain health the keep learning!
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All this is great. Your stitiching is particularly lovely. And I really likehow you did your books. Love the mushrooms, too. And I agree, a cozy life is the best life.
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Thanks Jeanie. I am having a really good time stitching, even though I get frustrated whenever I have to rethread the needle. Lol. I am getting better at it though! And it really is. 🙂
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I would really like to learn to needle punch. I assume there is a YT video for that – isn’t there for anything? Your corgi is super cute. I also like to color but don’t tell too many people that – lol! I gave a coloring book to a friend as a gift and it was received rather awkwardly. HA…I still really enjoy it!
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I tried it and failed! I think the kit I bought was not necessarily the best if that makes sense. I think if I bought a different one maybe? But maybe not. There are definitely videos on YouTube. That is also how I figured out how to stem stitch. Lol.
I know right! I was like I am going to mention coloring on here, don’t laugh at me! But it is so relaxing and peaceful. I loved coloring as a kid so it makes sense I do as an adult. And why should kids get all the fun? Lol.
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Until recently, I haven’t been able to watch tv without knitting or crocheting. It was like my brain couldn’t take in the visual without the kinetic to offset it. Now, we’re tucking up into a different bed and bedroom because that bed has a movable base (as in the head and foot goes up and down), and Mike is more comfortable there. The lighting isn’t good so I haven’t been doing anything.
I love to embroider. When I was a girl, Friday nights were embroidery nights. We embroidered pillowcases, mainly. I still have one of them but don’t use it because I’m afraid it will tear. I have a couple of crochet projects going and need to finish them. I crocheted an “egg” for my grandson’s newborn photos. The photographer liked it so much, she bargained with my daughter for it. I also crocheted a hammock for him. I used to have that, but I’m not sure where it is if I still do. I love that you’re doing the needle arts because I fear they’re dying out sometimes.
Billy is so creative. You all are. I have no doubt Wyatt will continue to blossom in these artistic modes. There’s a little artisan shop a town or two over, and a man sells his leather purses there. They are beautiful. I need to get over there and buy one!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Hmm. It wonder if my brain is like that too and I didn’t realize it. It sounds about right though. Hopefully Mike will be back to rights soon.
I love the sound of those Friday nights. Maybe I will get good enough at it that I can do something like that with my nieces. Mermaid Girl popped over the other day while I was working on my project and wanted to see what I was doing. I could see her doing something like that, she loves to create. I wish I could crochet. I am so terrible at it. Lol. I love that you made your grandson a hammock! I hope you still have it as a little keepsake!
Billy is very creative for sure. So is his mother. She is very artistic. She is going to teach me how to make pottery this fall and I am so excited! My grandmother was a painter too. Lots of artists in our family. 🙂 And thank you.
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So many fun hobbies. I use to cross stitch a lot when I was young. Now my hobbies are paper crafting, bird watching, quilting, and gardening.
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I love this! I used to embroider and cross-stitch but can’t really see so well to do that now, plus our cat who is out and about in the house loves to eat stuff … I have my reading and running, though, and being creative with my photo-a-day project (sometimes being creative with trying to find something I haven’t photographed before after 11 years doing a photo a day!).
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I am paranoid about my cat eating the thread! I tuck it all away religiously after every sewing session. I am not athletic although I wish a were runner. Lol. It sounds like you have some great creative outlets!
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Love embroidery and have taken up again, pin pricking on card and embroidering gift cards. It’s so relaxing and awesome.
Found your post at Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot! My entries this week are numbered #49+50
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