Finding a Hobby
So Jackie’s been sitting at home with Ian for 4 months now and is incredibly bored. All she every does is read. I suggested a hobby, but she doesn’t really have any (except scrapbooking, which is expensive)- So what I want to do is get some ideas from all the people who read my site. Here are the base rules:
- cheap- no more than $25 start up cost and that must last 3 weeks.
- work from home- Jackie doesn’t have a car during the day
- Not computer-related
- Space limited- it’s a small apartment, so Float-building is out.
- baby friendly- Ian is still a factor since she’s home with him all day:
- baby safe (no toxic fumes, molten metal, etc)
- drop/pickup easily (Ian gets hungry/poops often and unpredictably)
I’m sure there’s more little rules, but those are good enough for now- Here’s what I’ve thought of:
- Carving:
- Wood figurines
- Plaster figurines
- Soap figurines
- Painting:
- figurines/miniatures
- small statues
- ceramics
- play with electronics (we have a 100 in 1 electronic experiments board)
- Music:
- Learn to sing
- Learn Keyboard (have one)
- Learn Bass (have one)
- relearn clarinet (she has one)
- making puppets/muppets/marionettes
- find a work-at-home clerical/dataentry/paperpusher job (what she’s currently looking for)
Any suggestions guys? I really need some help with this one.
Tuesday 10 Jul 2007 | Jesse Morgan | Personal, Entertainment, Hobbies, Jackie
Also, so it doesn’t get suggested, I already do a lot of sewing, but I haven’t been able to do it lately due to a limited amount of space. Between all of Ian’s stuff and the stuff I would need (i.e. sewing machine and supplies), there isn’t much room left over for me.
Remember that Jesse and I don’t always like the same things, so don’t worry about what he’d find interesting. I may like it regardless.
Hi,
I am the wife of a fellow TriLug’er and am currently home with our 2 month old son. I TOTALLY understand the boredom aspect of caring for a little baby. It seems to be all work with little time for fun.
That said, I am an avid scrapbooker and would argue that it is NOT that expensive a hobby. I go out to crops about twice a month and it recharges my batteries like nothing else to have some “me” time. You are more than welcome to join me anytime you like!
I think a good hobby/business could be card making. You already have scrapbooking down and making cards is just another take on that. The start-up wouldn’t be much at all and the supplies are small enough to store in a box in a closet if you are limited on space. Start with a single theme…like Christmas or Thank You notes, then make a couple of styles. You can set up a free online store at several sites, or list them on craig’s list…also free.
If you’d like to talk, drop me an email and I’ll send you my phone number.
Good luck!
Katrina
My wife likes to crochet and cross-stitch. The items she makes are great gifts to family and friends, and the materials are really cheap. Get pattern books at the library instead of at the craft store to make it even cheaper.
There are a lot of free patterns online. And when the craft stores have their 40 and 50 % off coupons it makes the pattern book even cheaper. Or she can always borrow off someone.
Something else is making picture frames. My mom used to do it. You get paperboard. Cut the front and back, and then take old puzzle which is missing pieces and glue it onto the front. It looks really cool when the picture is in there. The backs of the puzzle pieces can be painted, it is great if you don’t like the color scheme on the front.
Blanket making is also cheap and useful. Joann’s has clearance area where everything is a buck to two a yard. Then iron in a sem and sew. The sound of the machine helps to relief stress too.
This notion of going shopping for a hobby seems oblique to me. During my life I have encountered several activities that struck me as cool/fun/interesting immediately, and I fell into becoming involved in them almost without making a conscious decision.
It feels odd to tell someone else “here’s what you need to do with your spare time.” How do I know what you would find appealing? If you just want a list of possible hobbies to select among, there are online aggregators that can provide descriptions and links. Examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basic_hobby_topics
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-hobbies
http://www.listof.org/list-of-hobbies.html
Given all that, I suggest something that takes your brain in a new direction. Learning something substantial and different like speaking / reading a foreign language, how to read sheet music, communicate in sign language, or how to grow a vegetable garden will give you a much bigger payout for the time spent.
Enjoy…
–
Scott C.
About lack of space for sewing. Check out the local charity stores for a sewing table. It great to keep everything in a one small location. I did it for me, and I love it. If I could get to it. We are remodeling our bathroom and the vanity is sitting in front of it.
We have a lot of friends that knit.
they make lots of one player boardgames
http://www.thoughthammer.com/product_info.php?products_id=343
http://www.thoughthammer.com/product_info.php?products_id=309
to name a few
I’ve actually thought about knitting….I should get my sister to show me how. Or I could check out some books from the library…
I do like to sew, but we live in a two bedroom apartment and there’s not a lot of space to set up a sewing table…hence why I haven’t been sewing.