Today's hobby?

[WAshingtongirl]

I don't pull out the crayons or colored pencils unless my grandkids are over. And they color far better than I do!🖍 I saw this yesterday while at the LifeWay bookstore. I didn't realize what a BIG thing this is today, CalfeeChick! I wonder how your coloring and that of others here is going.

Anyone working on a hobby today? Maybe it's music 🎼, reading 📖, a walk, baking 🍪 or biking 🚲. After reading some of the 'heavier' posts (greaterexp's most recently), my heart feels heavy 💔and I need to lighten it.

Since I am 'free' until dinner prep 🌮 , I think I will get serious about my spreadsheet 📊so I can keep all my friends here straight in my head. 😉 I'm sure you will appreciate that too

Anyone else? Maybe Erash is busy painting today. 🎨Jimeka may be working on her latch hook. What is everyone working on?💕

[erash]

Painting is on my to do list for today 😊

[Iona60]

Believe it or not, I do watercolor painting. It's amzing what I've found that I can do in 15 minute increments. I've also learned to knit and am knitting my husband a scarf, mostly with my eyes closed. I also like to sew and make things from old jeans.

I read recently that non ebook sales have increased in the last year, mainly due to the adult coloring books.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Iona60]

Another artist in the group! ☺️

[erash in reply to Iona60]

I want to see your water color paintings Iona. And as I mentioned, you should enter the MSSA Artist contests!

[jimeka]

Cushion nearly 3/4's done. Having a self pity day so trying to channel my mood and make it more productive.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to jimeka]

You've made progress! Sorry you had a 'blue' day. I think that it going around...😐

[erash in reply to jimeka]

Everyone deserves self pity days now and then 😥

[Sukie427 in reply to jimeka]

Don't feel bad, Jimeka. Everyone is entitled to a pity party once in awhile!

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

Got a couple of rows done on the afghan I'm making for grandson 😊

[jimeka in reply to CalfeeChick]

That is something I have always wanted to do. Post a picture when you have finished it, it will give us all encouragement. Are knitting of crocheting?

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to jimeka]

Crochet, I prefer crochet because it works up faster😊 This is #8 since July when I went numb. Gotta do something with all my extra energy. Will post when I get it done. Also have made 5 hats and a scarf & fingerless gloves. Got birthdays and Christmas covered for 8 grandchildren 😍

[WAshingtongirl in reply to CalfeeChick]

Wow, I'm really impressed! Your grandkids will be blessed with their gifts made with love!

💕

[WAshingtongirl in reply to CalfeeChick]

I hope to cut out the squares for my youngest granddaughter's quilt this week or next. I started it when she was born. She'll be 6 at the end of this month. 😬

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to WAshingtongirl]

You know the older she gets, the bigger you'll need to make the quilt. I'm sure it will be lovely. Wish I had the patience to do quilting.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to CalfeeChick]

I wouldn't call what I do 'real' quilting. Just fabric squares pieced together by hand, with a backing and batting between. Then I sew that all together by hand. Took up quilting after MS, but couldn't follow the patterns or directions. Got tired of ripping out machine stitching, so I do it all by hand. Haven't done it in a while though. Oh...I'm using 'crib-size batting, so it'll be more like a lap quilt. 😉

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to WAshingtongirl]

I'm sure it will be treasured! And beautiful!

[Iona60 in reply to WAshingtongirl]

I quilt too, but haven't for a while.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Iona60]

What type? Appliqué? Hand or machine quilts?

[Iona60 in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Machine quilting, but I haven't done it in a while. I don't like to follow patterns. I just like to quilt with scraps.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Iona60]

Me too!

[Sukie427 in reply to CalfeeChick]

Great, Calfeechick! Post a picture when you're all done!

[Fee09]

I water paint on some days. The last few i was working on some new hairstyles with my daughter. I used to braid and style my daughters' and my hair for fun. Now I do it to get in a better mood or for a change of pace

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Fee09]

Hair braiding! What a great idea, Fee09! I can see how that could be relaxing too.

Do you paint scenes or objects? Or abstract?

[Fee09 in reply to WAshingtongirl]

I do whatever comes to me.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Fee09]

A true artist. 🎨

[Morllyn]

Not working on anything today because my daughter is coming for lunch but before Halloween I took an old wooden pallet (that our new roof shingles came loaded on and my husband had begun cutting up) and painted a somewhat scary scarecrow with a pumpkin head on it. I then took a small square of the part he had cut off and painted a scary cat. I leaned them against our front outside wall for Halloween decorations. On the back of the pallet I have painted a Christmas tree and on another small piece of the pallet is painted like a Christmas present. In a couple of weeks I will put them out front.

We love reusing and recycling. Our city has a dump site that we are supposed to take old paint, used oil, yard chemicals, etc. so they do not end up in the ground. They put all of the stuff, that is still usable, in a room and you can get it for free. This is where we get the multiple colors of paints that my husband and I use to paint the yard art that we do together. It would cost to much to buy new cans of all of the colors that we got for free.

I took a lot of art, in school, before I decided to become a scientist.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Morllyn]

An artist AND a scientist! Wow, now that's what I call using both sides of your brain! It sounds as though you haven't lost your talent for art, Morllyn, nor the ability to hunt down a good deal. Wish I could send you some of our unused paint. Your yard art sounds lovely! Enjoy lunch with your daughter today. 💕

[Fee09 in reply to Morllyn]

You should post some pictures

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Ok you guys are putting me to shame. :/ All l did was finish the 50 gal. Fish tank ( yup takes me 2 days now) And start cleaning the back rm, which has become a catch all. I have a wk before Christmas decorations go up. OMG l feel my anxiety level going up.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Jesmcd2]

You did more than I did, Jes!! Got my computer out, decided I was too mentally drained to start on my 'spreadsheet' and put it away. 😜 So good for you!! 🎉🎉🎉

[Eleyne92]

Good morning on the LAST (we hope) hot day of the year here in Texas. Today's hobby might be working on a needlepoint project or it might be some writing. And definitely reading.

I hope everyone has a pleasant day.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Eleyne92]

I like the way you think, Eleyne92! Lots of options. If you don't feel like doing one, you can work on another! Hope it cools down for you. And what so you write?💕

[Eleyne92 in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Fall does seem to have arrived.

I am currently working on stories/content for a blog that I HOPE to get up and running in a week or two. I'm a member of a Toastmasters club that focuses on storytelling, my dad has been doing a lot of family genealogical research, and my mother also passed earlier this year, so family stories have become more important. I can't believe how many stories we've shared, but also how many we've lost with Mom's passing. She wrote down some of her life stories, but many of them are gone forever.

I have written a couple of romance novels and a historical novel, but none of them are in publishable condition. I have really struggled for the past few years with a cognitive issue ... I doze off after five or ten minutes of work. It's difficult to write when that happens.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Eleyne92]

Eleyne92, I wish I'd had the foresight to ask my dad about his family. He died suddenly and unexpectedly at 56. He was an only child and the last of his line (with the exception of my siblings and me). I have many questions that will never be answered.

I hope you are able to collect as many stories as you can. File them away until you're able to spend the time and effort needed to transform them through your writing. Hopefully you'll be able to concentrate and write more later on. I hope so!

And your your books aren't published YET!! What you'be written so far is quite an accomplishment!

[jennie62]

I'm getting inspiration from everyone here!

I haven't drawn/painted or written in more than a year. I sure do miss doing those artistic things. Sadly my right side (including my hand) keeps shaking and I haven't been able to do anything. My memory stinks so writing isn't going well either, BUT I think I'll try what others have recommended I try...use my LEFT hand for painting and/or do finger-painting. As for writing I'll go back to what I was doing before I had a diagnosis...just put dashes when I can't find the right word.

I haven't made a "quilt" or should I say make blankets, the same as Tutu does, in years. Now that I have a granddaughter, I think I should make one for her. The last one I made was for my daughter when she was little. Oh wow! That was 20+ years ago.

Wishing everyone joyful artistic expressing! Thank you for the inspiration! I want to see picture as well!

[WAshingtongirl in reply to jennie62]

Looking forward to hearing what your first project will be, Jennie. A blanket your your granddaughter? Maybe you'll get it finished before I do mine. 😉

[Fee09 in reply to jennie62]

Jennie62 Don't feel bad. I just started drawing and pianting again after almost 10 years. I hadn't written for about 4 year because of my memory and shaking. One day i decided to write with my left hand even though it looked like chicken scratch, but i was able to rewrite it later. Just do it.....no matter how it looks or sounds. It is therapeutic. Good luck Hun

[jennie62 in reply to Fee09]

I'm so happy to hear you've restarted. If you're able to go back to your hobbies/loves, so can I! I keep thinking about trying drawing, painting and writing using my left hand, but never do. I think I was just afraid. Now that I know you've gone through the process I know it's possible. Thank you for sharing. No more fingers crossed for me...I'll be using them-haha : )

[Sukie427]

I actually bought an art coloring book made for adults and a pack of colored pencils. O find it a great stress reliever.

[jimeka in reply to Sukie427]

Nice to see you back around Suki

[jennie62]

Thank you for all the good thoughts! I should know everyone here helps me (well helps everyone really) when I feel down. I should remember that more often.

Went online to shop for fabrics to make a blanket for Lily (my granddaughter) and I felt rejuvenated! I'm even giggling since then. : )

I have adult coloring books and use the for relieving stress too Sukie427. They are great!