For the last few months, I have been trying to expand my skill set by exploring some new hobbies. Getting crafty has been one of my favourite things to do because it gets me away from the laptop and phone. Here are some of my favourite activities to keep my hands busy.
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Knitting
I’m not very good at knitting. Correction, I’m not very confident with the knitting needles. My granny taught me the basic stitch to get me going with a little rhyme. “Up through the bunny hole, down around the tree, down through the bunny hole and off pops she”. If you know how to knit, that rhyme might make sense. I really enjoy making little kitties from big rectangles that I can whack together when I am watching tv. They aren’t the most refined things in the world but they are super simple to make. I’m hoping that I can move up to knitting jumpers soon and possibly some slightly more complicated knitting stitches. Socks, on the other hand, look like a three-needle nightmare that I probably won’t be trying anytime soon.
Up-cycling old furniture
In my town, there is a charity shop that sells second-hand furniture that is perfect for up-cycling. They even advertise that fact in their window. Not only is this a great way to repurpose old furniture, but it can also save you a fortune on decorating your home. There is something wonderful about looking at a piece of furniture that you have put some elbow grease into it. My husband is one of the best people for finding great pieces for turning into something special. This craft is best done with proper wood and not chipboard furniture. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the paint and the sparkle.
Jewelry art
I don’t know if you have heard of this one, it was new to me, but I love it! As someone who hates waste, I hate throwing stuff out. Old costume jewelry is perfect for this craft. All you need is a template and some jewels that you don’t mind breaking and reshaping. If you are stuck for ideas you can choose from a variety of SVG files to buy to give you some inspiration. And when you are done, you can frame your work and display it. This also a great use for old photo frames, bits of fabric and boards.
Cross Stitch
I fell in love with cross-stitch when I was in school when I finished my first crafting project. I never got to finish a project, my little fingers were too slow compared to the rest of the class. So when I looked at my finished sailboat, I was in love. Thanks to the rise of alternative designers, you can get some pretty funky (and rude) designs. I’ve even seen one design that said, “this is proof that I have the patience to stab something over one thousand times”.
Painting and drawing
Back in the day, I was pretty good with the paintbrush. I used to love painting pictures and I would happily spend a month working on a piece. Now I am lucky if I get peace to doodle on the back envelope. Adult colouring tends to get grouped in with painting and drawing but I think that colouring is something else. Painting and sketching requires a lot more skill, colouring doesn’t as is more of a mindfulness activity.