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My lovely assistant Miss Lucy, modelling one of my creations
So, I don’t get out much. I’m a writer and fairly solitary despite a tendency toward social butterflydom. Once I’m out in a crowd I love the interaction, the attention, but when I’m home in my PJ’s with the cats and my computer, that’s good too.
However, when you are a shut in, you need something to keep you sane. Sure, I have my writing — which I love — butcreativity thrives on creativity. Did you know that? It some ways it makes no sense. You might think that the well of creativity only holds so much, and if you try to do too many things it might dry up. Not so. I’ve found that engaging in creative hobbies actually feeds my creativity on paper as well. For example, I love to make things. I make jewelry and accessories. Right now I’m teaching myself to make a mini top hat. I’m also working on hair fascinators, earrings, purses… I’m considering opening an Etsy store just so I can empty out my craft room! But with every item I make, my creative flow increases and I find that the days I make something with my hands are often the best days for me writing-wise as well. It’s wonderful. On days when I’d rather take my eye out with a fork than write, I can usually fix that problem simply by making a pair of earrings or finding the right arrangement of feathers for a fascinator. Even if my head hasn’t solved whatever plot problem it’s having while my hands are busy, I’m generally in a much better frame of mind to tackle said issue after making something pretty and shiny. I’m not sure how it all works, or why, but I like it. Any of you brilliant dears out there know if there’s a chemical reason for this?
Meanwhile, I would like to know what YOU like to do to recharge your batteries. What are your hobbies? Do you knit? I’ve always wanted to knit or crochet. Maybe you quilt or make dolls — I’d like to try that too. Or maybe you paint ceramics? Tell me your hobbies and why they fulfill you and I will randomly select one poster to win a pair of earrings hand-made by yours truly!
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jan 21st
2010
7:23 am
kristan higgins Said:
I bake. Not sure if that counts, but it’s a nice hobby. Other than writing, though, I don’t really have any creative outlets, though I’ve always wanted to give oil painting a try. One of these days!
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Jan 21st
2010
7:43 am
Tonya Kappes Said:
I make bracelets to get my juices flowing. It keeps my hands busy, like writing. It’s also mindless for me and allows my brain to relax and create!
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Jan 21st
2010
9:00 am
RobynDeHart Said:
I scrapbook and you’re so right, doing something else creative can really spur on the writing. I tend to be more relaxed and open with my writing when I’m scrapping regularly. The other thing I do, though not a lot lately, is sing. Just put on a favorite CD and belt it out. I find this can reduce me stress rather quickly.
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Jan 21st
2010
9:00 am
Margo Maguire Said:
For me, creativity used to flow when I took my early morning walk every day. It helped me to clear my mind and get ready for the day’s writing. But then I tore some cartilege in my knee and I can’t do that any more. Which really sucks because I haven’t found anything that works quite so well! Now I ride a stationary bike every day, but that just doesn’t do it the way walking did. I can knit, but I don’t really enjoy it. I used to draw… maybe I should try that again. Great post, Kate!
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Jan 21st
2010
9:43 am
Emily McKay Said:
Like Kristan, I bake. Waaay too much. But I love it.
And I’ve done some beading. But recently I started knitting again. I have a scarf I’m trying to slowly finish. I found instructions online for a scarf that supposedly anyone could knit in one day. That was four years ago. So I should be able to finish it either this afternoon or eight years from now.
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Jan 21st
2010
9:59 am
Shana Said:
I like to take a morning run, but I haven’t been able to do it in a while. I’m hoping to get back into it when the weather warms up a bit. It really does clear my mind for the day.
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Jan 21st
2010
10:18 am
Rebekah E. Said:
Right now I am into Knitting. But I love to do lots of other things depending on my mood. I also cross stitch, draw, paint ceramics, sew my own clothes(but not very well) and really I like to try any craft that there is. Right now I’m trying to get my daughter to do the canvas craft but she doesn’t seem to like that so I’m making some coaster out of the left over canvas.
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Jan 21st
2010
11:08 am
KathrynSmith Said:
Robyn, I belt out songs as well!
What a creative lot we all are! I don’t bake that much, which is good cause I’m big enough as it is! I’d eat it all. I’d love to take a class in lapidary. I want to learn how to make my own bezels and how to solder jewelry properly. I have lots of books on it, just haven’t tried it. I even have all the equipment except for a jeweler’s torch. Maybe I should buy one…
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Jan 21st
2010
11:30 am
Quilt Lady Said:
I piece quilts and read to get my juices flowing! Although lately its been more reading instead of quilting. I really have to be in the mood to do the quilts. Quilting is like working a puzzel. It take a lot of time but when it finished its amazing!
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Jan 21st
2010
11:55 am
Serenissima Said:
I knit! It is amazing, how relaxing it is. At first you pick the model, then you choose the colour and finally buy the yarns. And after some amount of knitting, there it is: a creation of your own. How cool is that
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Jan 21st
2010
12:12 pm
catslady Said:
I have had so many hobbies in my lifetime (I’m 59). Sketching, knitting, crochet, needlepoint, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, ornaments, ceramics to name a few. And now the computer takes up a lot of my time. But reading truly has been with me forever. I love collecting books and have quite a collection.
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Jan 21st
2010
6:18 pm
Jane Said:
I would like to learn how to knit, but right now my hobbies include collecting coins and stamps. I’m not a serious collector, but I do get excited whenever I get a new quarter or new Presidential one dollar coins. I also want to take up scrapbooking.
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Jan 21st
2010
8:46 pm
Maureen Said:
I garden and have been trying to relearn crocheting after many years of not doing it.
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Jan 21st
2010
10:17 pm
Diana Said:
I love films and am passionate about keeping up with pop culture. I love being transported to another world.
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Jan 21st
2010
10:36 pm
Paula R. Said:
Hi Kathryn, I do lots of things…I write poetry, read, sing, play basketball, or blog online. Those things tend to relax me alot. When I was younger, I used to crotchet,but I gave that up a while ago. I am not very crafty…I know; it’s a very sad situation. I think it is really cool that you are able to find creativity for writing from your creative outlet of making things.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Jan 21st
2010
11:02 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
Well of course reading is a big part of my life. I also collect postcards, especially lighthouse ones. I also like to do puzzles and play video games. I actually think the video games keep you sharper. I have a family member that is having trouble with memory loss (maybe early alzheimers) and I’ve read some studies that say working crossword puzzles and those word find books help keep the brain active. Sure hope that is true.
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Jan 21st
2010
11:26 pm
KathrynSmith Said:
I think it’s safe to assume that everyone here counts reading amongst our favorite hobbies!
Linda, my mother has dementia — Small Vessel Disease. All my life she was big on reading and doing word puzzles. To this day, even though she’s gone through HUGE changes because of the dementia, she still likes to do lexicon puzzles and crosswords. I firmly believe they help keep the mind strong. I still love to do word find puzzles.
And I think there’s no doubt that video games do something for the player. My husband’s hand-eye co-ordination is 10x mine. I’m pretty sure a lifetime of gaming is responsible. Either that or I’m just slow.
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Jan 22nd
2010
12:25 am
Alison Davidson Said:
An old professor of mine does some work in nursing homes. He says that providing a favourite type of book, be it westerns, mysteries, or romance novels helps those with forms of dementia. It doesn’t work with types of reading that they don’t enjoy. I use this example when I’m defending my romance reading.
I don’t know if this counts as creative, but I like to plot sketch. None of these have ever become stories, they probably never will, but they involve elaborate family ancestries and chronological events. I think I just like to organise data.
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Jan 22nd
2010
3:52 pm
Kathryn Said:
I like to quilt… I love the end results and it’s about the only way I am creative (even though I am using someone else’s patterns). It seems odd to take lovely fabric, cut it up and then sew it back together again, but it works for me!
Baking and reading are other hobbies of mine, but for the past few years it’s been all about quilting.
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Jan 22nd
2010
6:01 pm
Joyce Said:
I love to read. It truly does relax me. I raised two boys and think I would have gone crazy if I hadn’t had reading for an escape.
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