Saturday, October 20, 2007

Hobby disorder




Linda blogged earlier this week on the plethora of hobbies and crafts out there. I'm embarrassed to say I've tried almost all of them. If the term had been around when I was kid, I'm sure I would have been diagnosed with Something-DD.

I have a short attention span, no discipline, and get bored easily. The way I deal with this is to add another project or hobby to my life.

One time I was frustrated with the designs on common items like dishtowels, sweatshirts, babies' bibs, Frisbees. So I made up some with designs I liked. Instead of a teddy bear on a bib, I put an image of Marie Curie, and a quote of hers: "All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child." Instead of a mushroom, I put Marconi on a dishcloth. Instead of a puppy, I put Einstein on a Frisbee. I learned silk screening to do this, but eventually outsourced that part of it.

That done, I moved on to cartooning. Then I'd be able to make my own images for products. I made up a Christmas card one year with a cartoon drawing of my husband and me, then moved on to beading.

The next year, everyone I know got beaded presents as I mass-produced zipper pulls and bookmarks. Another time they all got ornaments that were small balls to which I'd glued a computer chip and painted the greeting: "Tech The Halls." The image above is of a card I designed with the same sentiment, in the era of 5-in. floppies.

Every baby of a friend who turned one got a numeral one, made of colorful fabric that I sewed and filled with batting (an alternative to stuffed animals in costumes that belittle them).

Of course there has been the usual knitting, wreath-making (using electronic components), crocheting, embroidery, calligraphy, stamping, and scrapbooking—but not the way Joanna does it, which requires Discipline, Attention, and Patience, not to mention Talent.

That might be it. I am DAP- and T-challenged.

The only two hobbies that have been long-lasting in my life are dollhouses/miniatures and card making. I wonder why.

If anyone would like a sample product from any of my above-mentioned hobbies, let me know!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've had a lot of hobbies in my time, too. Back in the day when Hollywood stars were getting married and divorced, married and divorced, some wag called it "serial monogamy". Now that everybody does it, nobody needs a snarky term.

But of all my serial loves in the world of hobbies, writing and publishing is the one that has always stayed with me.

Camille Minichino said...

I like it. I'm a serial hobbyist. Much more positive sound!

Linda O. Johnston said...

How fun, that you've tried so many hobbies! And that you've found a couple that are worth keeping--that's great. If you choose to try others sometime, why not? I like the idea of being a serial hobbyist, too.
--Linda

Jackie Houchin said...

I'm very impressed that you've tried so many things. I've done that in the past, but now....I HAVE NO TIME!! Oh, for time (and eyes - I've been reviewing too many books) to do more cross-stitch, sew a quilt or two, try my hand at water color painting and ceramics. Sigh! Jackie

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Camille,

Thanks for the compliment about my scrapbooking! You're too sweet.