If you will be starting a model train collection or if one of your children wants to begin one, then you should familiarize yourself with the terms associated with model trains. The hobby has a jargon all its own, and you will want to know what you are talking about when you are purchasing model trains for your new collection.
Here are a few of the basics to get you started. Remember to look up any unfamiliar term or ask a salesperson, especially if you are planning to purchase something immediately. You do not want to get it home and then find out that you have bought the wrong item.
The cab is one of the most important terms you can understand. You probably have seen a cab without realizing what it is called. It is the handheld (usually) device that model railroaders use to communicate with their trains. The basic cab will have stop and go but more deluxe models have stop, go, speeds, and other features. Older model train designs used a cab bus as a hub for all of the model trains being controlled by cabs in one design. Today, most people use a wireless connection, which is much easier to maintain.
The caboose is a term for one of the cars on the train. Over time, people have started to think that the caboose is necessarily the term for the last car on the train, but this is not true. The caboose is identifiable because it is the place in the train that holds the crew. Usually it was the last car on the train but not always.
The catenary is the overhead wiring that you see sometimes over train tracks. This wiring system was in place to help control the path of the electric trains as they pass over the tracks.
If you are not familiar with electricity, then you should become familiar quickly if you are planning to build model railroads. A circuit is the pathway of electricity, and this circuit emits electrical current anytime it is connected. A circuit breaker on a model train is the same as in your house. It is an electrical protection mechanism put in place on the cab to halt all current to the train if the system becomes overloaded. Frequent overloading means that you need to change your electrical set-up or you are risking a fire.
An MU is short in model train jargon for a multiple unit. It is a way of connecting several locomotives operating independently to a single cab. An MU is something that you really need to know about if you are planning on massive train designs.
Markers are the name for the lamps you will see on trains in old movies. They were the way of showing that the train was ending and to give others an idea of where the train was. Today many slow-moving vehicles are required to use a flag or triangular sign to show that they are slow-moving and that they have cargo (such as lumber) hanging from their rear. The only place you will still see markers will be on the model trains. Trains today use EDTs, or end-of-train devices, and some trains have built-in lights so that they are not swaying in the current the way the old-fashioned markers did.
A module is a standard layout for a train. Model trains come in various scale sizes, but you can identify each scale size by its lettering. For example, there are O scale trains, and anytime you see that designation, you will know that the train is the same dimension as other O-scale trains. The benefit of using modules is that they allow you to change parts or add to other standard model sizes easily because the parts will fit together.
These terms are just a few of the ones you will need to know to get familiar with model trains. You should spend a few hours at least learning these terms before you begin to purchase or put together trains. It will save you a lot of frustration in the long run because you will know what you are doing instead of finding out that you did things wrong or the hard way.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Guidelines for Parents and Their Hobbies
I read a blog post recently about requiring children to participate in hobbies that the parent enjoys. This particular parent has three boys she requires to do work in her gardening. I am not talking about basic trimming and weeding here. They are doing the big stuff: mulching, composting, and moving rocks. They are all pretty small; none is a teen yet. She believes it is valuable for them to have to learn to do something whether they like it or not.
Sure, I buy into that argument when it comes to chores. I hate doing the laundry, but alas, it piles up every week. Still this article bothered me more as I thought about it later. She is not getting her kids to do the hard stuff because she wants to teach them. They are doing it because she loves the essence of gardening but wants to parcel out (without paying for) the hard work! That does not seem fair. Nor does it seem like it will make the kids ever appreciate gardening.
Parents should set some strict guidelines with themselves when they are requiring the kiddos to participate in something that the parent enjoys. First I think that there should be a definite no-no on making the kids do things that they find dangerous, particularly when they are right. I have seen children afraid to get into canoes but their parents happily forcing them along, and I have seen kids terrified at pyrotechnic shows while the parents are cooing at how wonderful it all is.
I think that anytime a child presents with a major fear of an event or activity, it is time to hold off. That does not mean that you never try again or that you do not just go elsewhere to try to calm the little one down. It does mean, however, that you should give the kids some space to try to grow into the activity.
When it comes not to fear but to lack of interest or desire to work on a hobby the parent has, I think the kids have some legitimate gripes here. Let us return to the gardening example. There are some tasks in the garden that every family member should help with, regardless of the interest. Vegetable gardens are an example. Everyone will be eating from them, so everyone should help out in the planting, tending, and harvesting. I can even go along with making the kids help with landscaping tasks, such as trimming back shrubs and mowing the lawn. Those tasks are maintenance and not hobby.
I think you have to draw the line when it comes to forcing them to do the grunt work because you want a beautiful flowerbed. If you like the annuals, then you hop on out there and plant them. The children should not have to endure your interest in planting 5,000 tulip bulbs. It simply is not fair.
What really bothers me, and I think is the third rule of kids and hobbies is that children should not have to do the dirty work while the parent supervises. Many parents have this problem in that they want to make the children pick up after everyone is done. The parents, though, want to sit back and relax. My mother was like that with cleaning out the car, which is hardly a hobby unless you consider how important cleanliness was to her. She would make us get everything out and put it away although everything was not for us.
If you want to have a hobby, that is great. If your children want to participate, that is even better. Make it a family affair. I have absolutely no problem with introducing children to your hobbies. In fact, our children are introduced to ours by default. Even at the tender age of 23 months, my son recognizes a computer anywhere and will head over and start pecking. He learned this love from my husband, but it is never something that we would force on him. Of course, my husband loves that our son is fascinated by the same things, but he would not be upset were it not the case. You should be the same with your children. Appreciate the shared connection but only if it is there.
Sure, I buy into that argument when it comes to chores. I hate doing the laundry, but alas, it piles up every week. Still this article bothered me more as I thought about it later. She is not getting her kids to do the hard stuff because she wants to teach them. They are doing it because she loves the essence of gardening but wants to parcel out (without paying for) the hard work! That does not seem fair. Nor does it seem like it will make the kids ever appreciate gardening.
Parents should set some strict guidelines with themselves when they are requiring the kiddos to participate in something that the parent enjoys. First I think that there should be a definite no-no on making the kids do things that they find dangerous, particularly when they are right. I have seen children afraid to get into canoes but their parents happily forcing them along, and I have seen kids terrified at pyrotechnic shows while the parents are cooing at how wonderful it all is.
I think that anytime a child presents with a major fear of an event or activity, it is time to hold off. That does not mean that you never try again or that you do not just go elsewhere to try to calm the little one down. It does mean, however, that you should give the kids some space to try to grow into the activity.
When it comes not to fear but to lack of interest or desire to work on a hobby the parent has, I think the kids have some legitimate gripes here. Let us return to the gardening example. There are some tasks in the garden that every family member should help with, regardless of the interest. Vegetable gardens are an example. Everyone will be eating from them, so everyone should help out in the planting, tending, and harvesting. I can even go along with making the kids help with landscaping tasks, such as trimming back shrubs and mowing the lawn. Those tasks are maintenance and not hobby.
I think you have to draw the line when it comes to forcing them to do the grunt work because you want a beautiful flowerbed. If you like the annuals, then you hop on out there and plant them. The children should not have to endure your interest in planting 5,000 tulip bulbs. It simply is not fair.
What really bothers me, and I think is the third rule of kids and hobbies is that children should not have to do the dirty work while the parent supervises. Many parents have this problem in that they want to make the children pick up after everyone is done. The parents, though, want to sit back and relax. My mother was like that with cleaning out the car, which is hardly a hobby unless you consider how important cleanliness was to her. She would make us get everything out and put it away although everything was not for us.
If you want to have a hobby, that is great. If your children want to participate, that is even better. Make it a family affair. I have absolutely no problem with introducing children to your hobbies. In fact, our children are introduced to ours by default. Even at the tender age of 23 months, my son recognizes a computer anywhere and will head over and start pecking. He learned this love from my husband, but it is never something that we would force on him. Of course, my husband loves that our son is fascinated by the same things, but he would not be upset were it not the case. You should be the same with your children. Appreciate the shared connection but only if it is there.
Starting Or Joining An Investment Club
One of the ways that many younger people are getting the money to begin making money through stocks and other assets is through investment clubs. These groups were popular in the 1980s but lost a little steam during the dot com boom of the 90s when people thought the economy would stay on an upward swing. Now that things have settled down, people are beginning to return to more traditional investment vehicles, such as the stock market.
The concept behind the investment group is simple. One person (or couple) gets together and invites a number of others to join. Generally you will need at least 10 people or couples to join the group. You will need enough people that you can spread around the work for the group. Plus each person will be contributing a share of the money, so you need to know how much each person can spend to help decide how many people to ask. The group should not be too large, however, as that can cause some issues as well because there will be too many people needed to make decisions for the group.
Once you have a group of people together, you will need to have an initial meeting. Someone will need to take charge of the group just for administrative purposes. This person will be responsible for putting together the meetings and calling everyone although he or she holds no additional share in the investment the group makes. The leader will get everyone together and explain how it works. Then everyone will have the opportunity to decide whether or not she wants to join the group. There is no need to decide immediately, but there should be some deadline.
The group then will decide on an investment plan. Some groups opt to purchase stocks. These groups will each pool a set amount of money initially. Let us say that you have 15 members, and each person will put in $100. Your group has $1,500 to invest in a stock. Most groups start by investing in a single stock. The group then meets each month and decides whether to keep the stock or sell and what to do with any profits. Over time, the group will make more money quickly because the larger investment amounts will allow for diversification.
Another type of investment club is the real estate investment plan. The group will purchase properties and then fix them to sell or rent them out. Some groups opt for all residential property, which is easier to get rid of but turns less of a profit. Commercial properties make more money but require a different skill in selling or leasing the units.
Investment group members will meet monthly or even quarterly at first depending on the level of their investment. Every person gets one vote. Investment clubs may set themselves up as a business and be required to do so if they will be renting or selling property. Someone in the group should be skilled at financial planning, and everyone should be familiar with the basic concepts to make the group work.
Investment clubs are a great way to spend time learning about something valuable and to make a little money in the process. Plus a lot of people are interested in investing but are unsure how to go about it. You may think that you do not have enough money to invest or that you will not make enough to cover your expenses. Investment clubs allow you to learn as you go. If you are not knowledgeable about all areas of finance when you begin, then you will be able to allow others to take a more active role while you learn. Plus you will be able to take the risk with others, which may make it more palatable for you.
Investment clubs do come with some risk, of course. Your club may not take off, and you may find yourself losing money on the scheme. Most clubs will take two years or so to begin to turn good profits, and even then much of it will be in the form of assets and not cash. Still these clubs are a great investment if you can do it.
The concept behind the investment group is simple. One person (or couple) gets together and invites a number of others to join. Generally you will need at least 10 people or couples to join the group. You will need enough people that you can spread around the work for the group. Plus each person will be contributing a share of the money, so you need to know how much each person can spend to help decide how many people to ask. The group should not be too large, however, as that can cause some issues as well because there will be too many people needed to make decisions for the group.
Once you have a group of people together, you will need to have an initial meeting. Someone will need to take charge of the group just for administrative purposes. This person will be responsible for putting together the meetings and calling everyone although he or she holds no additional share in the investment the group makes. The leader will get everyone together and explain how it works. Then everyone will have the opportunity to decide whether or not she wants to join the group. There is no need to decide immediately, but there should be some deadline.
The group then will decide on an investment plan. Some groups opt to purchase stocks. These groups will each pool a set amount of money initially. Let us say that you have 15 members, and each person will put in $100. Your group has $1,500 to invest in a stock. Most groups start by investing in a single stock. The group then meets each month and decides whether to keep the stock or sell and what to do with any profits. Over time, the group will make more money quickly because the larger investment amounts will allow for diversification.
Another type of investment club is the real estate investment plan. The group will purchase properties and then fix them to sell or rent them out. Some groups opt for all residential property, which is easier to get rid of but turns less of a profit. Commercial properties make more money but require a different skill in selling or leasing the units.
Investment group members will meet monthly or even quarterly at first depending on the level of their investment. Every person gets one vote. Investment clubs may set themselves up as a business and be required to do so if they will be renting or selling property. Someone in the group should be skilled at financial planning, and everyone should be familiar with the basic concepts to make the group work.
Investment clubs are a great way to spend time learning about something valuable and to make a little money in the process. Plus a lot of people are interested in investing but are unsure how to go about it. You may think that you do not have enough money to invest or that you will not make enough to cover your expenses. Investment clubs allow you to learn as you go. If you are not knowledgeable about all areas of finance when you begin, then you will be able to allow others to take a more active role while you learn. Plus you will be able to take the risk with others, which may make it more palatable for you.
Investment clubs do come with some risk, of course. Your club may not take off, and you may find yourself losing money on the scheme. Most clubs will take two years or so to begin to turn good profits, and even then much of it will be in the form of assets and not cash. Still these clubs are a great investment if you can do it.
Two Purse Designs To Try Making
Making purses is a great hobby to pick up for fairly cheap. You can begin making purses with only a few dollars invested, and then if you like it, you can try out new and cleverer designs.
To get started, you should try a basic scarf purse. Please note that these purses are not intended to hold much, but they are wonderful bags for a quick trip out. You will need two square scarves that are six to 10 inches on each side. You should take a needle and thread or use a sewing machine if you have one handy to create a hem that is about an inch or so on each scarf. To create a hem, you simply lay the cloth out flat and fold over one piece. Pin it down with straight pins and then use the needle and thread to sew a straight line across the scarf. You will be able to see the thread, which creates the visible hemline.
Once you have the hems, place the scarves against each other with the insides facing so that if you pretend the purse were put together, you would be looking at the outside of it. Pin the purse together and sew along the edges to create the main body of the purse. Once you have sewn the edges, your creation will begin to look like a purse.
Now you will need some type of silk cord, which you can find in most fabric shops. Take the cord and put a clear coat of nail polish or craft varnish on the ends of it, which will keep it from fraying. Then you will pin the cord inside the purse and sew it in place. That will create the strap of your purse.
Finally you will get to the really fun stuff. Use beads, gems, rhinestones, or whatever you find to create a beautifully designed purse. Use craft glue or fabric adhesive to put the decorative items on your purse. You can make a simple design or just accent the design of the scarf to make a beautiful masterpiece.
For your next project you will be making something a bit bigger and sturdier. You will need two pieces of polar fleece. One should be 14 inches by 22 inches, and the other one should be a 14-inch square. You should put the pieces down with the three sides lined up. (Since one is taller than the other, the top of the small piece will not reach the top of the larger piece.) Then you will put the pieces with the insides facing out. Sew them together and flip the bag so that it is right side out.
You will need a four-inch piece of some type of narrow ribbon or elastic cording that you will use to hold a button. Then purchase a very large button. You will hold the bag up and fold down the taller side. This piece is the flap for the opening of your purse. You will sew each end of the narrow cording to the flap and then sew the button onto the bottom piece so that you can use the cord to button the purse closed.
Next you will use a 4-foot cord as the strap of the purse. For this one, you will use large loopy sewing to create a cool look, such as a large X or a squiggle. Sew the cord to the outside of the bag so that you can use it as a strap. Next you can use felt pieces that you have cut to decorate the purse. Use fabric glue to keep them in place and create a design that works for you.
Your purse crafting is done with these basic projects. Try some new projects and make them more complex. Or you could make yourself a number of purses with these basic techniques. You could use heavier fabric with lining for the first purse, for example, which would make it able to hold more of your stuff. Also try these designs with different sizes and types of fabrics so that you can have a wide array of purse designs from which to choose when you go out.
To get started, you should try a basic scarf purse. Please note that these purses are not intended to hold much, but they are wonderful bags for a quick trip out. You will need two square scarves that are six to 10 inches on each side. You should take a needle and thread or use a sewing machine if you have one handy to create a hem that is about an inch or so on each scarf. To create a hem, you simply lay the cloth out flat and fold over one piece. Pin it down with straight pins and then use the needle and thread to sew a straight line across the scarf. You will be able to see the thread, which creates the visible hemline.
Once you have the hems, place the scarves against each other with the insides facing so that if you pretend the purse were put together, you would be looking at the outside of it. Pin the purse together and sew along the edges to create the main body of the purse. Once you have sewn the edges, your creation will begin to look like a purse.
Now you will need some type of silk cord, which you can find in most fabric shops. Take the cord and put a clear coat of nail polish or craft varnish on the ends of it, which will keep it from fraying. Then you will pin the cord inside the purse and sew it in place. That will create the strap of your purse.
Finally you will get to the really fun stuff. Use beads, gems, rhinestones, or whatever you find to create a beautifully designed purse. Use craft glue or fabric adhesive to put the decorative items on your purse. You can make a simple design or just accent the design of the scarf to make a beautiful masterpiece.
For your next project you will be making something a bit bigger and sturdier. You will need two pieces of polar fleece. One should be 14 inches by 22 inches, and the other one should be a 14-inch square. You should put the pieces down with the three sides lined up. (Since one is taller than the other, the top of the small piece will not reach the top of the larger piece.) Then you will put the pieces with the insides facing out. Sew them together and flip the bag so that it is right side out.
You will need a four-inch piece of some type of narrow ribbon or elastic cording that you will use to hold a button. Then purchase a very large button. You will hold the bag up and fold down the taller side. This piece is the flap for the opening of your purse. You will sew each end of the narrow cording to the flap and then sew the button onto the bottom piece so that you can use the cord to button the purse closed.
Next you will use a 4-foot cord as the strap of the purse. For this one, you will use large loopy sewing to create a cool look, such as a large X or a squiggle. Sew the cord to the outside of the bag so that you can use it as a strap. Next you can use felt pieces that you have cut to decorate the purse. Use fabric glue to keep them in place and create a design that works for you.
Your purse crafting is done with these basic projects. Try some new projects and make them more complex. Or you could make yourself a number of purses with these basic techniques. You could use heavier fabric with lining for the first purse, for example, which would make it able to hold more of your stuff. Also try these designs with different sizes and types of fabrics so that you can have a wide array of purse designs from which to choose when you go out.
Turning Trash to Treasure
That old saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is something that dumpster divers live by. In fact, many people who are into dumpster diving or even extreme yard sale shopping are able to furnish their home and give gifts with items they have purchased for little money. If you are creative and organized, then you should be able to use your skills to make beautiful items that other people will enjoy.
Being organized is the key. If you are dumpster diving, know what neighborhoods to hit and when. If you do the yard sale and secondhand store shopping, then you need to take some time every week to check out what is available. Ask at secondhand stores, and they usually will tell you when they get new items. Hit the store early in the morning on those days to get the new stuff. You should sit down on Friday with your local newspaper and work on a schedule for yard sale shopping on Saturday. Check out the places you think will have good items and then work out a route.
Do not allow yourself to be taken in by items that you see that seem like a good bargain. Ask yourself seriously where you could use the item. At a yard sale this summer, I bought a coffee warmer. It was brand-new, and the concept is basic. You sit your coffee mug on it, turn it on, and it will keep your coffee warm all year. It was $.50. Does it work? I have no idea. I have never used it. While I will not feel badly about the purchase (and probably will toss it into my next yard sale pile), these kinds of purchases are what push yard sales to be an expensive and somewhat useless hobby for someplace. If you cannot think of a person to whom you would give something or a place where you would use it in your own life, pass it by.
The best buys you will get at yard sales will be items that are broken or damaged. You will find these items for free in dumpsters or neighborhood garbage pick-up sites as well. Someone may have a table that gets a broken leg and toss it. If you are willing to put in the time, then you can get some good items for free or heavily discounted prices. Just be sure that you inspect the goods before you bring them home. Perhaps that table leg is not fixed easily; leave it! Only take items that you know can be fixed or refinished and will look good. Do not take something simply because it looks like it could have been nice at one point.
When you are out at yard sales, do not be afraid to haggle. Many people think that haggling is awful, but remember that your goal here is to purchase items that you can turn into great pieces for as little money as possible. Buying multiple items is an easy way to help make sure that you have more haggling room. Asking to pay $5 for several items marked for $7 total is easier than negotiating price on each item by itself.
The only potential downside of this hobby is that it is not one that you can share with your friends often. Some people love knowing that you got a bargain. I share good sales items with my mother-in-law just because it makes her happy to know that we are not wasting money. I would never tell someone that I purchased an awesome clearance item for her for her birthday, however. That would be tacky, so these kinds of bargain shopping hobbies tend to be private.
The key is that you are having fun. If you love restoring old items, you can create really cool pieces for your home for little money. Others will marvel at your artistic skills and the wonderful decorations you have in your home while you are smiling to yourself. You will know your secret, which is that most of the items are much less than your friends and family may imagine. Shh! There is no need to tell them. Just let it be your secret.
Being organized is the key. If you are dumpster diving, know what neighborhoods to hit and when. If you do the yard sale and secondhand store shopping, then you need to take some time every week to check out what is available. Ask at secondhand stores, and they usually will tell you when they get new items. Hit the store early in the morning on those days to get the new stuff. You should sit down on Friday with your local newspaper and work on a schedule for yard sale shopping on Saturday. Check out the places you think will have good items and then work out a route.
Do not allow yourself to be taken in by items that you see that seem like a good bargain. Ask yourself seriously where you could use the item. At a yard sale this summer, I bought a coffee warmer. It was brand-new, and the concept is basic. You sit your coffee mug on it, turn it on, and it will keep your coffee warm all year. It was $.50. Does it work? I have no idea. I have never used it. While I will not feel badly about the purchase (and probably will toss it into my next yard sale pile), these kinds of purchases are what push yard sales to be an expensive and somewhat useless hobby for someplace. If you cannot think of a person to whom you would give something or a place where you would use it in your own life, pass it by.
The best buys you will get at yard sales will be items that are broken or damaged. You will find these items for free in dumpsters or neighborhood garbage pick-up sites as well. Someone may have a table that gets a broken leg and toss it. If you are willing to put in the time, then you can get some good items for free or heavily discounted prices. Just be sure that you inspect the goods before you bring them home. Perhaps that table leg is not fixed easily; leave it! Only take items that you know can be fixed or refinished and will look good. Do not take something simply because it looks like it could have been nice at one point.
When you are out at yard sales, do not be afraid to haggle. Many people think that haggling is awful, but remember that your goal here is to purchase items that you can turn into great pieces for as little money as possible. Buying multiple items is an easy way to help make sure that you have more haggling room. Asking to pay $5 for several items marked for $7 total is easier than negotiating price on each item by itself.
The only potential downside of this hobby is that it is not one that you can share with your friends often. Some people love knowing that you got a bargain. I share good sales items with my mother-in-law just because it makes her happy to know that we are not wasting money. I would never tell someone that I purchased an awesome clearance item for her for her birthday, however. That would be tacky, so these kinds of bargain shopping hobbies tend to be private.
The key is that you are having fun. If you love restoring old items, you can create really cool pieces for your home for little money. Others will marvel at your artistic skills and the wonderful decorations you have in your home while you are smiling to yourself. You will know your secret, which is that most of the items are much less than your friends and family may imagine. Shh! There is no need to tell them. Just let it be your secret.
Trying Furniture Making
Do you have a nook in your home that is just begging for an awesome piece of furniture? Are you unable to afford all of the cool pieces you want right now? One way to get around budgetary constraints is to make your own pieces of furniture. That way you can work on them in your spare time and spend less money. Plus, they will be personalized to fit your space.
To get started, you will need to think about the space. What would work best? Some areas call for a round table while others will be great for square shapes. Measure the space and write down the dimensions you want for the table. Then you will need to think about how sturdy you want the table. Introductory furniture-making will be less sturdy pieces, but you can add some stability to them with a few simple tricks. Knowing how you plan to use the table will help. If it is supposed to hold your medical school books, then you will need something much sturdier than a table that will be the place you toss your keys every evening. For our purposes, we are starting our furniture making with a basic square-top table.
Once you have the table planned, head out to a lumber or home improvement store. You are looking for untreated wood that is fairly inexpensive, especially if the table will not be a long-term piece of furniture. Do not allow the salespeople to try to talk you into the most expensive lumber they have. For this basic table, you will need a piece of pressed plywood that is the size you needed. If you go to a good store, they will cut the plywood for you. If you have your own tools, you can do the cutting yourself, but for most people, it is worth it to have the cuts done at the store, even if it costs $1 or so per cut.
Next you will need legs for the table. You will need to get wood that will hold the table and that you can have cut to the right length. Explain to the person doing the cutting that you need them to be exact because otherwise your table will be crooked. Once you have these pieces, you should get hinge brackets and screws along with an inexpensive electric or battery-operated screwdriver if needed.
Next you will need to head to the paint aisles. Feel free to ask for help here if needed. You are looking for paint that will work on wood. You probably can get a basic enamel paint in the home improvement store. You should pick a color that will work as the foundational color. You most likely want to select a neutral or Earth tone for your base color.
After getting these materials, it is off to the craft store where you will pick up the brushes needed for the paint job and any craft paint for the more intricate painting you will do. Ask someone there or read labels to find out what you can use on wood. (You probably should not use these paints on tables you will be using for eating.) Also get some type of varnish to use to help hold the paint.
When you get home, you will paint all of the pieces first. Be sure that you allow them to completely dry before you move on to the next phase. You may need to do two coats on some pieces so keep that in mind. Once you have painted the table, you will align the top piece onto the legs. (It helps if you have two people.) Then get under the table and put the L-brackets (hinge-type devices) onto the table. Be sure that you get all of the screws in properly so that the table will be level and will stay together. Now you add a coat of varnish, allow to dry, and you have a table!
Try something more complex for your next project if you enjoyed this one, and you may just find yourself with a new hobby. Plus all of the furniture in your own home with work well with the spaces you have.
Teaching Your Hobby to Home School Students
The home schooling explosion is leading an estimated two percent more families each year to teach their children at home. Early in the expansion, parents taught their children at home largely because of religious reasons. Now, parents are varied in their decisions. They may have their children home for safety or religion or politics or academics or just because they enjoy the time with them. This diversity of parents has led to two interesting changes. First, these parents have a wide variety of teaching methods, which opens the door for new curricula in home schooling. Second, these parents are searching for ways to involve their children in activities.
That is where you and your hobby come in. Many parents who home school, regardless of their curricular approach, know that they want to give their children the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities. Part of that fun is being able to introduce the children to new idea without the burdens of the classroom. Many hobbies are perfect ways to open new ideas to home school students. For example, if you are a model train creator, then you can show off your trains to the students. Explain how the trains were used to get people and materials from one location to another and that these trains were integral to the formation of the American West. These lessons are ones the children will enjoy, and you will have a good time with them as well.
If your hobby lends itself to longer lessons, you may be able to do more with the home school kids. You may be able to offer seminars that are day-long events. You will want to charge for these events, even if it is just to cover your own costs. Because most home school families have flexible schedules, you can hold these events during the week or on weekends when traditionally schooled students can attend as well. Have the children come in for a beginning session where you get to know them and find out what they want to learn.
You will have workshops throughout the day where you teach the children about various aspects of your hobby. Then you will want to provide the students with some type of hands-on activity, such as allowing children learning about computers to write a simple program or create flyers, booklets, or other publications that they can take home with them.
Another way to introduce your hobby to home school students is to have a series of programs. Many families go to six-week events. They may come in once a week for three hours and learn about the hobby. These children tend to learn to be very inquisitive, and the parents often ask just as many questions. For many home school families, part of the point is that everyone in the family learns all the time. You can help encourage this learning process by offering seminars about your hobby.
If you are like most hobbyists, you love talking about your hobby. You may even think about imparting that knowledge to others but have not found a way to do so. This chance is a great one, and getting set up is simple. If you are going to be a business, that has other issues, but if you are just doing this for fun (even if you are charging a small fee), then you can work in your home or a church classroom. Create flyers and put them up in strategic locations, such as the public library, and contact local home school groups. Ask around to parents you know about the groups or look online. There are groups popping up everywhere, so even the smallest of towns now has some sort of home school association.
Finding these kids is the hardest part. You should have no problem convincing parents to bring their children to exciting activities once they know you exist. Then you will be able to use word of mouth to get the next batch of kids, so the marketing should begin to take care of itself once you get going. This chance is a wonderful way to teach others about your hobby and have some fun yourself in the process.
That is where you and your hobby come in. Many parents who home school, regardless of their curricular approach, know that they want to give their children the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities. Part of that fun is being able to introduce the children to new idea without the burdens of the classroom. Many hobbies are perfect ways to open new ideas to home school students. For example, if you are a model train creator, then you can show off your trains to the students. Explain how the trains were used to get people and materials from one location to another and that these trains were integral to the formation of the American West. These lessons are ones the children will enjoy, and you will have a good time with them as well.
If your hobby lends itself to longer lessons, you may be able to do more with the home school kids. You may be able to offer seminars that are day-long events. You will want to charge for these events, even if it is just to cover your own costs. Because most home school families have flexible schedules, you can hold these events during the week or on weekends when traditionally schooled students can attend as well. Have the children come in for a beginning session where you get to know them and find out what they want to learn.
You will have workshops throughout the day where you teach the children about various aspects of your hobby. Then you will want to provide the students with some type of hands-on activity, such as allowing children learning about computers to write a simple program or create flyers, booklets, or other publications that they can take home with them.
Another way to introduce your hobby to home school students is to have a series of programs. Many families go to six-week events. They may come in once a week for three hours and learn about the hobby. These children tend to learn to be very inquisitive, and the parents often ask just as many questions. For many home school families, part of the point is that everyone in the family learns all the time. You can help encourage this learning process by offering seminars about your hobby.
If you are like most hobbyists, you love talking about your hobby. You may even think about imparting that knowledge to others but have not found a way to do so. This chance is a great one, and getting set up is simple. If you are going to be a business, that has other issues, but if you are just doing this for fun (even if you are charging a small fee), then you can work in your home or a church classroom. Create flyers and put them up in strategic locations, such as the public library, and contact local home school groups. Ask around to parents you know about the groups or look online. There are groups popping up everywhere, so even the smallest of towns now has some sort of home school association.
Finding these kids is the hardest part. You should have no problem convincing parents to bring their children to exciting activities once they know you exist. Then you will be able to use word of mouth to get the next batch of kids, so the marketing should begin to take care of itself once you get going. This chance is a wonderful way to teach others about your hobby and have some fun yourself in the process.
Sudoku, A New Craze
One of the newest crazes to hit popular culture in the United States is the Sudoku craze. I do not usually involve myself in these types of trends, but I admit I was curious about Sudoku. I had heard some people say it was a lot of fun, and others felt it was silly or too hard. I heard enough people say they did not understand it to think that it may be a good thing to try since I love brain teasers.
I got hooked on playing Sudoku the first night I picked up a book. The concept of the game is simple. It is based on an ancient Japanese teaching tool that taught its students to think of creative ways to problem solve. A traditional Sudoku puzzle has nine squares across and nine squares down. The puzzle also is divided into 3X3 boxes within the puzzle. There are nine of these smaller boxes.
Each column in the puzzle must have each number one through nine once, and the same applies to the rows and the smaller boxes within the puzzle. One error, and the puzzles will not work. You will know quickly if you make an error.
There are a number of ways to think of the solutions to Sudoku puzzles. The books or games you buy will have puzzles with some of the numbers filled in. Your job will be to complete each of the squares. The easiest way to begin is to see which of the smaller squares has the most numbers already filled in. If you are doing beginner puzzles, you may find that they have only one or two numbers missing in some boxes. Look to see which numbers are missing. Let us say that 1 and 8 are missing.
You would look on the row with a blank box. Do you see a 1? How about an 8? Now check the columns. If you see a 1 in one of the columns, then you know that blank box has to be an 8 because there cannot be two 1s in the column. The other blank space must be a 1 by default. Now you can move on to the next box. Sometimes there is only one square in the entire puzzle that can be solved at a given time. You will need to work on each square until you find the one you can solve, which will open up at least one other square to be solved. Most of the time you will have a cascading effect, and you will be able to solve many of the squares once one of them falls into place.
If you find yourself becoming a Sudoku junkie, never fear. You will not run out of games to play although it is unlikely you would remember any repeats anyway. Sudoku has millions of possible combinations, and by starting with fillers, you will add millions more to the possible puzzles you can get.
Sudoku comes in book form, which is probably the most popular just by virtue of being cheap. You can find Sudoku books in mass merchandisers for as little as $1, or you can pick up giant books for $15 or $20. Many companies also are beginning to make electronic version of Sudoku puzzles so that you can play anytime. They are wonderful little gadgets that let you play on the road or in waiting times. My electronic Sudoku is probably the most exciting gift I received this year at Christmas. The best part is that they are under $20, so you will be saving money by getting the electronic version if you play very often.
If you have friends who also are into these types of things, then you may find that they will enjoy playing against you. My husband and I have taken up Sudoku battles to see who can solve puzzles more quickly, and it really can be a lot of fun for the nerd in you. Knowing that you can figure out the answer before someone else can be a great form of mind-challenging competition for you. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Sudoku, so you should give it a try the next time you are looking for something to do.
I got hooked on playing Sudoku the first night I picked up a book. The concept of the game is simple. It is based on an ancient Japanese teaching tool that taught its students to think of creative ways to problem solve. A traditional Sudoku puzzle has nine squares across and nine squares down. The puzzle also is divided into 3X3 boxes within the puzzle. There are nine of these smaller boxes.
Each column in the puzzle must have each number one through nine once, and the same applies to the rows and the smaller boxes within the puzzle. One error, and the puzzles will not work. You will know quickly if you make an error.
There are a number of ways to think of the solutions to Sudoku puzzles. The books or games you buy will have puzzles with some of the numbers filled in. Your job will be to complete each of the squares. The easiest way to begin is to see which of the smaller squares has the most numbers already filled in. If you are doing beginner puzzles, you may find that they have only one or two numbers missing in some boxes. Look to see which numbers are missing. Let us say that 1 and 8 are missing.
You would look on the row with a blank box. Do you see a 1? How about an 8? Now check the columns. If you see a 1 in one of the columns, then you know that blank box has to be an 8 because there cannot be two 1s in the column. The other blank space must be a 1 by default. Now you can move on to the next box. Sometimes there is only one square in the entire puzzle that can be solved at a given time. You will need to work on each square until you find the one you can solve, which will open up at least one other square to be solved. Most of the time you will have a cascading effect, and you will be able to solve many of the squares once one of them falls into place.
If you find yourself becoming a Sudoku junkie, never fear. You will not run out of games to play although it is unlikely you would remember any repeats anyway. Sudoku has millions of possible combinations, and by starting with fillers, you will add millions more to the possible puzzles you can get.
Sudoku comes in book form, which is probably the most popular just by virtue of being cheap. You can find Sudoku books in mass merchandisers for as little as $1, or you can pick up giant books for $15 or $20. Many companies also are beginning to make electronic version of Sudoku puzzles so that you can play anytime. They are wonderful little gadgets that let you play on the road or in waiting times. My electronic Sudoku is probably the most exciting gift I received this year at Christmas. The best part is that they are under $20, so you will be saving money by getting the electronic version if you play very often.
If you have friends who also are into these types of things, then you may find that they will enjoy playing against you. My husband and I have taken up Sudoku battles to see who can solve puzzles more quickly, and it really can be a lot of fun for the nerd in you. Knowing that you can figure out the answer before someone else can be a great form of mind-challenging competition for you. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Sudoku, so you should give it a try the next time you are looking for something to do.
What’s Re-Enacting All About?
Having grown up in the Deep South, I have known about re-enactments for most of my life. What I did not realize, however, is that re-enactments are not a Southern way of looking at the world. Nor do they pertain only to the Civil War era. In fact, re-enactments are becoming increasingly popular around the country as the nation becomes more diverse and people are looking for ways to hold on to parts of our history.
Re-enactments are sometimes what we see in movies. They are ways for people to act out battles and other images from the past. The people who are in these re-enactments groups are very close. Membership is required and is strictly regulated. Some require a familial relationship to the battle while others require that prospective members learn as much as possible about the time period before they can be involved in the battles.
The people who are members of these groups often are very serious about their hobby. They take re-enactment literally and often take on the persona of someone who fought. Re-enactors know who they are and take great pains to understand what their life would have been like had they lived during the time they are re-enacting. These people may read letters and diaries and familiarize themselves with narrative histories of these times. In addition, many re-enactors in groups opt to live in quarters similar to what they would have had during the time they are portraying. They may spend up to a week every year living in tents and other makeshift housing to simulate the environment.
There is another type of re-enactment as well. The people who are involved in these re-enactments are still serious about being historically accurate. They want to learn as much as possible about the time they are replicating, but their overall purpose is different. While the purpose for war re-enactors is to create true to life battle scenes, period re-enactors work to produce a world similar to what existed for the education of others.
We attend a re-enactment fair near us every year. There is a small skirmish that is the heart of the location for the re-enactment, but the real reason we go is to learn about the time period. There are skits and other activities that adults can enjoy, and children also have a good time. The children who attend not only learn about the Revolutionary War period, which is the period the re-enactors are showing.
Children (and adults) can make candles, soaps, foods, and other items in the way that their Revolutionary War ancestors would have done. The benefit to the community is that people are more aware of what went on in the area at the time. These types of re-enactments are a source of community pride even if they are (and they are) riddled with historical flaws. Few re-enactments show the harsh reality of the times. Women certainly were not treated well, and while there may be references to how women were treated on a daily basis. Nor is there discussion of the role of Native Americans or African slaves.
Still, re-enactments are a good teaching tool for your children. They show that people have not always had the luxuries we have today. Good re-enactment festivals will have people speaking to children about communication, transportation, and other big issues so that the children will be able to learn about how others lived. You can fill in the blanks on the people left out of re-enactments if you would like.
If you are interested in being part of re-enactments, then you can check out your local chamber of commerce. They may have information on where people are re-enacting or about local groups. Contact the group and find out what they do. Explain your interest. If you do not know a lot about the time period they cover, be honest but explain that you are willing to learn.
Otherwise, you can try to start your own group. Do something small at first. A successful festival at a local church with only two booths is a great way to begin. Then you can capture the information of people who are interested and grow the event next year.
Re-enactments are sometimes what we see in movies. They are ways for people to act out battles and other images from the past. The people who are in these re-enactments groups are very close. Membership is required and is strictly regulated. Some require a familial relationship to the battle while others require that prospective members learn as much as possible about the time period before they can be involved in the battles.
The people who are members of these groups often are very serious about their hobby. They take re-enactment literally and often take on the persona of someone who fought. Re-enactors know who they are and take great pains to understand what their life would have been like had they lived during the time they are re-enacting. These people may read letters and diaries and familiarize themselves with narrative histories of these times. In addition, many re-enactors in groups opt to live in quarters similar to what they would have had during the time they are portraying. They may spend up to a week every year living in tents and other makeshift housing to simulate the environment.
There is another type of re-enactment as well. The people who are involved in these re-enactments are still serious about being historically accurate. They want to learn as much as possible about the time they are replicating, but their overall purpose is different. While the purpose for war re-enactors is to create true to life battle scenes, period re-enactors work to produce a world similar to what existed for the education of others.
We attend a re-enactment fair near us every year. There is a small skirmish that is the heart of the location for the re-enactment, but the real reason we go is to learn about the time period. There are skits and other activities that adults can enjoy, and children also have a good time. The children who attend not only learn about the Revolutionary War period, which is the period the re-enactors are showing.
Children (and adults) can make candles, soaps, foods, and other items in the way that their Revolutionary War ancestors would have done. The benefit to the community is that people are more aware of what went on in the area at the time. These types of re-enactments are a source of community pride even if they are (and they are) riddled with historical flaws. Few re-enactments show the harsh reality of the times. Women certainly were not treated well, and while there may be references to how women were treated on a daily basis. Nor is there discussion of the role of Native Americans or African slaves.
Still, re-enactments are a good teaching tool for your children. They show that people have not always had the luxuries we have today. Good re-enactment festivals will have people speaking to children about communication, transportation, and other big issues so that the children will be able to learn about how others lived. You can fill in the blanks on the people left out of re-enactments if you would like.
If you are interested in being part of re-enactments, then you can check out your local chamber of commerce. They may have information on where people are re-enacting or about local groups. Contact the group and find out what they do. Explain your interest. If you do not know a lot about the time period they cover, be honest but explain that you are willing to learn.
Otherwise, you can try to start your own group. Do something small at first. A successful festival at a local church with only two booths is a great way to begin. Then you can capture the information of people who are interested and grow the event next year.
Starting As A Wine Taster
If you are looking for a hobby that is a bit unusual and has an element of fun in it, consider taking up wine tasting. It actually is not what many people imagine, which is a group of people who sit around and get drunk for fun. Real wine tasters are serious about their wines, and they work to learn all they can about them.
To get started as a wine taster, you should first begin by doing a little research. Though the basic rule for wine, the one that most people know is that the wine color should match the meat (or sauce) of your meal. Beyond that, though, most people are clueless about which wines complement which meals. The matches are based not on arbitrary decisions but on how certain types of wine taste with certain meals. You can begin by reading basic books on wine tasting and one types of wine.
Early in your wine tasting hobby, you probably will want to take a tour through a winery. These types of tours are fascinating if you are interested in history and machinery at all. You will see exactly how wines are made and will have an idea of the terms associated with the process. If you live in the Sonoma Valley or another popular wine venue, then you will have an easier time finding a wine tour to take. Everyone should be able to find one with a little work, though. A wine-tasting tour is a great way to get others in on your hobby, too. After all, who can resist a visit to taste great wine?
You also may want to look for a wine tasting club near you. These clubs exist almost everywhere, and they come with various levels of commitment. Some people in the clubs are very serious about their wines. They drink almost everyday and save up bottles of good wines for special occasions. The character Paul Giamatti plays in Sideways is a great example of an obsessive wine connoisseur. Most are not as devoted, though. Instead they are amateur wine tasters. If you join a club, you probably will meet once or twice a month either at the home of a member or at a local winery or restaurant.
Some of the members will want to share information about new wines they have purchased or tried. Other groups will plan trips to visit popular vineyards or even to visit places in Europe where some of the more exotic wines in the world are made. Still other wine-tasting clubs will go in together to purchase expensive wines by the case so that everyone will be able to enjoy excellent quality wine for less money. Mostly, though, these clubs are just a way for people who enjoy great wine to get together to spend time with others who share their passion.
Once you pick up this hobby, you may just find that you spend more time than you would have thought thinking about wine and the various kinds available. You will want to show off your wines to your friends, which means that you probably will want to build a wine cellar at some point. While few people have an entire cellar devoted to wine, many of them have small areas cordoned off.
You can build your own wine area for little money. You will need some type of wine rack that will hold a decent number of bottles. One that holds 20 to 30 bottles is enough for most people. Then you will need an area of your basement or a back closet or other space. The space needs to stay relatively cool, which is why basements are a perfect location. Then you will need to put up a heavy drape or a door if possible to keep the light out. Light can ruin wine, so you need to keep the area as dark as possible. Only go into it to get wine out and leave. Do not linger or leave it exposed to the light, especially if you plan to leave the wine for a while.
Remember this hobby is one that you can and should enjoy responsibly. Wine tasting can be a great way to have fun with others.
To get started as a wine taster, you should first begin by doing a little research. Though the basic rule for wine, the one that most people know is that the wine color should match the meat (or sauce) of your meal. Beyond that, though, most people are clueless about which wines complement which meals. The matches are based not on arbitrary decisions but on how certain types of wine taste with certain meals. You can begin by reading basic books on wine tasting and one types of wine.
Early in your wine tasting hobby, you probably will want to take a tour through a winery. These types of tours are fascinating if you are interested in history and machinery at all. You will see exactly how wines are made and will have an idea of the terms associated with the process. If you live in the Sonoma Valley or another popular wine venue, then you will have an easier time finding a wine tour to take. Everyone should be able to find one with a little work, though. A wine-tasting tour is a great way to get others in on your hobby, too. After all, who can resist a visit to taste great wine?
You also may want to look for a wine tasting club near you. These clubs exist almost everywhere, and they come with various levels of commitment. Some people in the clubs are very serious about their wines. They drink almost everyday and save up bottles of good wines for special occasions. The character Paul Giamatti plays in Sideways is a great example of an obsessive wine connoisseur. Most are not as devoted, though. Instead they are amateur wine tasters. If you join a club, you probably will meet once or twice a month either at the home of a member or at a local winery or restaurant.
Some of the members will want to share information about new wines they have purchased or tried. Other groups will plan trips to visit popular vineyards or even to visit places in Europe where some of the more exotic wines in the world are made. Still other wine-tasting clubs will go in together to purchase expensive wines by the case so that everyone will be able to enjoy excellent quality wine for less money. Mostly, though, these clubs are just a way for people who enjoy great wine to get together to spend time with others who share their passion.
Once you pick up this hobby, you may just find that you spend more time than you would have thought thinking about wine and the various kinds available. You will want to show off your wines to your friends, which means that you probably will want to build a wine cellar at some point. While few people have an entire cellar devoted to wine, many of them have small areas cordoned off.
You can build your own wine area for little money. You will need some type of wine rack that will hold a decent number of bottles. One that holds 20 to 30 bottles is enough for most people. Then you will need an area of your basement or a back closet or other space. The space needs to stay relatively cool, which is why basements are a perfect location. Then you will need to put up a heavy drape or a door if possible to keep the light out. Light can ruin wine, so you need to keep the area as dark as possible. Only go into it to get wine out and leave. Do not linger or leave it exposed to the light, especially if you plan to leave the wine for a while.
Remember this hobby is one that you can and should enjoy responsibly. Wine tasting can be a great way to have fun with others.
Starting A Hobby-Related Website
When there is a topic you enjoy and cannot get enough of thinking or talking about, then you may have found the perfect topic for a personal website project. Although there is much made of making money on the web, many people have sites that are not intended to make money. Instead these sites are used to promote the interests of the site owner.
If you are thinking of developing a site based on your hobby topic, then you should do some initial research to see what already exists. Check out other websites on the same subject. See what information all of them seem to have. While you do not want to repeat too much information, you also have to consider that those people include the information because others want to read it.
Your job is to look for angles not covered. Perhaps you love fly-fishing, but you are a woman. You may want to exploit that angle and create a site dedicated to women who enjoy the sport. You would include much of the same information about getting started, finding locations, and planning trips, but you would focus on the fact that you are speaking to a primarily female audience. That means that you may cover rods that are made for smaller adults as well as information on taking your children along with you.
While you are searching, keep an eye out for what is not available, too. Are there no sites with forums? On the sites that have forums, do they provide interesting information? Are they too basic? Are there enough members to make it worthwhile to run your own forum? You also should consider specials on sites, such as allowing visitors to send in questions for you that you answer or allowing comments on articles. You may want to do your site in the form of a blog or update it all at once and be done with it.
Try to keep in mind what it will take to maintain a website. Many people begin sites but are unaware of the amount of work that goes into keeping them up. You will need to consider the cost although you can get a domain name and hosting package for fairly cheap. I am able to get mine for about $50 a year total. If you are using a blog format, you even can start by using a free service, such as Blogger, so that you will not have any upfront costs until you see how the site works.
Then you need to consider how much effort you want to put into the site. Perhaps you are willing to work on it daily. If so, then you should consider forums and other high-energy parts of website design. If not, then you may want to cut those parts of the site. People who want to put in two or three hours a week, perhaps on a slow night, should consider whether they simply can add an article or two every week. Take into account how long it will take you to research and write the article as well as putting it up on the site.
Once you have the site started, you will want to advertise it. You can use basic methods. Make up a t-shirt that you wear to events related to your site with the domain name on it. Make up simple business cards and leave them in strategic places (legally, of course). Get a sticker for your car. Then you can write free articles and distribute them online with return links back to your site. Participate in forums related to your website topic.
Creating a site about your hobby is a great way to add to your resume. After all, site design is something that can be beneficial in the workplace while allowing you to research and write about something that you find fascinating. Just remember that you should make sure you can commit to a site before you get started. There is nothing more frustrating online than a site that never adds content or a site owner who promises that lots of features are coming soon on a date that never materializes. Give it your best.
If you are thinking of developing a site based on your hobby topic, then you should do some initial research to see what already exists. Check out other websites on the same subject. See what information all of them seem to have. While you do not want to repeat too much information, you also have to consider that those people include the information because others want to read it.
Your job is to look for angles not covered. Perhaps you love fly-fishing, but you are a woman. You may want to exploit that angle and create a site dedicated to women who enjoy the sport. You would include much of the same information about getting started, finding locations, and planning trips, but you would focus on the fact that you are speaking to a primarily female audience. That means that you may cover rods that are made for smaller adults as well as information on taking your children along with you.
While you are searching, keep an eye out for what is not available, too. Are there no sites with forums? On the sites that have forums, do they provide interesting information? Are they too basic? Are there enough members to make it worthwhile to run your own forum? You also should consider specials on sites, such as allowing visitors to send in questions for you that you answer or allowing comments on articles. You may want to do your site in the form of a blog or update it all at once and be done with it.
Try to keep in mind what it will take to maintain a website. Many people begin sites but are unaware of the amount of work that goes into keeping them up. You will need to consider the cost although you can get a domain name and hosting package for fairly cheap. I am able to get mine for about $50 a year total. If you are using a blog format, you even can start by using a free service, such as Blogger, so that you will not have any upfront costs until you see how the site works.
Then you need to consider how much effort you want to put into the site. Perhaps you are willing to work on it daily. If so, then you should consider forums and other high-energy parts of website design. If not, then you may want to cut those parts of the site. People who want to put in two or three hours a week, perhaps on a slow night, should consider whether they simply can add an article or two every week. Take into account how long it will take you to research and write the article as well as putting it up on the site.
Once you have the site started, you will want to advertise it. You can use basic methods. Make up a t-shirt that you wear to events related to your site with the domain name on it. Make up simple business cards and leave them in strategic places (legally, of course). Get a sticker for your car. Then you can write free articles and distribute them online with return links back to your site. Participate in forums related to your website topic.
Creating a site about your hobby is a great way to add to your resume. After all, site design is something that can be beneficial in the workplace while allowing you to research and write about something that you find fascinating. Just remember that you should make sure you can commit to a site before you get started. There is nothing more frustrating online than a site that never adds content or a site owner who promises that lots of features are coming soon on a date that never materializes. Give it your best.
Starting A Community Theater Group
Local theater and drama groups are a great way to add a little life to a community. We found out once we moved to a small town that there was little in the way of community activity. People may seem to be interested, but they just accept that there are no such opportunities available. Drama groups seem like something cities have, not something that smaller towns have available to them. Still there is no reason that you cannot have your own drama group in your city or town. If you love theater, then you can plan a drama group. All you have to do is have a little organization.
First you will need to do the basic legwork on your own. Find out by calling the chamber of commerce if there are any drama groups that you may now know exist. See if you also can locate any information on groups that may have existed. If so, you may be able to cull a planning team from those people. Then you should look for a place in the community where you may be able to have a performance. If there are no old theaters, try hotels and other places with conference areas.
Your next job will be to put together a planning committee to help you with the effort. You will not be able to do everything alone, so you will need some help. You can begin by contacting people you know who may be interested, such as the lady from your church who always does the plays the youth puts on. Check with any community colleges in the area or with the high school drama teacher. Explain that you want to start a group and need a planning committee to help get everything together.
Once you have a decent number of people, you are ready to begin your plans. A drama group is a bit more than just finding actors who will participate. You need to consider the cost of such a venture first. For a community theater group, you will not be paying the actors, though you may want to work a thank-you gift into the budget. Instead you will need a budget to cover the cost of renting a place to hold the event as well as the cost of providing lighting services, props, and sets.
These expenses are ones you can cut in various ways, such as having a local carpenter volunteer to work on the set or asking people to donate prop items you need. Still you will want to put together a budget. The best way to put together this budget is to allow the planning committee to select the first play in advance. Have the committee put together a proposal for the cost of purchasing the scripts and a proposed budget for the first event. You should add some to this number to cover the cost of printing programs, advertising in the newspaper, and miscellaneous costs that may come up.
Once you have a budget, you can begin to the tough part. You will need to secure the funding for the group. There are many creative ways to begin your local drama group, so you should not let the budget scare you away. First you can ask the proprietors of potential venues if they will donate their space in exchange for being mentioned on the programs. Also ask other businesses to be corporate sponsors. In a small area, you should stick to lower sponsorships. Allow businesses to be listed as donors (using leveling, of course) for as little as $25 and go up to $500 or $1,000 for major sponsors. Also plan community fundraisers that will allow individuals to donate money through buying something or just giving a dollar here or there. If there are any business owners friendly to your idea, then ask if you can keep donation jars near them.
As soon as you get the money flowing and believe you have a reasonable chance of raising it, you will need to put together the calls for actors and begin piecing together the show. You will want to have a show fairly quickly so that donors can see where their money is going.
First you will need to do the basic legwork on your own. Find out by calling the chamber of commerce if there are any drama groups that you may now know exist. See if you also can locate any information on groups that may have existed. If so, you may be able to cull a planning team from those people. Then you should look for a place in the community where you may be able to have a performance. If there are no old theaters, try hotels and other places with conference areas.
Your next job will be to put together a planning committee to help you with the effort. You will not be able to do everything alone, so you will need some help. You can begin by contacting people you know who may be interested, such as the lady from your church who always does the plays the youth puts on. Check with any community colleges in the area or with the high school drama teacher. Explain that you want to start a group and need a planning committee to help get everything together.
Once you have a decent number of people, you are ready to begin your plans. A drama group is a bit more than just finding actors who will participate. You need to consider the cost of such a venture first. For a community theater group, you will not be paying the actors, though you may want to work a thank-you gift into the budget. Instead you will need a budget to cover the cost of renting a place to hold the event as well as the cost of providing lighting services, props, and sets.
These expenses are ones you can cut in various ways, such as having a local carpenter volunteer to work on the set or asking people to donate prop items you need. Still you will want to put together a budget. The best way to put together this budget is to allow the planning committee to select the first play in advance. Have the committee put together a proposal for the cost of purchasing the scripts and a proposed budget for the first event. You should add some to this number to cover the cost of printing programs, advertising in the newspaper, and miscellaneous costs that may come up.
Once you have a budget, you can begin to the tough part. You will need to secure the funding for the group. There are many creative ways to begin your local drama group, so you should not let the budget scare you away. First you can ask the proprietors of potential venues if they will donate their space in exchange for being mentioned on the programs. Also ask other businesses to be corporate sponsors. In a small area, you should stick to lower sponsorships. Allow businesses to be listed as donors (using leveling, of course) for as little as $25 and go up to $500 or $1,000 for major sponsors. Also plan community fundraisers that will allow individuals to donate money through buying something or just giving a dollar here or there. If there are any business owners friendly to your idea, then ask if you can keep donation jars near them.
As soon as you get the money flowing and believe you have a reasonable chance of raising it, you will need to put together the calls for actors and begin piecing together the show. You will want to have a show fairly quickly so that donors can see where their money is going.
Starting A Church Orchestra
Having started playing piano at the age of eight, my interest in music began long before I had any inkling what I may do for a living. I had wanted to play violin for several years, but my mother thought piano at a reasonable age was more practical. So I started the lessons that I would continue for only three years before moving to flute lessons. I played flute for about 10 years until part of the way through college, where I was in the orchestra and wind ensemble. I also played piccolo and oboe in there for a couple of years. Then I gave up my music to pursue my activism.
Now as an adult I am looking for a place to use my musical talent. I talk to many adults who loved to play and would love to continue but are unsure what to do. They enjoy the playing, but there are few places where adults can continue to play. I have been thinking of this problem for a while, and I have come up with a solution for my situation. Because I attend a very small church but one with enough people for activities, I am going to use my church as an outlet for my music through forming a small orchestral group there.
The first step in forming a church orchestra is to research. Churches need to know what their budget will be so that they can begin to prepare for it. Your orchestra, if approved, will be a line item on the budget. Begin by sketching a brief plan. What do you want the church to pay for related to the orchestra? You will need a way to play any music, but you may be able to use equipment the church already owns or bring your own. You definitely will want to buy music. Decide how often you think your orchestra can play. In the beginning, you probably will play no more than once a month, and you likely will be playing only one song. That works, but you will need to price sheet music for a few pieces that you may consider.
Those costs probably are the only ones associated with an orchestra that are required. Some churches may be able to sponsor an annual dinner or other program for the orchestra members, but you can get by without it. You can even get by without music stands if needed; you will just need a little extra planning.
Once you have an idea on the cost, approach your minister. Explain your plan and listen politely to what he has to say. Now, it is rare to find a minister who will not jump at the chance to have church members more involved. Church attendance is down these days, and many people cite the lack of activities for them as a reason. Here you are stepping in and asking to take on responsibility that could get more people involved. You may have to present your budget plan to the church board or elders, but you really should not have a lot of problem getting past this initial meeting.
When you go to the church board, be prepared with copies of the proposed annual budget. Have answers for questions about saving costs and about fundraising ideas for the orchestra. The church may be willing to have a special start-up offering, and you may be able to come up with good ideas for the members themselves to raise the money.
Next will be getting members. If you know that there are church members who play, whether they are teens in their high school band or older people who have not played in years, go to them directly. The minister will want to announce the new organization, which of course is great, but you probably will have to twist a few arms to get everyone involved. Make yourself available to answer any questions anyone has and have an introductory meeting to gauge interest. Then you will need to get started quickly. Give everyone folders with music and send them home until the next rehearsal. Hype the church orchestra, and you should have no problem finding willing participants for your new venture.
Now as an adult I am looking for a place to use my musical talent. I talk to many adults who loved to play and would love to continue but are unsure what to do. They enjoy the playing, but there are few places where adults can continue to play. I have been thinking of this problem for a while, and I have come up with a solution for my situation. Because I attend a very small church but one with enough people for activities, I am going to use my church as an outlet for my music through forming a small orchestral group there.
The first step in forming a church orchestra is to research. Churches need to know what their budget will be so that they can begin to prepare for it. Your orchestra, if approved, will be a line item on the budget. Begin by sketching a brief plan. What do you want the church to pay for related to the orchestra? You will need a way to play any music, but you may be able to use equipment the church already owns or bring your own. You definitely will want to buy music. Decide how often you think your orchestra can play. In the beginning, you probably will play no more than once a month, and you likely will be playing only one song. That works, but you will need to price sheet music for a few pieces that you may consider.
Those costs probably are the only ones associated with an orchestra that are required. Some churches may be able to sponsor an annual dinner or other program for the orchestra members, but you can get by without it. You can even get by without music stands if needed; you will just need a little extra planning.
Once you have an idea on the cost, approach your minister. Explain your plan and listen politely to what he has to say. Now, it is rare to find a minister who will not jump at the chance to have church members more involved. Church attendance is down these days, and many people cite the lack of activities for them as a reason. Here you are stepping in and asking to take on responsibility that could get more people involved. You may have to present your budget plan to the church board or elders, but you really should not have a lot of problem getting past this initial meeting.
When you go to the church board, be prepared with copies of the proposed annual budget. Have answers for questions about saving costs and about fundraising ideas for the orchestra. The church may be willing to have a special start-up offering, and you may be able to come up with good ideas for the members themselves to raise the money.
Next will be getting members. If you know that there are church members who play, whether they are teens in their high school band or older people who have not played in years, go to them directly. The minister will want to announce the new organization, which of course is great, but you probably will have to twist a few arms to get everyone involved. Make yourself available to answer any questions anyone has and have an introductory meeting to gauge interest. Then you will need to get started quickly. Give everyone folders with music and send them home until the next rehearsal. Hype the church orchestra, and you should have no problem finding willing participants for your new venture.
Share Your Love With Others
Is there a subject about which you are incredibly passionate? If so, then you should try self-publishing a book. Now, self-publishing may not sound like a hobby, but it can be if you approach it in the right way. Self-publishing is more than just setting up the book and sending it off. You will be learning all about the book industry and how it works if you take on this task.
The first thing you need to determine is what book you will write. Then you will sit down to work on the manuscript. You can hire a professional editor or proofreader to work on the final manuscript with you. Be sure that your book imparts valuable information that you think people will be interested in purchasing.
Once you have the manuscript completed, your job has just begun. Public relations is a big part of the bookselling business although many writers shun this aspect of the business. Most writers are by nature introverts, and they prefer words to people. So, take a deep breath and get ready because you have to talk to and deal with people to make this happen. You will need to create jam up promotional materials to make your book sell. Few bookstores, save your local niche shops, will be willing to carry a book that is self-published.
You will need to sit down and think of places where the customers may be interested in your books. While it does not hurt to try bookstores, they should not be the bulk of your plan. Instead your plan should look at gift stores. If you have written something on creating beautiful personalized gifts, then look up all gift boutiques in your area. Many gift books, such as 101 Reasons You Love Your Mom, are good for counter purchases in clothing and other trendy stores.
Once you have a list, think about what would convince these people to purchase your book. You will want to have a cook. Books on political subjects, especially if they are slightly left-of-center, tend to work in coffee shops. You will need to get ready to approach the owner with the reasons that he or she should allow you to have your book in the store. You can offer to do as much of the work as possible. Offer to take back books that do not sell. (This issue is hotly debated in traditional publishing, but it is almost a necessity in self-publishing.) You can offer to set up a display with 10 books and to come back to get them if they do not sell in a month.
Also try to set up places to speak. Now, few people are going to come to hear you read excerpts from you book. Though many people who write books would be interested, the results show that the general public just is not. Instead they want to know what you can do for them. What can your book do to change them?
Let us say you wrote a book about kid-friendly recipes. You would want to have something hands on. Have a workshop at a local store that caters to families. Have ingredients on hand and let the kids in the audience work with you to create a couple of quick snacks. You can work on creative packaging and put the book with the most common ingredients or tools needed for the recipes. Give people a reason to want to add your book to their lives.
Once you have started your marketing campaign, you will need to keep it up. Give people your business card (with website address) often. Capture their information and send out postcards when you have new editions or products. Sell, sell, sell your book. Self-publishing is a wonderful way to be able to spend more time with a topic you enjoy. Your research and experimentation time, for example, now is worth something more to everyone involved. If you sell enough copies, you could even think of transitioning your hobby into something more permanent, which is an admirable goal. Just remember that you will need to work at self-publishing as it exists at the strange intersection between business venture and hobby for most people.
The first thing you need to determine is what book you will write. Then you will sit down to work on the manuscript. You can hire a professional editor or proofreader to work on the final manuscript with you. Be sure that your book imparts valuable information that you think people will be interested in purchasing.
Once you have the manuscript completed, your job has just begun. Public relations is a big part of the bookselling business although many writers shun this aspect of the business. Most writers are by nature introverts, and they prefer words to people. So, take a deep breath and get ready because you have to talk to and deal with people to make this happen. You will need to create jam up promotional materials to make your book sell. Few bookstores, save your local niche shops, will be willing to carry a book that is self-published.
You will need to sit down and think of places where the customers may be interested in your books. While it does not hurt to try bookstores, they should not be the bulk of your plan. Instead your plan should look at gift stores. If you have written something on creating beautiful personalized gifts, then look up all gift boutiques in your area. Many gift books, such as 101 Reasons You Love Your Mom, are good for counter purchases in clothing and other trendy stores.
Once you have a list, think about what would convince these people to purchase your book. You will want to have a cook. Books on political subjects, especially if they are slightly left-of-center, tend to work in coffee shops. You will need to get ready to approach the owner with the reasons that he or she should allow you to have your book in the store. You can offer to do as much of the work as possible. Offer to take back books that do not sell. (This issue is hotly debated in traditional publishing, but it is almost a necessity in self-publishing.) You can offer to set up a display with 10 books and to come back to get them if they do not sell in a month.
Also try to set up places to speak. Now, few people are going to come to hear you read excerpts from you book. Though many people who write books would be interested, the results show that the general public just is not. Instead they want to know what you can do for them. What can your book do to change them?
Let us say you wrote a book about kid-friendly recipes. You would want to have something hands on. Have a workshop at a local store that caters to families. Have ingredients on hand and let the kids in the audience work with you to create a couple of quick snacks. You can work on creative packaging and put the book with the most common ingredients or tools needed for the recipes. Give people a reason to want to add your book to their lives.
Once you have started your marketing campaign, you will need to keep it up. Give people your business card (with website address) often. Capture their information and send out postcards when you have new editions or products. Sell, sell, sell your book. Self-publishing is a wonderful way to be able to spend more time with a topic you enjoy. Your research and experimentation time, for example, now is worth something more to everyone involved. If you sell enough copies, you could even think of transitioning your hobby into something more permanent, which is an admirable goal. Just remember that you will need to work at self-publishing as it exists at the strange intersection between business venture and hobby for most people.
Scaling Back the Hobby Plans
With the new year approaching, many people are coming up with ideas for how to work on their hobbies throughout 2007. I have written about this issue and have thought about it as well for my own hobbies. This morning I even sat down and worked out a list of what I want to do with my hobbies this year. Then I realized that it probably is in vain. After all, I would love to spend more time with my hobbies, but with a toddler and a baby due in January, it may not be realistic.
In fact, if you are like me, you know in the back of your mind that the list of things you would like to do will fall to the wayside, never to be used again. Instead of putting yourself in that situation, try scaling back what you want from your hobbies. Dare I suggest you go without a list? Some people simply enjoy their hobbies, and they may say that they would like to spend more time biking, but that is it. They do not set out anything more concrete. Those people probably will not spend much more time biking in 2007 than they did in 2006 because they did not prepare. Still those people will not enter 2008 thinking that they did not accomplish anything on their list for biking.
A better solution that cramming your want to list or not creating anything concrete is to have a goal for your hobby. You do not have to do this only at the new year. In fact, you should work on your goals frequently and change them when needed. I will share with you an example from my own life. Over the past three years, I have had some health problems that have led to a more sedentary life than before. Though my health problems are solved, I have not worked time into my life schedule to do more physical activity. That is one thing I want to change in 2007.
There was a time when I ran almost every day and really enjoyed it. I do not think I have the time (or the energy) for that right now, but I can still work to spend more time running. I have set my goal as participating in a 5K run that happens near us in October every year. While it is not a huge goal, it is one that I can work for throughout the year. I can come up with concrete plans for spending more time running, and I can reach a specific goal without overbooking myself.
You should look at your hobbies in the same way. Think about one small thing you can do with your hobby this year. Perhaps you want to get that ham radio that you purchased at a yard sale fixed. Perhaps you have a collection of political buttons from the twentieth century. You could endeavor to put them into marked display cases this year. You would not be committing yourself to a huge time to spend on your hobby, but you would give yourself a specific goal.
You can set a date for the goal or just do it as it comes. I would suggest setting a date only because we tend to put off things we enjoy for work when we are not on any time schedule. Most people work with deadlines, even ones they created themselves, much better than they do with no deadline.
The important point to remember is that you can get overwhelmed with your plans for your hobby. That overwhelming feeling can itself be defeating, and you may end up spending no time on your hobby because you wanted to do too much. Start out slowly and work your way up. If you set a goal for three months out, then you may have better luck. If you want to get back into painting, then try to set a goal to paint a set of three terra cotta pots by the end of March. Then at the end of March, you will know whether you have reached your goal. If not, re-evaluate. Why did you not get there? Can you do it by June? Should you set a different goal?
In fact, if you are like me, you know in the back of your mind that the list of things you would like to do will fall to the wayside, never to be used again. Instead of putting yourself in that situation, try scaling back what you want from your hobbies. Dare I suggest you go without a list? Some people simply enjoy their hobbies, and they may say that they would like to spend more time biking, but that is it. They do not set out anything more concrete. Those people probably will not spend much more time biking in 2007 than they did in 2006 because they did not prepare. Still those people will not enter 2008 thinking that they did not accomplish anything on their list for biking.
A better solution that cramming your want to list or not creating anything concrete is to have a goal for your hobby. You do not have to do this only at the new year. In fact, you should work on your goals frequently and change them when needed. I will share with you an example from my own life. Over the past three years, I have had some health problems that have led to a more sedentary life than before. Though my health problems are solved, I have not worked time into my life schedule to do more physical activity. That is one thing I want to change in 2007.
There was a time when I ran almost every day and really enjoyed it. I do not think I have the time (or the energy) for that right now, but I can still work to spend more time running. I have set my goal as participating in a 5K run that happens near us in October every year. While it is not a huge goal, it is one that I can work for throughout the year. I can come up with concrete plans for spending more time running, and I can reach a specific goal without overbooking myself.
You should look at your hobbies in the same way. Think about one small thing you can do with your hobby this year. Perhaps you want to get that ham radio that you purchased at a yard sale fixed. Perhaps you have a collection of political buttons from the twentieth century. You could endeavor to put them into marked display cases this year. You would not be committing yourself to a huge time to spend on your hobby, but you would give yourself a specific goal.
You can set a date for the goal or just do it as it comes. I would suggest setting a date only because we tend to put off things we enjoy for work when we are not on any time schedule. Most people work with deadlines, even ones they created themselves, much better than they do with no deadline.
The important point to remember is that you can get overwhelmed with your plans for your hobby. That overwhelming feeling can itself be defeating, and you may end up spending no time on your hobby because you wanted to do too much. Start out slowly and work your way up. If you set a goal for three months out, then you may have better luck. If you want to get back into painting, then try to set a goal to paint a set of three terra cotta pots by the end of March. Then at the end of March, you will know whether you have reached your goal. If not, re-evaluate. Why did you not get there? Can you do it by June? Should you set a different goal?
Rethinking Model Trains
On a recent visit to see holiday lights, I was reminded of how much people can love railroading. We went to a local park to see the Christmas lights. After seeing the lights, you have the option of turning in and checking out the other exhibits. Though it was bitterly cold, I wanted my son to get a chance to see the museum inside. The museum itself was about the history of horses and was fascinating both for us and for our toddler.
He got the most excitement out of the model train exhibit, however. A local railroad enthusiasts club was set up in one of the conference rooms. They had information to educate the uninitiated about the various scales of trains. Then they had exhibits set up in the various scales.
My son was oohing and aahing the entire time. He had a blast checking out the trains. He was impressed with the small detail he saw on the very small-scale trains, and he was excited to see Thomas the Tank coming around the bend in one of the larger exhibits. The exhibiters, too, seemed to delight in seeing the children there enjoy their work.
It reminded that something that has existed for a long time is still around because so many people get pleasure out of it. Model trains are an interesting hobby because they can teach us so much. Many people now think of trains as only an inconvenience if they have ever even lived close enough to a rail line to see trains regularly. I grew up in a train town, and we had 100 or so pass through everyday. Trust me that it can get old to have to wait on trains all the time. The overpass in our town has been around only about six or seven years.
Still in all of the time I complained about trains, no one ever explained that they were the reason towns exist where they do in rural areas of the country. Trains were the main mode of transportation for decades in this nation, and they are what allowed us to inhabit the Western portion of the United States. Without railroads, there would have been no way to get materials out to the Western territories.
The advent of refrigerated cars, too, allowed for industry to explode. Cities like Cincinnati survived because of the slaughterhouses located there. Without refrigeration, the city was limited in where meat could be sent, but the refrigeration permitted the city to sell throughout the country.
Knowing these types of interesting tidbits about trains helps put model trains in perspective. If you are talking to a serious enthusiast, you will find that they are not just interested in creating a train to go into a circle. The process of creating a model train environment involves massive research. The exhibit we saw included replicas of nearby towns in the 1800s. The people who created these trains used interesting materials and beautiful artistry to create backdrops for their trains. They did not just throw these pieces together. They worked on them for weeks or months to get them just right.
Model train enthusiasts could teach the rest of us a thing or two about being devoted to a hobby. I used to think that the reason you only saw old men as model train exhibiters was because the hobby was boring (though my son would suggest differently), but looking at the exhibit from the perspective of an adult, I realized that in fact the hobby is very time-consuming. Most of the people who are into them are retired and have the time and energy to devote to the hobby.
So the next time you see a model train exhibit, check it out. And make a donation if you can. I found out that our local exhibiters travel to schools to teach children about history and trains and that they put on many presentations throughout the year. Their work is more than just sitting around working on a model. Instead they try hard to bring something exciting and educational to the community. Try to remember to give back to them so that others can continue to enjoy their work.
He got the most excitement out of the model train exhibit, however. A local railroad enthusiasts club was set up in one of the conference rooms. They had information to educate the uninitiated about the various scales of trains. Then they had exhibits set up in the various scales.
My son was oohing and aahing the entire time. He had a blast checking out the trains. He was impressed with the small detail he saw on the very small-scale trains, and he was excited to see Thomas the Tank coming around the bend in one of the larger exhibits. The exhibiters, too, seemed to delight in seeing the children there enjoy their work.
It reminded that something that has existed for a long time is still around because so many people get pleasure out of it. Model trains are an interesting hobby because they can teach us so much. Many people now think of trains as only an inconvenience if they have ever even lived close enough to a rail line to see trains regularly. I grew up in a train town, and we had 100 or so pass through everyday. Trust me that it can get old to have to wait on trains all the time. The overpass in our town has been around only about six or seven years.
Still in all of the time I complained about trains, no one ever explained that they were the reason towns exist where they do in rural areas of the country. Trains were the main mode of transportation for decades in this nation, and they are what allowed us to inhabit the Western portion of the United States. Without railroads, there would have been no way to get materials out to the Western territories.
The advent of refrigerated cars, too, allowed for industry to explode. Cities like Cincinnati survived because of the slaughterhouses located there. Without refrigeration, the city was limited in where meat could be sent, but the refrigeration permitted the city to sell throughout the country.
Knowing these types of interesting tidbits about trains helps put model trains in perspective. If you are talking to a serious enthusiast, you will find that they are not just interested in creating a train to go into a circle. The process of creating a model train environment involves massive research. The exhibit we saw included replicas of nearby towns in the 1800s. The people who created these trains used interesting materials and beautiful artistry to create backdrops for their trains. They did not just throw these pieces together. They worked on them for weeks or months to get them just right.
Model train enthusiasts could teach the rest of us a thing or two about being devoted to a hobby. I used to think that the reason you only saw old men as model train exhibiters was because the hobby was boring (though my son would suggest differently), but looking at the exhibit from the perspective of an adult, I realized that in fact the hobby is very time-consuming. Most of the people who are into them are retired and have the time and energy to devote to the hobby.
So the next time you see a model train exhibit, check it out. And make a donation if you can. I found out that our local exhibiters travel to schools to teach children about history and trains and that they put on many presentations throughout the year. Their work is more than just sitting around working on a model. Instead they try hard to bring something exciting and educational to the community. Try to remember to give back to them so that others can continue to enjoy their work.
Rejuvenate Your Hobby
Many adults imagine that they will have more free time in their lives. Perhaps you did at one point before your career took off, before you had children, and before you had an entire household to run and keep up. Sometimes when our lives get that hectic, we realize that we have spent a good deal of time not working on things we want. Instead we have done what is expected of us, whether with our families, at home, at work, at church, or in the community. If you are there, then you can begin today to return to a hobby you once loved or to pick up one that you never really got started working on.
Think about your answer when you are asked about your hobbies. Do you stammer and find that you cannot come up with anything? Do you put down scrap booking although you have not touched a scrapbook page for six months? Then you need to rejuvenate your hobby! Use the new year as the perfect time to get it going again.
Spend some time this weekend evaluating where you stand in regard to your hobby. Get out any old stuff you have related to it or think about what you want to get from the hobby. Those old knitting guides may spark a new interest in you strong enough for you to go ahead and start a new project. More likely though you will spend some time thinking about your hobby and what you used to do with it.
Spend some of your time organizing your supplies. You do not need to get new containers or anything at this point. Instead you should just put everything together. Toss that old paint that is dried up. Get rid of the patterns that no longer fit your tastes. Stack everything together so that you can return to your hobby soon. Then you should get a notebook and pen. Make a list as you go of things you know you will need. For cross-stitching, you should check the threads needed for all of your open projects. Make sure that you have the right colors and put down on paper the ones that you do not have. Keeping a list will make your hobby organized, which will add to your enjoyment of it.
Next you should take a little reflection time. Why did you give up the hobby? Why did you not get farther? Maybe you never got started because you did not have the money but now you do. Perhaps you never knew quite where you begin. Some people picked the wrong hobby. Be prepared to admit if that is you. May be you thought you would enjoy making jar gifts, but it just was not for you. (In that case, toss or donate the supplies now. Do not let them clutter your house!) Some people also found that they just drifted away and are not sure why, though it most likely was a time commitment.
Next you should think about how to solve the problem that led you away from the hobby in the first place. If it was money, decide how much you could spend today on getting the hobby going again. Then decide if you could spend a little each month on it. How much would that be? A time crunch is probably the easiest to solve, though most of us will be most resistant here. If you stopped because of time, begin to carve some out.
Start small. Look at your weekly schedule. Perhaps this week you will be able to commit only to one-half hour on Tuesday evening. Write it down. Put it in pen. Make a date with yourself for that half hour. Then perhaps next week you will be able to find an hour to work on your hobby. The key is not to let anything come into conflict with you working on your hobby. You need to make it a priority, especially if you have been under a lot of stress. You should have something that you value that is just for fun and entertainment in your life. Remember that if you start small and make your hobby a priority, you can make it part of your life again.
Think about your answer when you are asked about your hobbies. Do you stammer and find that you cannot come up with anything? Do you put down scrap booking although you have not touched a scrapbook page for six months? Then you need to rejuvenate your hobby! Use the new year as the perfect time to get it going again.
Spend some time this weekend evaluating where you stand in regard to your hobby. Get out any old stuff you have related to it or think about what you want to get from the hobby. Those old knitting guides may spark a new interest in you strong enough for you to go ahead and start a new project. More likely though you will spend some time thinking about your hobby and what you used to do with it.
Spend some of your time organizing your supplies. You do not need to get new containers or anything at this point. Instead you should just put everything together. Toss that old paint that is dried up. Get rid of the patterns that no longer fit your tastes. Stack everything together so that you can return to your hobby soon. Then you should get a notebook and pen. Make a list as you go of things you know you will need. For cross-stitching, you should check the threads needed for all of your open projects. Make sure that you have the right colors and put down on paper the ones that you do not have. Keeping a list will make your hobby organized, which will add to your enjoyment of it.
Next you should take a little reflection time. Why did you give up the hobby? Why did you not get farther? Maybe you never got started because you did not have the money but now you do. Perhaps you never knew quite where you begin. Some people picked the wrong hobby. Be prepared to admit if that is you. May be you thought you would enjoy making jar gifts, but it just was not for you. (In that case, toss or donate the supplies now. Do not let them clutter your house!) Some people also found that they just drifted away and are not sure why, though it most likely was a time commitment.
Next you should think about how to solve the problem that led you away from the hobby in the first place. If it was money, decide how much you could spend today on getting the hobby going again. Then decide if you could spend a little each month on it. How much would that be? A time crunch is probably the easiest to solve, though most of us will be most resistant here. If you stopped because of time, begin to carve some out.
Start small. Look at your weekly schedule. Perhaps this week you will be able to commit only to one-half hour on Tuesday evening. Write it down. Put it in pen. Make a date with yourself for that half hour. Then perhaps next week you will be able to find an hour to work on your hobby. The key is not to let anything come into conflict with you working on your hobby. You need to make it a priority, especially if you have been under a lot of stress. You should have something that you value that is just for fun and entertainment in your life. Remember that if you start small and make your hobby a priority, you can make it part of your life again.
Put Organizational Talent To Hobby Use
Some people are naturally organized while others find themselves struggling with the concept daily. For those people who are born organized, it often is difficult to understand people who are not. People with a talent for filing papers or for keeping their homes running smoothly may find that their hands are itching when they are in the presence of others who are not so organized.
If you are one of these types of naturally organized people, then you should consider turning it into a viable hobby. Make it something that you can do for others. While there are professional organizers out there, most of them charge fairly exorbitant fees, and few people can afford them. Plus, your friends and family may find it easier to explain their personality quirks to you than to a stranger.
So if you got the organizing gene, turn this talent into a hobby so that you can help others while you are taming the chaos of life. If you are like most very organized people, you will feel calmer when you are organizing, even if it is stuff that does not belong to you, because you will feel that you are doing something to make the world better. Great, you are probably thinking, but how do I get started?
The first step is to think about how you could help others in your life. Perhaps you have noticed that your best friend is always losing her car keys although the answer seems obvious to you. She has no set place to put the keys. Perhaps you have even suggested that she get a key rack, but she has not done so yet. Then she can be your first small project. Make or buy a key rack or bowl for her.
Doing something personalized may make it seem less like you are intruding and more like you car. Try painting something with the family name on it or making a cute decorative bowl that will match the pictures in her foyer. Before you head over, know where you think the key holder should go so that she does not have an excuse not to put it somewhere immediately. Once you get there, tell her that while you love her, it drives you nuts that her keys are always lost. If she is reluctant to try your system, then ask her to promise to try it for a week. She should put her keys down consciously when she enters the house. Chances are that after a week, she will recognize a sense of calm by knowing where her keys are every moment.
Although you may be worried that others will not take well to your butting in, chances are that they will not, especially if you give them ideas or bring them gifts without seeming as if you are telling them that they are failing at an area of their lives. Most people want to be more organized, even if they claim that they do not. They recognize the problems with their lack of organization and know the toll it takes, but they do not know where to begin.
In addition to helping friends and family, you can volunteer for areas where your organizational talents will be useful. Perhaps you are in PTO and have noticed that the annual Halloween carnival is an organizational nightmare. You have ideas on how the problem could be solved, so jump in. Make it known that you would love to help out and that you would even be in charge if needed. Be prepared with ideas, such as sending out letters to parents a week earlier, having the booths set up sooner, and corralling the kids for the costume contest. Giving good, solid advice is a great way to get others to trust your organizational instincts and to be willing to let you help them out.
The benefit for you is that you get to make yourself useful. You get to tame the chaos of whatever system you choose to donate your hobby time to, and that should make you feel much better and more valuable. Just remember that you should not be pushy if others resist; the ability to organize is a rare one.
If you are one of these types of naturally organized people, then you should consider turning it into a viable hobby. Make it something that you can do for others. While there are professional organizers out there, most of them charge fairly exorbitant fees, and few people can afford them. Plus, your friends and family may find it easier to explain their personality quirks to you than to a stranger.
So if you got the organizing gene, turn this talent into a hobby so that you can help others while you are taming the chaos of life. If you are like most very organized people, you will feel calmer when you are organizing, even if it is stuff that does not belong to you, because you will feel that you are doing something to make the world better. Great, you are probably thinking, but how do I get started?
The first step is to think about how you could help others in your life. Perhaps you have noticed that your best friend is always losing her car keys although the answer seems obvious to you. She has no set place to put the keys. Perhaps you have even suggested that she get a key rack, but she has not done so yet. Then she can be your first small project. Make or buy a key rack or bowl for her.
Doing something personalized may make it seem less like you are intruding and more like you car. Try painting something with the family name on it or making a cute decorative bowl that will match the pictures in her foyer. Before you head over, know where you think the key holder should go so that she does not have an excuse not to put it somewhere immediately. Once you get there, tell her that while you love her, it drives you nuts that her keys are always lost. If she is reluctant to try your system, then ask her to promise to try it for a week. She should put her keys down consciously when she enters the house. Chances are that after a week, she will recognize a sense of calm by knowing where her keys are every moment.
Although you may be worried that others will not take well to your butting in, chances are that they will not, especially if you give them ideas or bring them gifts without seeming as if you are telling them that they are failing at an area of their lives. Most people want to be more organized, even if they claim that they do not. They recognize the problems with their lack of organization and know the toll it takes, but they do not know where to begin.
In addition to helping friends and family, you can volunteer for areas where your organizational talents will be useful. Perhaps you are in PTO and have noticed that the annual Halloween carnival is an organizational nightmare. You have ideas on how the problem could be solved, so jump in. Make it known that you would love to help out and that you would even be in charge if needed. Be prepared with ideas, such as sending out letters to parents a week earlier, having the booths set up sooner, and corralling the kids for the costume contest. Giving good, solid advice is a great way to get others to trust your organizational instincts and to be willing to let you help them out.
The benefit for you is that you get to make yourself useful. You get to tame the chaos of whatever system you choose to donate your hobby time to, and that should make you feel much better and more valuable. Just remember that you should not be pushy if others resist; the ability to organize is a rare one.
Planning A Poker Tournament
Poker tournaments can be a great way to earn money, especially if you are part of an organization. If you are looking for a cool fundraiser and you are a poker player, then you should consider trying to put together a poker tournament. The first step you will need to take is to make sure that you are legally allowed to have poker tournaments. Since the game is gambling, you may not be able to do it everywhere. In other places, you can plan the tourney, but you will have to pay for a permit to do so. Check with your local business office to ask.
If you have the okay to begin, then it is time to start planning. First you will need to begin procuring enough poker tables and chairs. In most competitive play, you cannot have more than 8 people on one table. You will need to get together with your planning committee to decide how many people you will permit per table and to determine the rules. What will happen when one table ends, for example? Will you consolidate throughout the tourney, or will you wait until each table has only one player remaining.
Once you have begun getting the tables, chips, and other pieces you will need to host a good tournament, then you will have to work on getting people to your tournament. Your first step there will be to go to the people you know who play. Poker players tend to know others who play the game as well, especially if there are not a lot of players in your area. You should ask people if they would be interested. Know how much the entry fee is and how much the payout will be before you begin to play.
In most cases, the sponsoring group will try to come up with a guaranteed pot. For example, you may say that the pot is $500 for first place if you are in a fairly small area. The buy-in then could be set at $10 so that each person pays $10 to play for the chance to win $500. Obviously your group would not begin making any money until at least 50 people have joined, but that is part of the risk of the fundraiser. You would need to think about how many people you think you could get before you get started.
The key to getting people to your poker tournament is to do a great job of marketing your game. Think about places where people who play poker may spend their time. Ask if you can advertise in bars and other similar locations. You may be permitted to put flyers elsewhere, especially if others see your cause as a worthy one. Do not skip over general-interest areas, such as grocery stores, because you may be able to catch people who enjoy the game but do not play regularly.
Also try to get advertisements in the newspaper if you can. Some areas do not advertise gambling, so you need to make sure you will get the okay for the ad before you plan it. You also can raffle off free buy-ins at events to get others interested and have sign-up booths everywhere you can.
As the tournament approaches, begin to put together the pieces of the event. Get volunteers signed up and ready to go. Train your dealers. You need to have every dealer use the same techniques and know the rules well so that you do not have any problems during the tournament. If you are a poker nut, then this part will be exciting. Quiz the dealers to make sure that they know what to do in weird situations.
The night of the event will be filled with fun and excitement. Even people who may have been reluctant will be excited if you set the stage for an awesome tournament. Though you will not be able to play since you are one of the organizers, you should have fun wandering around and seeing everyone else play. Watching others and examining their playing styles is part of the fun of playing poker, and you will get a kick out of trying to figure the players out even if you are not at the table.
If you have the okay to begin, then it is time to start planning. First you will need to begin procuring enough poker tables and chairs. In most competitive play, you cannot have more than 8 people on one table. You will need to get together with your planning committee to decide how many people you will permit per table and to determine the rules. What will happen when one table ends, for example? Will you consolidate throughout the tourney, or will you wait until each table has only one player remaining.
Once you have begun getting the tables, chips, and other pieces you will need to host a good tournament, then you will have to work on getting people to your tournament. Your first step there will be to go to the people you know who play. Poker players tend to know others who play the game as well, especially if there are not a lot of players in your area. You should ask people if they would be interested. Know how much the entry fee is and how much the payout will be before you begin to play.
In most cases, the sponsoring group will try to come up with a guaranteed pot. For example, you may say that the pot is $500 for first place if you are in a fairly small area. The buy-in then could be set at $10 so that each person pays $10 to play for the chance to win $500. Obviously your group would not begin making any money until at least 50 people have joined, but that is part of the risk of the fundraiser. You would need to think about how many people you think you could get before you get started.
The key to getting people to your poker tournament is to do a great job of marketing your game. Think about places where people who play poker may spend their time. Ask if you can advertise in bars and other similar locations. You may be permitted to put flyers elsewhere, especially if others see your cause as a worthy one. Do not skip over general-interest areas, such as grocery stores, because you may be able to catch people who enjoy the game but do not play regularly.
Also try to get advertisements in the newspaper if you can. Some areas do not advertise gambling, so you need to make sure you will get the okay for the ad before you plan it. You also can raffle off free buy-ins at events to get others interested and have sign-up booths everywhere you can.
As the tournament approaches, begin to put together the pieces of the event. Get volunteers signed up and ready to go. Train your dealers. You need to have every dealer use the same techniques and know the rules well so that you do not have any problems during the tournament. If you are a poker nut, then this part will be exciting. Quiz the dealers to make sure that they know what to do in weird situations.
The night of the event will be filled with fun and excitement. Even people who may have been reluctant will be excited if you set the stage for an awesome tournament. Though you will not be able to play since you are one of the organizers, you should have fun wandering around and seeing everyone else play. Watching others and examining their playing styles is part of the fun of playing poker, and you will get a kick out of trying to figure the players out even if you are not at the table.
Creating Personalized Book Bags
Backpacks are becoming quite boring. You will notice if you check out any of the high school kids you know that most of them are sporting the same type of backpack. Whether it is the $20 Jansport or the $50 LL Bean, they are all the same. The most variation in them is that some students opt to have their initial embroidered in them. You can spice up your backpack (and maybe even sell a few to others) by using a little imagination.
To begin, you will need to gather basic crafting supplies. If you have a full chest of craft stuff, then you are in great shape to begin. You will need to get craft glue, needle and thread, some cool stencils, puff paint pens, or anything that you can use to adhere items to your book bag. Then you will need to pick up some cool items to put on the backpack. All you will do for the project is sit down and put everything on the backpack. Then let it dry for 24 hours, and you are ready to go.
Before you gobble up any supplies, you should know what you want to get. One easy option is to put your name on the backpack. It may not be the most creative, but it is a fun way to make it known that you are the owner of the awesome book bag, and it is a bit more original than the embroidery you will see elsewhere.
Another option, especially if you are into environmental causes, is to look at your backpack as a sort of garden or animal haven. You can purchase little creepy crawlies, cute craft bugs, and even little plastic fish and butterflies. Use these items to create a virtual garden or an animal habitat on your bag. If you are particularly talented artistically, then you can include little pictures. You can put a coral reef for the underwater animals or add some grass for the beetle to hide.
Patterned rhinestones or gems also are a great decorating idea. You will need to use good fabric glue if you are going to create a design. Be sure that you get a white sheet of paper and lay the design out on the paper before you transfer it to the backpack. Measure to make sure that you will have enough room for the design you have created and then transfer the gems piece by piece to the backpack using the fabric glue to adhere the pieces. For those of you who are into less structured ideas, you simply need to dot the book bag with fabric glue and then put the gems or beads wherever you see the glue. Do not worry with pattern; you are creating artistic chaos.
Pick something that defines you and make your book bag pay homage to that idea. If you are in band, then put little treble clefs and musical instruments. Cheerleaders can find plenty of decals to put on their bags. Use your book bag to represent who you are to others. Try any number of themes. You could go with religious themes if your religious beliefs are very integral to who you are. You also could use a color theme or a specific animal if you have something that you really love.
A final choice is to create an embroidery pattern of your own. Use a craft pencil or light pen to draw out a design on your book bag. Then you should use the needle and thread to create the design in your backpack. This design takes a bit more skill and a great deal more patience, but it is something that will make your book bag stand out from the crowd.
So remember that this year instead of just buying a basic canvas bag, you can make your book bag something that others will notice (and hopefully admire). You also can try these ideas with canvas tote bags or other types of bags. Then you can have bags that speak to your interests, and you can make different bags for various uses that you have. These bags are a cool way to start a new hobby and can even be used as gifts.
To begin, you will need to gather basic crafting supplies. If you have a full chest of craft stuff, then you are in great shape to begin. You will need to get craft glue, needle and thread, some cool stencils, puff paint pens, or anything that you can use to adhere items to your book bag. Then you will need to pick up some cool items to put on the backpack. All you will do for the project is sit down and put everything on the backpack. Then let it dry for 24 hours, and you are ready to go.
Before you gobble up any supplies, you should know what you want to get. One easy option is to put your name on the backpack. It may not be the most creative, but it is a fun way to make it known that you are the owner of the awesome book bag, and it is a bit more original than the embroidery you will see elsewhere.
Another option, especially if you are into environmental causes, is to look at your backpack as a sort of garden or animal haven. You can purchase little creepy crawlies, cute craft bugs, and even little plastic fish and butterflies. Use these items to create a virtual garden or an animal habitat on your bag. If you are particularly talented artistically, then you can include little pictures. You can put a coral reef for the underwater animals or add some grass for the beetle to hide.
Patterned rhinestones or gems also are a great decorating idea. You will need to use good fabric glue if you are going to create a design. Be sure that you get a white sheet of paper and lay the design out on the paper before you transfer it to the backpack. Measure to make sure that you will have enough room for the design you have created and then transfer the gems piece by piece to the backpack using the fabric glue to adhere the pieces. For those of you who are into less structured ideas, you simply need to dot the book bag with fabric glue and then put the gems or beads wherever you see the glue. Do not worry with pattern; you are creating artistic chaos.
Pick something that defines you and make your book bag pay homage to that idea. If you are in band, then put little treble clefs and musical instruments. Cheerleaders can find plenty of decals to put on their bags. Use your book bag to represent who you are to others. Try any number of themes. You could go with religious themes if your religious beliefs are very integral to who you are. You also could use a color theme or a specific animal if you have something that you really love.
A final choice is to create an embroidery pattern of your own. Use a craft pencil or light pen to draw out a design on your book bag. Then you should use the needle and thread to create the design in your backpack. This design takes a bit more skill and a great deal more patience, but it is something that will make your book bag stand out from the crowd.
So remember that this year instead of just buying a basic canvas bag, you can make your book bag something that others will notice (and hopefully admire). You also can try these ideas with canvas tote bags or other types of bags. Then you can have bags that speak to your interests, and you can make different bags for various uses that you have. These bags are a cool way to start a new hobby and can even be used as gifts.
Nurturing Your Child's Rock Collecting Hobby
Rock collecting is an age-old hobby for children. Part of the fun of rock collecting is that is it something children can learn to do anywhere. Another part of the reason that is has become so popular is that it is something you can do anywhere. Rock collecting, unless you are going for large rock gardens, does not require massive amounts of space to house.
If your child is going to get into rock collecting, you should take part in the fun. Do not be overbearing but use the chance to teach your child along the way. First your child will need to decide whether she wants to collect stones that have been gathered and smoothed by other collectors. You can purchase these stones in gift shops and science stores. They are inexpensive, so your child should be able to support her own hobby, and you can find everything from quartz to limestone pieces.
Children who opt to go the smoothed stone route have an easier time with the research part of rock collecting. The research is where the parents come in. Collecting the rocks is great, but your job is to try to teach something in the process. Get your child a book of gems and rocks or use the library or Internet. Help your child come up with an idea for a display, such as using shelving or shadow boxes. Then your child should identify each stone he purchased and learn a bit about it. Find out where the stone originates, how old it is, and some common uses. Make the information fun and let your child explore on his own.
Another way to collect rocks that is slower and dirtier but a bit more authentic in terms of rock collecting is to go it alone. Allow your child to look for rocks on family vacations. Chances are that you have areas nearby where you can allow your child to search for rocks that are located in these areas. You can look at geologic maps with your child to determine locations in your area that may be good for rock hunting. You also can check with local geologic associations. Allow your child to do as much of the research as possible because it can be a wonderful learning experience to speak to people who study rocks and other formations for a living. It may spark a desire in your child to learn more about geology.
When your child finds rocks outdoors, you can help with the process of identifying those rocks and then use the same research methods for smooth stone collecting to learn more about the rocks. Helping your child to do these projects, and even listening patiently when you are hearing about granite for the fourteenth time, will teach your child about how much fun it can be to learn about parts of our world.
Do not be overbearing in helping your child with her rock collecting. Offer your assistance when needed and provide any help your child may require. There is a line between showing your interest in a subject and taking it too far and pushing your child. If he or she shows any resistance or interest begins to wane, accept that your child may have other things going on or that he or she may want to explore a new topic. Be supportive of that decision as long as your child does not seem to jump from hobby to hobby quickly. Nurturing a love for a hobby and a devotion to a subject is a great way to teach your children valuable lifelong lessons.
Rock collecting is a slow hobby, however, and it may take some coaxing to get your child back into it if you have not collected or researched for a while. You may find that your child seems to have forgotten what made it interesting to begin with, and that is okay. You can work on collecting again together and then easing your child back into the hobby. Be sure that your child understands that others may not appreciate the hobby and that he or she can still enjoy it even if it is something that others may not find as exciting.
If your child is going to get into rock collecting, you should take part in the fun. Do not be overbearing but use the chance to teach your child along the way. First your child will need to decide whether she wants to collect stones that have been gathered and smoothed by other collectors. You can purchase these stones in gift shops and science stores. They are inexpensive, so your child should be able to support her own hobby, and you can find everything from quartz to limestone pieces.
Children who opt to go the smoothed stone route have an easier time with the research part of rock collecting. The research is where the parents come in. Collecting the rocks is great, but your job is to try to teach something in the process. Get your child a book of gems and rocks or use the library or Internet. Help your child come up with an idea for a display, such as using shelving or shadow boxes. Then your child should identify each stone he purchased and learn a bit about it. Find out where the stone originates, how old it is, and some common uses. Make the information fun and let your child explore on his own.
Another way to collect rocks that is slower and dirtier but a bit more authentic in terms of rock collecting is to go it alone. Allow your child to look for rocks on family vacations. Chances are that you have areas nearby where you can allow your child to search for rocks that are located in these areas. You can look at geologic maps with your child to determine locations in your area that may be good for rock hunting. You also can check with local geologic associations. Allow your child to do as much of the research as possible because it can be a wonderful learning experience to speak to people who study rocks and other formations for a living. It may spark a desire in your child to learn more about geology.
When your child finds rocks outdoors, you can help with the process of identifying those rocks and then use the same research methods for smooth stone collecting to learn more about the rocks. Helping your child to do these projects, and even listening patiently when you are hearing about granite for the fourteenth time, will teach your child about how much fun it can be to learn about parts of our world.
Do not be overbearing in helping your child with her rock collecting. Offer your assistance when needed and provide any help your child may require. There is a line between showing your interest in a subject and taking it too far and pushing your child. If he or she shows any resistance or interest begins to wane, accept that your child may have other things going on or that he or she may want to explore a new topic. Be supportive of that decision as long as your child does not seem to jump from hobby to hobby quickly. Nurturing a love for a hobby and a devotion to a subject is a great way to teach your children valuable lifelong lessons.
Rock collecting is a slow hobby, however, and it may take some coaxing to get your child back into it if you have not collected or researched for a while. You may find that your child seems to have forgotten what made it interesting to begin with, and that is okay. You can work on collecting again together and then easing your child back into the hobby. Be sure that your child understands that others may not appreciate the hobby and that he or she can still enjoy it even if it is something that others may not find as exciting.
Making Personalized Journals
Creating journals is a wonderful way to create personalized gifts for others and to have an outlet for your own creative needs. Journals can be boring and plain or they can speak to the person who will use them. If you are a journaler, then you probably have experimented with all types of journals in your life. I have had journals specific to pregnancy and other parts of my life as well as writing journals that begin each page with a quote to jumpstart the mind. Still I would love if someone created a personalized journal for me.
Doing so is not as hard as you may imagine. You will need a few basic supplies and then perhaps a few dollars for a print shop, but that is all. You should select something to use for the cover of the journal first. Cardstock is the easiest thing to use as it is so sturdy but still flexible. If you are really artistic, then you could create a cloth-bound journal. You still will need a piece of cardboard to use as the foundation of the cover. Basically you will want to have the entire journal comb-bound at a print shop and then attach the cloth cover around the cardboard.
Once you have decided on a cover, you should decorate it to fit the person who will receive the journal. A teenage girl who is very into being cool and trendy may get a journal with a boa cuff and cute sayings while a college student majoring in philosophy may get something with images of great philosophers on it. Take some time to think about this person and what he or she may write down. Use it as an inspiration for creating the journal cover.
Once you have the cover down, you will need to work on the inside pages. They should be slightly smaller than the cover but only by 1/8 of an inch or so. That is just so that they can be bound and not show on the outside of the journal. Once you have the page size determined, you need to decide whether you will use your own creative talents to make each page. You can use paint pens to create questions for the person to answer. Perhaps you ask the philosophy major to share her stance on absolutism versus relativism. The teenager may get a quote about fashion. While writing a jumping-off point is not necessary on every page, it is a nice way to add a bit of flair to the journal.
If you do not trust your hand to write out the questions or if you want to create lined paper, then you should get on your computer and work on it. You can create lined paper pretty easily in any word processing program, and you just print out the pages when you get ready to bind the journal.
Everything is ready now. You have the pages and the cover designed. You will head to the print shop and have the whole thing bound. But wait! You do not have to be done yet. Perhaps you are, but if you would like to add another dimension, you should make a quick stop by a craft store. Get gems or rhinestones, iron on pieces, stencils, or any other items. Then come home and attach them to various pages in the journal to make for an even more special appearance. Be careful not to put too many thick items, or the journal will not close. Still a smattering of small gems or even confetti pieces here and there will remind the journal recipient of you often.
These types of journals make great gifts for any friends you have who are writers. They also are a way to acknowledge that another person may be going through something rough. Giving a personal journal to a friend having surgery, for example, may give him an outlet for sharing his pain and frustration. It could help with these kinds of emotional issues without you even knowing it. Journal-making is a wonderful way to show someone else that you know she or he has valuable things to say and that you wish the person well in saying them.
Doing so is not as hard as you may imagine. You will need a few basic supplies and then perhaps a few dollars for a print shop, but that is all. You should select something to use for the cover of the journal first. Cardstock is the easiest thing to use as it is so sturdy but still flexible. If you are really artistic, then you could create a cloth-bound journal. You still will need a piece of cardboard to use as the foundation of the cover. Basically you will want to have the entire journal comb-bound at a print shop and then attach the cloth cover around the cardboard.
Once you have decided on a cover, you should decorate it to fit the person who will receive the journal. A teenage girl who is very into being cool and trendy may get a journal with a boa cuff and cute sayings while a college student majoring in philosophy may get something with images of great philosophers on it. Take some time to think about this person and what he or she may write down. Use it as an inspiration for creating the journal cover.
Once you have the cover down, you will need to work on the inside pages. They should be slightly smaller than the cover but only by 1/8 of an inch or so. That is just so that they can be bound and not show on the outside of the journal. Once you have the page size determined, you need to decide whether you will use your own creative talents to make each page. You can use paint pens to create questions for the person to answer. Perhaps you ask the philosophy major to share her stance on absolutism versus relativism. The teenager may get a quote about fashion. While writing a jumping-off point is not necessary on every page, it is a nice way to add a bit of flair to the journal.
If you do not trust your hand to write out the questions or if you want to create lined paper, then you should get on your computer and work on it. You can create lined paper pretty easily in any word processing program, and you just print out the pages when you get ready to bind the journal.
Everything is ready now. You have the pages and the cover designed. You will head to the print shop and have the whole thing bound. But wait! You do not have to be done yet. Perhaps you are, but if you would like to add another dimension, you should make a quick stop by a craft store. Get gems or rhinestones, iron on pieces, stencils, or any other items. Then come home and attach them to various pages in the journal to make for an even more special appearance. Be careful not to put too many thick items, or the journal will not close. Still a smattering of small gems or even confetti pieces here and there will remind the journal recipient of you often.
These types of journals make great gifts for any friends you have who are writers. They also are a way to acknowledge that another person may be going through something rough. Giving a personal journal to a friend having surgery, for example, may give him an outlet for sharing his pain and frustration. It could help with these kinds of emotional issues without you even knowing it. Journal-making is a wonderful way to show someone else that you know she or he has valuable things to say and that you wish the person well in saying them.
Making Hair Accessories
Hair accessories can add a great sense of style to your fashions. The problem is that finding good hair accessories can be tough and quite pricey if you like accessories to match each of your outfits. One way you can be in fashion and still have money leftover is to make your own fashionable accessories.
The first hair accessory you can make is a cool way to pull long hair up into a French twist. You should get a package of skewers, stirrers, or chopsticks. Basically you need something that will be thick enough to hold your hair and that will not break when you try to twist your hair up in it. We will use chopsticks for our example.
You will need to purchase some type of polymer clay. You can get the clay in the craft section of mass merchandisers or in craft stores. Begin by breaking off two even pieces of the clay and mold them into something interesting. You can try to make candy pieces, or you can mold them into letters if you are really talents. You also can just go with swizzles and make them pretty easily.
Once you have molded the pieces together, get out your chopsticks. Use them to poke a hole about a quarter-inch or so into the polymer clay. You need to use the chopsticks as the tool to make sure that you get the right size. Then you will bake the polymer clay. Once you have baked the pieces, you will need to let them cool for a while before you do anything with them. Then you will use craft or wood glue and glue the ends of the chopsticks into the holes you made in the clay. As soon as the glue dries, you are ready to use this new fashionable accessory in your hair.
The next idea is the simplest hair accessory you can make for yourself. You need absolutely no crafting ability to make this clip. You will need to purchase a pack of the little hair clips that open in the middle. You can find a set for $2 or so in the hair section at most stores. Then you will need to check out the craft section. Look for something that you think is cute. You are looking for a fairly small accessory piece. You may have luck finding them in the sewing section or in t-shirt section as many people decorate t-shirts with these pieces.
All you will need to do is use good quality craft glue and adhere the accessory you purchased to the clip. Allow it to dry for at least an hour and then put it in your hair. You can make matching pairs or just use one. These little clips make cute presents, and you can personalize them with ornaments that match the interests of the recipient or have name initials.
Another simple (and very cheap) way to create your own hair accessories is to use garbage twist ties. Ask your mom or use the ones from your latest box of garbage bags since few people actually use them to tie the garbage together. You will need to use a craft or scrapbook pen to color the twist tie. Once you have allowed the paint to dry, you can glue on gems or other stones from craft stores. Then pull your hair back and use the tie to hold it up. You will never worry if these hair ties get damaged or lost because they cost you only pennies to make.
These are just a few of the hair accessories you can make if you spend a little time in a craft store and use your imagination to put together pieces that really work. The best part about these hair accessories is that they are not something that will take you a lot of time or money to create. You can work on them for a few minutes and have them for a one-time occasion, or you can make them frequently. Experiment with these types of hair accessories as they will add to the ways you can put your hair up and help you to create awesome pieces for your hair.
The first hair accessory you can make is a cool way to pull long hair up into a French twist. You should get a package of skewers, stirrers, or chopsticks. Basically you need something that will be thick enough to hold your hair and that will not break when you try to twist your hair up in it. We will use chopsticks for our example.
You will need to purchase some type of polymer clay. You can get the clay in the craft section of mass merchandisers or in craft stores. Begin by breaking off two even pieces of the clay and mold them into something interesting. You can try to make candy pieces, or you can mold them into letters if you are really talents. You also can just go with swizzles and make them pretty easily.
Once you have molded the pieces together, get out your chopsticks. Use them to poke a hole about a quarter-inch or so into the polymer clay. You need to use the chopsticks as the tool to make sure that you get the right size. Then you will bake the polymer clay. Once you have baked the pieces, you will need to let them cool for a while before you do anything with them. Then you will use craft or wood glue and glue the ends of the chopsticks into the holes you made in the clay. As soon as the glue dries, you are ready to use this new fashionable accessory in your hair.
The next idea is the simplest hair accessory you can make for yourself. You need absolutely no crafting ability to make this clip. You will need to purchase a pack of the little hair clips that open in the middle. You can find a set for $2 or so in the hair section at most stores. Then you will need to check out the craft section. Look for something that you think is cute. You are looking for a fairly small accessory piece. You may have luck finding them in the sewing section or in t-shirt section as many people decorate t-shirts with these pieces.
All you will need to do is use good quality craft glue and adhere the accessory you purchased to the clip. Allow it to dry for at least an hour and then put it in your hair. You can make matching pairs or just use one. These little clips make cute presents, and you can personalize them with ornaments that match the interests of the recipient or have name initials.
Another simple (and very cheap) way to create your own hair accessories is to use garbage twist ties. Ask your mom or use the ones from your latest box of garbage bags since few people actually use them to tie the garbage together. You will need to use a craft or scrapbook pen to color the twist tie. Once you have allowed the paint to dry, you can glue on gems or other stones from craft stores. Then pull your hair back and use the tie to hold it up. You will never worry if these hair ties get damaged or lost because they cost you only pennies to make.
These are just a few of the hair accessories you can make if you spend a little time in a craft store and use your imagination to put together pieces that really work. The best part about these hair accessories is that they are not something that will take you a lot of time or money to create. You can work on them for a few minutes and have them for a one-time occasion, or you can make them frequently. Experiment with these types of hair accessories as they will add to the ways you can put your hair up and help you to create awesome pieces for your hair.
Learning and Having Fun with Beachcombing
Beachcombing can be a wonderful way to have fun while you are out at the beach this summer. Plus it makes for more fun than just lying around in the beach, and you can use it to teach your children about marine life if you would like. Beachcombing is the fine art of looking for certain types of shells or other items on the beach.
Before you head out to the beach, you will need to bring with you some basic necessities. None of them are very expensive, and you should be able to find them anywhere you can get summer gear. You will need a small pail, such as the ones that children use when they are digging in the sand along with a trowel and shovel. You can pick up a plastic shovel; in fact you may be able to find one that comes with a bucket. For the trowel, though, you should get one from a gardening department. Trowels are little like shovels, but they have three bent prongs on them; they will be great for digging things out of the sand when needed. You also should get a magnifying glass so that you can see any small organisms or shells up close.
You should begin by searching the shoreline for basic shells. It is best to do this when the tide is going out because the tide will be leaving behind some shells. Please note that shells used to house living beings. The single shells you see do not, but if you see a double shell that is still intact, chances are there is a marine animal living in it. Be kind and leave it alone. Take home only shells that you know are no longer being used.
Once you begin to move beyond the stuff you are collecting to take home, you should begin to dig around at the edge of the water for things that you will be leaving but want to see. Check around for small fish and other organisms. Though books do not fare well at the edge of the water, if you can find a sturdy book for beachcombing or representing the marine life of the area you are searching, then you may be able to identify everything you find.
If you do not have a book handy, be sure that you take a close look at the organism. Take a picture with your camera if you have it ready. Then later you can search for the organism in books until you find what you saw. Finding these creatures and learning about them can be lots of fun. You can find all sorts of neat little animals at the edge of the water, such as crabs that will run about looking for a place to hide.
If you think you will be bored with the basic shoreline beachcombing, then endeavor to go farther into the water. Bring a seining net with you but be careful that you are not around others when using it. A seining net is used specifically for getting very small marine animals in it. You will need at least two people (teens or adults) to use the net as it can get tough to move in the water. Each person will grab an end and pull the net through the water. Then you will keep going until you have a collection of organisms in the net. You can pull the net from the water and check to see what you have found. Using the seining technique, you will be able to find oysters, fish, and other things that you would not see in the shoreline.
Be careful when you are beachcombing in areas with jellyfish or other organisms that can be harmful. You just need to make sure that you steer clear of them if you see them. Know the area where you are swimming so that you will be aware of currents and drop offs, especially if there are children in your party. Also remember to be on the lookout always and do not get so caught up in your hobby that you are unsafe. Beachcombing is a great way to add a dimension of fun and education to your beach trip.
Before you head out to the beach, you will need to bring with you some basic necessities. None of them are very expensive, and you should be able to find them anywhere you can get summer gear. You will need a small pail, such as the ones that children use when they are digging in the sand along with a trowel and shovel. You can pick up a plastic shovel; in fact you may be able to find one that comes with a bucket. For the trowel, though, you should get one from a gardening department. Trowels are little like shovels, but they have three bent prongs on them; they will be great for digging things out of the sand when needed. You also should get a magnifying glass so that you can see any small organisms or shells up close.
You should begin by searching the shoreline for basic shells. It is best to do this when the tide is going out because the tide will be leaving behind some shells. Please note that shells used to house living beings. The single shells you see do not, but if you see a double shell that is still intact, chances are there is a marine animal living in it. Be kind and leave it alone. Take home only shells that you know are no longer being used.
Once you begin to move beyond the stuff you are collecting to take home, you should begin to dig around at the edge of the water for things that you will be leaving but want to see. Check around for small fish and other organisms. Though books do not fare well at the edge of the water, if you can find a sturdy book for beachcombing or representing the marine life of the area you are searching, then you may be able to identify everything you find.
If you do not have a book handy, be sure that you take a close look at the organism. Take a picture with your camera if you have it ready. Then later you can search for the organism in books until you find what you saw. Finding these creatures and learning about them can be lots of fun. You can find all sorts of neat little animals at the edge of the water, such as crabs that will run about looking for a place to hide.
If you think you will be bored with the basic shoreline beachcombing, then endeavor to go farther into the water. Bring a seining net with you but be careful that you are not around others when using it. A seining net is used specifically for getting very small marine animals in it. You will need at least two people (teens or adults) to use the net as it can get tough to move in the water. Each person will grab an end and pull the net through the water. Then you will keep going until you have a collection of organisms in the net. You can pull the net from the water and check to see what you have found. Using the seining technique, you will be able to find oysters, fish, and other things that you would not see in the shoreline.
Be careful when you are beachcombing in areas with jellyfish or other organisms that can be harmful. You just need to make sure that you steer clear of them if you see them. Know the area where you are swimming so that you will be aware of currents and drop offs, especially if there are children in your party. Also remember to be on the lookout always and do not get so caught up in your hobby that you are unsafe. Beachcombing is a great way to add a dimension of fun and education to your beach trip.
Joining A Library Association
You can put your love of books to good use by volunteering your time at the local library. Most libraries are in dire need of funding and are desperate for volunteers as well. Some communities have well oiled library volunteer groups, but most of them are always ready for some extra help. The next time you visit your library, you should ask if there is some way that you can help out through a Friends of the Library or similar group. Chances are you will leave with the information in hand.
If you want to join a library volunteer group, your first step should be just to go to the meetings. Head to one with an open mind. Take a pen and pencil along with you so that you can make notes. One of the biggest mistakes that new volunteers can make is not knowing who is who before participating in the meetings. Instead you should make notes as people go around, even if you are just writing that Judy is wearing the red sweater. You will want to be able to refer to people by name as often as possible, and you can help your memory by writing the notes.
You also want to note what events the group discusses having planned. Some groups may be organized and know their calendars for the next year while other groups have thought out their plans less. Still other groups will not know what to do and may seem to be in need of suggestion. Get a feel for the political climate of the group before you begin to make suggestions.
Your next job will be to see where you can help. Now in groups that are well put together, you probably can find a place to volunteer without any effort. They will have sign up sheets for the next event and may even allow you to join a committee for planning a certain event. You should be able to just hop on board and start giving over your talents.
In other groups, however, things will be less organized. You will need to make it known what you would like to do for the library. Explain that you have noticed that the library could use new computers. Ask if you could be in charge of finding new ones at good deals if they can get the money together. Perhaps you work in public relations; explain how you think the library can promote itself with a good campaign if the library does not have many patrons. If your Friends group does not have at least one book sale every year, then you should volunteer to head one up. These sales are the biggest annual fundraisers that most libraries have, and you would be doing a great service to the community if you helped put one together.
If the others in the group seem reluctant to take part in your changes, do not despair. Some groups will be filled with people who are accustomed to the status quo. I once attended a meeting with three people. When I suggested events, they explained that they do the same events every year. Now to me they obviously were not successful if they only had three people at a meeting, but to these people, they were doing just fine. If you encounter a similar group (and they are everywhere in community organizing), then you probably will find yourself getting very frustrated with them. Just take it slowly. The people in the group will need to get to know you before they trust you to plan anything, and you should respect this need.
Always remember that you are at the library meeting because you love books and that you want to help the library. Do not let your feelings for members of the group get in the way of the cause, which is promoting an active concern for literacy in the community. Continue to remind yourself that you love books and that you want to do something related to bringing that joy to others. This group is just one of the ways you can accomplish that goal. Now get out there! Your library association needs your help today.
If you want to join a library volunteer group, your first step should be just to go to the meetings. Head to one with an open mind. Take a pen and pencil along with you so that you can make notes. One of the biggest mistakes that new volunteers can make is not knowing who is who before participating in the meetings. Instead you should make notes as people go around, even if you are just writing that Judy is wearing the red sweater. You will want to be able to refer to people by name as often as possible, and you can help your memory by writing the notes.
You also want to note what events the group discusses having planned. Some groups may be organized and know their calendars for the next year while other groups have thought out their plans less. Still other groups will not know what to do and may seem to be in need of suggestion. Get a feel for the political climate of the group before you begin to make suggestions.
Your next job will be to see where you can help. Now in groups that are well put together, you probably can find a place to volunteer without any effort. They will have sign up sheets for the next event and may even allow you to join a committee for planning a certain event. You should be able to just hop on board and start giving over your talents.
In other groups, however, things will be less organized. You will need to make it known what you would like to do for the library. Explain that you have noticed that the library could use new computers. Ask if you could be in charge of finding new ones at good deals if they can get the money together. Perhaps you work in public relations; explain how you think the library can promote itself with a good campaign if the library does not have many patrons. If your Friends group does not have at least one book sale every year, then you should volunteer to head one up. These sales are the biggest annual fundraisers that most libraries have, and you would be doing a great service to the community if you helped put one together.
If the others in the group seem reluctant to take part in your changes, do not despair. Some groups will be filled with people who are accustomed to the status quo. I once attended a meeting with three people. When I suggested events, they explained that they do the same events every year. Now to me they obviously were not successful if they only had three people at a meeting, but to these people, they were doing just fine. If you encounter a similar group (and they are everywhere in community organizing), then you probably will find yourself getting very frustrated with them. Just take it slowly. The people in the group will need to get to know you before they trust you to plan anything, and you should respect this need.
Always remember that you are at the library meeting because you love books and that you want to help the library. Do not let your feelings for members of the group get in the way of the cause, which is promoting an active concern for literacy in the community. Continue to remind yourself that you love books and that you want to do something related to bringing that joy to others. This group is just one of the ways you can accomplish that goal. Now get out there! Your library association needs your help today.
Honor Among Dumpster Divers
Our family has a dumpster diver. My sister-in-law enjoys the fun of going to other neighborhoods, especially ones more affluent than her own, and getting free stuff. Now, the key is that the people do not know she is taking their stuff. Instead they put it out for the garbage company, and it disappears. Every time we visit my sister-in-law and her family, she has something else to show us that she found in the trash.
While we find it odd, I did not realize until recently that there are many people like my sister-in-law who consider dumpster diving a serious hobby. These people actually think about dumpster diving often and believe that there is an art to successful diving. My sister-in-law told us that she picked her car because of its usefulness for dumpster diving. It blends but has plenty of cargo room for the goodies she will be getting. I was appalled, but after doing some basic research on dumpster diving, I found that it can be a viable hobby and that there are even codes of ethics, so to speak, in dumpster diving.
First, dumpster divers, at least the serious ones, believe very strongly in obeying the laws. They will not violate dumpsters marked with no trespassing signs, and they always make sure that dumpster diving is legal in the places where they plan to go. Now, that may not seem like such a big deal, but there are few hobbies where people are encouraged to educate themselves about the laws before partaking. The main reason that dumpster divers do not want others participating in their hobby illegally is because it is embarrassing for many to get caught. Plus most people believe that should others violated posted signs and such, then dumpster diving could be off-limits for everyone with a public outcry.
Second, dumpster divers do not want to leave a mess behind. They simply swoop in and get what they want. If they see nothing, they move on. These divers do not stay around. They believe in quick entrances and exits. They also will pick up anything they put on the ground while dumpster diving so that they do not alert anyone to their presence. Plus, it is just generally good etiquette not to leave trash (literally in this case) behind when you leave.
If you want to try dumpster diving, my sister-in-law and others like her warn that you will have to abandon any inhibitions you may have. You should start by spending a few nights (or even weeks) going to places that you think may be good. Go into upper middle-class neighborhoods that do not seem to have too many rules. Otherwise, you may risk someone calling the cops. Scope out the trash left on the curb for a few nights. If you still live in a place with large dumpster areas, then do drive-bys every night for a week or so to see if you can eyeball anything good.
Then you should just do it. The reason that you want to scope first is that the fun of dumpster diving, I have been told, is in finding something awesome in the trash. Once you have a great find, you will be less worried about getting caught because you will be thrilled with your new acquisition. Spending your first night going through trash without finding anything will not be any fun. In fact, you may go home discouraged and even a little embarrassed. Instead make sure you are picking good spots so that you will be more likely to find something.
As long as you are certain that what you are doing is legal, then you should be okay. If anyone comes out and asks you to leave, then you should go. Do not try to argue with the person because you probably are still on private property (or close enough that someone with a big mouth could convince the cops to bust you anyway). Walk away when asked and avoid that house in the future.
Though I find the idea of dumpster diving appalling, it apparently is something that others enjoy. The idea of getting something cool for free is too much to pass up for people who are always thinking of the next great bargain.
While we find it odd, I did not realize until recently that there are many people like my sister-in-law who consider dumpster diving a serious hobby. These people actually think about dumpster diving often and believe that there is an art to successful diving. My sister-in-law told us that she picked her car because of its usefulness for dumpster diving. It blends but has plenty of cargo room for the goodies she will be getting. I was appalled, but after doing some basic research on dumpster diving, I found that it can be a viable hobby and that there are even codes of ethics, so to speak, in dumpster diving.
First, dumpster divers, at least the serious ones, believe very strongly in obeying the laws. They will not violate dumpsters marked with no trespassing signs, and they always make sure that dumpster diving is legal in the places where they plan to go. Now, that may not seem like such a big deal, but there are few hobbies where people are encouraged to educate themselves about the laws before partaking. The main reason that dumpster divers do not want others participating in their hobby illegally is because it is embarrassing for many to get caught. Plus most people believe that should others violated posted signs and such, then dumpster diving could be off-limits for everyone with a public outcry.
Second, dumpster divers do not want to leave a mess behind. They simply swoop in and get what they want. If they see nothing, they move on. These divers do not stay around. They believe in quick entrances and exits. They also will pick up anything they put on the ground while dumpster diving so that they do not alert anyone to their presence. Plus, it is just generally good etiquette not to leave trash (literally in this case) behind when you leave.
If you want to try dumpster diving, my sister-in-law and others like her warn that you will have to abandon any inhibitions you may have. You should start by spending a few nights (or even weeks) going to places that you think may be good. Go into upper middle-class neighborhoods that do not seem to have too many rules. Otherwise, you may risk someone calling the cops. Scope out the trash left on the curb for a few nights. If you still live in a place with large dumpster areas, then do drive-bys every night for a week or so to see if you can eyeball anything good.
Then you should just do it. The reason that you want to scope first is that the fun of dumpster diving, I have been told, is in finding something awesome in the trash. Once you have a great find, you will be less worried about getting caught because you will be thrilled with your new acquisition. Spending your first night going through trash without finding anything will not be any fun. In fact, you may go home discouraged and even a little embarrassed. Instead make sure you are picking good spots so that you will be more likely to find something.
As long as you are certain that what you are doing is legal, then you should be okay. If anyone comes out and asks you to leave, then you should go. Do not try to argue with the person because you probably are still on private property (or close enough that someone with a big mouth could convince the cops to bust you anyway). Walk away when asked and avoid that house in the future.
Though I find the idea of dumpster diving appalling, it apparently is something that others enjoy. The idea of getting something cool for free is too much to pass up for people who are always thinking of the next great bargain.
Hobby Camps
Back a few years ago, camps were still a place where kids went in the summers to burn off some energy. Of course, now that I am a parent, I know that some of the reason is to give our parents a break, too. Still kids were not expected to learn much at camp. If they picked up a lesson here and there, that was fine, but the purpose was to have fun and maybe make a few friends in the process. Camps today are completely different animals, however.
Most of the camps today are themed camps, which means that children go with the sole intent of learning or doing something related to a specific activity. Kids may go to a science camp where they study various aspects of science and do experiments all summer. They may go to baseball camp where they hone their ability to bunt and work on fielding. These camps are intended as ways to bring together children who share a common interest, but the hobby camps are controversial. Some people argue that these camps are a great way to allow children to focus their time and energy on a specific subject area while others believe that children should use summers for fun time and not extra learning.
When you are faced with the issue of hobby camp, I think it is most important to take your child into account. If you have the idea that you want your child to go to a hobby camp, then bring up the subject casually. Do not say that your child is going. Offer it as something that you saw and thought may interest your child. Watch for a reaction; most children do little to hide their emotions. You should be able to see whether or not it is something your child may enjoy. If not, drop it; pushing the subject will make your child resent it if you do go.
If your child brings up the camp issue, then it is a different question altogether. Let us assume that you have not made a definite decision on not permitting your children to attend these camps. In those cases, you will want to keep an open mind about the camp. Now, another complaint that parents have is that these places are expensive. They can run $1,000 or more just for a two-week stay. Because of the major expense involved, you need to make sure it is something that your child truly wants to do.
Begin by asking your child the pertinent questions. How much is the camp? What are the dates? When is the registration deadline? What will he or she need to purchase to go? (Some equipment may be required.) How will he or she get there? Are any other local kids going? If your child does not know the answers (and he probably does not), do not chastise. Simply say that she will need to look up the information before you can make a decision. You should help with the process so that your child does not get frustrated.
When you find out the answers, decide together if it is something that your family can do. You will need to check dates and other information to see about if your child can go. Have your child price equipment with you and look at a financial plan for getting there. Asking your child to contribute either through money or extra chores between now and camp time is a great way to teach your child responsibility for going on an extra trip such as this one.
If you do decide to let your child go to hobby camp, be sure that you are supportive the entire time. Do not try to make your child feel guilty later about the decision whether it is because of money or because the trip is inconvenient for the family in some other way. You want your child to embrace the experience and gain something valuable out of it. Otherwise you will have wasted a great opportunity.
When it is time to go to hobby camp, give your child your best smile and send him on his way. Children need to learn to enjoy themselves, and camp could be a great chance.
Most of the camps today are themed camps, which means that children go with the sole intent of learning or doing something related to a specific activity. Kids may go to a science camp where they study various aspects of science and do experiments all summer. They may go to baseball camp where they hone their ability to bunt and work on fielding. These camps are intended as ways to bring together children who share a common interest, but the hobby camps are controversial. Some people argue that these camps are a great way to allow children to focus their time and energy on a specific subject area while others believe that children should use summers for fun time and not extra learning.
When you are faced with the issue of hobby camp, I think it is most important to take your child into account. If you have the idea that you want your child to go to a hobby camp, then bring up the subject casually. Do not say that your child is going. Offer it as something that you saw and thought may interest your child. Watch for a reaction; most children do little to hide their emotions. You should be able to see whether or not it is something your child may enjoy. If not, drop it; pushing the subject will make your child resent it if you do go.
If your child brings up the camp issue, then it is a different question altogether. Let us assume that you have not made a definite decision on not permitting your children to attend these camps. In those cases, you will want to keep an open mind about the camp. Now, another complaint that parents have is that these places are expensive. They can run $1,000 or more just for a two-week stay. Because of the major expense involved, you need to make sure it is something that your child truly wants to do.
Begin by asking your child the pertinent questions. How much is the camp? What are the dates? When is the registration deadline? What will he or she need to purchase to go? (Some equipment may be required.) How will he or she get there? Are any other local kids going? If your child does not know the answers (and he probably does not), do not chastise. Simply say that she will need to look up the information before you can make a decision. You should help with the process so that your child does not get frustrated.
When you find out the answers, decide together if it is something that your family can do. You will need to check dates and other information to see about if your child can go. Have your child price equipment with you and look at a financial plan for getting there. Asking your child to contribute either through money or extra chores between now and camp time is a great way to teach your child responsibility for going on an extra trip such as this one.
If you do decide to let your child go to hobby camp, be sure that you are supportive the entire time. Do not try to make your child feel guilty later about the decision whether it is because of money or because the trip is inconvenient for the family in some other way. You want your child to embrace the experience and gain something valuable out of it. Otherwise you will have wasted a great opportunity.
When it is time to go to hobby camp, give your child your best smile and send him on his way. Children need to learn to enjoy themselves, and camp could be a great chance.
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