ladysprite: (Default)
ladysprite ([personal profile] ladysprite) wrote2010-11-16 02:33 pm
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Return Of Too Many Hobbies Girl

In the past, I've always noticed my response to the change of seasons in my cooking - summer is about salads and fresh fruits and vegetables, fall is about casseroles and stews, and winter is baking. But this year, more than that, I've noticed that as the weather changes, I throw myself into my crafting and hobbies more than anything else. And, paying attention to this, I realize it's a pattern that has existed for years. In the warmer weather I'm outside, walking and gardening and going places, but as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, I want to play with yarn and embroidery floss and words and paper.

And somehow, no matter how much I love the hobbies I already have, I always wind up picking up something new. Sometimes they stick and become new loves, like handspinning; sometimes, like beading, they just wind up not capturing my heart. This year, I think I've found a winner.

I had no idea that making soap was so easy and so much fun! Admittedly, I'm only dabbling with the baby-basic beginner end of the spectrum, with melt-and-pour projects, but it's still a blast, and I can imagine myself starting to fool around with more hands-on, from-scratch techniques as I experiment with it more.

I picked up a starter kit and a book from the library on a whim a couple of days ago, to keep myself entertained while home sick, and I think I'm already hooked. It feeds my addiction to girly bath stuff, as well as my love of cooking - the mixing and stirring and fussing with different ingredients and experimenting with recipes. And unlike crocheting and cross-stitch, where one project can take weeks to years, it's a source of nearly instant gratification.

I do not need another hobby, especially when I'm looking at starting cake decorating classes in January (anybody free on Tuesdays and want to come with me?), and waiting for notification on when the next run of local tango classes is. But this is just... so much easy fun! And with the holidays coming up, my mom is going to want a wish list. I'm really doing her a favor by picking this up as a craft.... right?

[identity profile] wcg.livejournal.com 2010-11-16 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
The best homemade soap I've ever used is the stuff [livejournal.com profile] melanie used to make and sell. I can ask her for her recipe, if you'd like to try it. I know it involves a lot of olive oil.

[identity profile] vettecat.livejournal.com 2010-11-16 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Where/when are you taking the cake class? I doubt I can do it, but I'm curious.

[identity profile] starcat-jewel.livejournal.com 2010-11-16 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a little surprised that beading didn't grab you; that instant-gratification factor is a large part of what I enjoy about it... which is why I do stringing instead of seed-bead work! OTOH, it does take a fair amount of not-cheap inventory hanging around in order to get that ability to sit down for an hour and have a pretty new necklace-and-earrings set. :-)

The soap-making does sound like a good match for you, though. Enjoy!

[identity profile] bess.livejournal.com 2010-11-16 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
You may never forgive me for giving you this information, but check out http://www.dabblersconcord.com/

[identity profile] serakit.livejournal.com 2010-11-16 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
How long does that cake class go, how much does it cost, and what time is it on Tuesdays?

[identity profile] felis-sidus.livejournal.com 2010-11-17 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Right!