Lobby for a Hobby

It's a new year and I am in search of a new hobby.  I keep throwing ideas around my head and nothing seems perfect.  In the past I have dabbled in quite a few activities: bicycling (did a 150-mile bike race over a 2-day weekend with my sis back in 1999), hiking (which I LOVED until my double knee surgery 'fix' started going downhill again), photography (which I still like to do but prefer the warmer weather as my favorite things to photograph are insects), took about a years worth of bellydance lessons as well but again the knees can't handle that bent knee position constantly, used to love painting and drawing but fell out of practice and now my drawing ability is about that of a middle school student.

So in the midst of seeing what others do, have purchased some yarn and needles and have yet to try to make a stitch.  Still need to go pick up a beginners crochet book or take a class at the community college.  Which I am considering more and more, now that my mom has mentioned she would like to start crocheting again but never was more proficient than just a few stitch styles.  But even with that in mind, which would be a great winter activity, I want to do something that has more immediate results and quite frankly more bling!  I want pretty colors, sparkles, beads - I know I should just get a Bedazzler! Seriously though!  There are a few of my flickr contacts (for anyone reading this who is unsure what flickr is, it is an online photosharing website ) who do felting as a hobby and actually for a living.  I think this is something I would like.  Imagine all the colors that felt comes in, it's like construction paper but better!  Bugs and Fishes is one of my favorites, she is just so crafty and cute. 

But with a lot of things I start, I go a little OCD on it.  If I start felting, I will need to create a desk area and get supplies and start drawing ideas and making lists :).  I will need bins or storage containers of some sort.  All of this so my friends and family can start receiving home-crafted ornaments affixed to their gifts, or a surprise "I just thought of you and made this" in the mail.  Finally the days of thinking that if I could buy that perfect gift for someone it would make their day, I want to be a little more creative and personal and hand someone a little something that is truly from me...my idea, my design, my time and my love all wrapped into a little homemade "thing". 

There it is, my idea!  Be ready everyone, I think I am gonna hit up Hobby Lobby this Saturday!