The Hobby Within A Hobby

The Hobby Within the Hobby

What do you do when your 14-year-old granddaughter texts and asks if you’ll go paint pottery with her?

You figure out when you’re both available, and you make reservations!

That’s exactly what happened to me this weekend.

Saturday found us at Pottery Bayou in the Village at Winona, a hidden gem right here in our community.

She chose a plate to paint, and I chose a set of stacking gnomes. We spent a wonderful afternoon together, visiting, painting, and enjoying each other’s company.

The studio fee is just $8 per person, plus the cost of whatever piece you select. All your painting supplies are included, and they’ll fire your finished masterpiece for you. Ours should be ready to pick up in a little over a week.

Cost: Minimal.

Time spent with my granddaughter: Priceless.

Now, speaking of creative hobbies…

Earlier this summer, I took up beading. I especially enjoy finding old, sometimes broken jewelry and giving it new life by turning it into something completely different.

What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t taking up ONE hobby.

Apparently, I was taking up THREE!

Hobby Number 1: Making Jewelry

This is where it all started. Beads, charms, old necklaces, broken earrings, and whatever else catches my eye. I love putting things together and seeing what happens.

Hobby Number 2: Hunting for Treasures

Once you start making jewelry, you discover that you need more beads. And findings. And old jewelry. And interesting little pieces that might someday become something fabulous.

Suddenly, you’re looking at things you never would have given a second glance.

And then comes the one nobody warns you about…

Hobby Number 3: Finding Places to Put It All!

I’m not kidding.

When you find yourself walking through the grocery store evaluating food containers for their bead-storage potential, you might have a problem.

When you’re browsing the fishing aisle looking at tackle boxes instead of fishing equipment, you’ve definitely developed another hobby.

And egg cartons? Well, you’ll never look at those quite the same way again!

I’ve discovered that organizing all these little treasures can be almost as entertaining as collecting them. Almost.

So now I have three hobbies, all disguised as one.

And I suspect I’m not alone!

Has this happened to you?

Have you taken up a hobby only to discover it came with a whole collection of other hobbies you never anticipated?

I’d love to hear what you enjoy doing in your spare time. And if you’ve discovered some clever storage solutions along the way, PLEASE share them!

Because apparently, I’m collecting those now, too.