I dabbled in stain glass as well but I need a lot of practice to do good work. Fused glass is fun but you need access to a kiln and specialty glass.
I have made a few things with good outcomes. The whole process is so expensive. You can't buy the materials for what you can pay for for the product already made. I must have over 20 stained lamps. Some I made and some bought. I have 6 in this room alone!
For me it is the love of making something with your own hands that is so gratifying. Although I don't envy the pioneer women the incredible hard work they did, I do envy the wealth of skills they had and the things they were able to produce. Most were born out of necessity but they managed to create some wonderful works of art/craft while doing so.
I feel so under-hobbied! My free time is filled with DIY house projects and firewood c/s/s. I do just a little writing of short stories for my wife.
I need to make more time for hobbies. Unfortunately it's too easy to get caught up in the rat race and forget that it's important to unwind and do something enjoyable. I like tinkering with cars, especially odd things that aren't seen much anymore (such as my AMC Javelin). I have an extra class amateur radio license, but am not as active as I used to be. I dabble in home brewing and wine making. I enjoy fishing and just getting outside (I drive a desk 40+ hours a week, so I spend plenty of time indoors). The past few years home improvements have been my hobby, but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as that goes.
Fishing, I love chasing the fishes. Like a river rat, I get out, especially during the dog days of summer, and lose myself for hours and hours wade fishing a couple rivers and streams, and pond fishing. Istill have my trusty canoe and use it quite a bit. Restoring old Coleman lanterns in the garage is better than a valium. No museum pieces, it's the fettling and mechanics of bringing a 30 to 60 year old lantern back to dependable service that pleases me. My old Cherokee fits well with my camping and fishing, I do my own maintenance and installed my lift kit. Been improving the stereo in the wreck as doe permits. Have fooled with motorcycles on off since I was a teenager. Audio, I love music and a good sounding stereo, it's been on a back burner, my Bose 901's are at my twin brothers house, mostly because he doesn't have young children. I blow the harp with some guys every now and then, "Woodsheddin'" Used to sit in with some guys pretty regular before my young'un came along. Woodcuttin', I love being out of doors, do some hunting and plinking.
Hobbies in no particular order: Hunting deer and turkey Shooting Reloading Target Archery Beer Drinking Cooking Used to play quite a bit of guitar and piano Camping Firewood duties (its fun even though its work)
I have always enjoyed reading. Since I discovered chainsaw forums, I can now use my reading hobby to learn more about my chainsaw hobby.
I like reading about other peoples chainsaw addiction so I don't feel so out of control about my own....
In no particular order Bee Keeping Backyard chicken raising Wood working – mostly furniture Making lumber from trees (accumulating faster than I can use it for furntiture/flooring) Firewooding Chainsaws Archery – Hunting and targets Anything with a sharp edge – Knives, planes, chisels, chainsaw chain sharpening, broadheads, etc. Fly fishing – Fresh and salt water Fly tying – Did professional when I was younger, now just for funs Sea Kayaking Backpacking (in younger days) XC Skiing (in younger days) So... How many more Yuppy hobbies can I have? At least I've never done Stand-up-surfboarding or yoga. Please let me keep my man-card.
Looks like you'll fit in here just fine! Welcome to FHC Mike. Everyone here likes to see lots of pics of firewood stacks, trees fallin', saws cuttin', trucks haulin'... you get the idea... Course, without the pics... then the work never happened...
I love having chickens around. We have 15. And I want bees too but AuntJoe won't hear of it. Nice saw collection.