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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

From where to get ideas for hobbies or other leisure activities?

What you do when you have nothing to do at your leisure?
(Even you are bored with your hobbies)

Better to look around for hobby ideas. Because hobbies help us spend our spare time in a better way and many hobbies provide us joy or satisfaction.
There are times when you really feel and say,"I’m bored"

Idea helper is a site where you can post your ideas, add or look for ideas about hobbies.

The topics catagories are: Birthday, Business, General, History, Lifestyle, Wedding and you can search for recipe ideas, making gift basket, wedding anniversary, money saving, presentation, marketing, kids activity and a lot more ideas.

* List of hobby ideas provides you a long list of hobby ideas, so when you are short in ideas or look around and can't decide which in hobby you should engage yourself, then this list can help you.

More idea pages:
- Student idea list

- Kids activity ideas
- Children's party craft ideas

- Welcome home ideas
If you have good ideas about any occasion, any topic and want to add to the site: add your idea

More links to get ideas:

- Find some creative and hobby ideas at "Creative world" site from "Camlin: Do it yourself

- "Hobby University" is for Hobby ideas, education, and other hobby-related information for all. You can find craft techniques, gift, skill, tips and tricks at the site.
Link: Hobby University

- At "HG TV": site Hobby Ideas for Kids

- At your finder tips provides ideas to hlep make children more creative.

- For a lot of hobby ideas and articles: Hobby only.net

- Hobbyist project ideas at Staedtler.co.uk

- Get ideas and tips, articles on hobbies: Hobby craft- hobby guide

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Making crafts from recycled material- An unusual hobby

May be some of you would not accept that "making crafts from recycled stuff" can be catagorised as a hobby. But I believe that it is a hobby. From the very early age, I learned from my mother to not waste anything. From left over things, even from food she made another meal. So this habit developed gradually to make use of trash or recycle many waste or no cost material and still now when I am a school teacher I teach my nursery class students to make crafts from the things, we discard usually. Like we through away the cylinderical paper from toilet paper or kitchen roll. I make many crafts from those rolls. You can make a pencil hoder, by just using wrapping paper and closing one end of it. Recycling your waste products can make your time fun and you can easily create crafts to give as a gift.

There are a lot of sites, which can suggest you to make crafts from trash or cheap material. Go to this post for some useful tips and links:

* Making crafts with recycled or trash!

Sites with recycling or craft links:

- This recycled life

- Tree Hugger
- EcoLocal's Recycling Champions site

- Cathue and Steve's recycled projects.

- Recycling craft ideas from "All Free Crafts"

Monday, April 28, 2008

Impact of internet on hobbyists and hobbies

Internet has changed our lives. We are busier with our computer than being with our family and friends. Our social life is limited to social networking sites. Average person, who normally spends 2 to 3 hours or more at internet, likes to be online, even to watch TV or reading newspaper.
Do hobbyists have the same story?

Yes, internet has an impact on people’s hobbies and hobbyist. To my opinion, you get useful information within seconds from internet and same way you can buy your hobby products with a click of your mouse.

"Pew Internet Project" collected stories about how the internet had an impact on people's hobbies. Here are some examples:

"Because of the internet, we've been able to turn a hobby of collecting antiques into a business of buying and selling antiques."
"I was searching for some information about my grandfather and his company in World War II, and Googled his name. A site came up that had a collection of letters and other papers that belonged to a famous Austrian composer. In that collection was PDF image of a letter that my grandfather had sent from Austria to this composer (who had apparently fled the country) on behalf of some friends that were still in Austria. I sent it to my grandfather, who doesn't even remember writing or sending it, and really had no idea who this composer was. But here was this piece of historical memory -- it was really amazing to find such a thing, and it sort of made my grandfather's stories about the war 'true' to see this evidence on the web."
"I discovered I could view art images of all kinds through museums and libraries around the world. I was just thrilled to be able to access this for my own education and enjoyment."
Online hobby research can inspire a person to travel, through activities like historical tourism, or inspire new experiences at home, like cooking or gardening. The internet can provide detailed information about even the most obscure hobby and can connect hobbyists of every stripe. Taxidermists can find just the right glass eye to complete a stuffed owl. Collectors can scour far-away troves to find that one quilt, stamp, comic book, or baseball card they desire.

The internet has also led to the creation of entirely new hobbies, as in the case of Geocaching – a hide-and-seek type of game using an interactive website and GPS technology.3 keeping a multimedia diary in the form of a blog is another uniquely online pursuit.4

Some facts and figures:

Since early 2002, there has been a significant jump in the overall hobbyist population online and an even more substantial increase in the daily number of online hobbyists. The online hobby population has grown from about 45% of all American adults in 2005 to 59% in February-March 2007 and the online hobby population on a typical day has increased from about 12% to 20% of all adults.

In that prior survey, 77% of internet users said they had used the internet to search for information about a hobby and 20% of internet users did so on a typical day.

Who uses the internet for hobbies?

Men, internet users under age 50, and those with home broadband connections are among the most likely groups to pursue their hobbies online.

Relatively young American adults are more likely than their elders to seek information about hobbies or interests online. Some 86% of internet users ages 18 to 29 and 88% of internet users ages 30 to 49 utilize the medium to pursue hobbies. By comparison, 77% of 50-to-64-year-old internet users, and 62% of online Americans ages 65 and older, report using the internet to pursue hobbies.

89% of respondents with a broadband connection at home report using the internet to find information about hobbies. However, it is important to note that eight-in-ten home dial-up users (78%) also go online for information about their hobbies -- further evidence of this activity's wide appeal.

On a typical day, one-third of online men, one-third of internet users in their 20s, and 38% of college-educated internet users pursue hobbies online.

Source link: Pew Research Center

Sunday, April 27, 2008

"Making robots and electronic gadgets"- For future engineers



Being an educator, although I have to deal with reception years classes, but personally I am fond of making stuff, either it is with blocks, machanics sets or other science projects. I remember my school going days, when my father gave me a "mechanics" set, alongwith screws, bolts, screwdriver and all the parts which can make car, plane, furniture and lot of models out of it. I was really addicted to my construction set, and for 2 or 3 years I played with it.
Still I have addiction of those construction kits, and now I buy those kits for my son who is 9 years old and fond of electronics and building kits.

I fould this site Hobby Engineering during my search for "hobbies" and found it quite interesting. It is for students and adults who have an interest in creating "stuff" using technology.

More about the site:
(In their own words)
Hobby Engineering alludes to the process of creating high tech inventions, toys and art while developing leading edge knowledge and skills and having fun!
Some of that "stuff" will be practical such as advancing in school or building a device to reduce human drudgery. Some of that "stuff" will be purely for entertainment such as a dancing robot. All of this "stuff" will require thought, creativity and initiative. And we do it all to challenge ourselves and have fun. And maybe improve our little corner of the world in the process.

Can you really built a robot?

It says:
"Absolutely!

Technology has advanced to such a point that it is practical for almost anyone to get involved in robotics. What you can accomplish is determined by your own maturity, initiative, interests and (unfortunately) budget. The fact that anyone can be involved does not mean it is easy. That is part of what makes this activity interesting. Technology enthusiasts are constantly challenged and often frustrated by the technology. Success requires developing a significant level of inquisitiveness and doggedness. Younger hobbyists in particular will require help managing the challenge. The key to success is picking an appropriate starting point and developing one new skill at a time. It is amazing what can be accomplished with the right attitude and personal motivation. We will do our best to help you succeed in your chosen activity
!"

The best thing I like about the "Hobby Engineering" is that they don't only sell the kits or products but they guide or offer tutorials for learners.
** Turorials page provides links to "basic electronics" tutorial and few projects.

If your child is interested in building kits then check this page: Gift Guide
You can select gifts from 8 years old to 12 and there are suggestions for college students, Engineers and adult hobbyists.

How this hobby helps us?

Site explains:

"building is an essential skill for everyone. It teaches us subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) lessons about the physical world that aren't taught in science class. Building also helps develop (or maintain) fine motor skills and logical thought processes. Building teaches important lessons about life such as how to do research and experimentation, how to manage complex tasks, how to deal with frustration and how to ask for help. It also helps teach important lessons about the value of labor and the process of producing goods: "no that great video game or MP3 player didn't magically appear on the store shelf overnight"


Things to keep in mind when buying their products:
"Hbooby Engineering" suggests:

- Nothing we sell works ... until the builder reads the instructions, thinks about a plan and does the work of building. In some ways giving our products is like giving away a job. If the receiver likes the job its a great opportunity, If they don't like the job its just ... well ... work. With younger kids this can be a great surprise gift that opens their mind to new opportunities. Older kids and adults are less responsive to surprise job assignments so you need to make sure that the potential builder has an appropriate level of interest and/or someone to provide encouragement and other needed help.


- While we have organized the gift guide by age, you also need to consider the builders existing skills, interests and character. A high school student who has never built anything might be better off starting with our one of our middle school products to develop basic tool and assembly skills. Some middle school kids would rather spend a year or two of frustration working on one of our most advanced kits than breezing through a more age appropriate product. A professional engineer who doesn't want to think about "serious" projects at the end of a long week might get a bang out of putting one of our kid projects together and then proudly put it on his or her desk as a conversation starter.


- Building activities need to be challenging or they become boring. Some families buy more and more of the same kind of building set until their kids stop using them and then think that the kids have "outgrown" building sets. More often they sit in the closet because the kids have become tired of building with the same old shapes. No matter how many boxes of bricks you buy they are still just bricks and can only be formed into certain shapes. Its a better idea to give the kids different kinds of building sets so they can explore different shapes and materials and even build using combinations of products.


*** Abotics provides FREE help in making low cost educational robots. Abraham L. Howell, the founder of Abe Howell's Robotics is dedicated to helping students learn through the direct interaction with autonomous mobile robots.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Where to buy hobby stuff?

You can simply go to any shopping mall site and type "hobby" or "hobby products" and you are sure to get some items there, but there are many hobby stores, which deals specially in hobby products. I have tried to compile this list for hobbiyst to find the hobby stuff easily. This list would be updated, as I personally check each and every link and then add it to my lists.

1- Internet Hobbies provides a wide range of hobby products at the lowest possible prices.

It started in 1995, as the oldest e-commerce business in the internet. They currently ship to over 25 different countries worldwide.
In 2006, Internet Hobbies served over 3.4 million online customers.

2- Always Hobbies
HOBBIES have been supplying modelmakers since 1895 and we pride ourselves on our worldwide reputation for quality and service. This upgraded website now offers our complete catalogue range, shopping online could not be easier.

3- Go Hobbies the place to shop to find new, "hard to find" and "discontinued" model train products. They deal in RC cars, planes, helicopters, boats and NASCAR related products. And their product offerings are more than 100,000 items.

"Go Hobbies" is from Southern California. And the site was started by selling left over model train stock from a hobby shop. Their name was Discount Trains Online.

4-Variety Access online hobby store for hobbies, sports, music, and hobby toys. You can find wide variety of hobbies at this hobby store.
- You can find and develop new hobbies at this site, as well as by providing information about various hobbies, explanations and examples and stories about how to do them, and all of the products necessary for you to get started.

Share your hobbies with others at "HobbySwap"

We also know that "swap" mean exchange. It is a good idea that we can also swap our hobby links and resources with other people having same interests. There are a lot of forums and message boards, where you can ask questions or share your hobbies. But "Hobbyswap" offers the specific place to share our hobbies with each other. And to learn or teach our knowledge about hobbies, we don't have to show our profile or e-mail at the site. You are not bound to be a friend of other members.

hobbyswap.org is a place to learn and teach. You swap here by exchanging lessons for FREE, and share your hobbies with other members.

Hobbyswap.org is a collection of public networks, like cities, towns, and schools, and private networks, like private groups and companies. Members can only connect with people who are within their network or networks. Members can also create their own private or public networks.

To find teachers or learn about your interest or hobby, first you have to add your own hobbies. Add hobbies that you want to learn, teach, or find activity partners for. Next, you have to add networks to be able to find teachers and swaps.

- Your e-mail is not shown at the site.
- You can add "Hobbyswap" to your Facebook Profile.
- This is not a social networking or dating site.

* Get start here

* sign up here

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Blogging as a hobby

Blogging is my hobby. A hobby is an activity which you love to do, and "blogging" is only hobby which I love the most. It has combined my reading and writing passion at one place.

My blogging journey started more than 2 years ago, when I started searching the web to read "blogs" on variety of topics and soon my interest developed towards creating blog. I really enjoyed the learning process during all those days (and still enjoy doing it)

A hobby is defined by dictionary.com as:

"a subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort;..."

"Blogging as a hobby means blogging which acts as "a favorite and ever-recurring theme of...effort"; it also acts to put forth the author's "favorite and ever-recurring theme[s] of discourse [and] thought." The authors of these weblogs update and maintain their weblogs because they are a favorite type of internet medium, and the focus of their blogs (such as keeping in touch with family and friends) tend to follow "ever-recurring themes."

Hobby blogs, then, are those that make up the majority of the weblog community, those that are updated and maintained only as necessary or as desired by the author. They usually receive few comments, because the readers have less to read and the content is often not intended or capable of provoking ongoing discussions
."

Read some posts about "blogging as a hobby":

Blogging As A Hobby

- Is Blogging a Job or a Hobby?

- A very interesting post about "Hobbies" at "Lorelle.wordpress.com"

A few lines from the original post:

"Hobbies are personal, but sometimes hobbies are professional. Some people turn their hobbies into multi-million dollar companies, and others turn their hobbies into their blogs. Either way, what you do in your “free” time is your choice and another part of the puzzle of who you are.

A hobby is a complex thing. For some it’s their work, for others, it’s what they do after work. My job is my passion and I love it, but I know that I have to take mental breaks away from what I do in order to clear my head and keep the energy flowing. So I use hobbies to keep my brain active learning and trying new things."


For the post:
Hobby Blogging and Blogging About Your Hobby

- A post at "Blog Herald": Blogging For Hobby Or Money

- Turning Blogging From Hobby to Career

- Going Pro as a Blogger - Turning Blogging From a Hobby to a Career

Monday, April 21, 2008

The role of hobbies in our lives

Are hobbies merely a child play ? or a pass time, which we ignore when we are busy with our business/career or other important chores?

Hobbies play an important role in our lives. Often we adopts a hobby to pass our spare time and get pleasure. When we are busy doing our favourite job or chore, it gives peace to our mind and relaxing our mind effects our health.

Hobbies are a way to keep us busy, in a condition of happiness and job. Because hobbies are the tasks, we do for self satisfaction. I am a blogger and enjoy doing it, so the task of sitting in front of computer for hours may be boring for someone else, gives me joy and satisfaction. Another factor is that when you are busy doing your favourite job (hobby), you can save yourself from depression and anxiety, which are the gifts of modern age. I have realized it that I am more energetic, creative and healthy when I keep myself busy with my favourite hobby/hobbies.

According to an article from Joseph Saling, from "Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University",

"Hobbies Help Your Health"

"Hobbies can engage you physically and mentally. People who have a hobby "are generally healthier," says Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.

"We also know they are at a lower risk for depression and dementia. The great value of hobbies is they're a way for people to stay engaged on multiple levels."

Most hobbies involve at least some level of mental activity, Dr. Lichtenberg says. Because we enjoy most things more when we share them, hobbies offer a reason to stay connected to other people with similar interests.

What kind of hobby is best? Hobbies that require expertise are more satisfying, Dr. Lichtenberg says. That's because developing an expertise in something like photography or astronomy requires commitment, and commitment results in a higher level of engagement. Of course, hobbies that involve physical fitness, such as walking, "provide a physical benefit as well," he says.

Psychologist Michael Brickey, Ph.D., is the author of the book Defy Aging and president of the Ageless Lifestyle Institute in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is on helping people stay physically and mentally active so they can enjoy their later years. Dr. Brickey says hobbies help by reducing stress and providing a sense of accomplishment.

"Hobbies can be thought of on three levels," Dr. Brickey says. "The first is as a diversion. Hobbies help us pass the time. The second is as a passion. When a hobby becomes a passion, we become truly engaged in doing something we love. It not only helps us pass time, it makes us unaware that time is passing. The third level is as something that creates a sense of purpose. We all need that." The ideal hobby, he says, combines all three levels.

"Hobbies can become so important, especially if they are a way to connect with others, that they become part of who we are," Dr. Brickey adds.

Needy causes
Janet Langlois directs Elder Craftsmen, a New York group that sponsors creative projects for seniors. In some of the most rewarding activities, she says, people build or make things and donate them to needy causes. For instance, participants in a quilting program donated their products to a homeless shelter.

"People get satisfaction on multiple levels," she says. They get satisfaction from being creative and making something. They get the satisfaction of being connected to other people involved in the project. Finally, they get the satisfaction of giving something back to the community.

Senior centers and community organizations often sponsor such programs, she says. If no such project exists where you live, contact a charity group, such as a shelter, and volunteer to help set one up.

"Most people don't have trouble finding a hobby they enjoy," Dr. Brickey says. Dr. Lichtenberg says that thinking about what you liked to do in your leisure time before you retired is one way to find a hobby. You just need to be aware of the changes in the body that happen with age, he adds.

"That doesn't mean you can't play tennis," he says, or take up something new. "You just need to be aware that your reaction time may have changed. If you listen to your doctor, take precautions and compensate for the changes, nothing's off limits."

If you're just starting a hobby, remember that it takes time to realize the benefits. "You don't start exercising one day and feel great the next," Dr. Brickey says. "The same is true of a hobby. If you work at it regularly, you become more engaged. Over time, you find yourself getting more and more involved. If you stay with it, and make an effort to meet others who do the same thing, you'll eventually develop a passion for it."

Get started now
If you're looking for a hobby, plenty of folks can help.

Community colleges and senior centers offer classes in activities that range from ballroom dancing to playing blues harmonica. Ask for a list and look for activities you think you'll enjoy. An introductory class on watercolor painting or gardening shows you how to get started. It's also a great way to meet others who are interested in the same hobby you are.

Here are a few suggestions:

Bird-watching. Bird-watchers get excited when they tell each other what they've seen, whether at their backyard feeders or on their vacations. Local groups often have outings to catch sight of rare birds during migration. Check the nature programs at your local parks for classes on birds.

Scrapbooking. This fun hobby results in a historical record of what's important to you and your family. Ask your local librarian to help you find articles about getting started. Sometimes, libraries and museums offer classes in how to preserve important memories.

Calligraphy. If you've always been proud of your handwriting, you might consider calligraphy, the art of exquisite lettering. Check to see if your local craft store offers classes.

Some more activities to consider:

Coin and stamp collecting

Genealogy

Photography

Gardening

Embroidery

Song writing

Sculpting

Ceramics

Writing poetry

Acting

Woodworking"

Source link: Stay well solution online.com

Related posts:

- Recreation, hobbies and leisures providing refreshment to life

- Benefits of hobbies and leisures

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

"Hobby University" -A site for hobby ideas and education for all

I would be reviewing sites and blogs which are hobby related, and where you can find useful information. Mostly I prefer to write about the sites, which provide FREE content.
Hobby University is for Hobby ideas, education, and other hobby-related information for men, women, and children. You can find the best web resources on many hobbies and crafts.

Hobbiies mentioned are "scrapbooking, stained glass, candle making, quilting, knitting/crochet, jewelry making, kid's hobbies, crafts, RC's, digital photography, model trains, geneology, robotics and electronics, origami and home brewing.

About scrapbooking site says:
Scrapbooking is an experience for the builder to preserve the past and tell the story so it can be relived in the future. Recently, scrapbooking has become very popular due to some of the new tools and techniques that enhance the presentation of your memories and ease the experience of constructing a scrapbook. Because of the love that is put into them, scrapbooks wind up becoming valuable family heirlooms.

Link to the page: Scrapbooking

Site link:
Hobby University

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