Spin off the Hobby Collectors Unite

[Becca Bonneville]

Reading through the hobby collectors thread made me think about how I want to try all of the hobbies but just can't seem to find the time to learn them (crochet, embroidery, etc.). I want to do all of the things!

Which made me think...If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be?

I think out of all of the things I would like to master woodworking! So many projects I see on Ana White that I would love to make for inside my house and outside. I even joined a beginner woodworking group on Facebook to try to learn more about it haha!

[SweetChar]

I wish I was an expert food canner. Or even a beginner one. lol
I bought a pressure canner (or whatever it's called) at the beginning of 2020. Along with several Ball canning books and various supplies. I'm scared, though. :crying: I think the canner is in it's box in the basement. I wish I had a neighbor who cans so I could watch the process in person. I did watch a bunch of YouTube videos when I bought the supplies. But the fear of contamination and such has left me not actually trying it.

[SweetChar]

And... I used to follow Ana White (was it YouTube?) years ago. 15 years ago? I wanted to do all that woodworking stuff, too! Never did, though. I don't have the tools. I've always, secretly, wanted a nail gun. :D

[Becca Bonneville]

I wish I was an expert food canner. Or even a beginner one. lol
I bought a pressure canner (or whatever it's called) at the beginning of 2020. Along with several Ball canning books and various supplies. I'm scared, though. :crying: I think the canner is in it's box in the basement. I wish I had a neighbor who cans so I could watch the process in person. I did watch a bunch of YouTube videos when I bought the supplies. But the fear of contamination and such has left me not actually trying it.

This is something I want to work on as well! My sister does a lot of canning and I keep saying I need to take my stuff up to her house so she can help me with it. I did refrigerator stuff with my garden last season but I really want to do shelf stable, long canning with it all. I can only eat so many jars of jalapenos at a time haha. Stocking the pantry would be so awesome!

[Becca Bonneville]

And... I used to follow Ana White (was it YouTube?) years ago. 15 years ago? I wanted to do all that woodworking stuff, too! Never did, though. I don't have the tools. I've always, secretly, wanted a nail gun. :D

haha! Yes! A nail gun would be awesome! haha My husband has a circular saw but we would really need to add more tools to do a lot of the projects. I would love to be more self-sufficient and, honestly, make better quality things than things that are in the stores these days.

[KristinCB]

And... I used to follow Ana White (was it YouTube?) years ago. 15 years ago? I wanted to do all that woodworking stuff, too! Never did, though. I don't have the tools. I've always, secretly, wanted a nail gun. :D

my husband made 2 headboards from those plans!!

[Becca Bonneville]

my husband made 2 headboards from those plans!!

I so want to make my own!!! That is so awesome that your husband did two of them!

[SweetChar]

I think Ana had/has plans for kids' raised bed. Well, twin size mattress. I don't recall now if the bottom had drawers or it was open below. I wanted to make it, whatever it was. Hmmm. Was that for my older boys at the time? Can't recall. If it was, I wound up buying boring, metal loft beds for them. lol

[KristinCB]

funny you mention that because I totally forget that my husband also made a loft bed from her plans (wow my memory is bad.. LOL!)

https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/camp-loft-bed-stair-junior-height

[allyanne]

I wish I was an expert food canner. Or even a beginner one. lol
I bought a pressure canner (or whatever it's called) at the beginning of 2020. Along with several Ball canning books and various supplies. I'm scared, though. :crying: I think the canner is in it's box in the basement. I wish I had a neighbor who cans so I could watch the process in person. I did watch a bunch of YouTube videos when I bought the supplies. But the fear of contamination and such has left me not actually trying it.

Same here! I have the pressure canner that I’m too scared to use, too! We need to do a canning workshop or something! I have a cousin who has promised to walk me through it , but so far the canner is in the basement

[Becca Bonneville]

That loft bed is super awesome KCB!

That is how it is here Char, I am like I want to make this thing and then buy something not as awesome haha!

Yes, a canning workshop would be awesome! My sister does both pressure and water bath. I am like Char, in worried about the head space, it sealing right and not contaminating things.

[SweetChar]

Same here! I have the pressure canner that I’m too scared to use, too! We need to do a canning workshop or something! I have a cousin who has promised to walk me through it , but so far the canner is in the basement

What?! I was thinking of you when I was typing about my canning dreams. :D I thought for sure that you canned things. Do you do the refrigerated things? Aren't their some things (pickles?) that people do that don't actually get heat canned? Look at me and my lack of knowledge along with my bad memory.

[Tracie Stroud]

My husband has made so many things from Ana White plans and some others he's found! he's gotten pretty good. He made a massive shelf for our homeschool materials, a pull-out extra pantry that fits between our fridge and cabinets, a king-size headboard and bed frame for us, bunk beds for the boys, a loft bed for our daughter, and a beautiful farmhouse-style long table. He's slowed down a little the last couple of years since wood has gotten so expensive but he's still got a list of several projects he plans to work on.

[MamaBee]

I wish I could just do sourdough... and do brush writing.... maybe I should wish for patiences... hahaha

[allyanne]

What?! I was thinking of you when I was typing about my canning dreams. :D I thought for sure that you canned things. Do you do the refrigerated things? Aren't their some things (pickles?) that people do that don't actually get heat canned? Look at me and my lack of knowledge along with my bad memory.

I can water bath can and make refrigerator pickles and freezer jam! But I really want to can my own broth and maybe do some other things too. I'm mostly worried about the canner blowing up! And you know, botulism.

[Kiana]

Hmmm...a skill I could learn instantly....

is how to make a million so I can retire a skill????

[Becca Bonneville]

Tracie that is amazing! I have seen some tables I would love, too! Materials are expensive but I love it all so much!

Rebecca yes! Sourdough! I see so many yummy, pretty loaves and want to do it so bad but I suck at trying to keep my starter alive haha. I should try it again.

Kiana that would be a pretty amazing skill haha! I would totally do that!

[lovely1m]

I wish I could instantly play a musical instrument.

[KingsQueen82]

Does learning a language count? I speak English (obviously) and Spanish fluently, and just a teeny bit of French but I am fascinated by languages. I just never can seem to commit enough time or attention these days to continue learning and improving!

[Becca Bonneville]

Mari a musical instrument would be fab! I used to play piano but it has been eons since I have played.

Cassie YES that totally counts! I would love to be able to speak different languages like that!

[cherrygutz]

Playing the piano. It's my dream to play the piano and master it. The lovely music it plays are just a melody to my heart.

[knittingbec]

Canning is a good one!
I'd love to be a better gardener, but I don't know if my problem is skill or just losing interest in between when the seeds start to sprout and the veggies grow, LOL.

We got a pontoon boat last year and I would like to instantly be an expert at driving it without any pointers from my husband, hahahaha
(I do have a friend who has been boating since she was 12 lined up to give me some tutorials this spring/summer!!)

[Becca Bonneville]

Cherry I love the piano, too! That is a wonderful dream!

Rebecca totally understand about the gardening! It is a lot of work and waiting haha. I do love the payoff, though.

Laughing at driving w/o your husband's pointers hehe. Totally understand that one, too. Yay for having upcoming lessons! A pontoon is so fun!

[angiekey]

My father and brother are the woodworkers in our family, and I've helped them with projects - sort of the woodworking equivalent of a soux chef - but I'd love to be confident enough to attempt some larger projects around my house.

My Mom did canning for years and years when I was little ... Allie, I'm still laughing over your "botulism" comment! :D

And I would LOVE to learn to play the piano. I have a piano-weighted keyboard in my bedroom, but it's currently being used to hold folded laundry <cringe>.

The past couple years, I've been focused on increasing my skill at sewing challenging types of garments. I've tackled blue jeans and swimsuits and at the end of the year, I did an instensive 8-week online course in custom bra-making and fitting. So I'm now sewing bras and panties, and I get better with each set I make.

This year, I invested in a 1st level course on couture pattern-making and sewing that focuses on skirts. It's all about starting from a person's individual body, rather than a pattern, and drafting their custom block and then creating custom clothing patterns for it. I'm hoping to save up to take the 2nd level course on pants in October.

And honestly, though it might be nice to instantly know everything and have that skill, I am really enjoying the learning process and the discovery moments of "aha!" as I go step-by-step. :)

[KristinCB]

And honestly, though it might be nice to instantly know everything and have that skill, I am really enjoying the learning process and the discovery moments of "aha!" as I go step-by-step. :)

THIS is the skill I wish i had/could learn. I give up easy and have little patience and I am the type of person who wants to go from beginning to knowing in the same day.. It really is a great character trait to be willing to sit in the middle to to speak.

[angiekey]

THIS is the skill I wish i had/could learn. I give up easy and have little patience and I am the type of person who wants to go from beginning to knowing in the same day.. It really is a great character trait to be willing to sit in the middle to to speak.

That's incredibly kind of you to say, Kristin! But definitely don't get me wrong - I get crazy frustrated and have to walk away from the class work for a day or two before I can come back to it with a clear head - I just figure that's part of the process, too. :)

[karlimarie]

I think out of all of the things I would like to master wood working! So many projects I see on Ana White that I would love to make for inside my house and outside. I even joined a beginner wood working group on Facebook to try to learn more about it haha!

Woodworking was one of my pandemic hobbies! I did a couple larger projects like a mud kitchen for my boys, but I really enjoyed making wooden toys- especially painting peg dolls and carving animals. It is such a satisfying hobby. I gave up a lot of hobbies over the years, but this is one I wish I’d kept up with, especially because of the investments I made into equipment and supplies. I didn’t really have a reason to give it up, my brain just decided one day that I’d gotten what I needed from it and walked away.

https://i.ibb.co/VM060cQ/Untitled-design.jpg

[karlimarie]

Reading through the hobby collectors thread made me think about how I want to try all of the hobbies but just can't seem to find the time to learn them (crochet, embroidery, etc.). I want to do all of the things!

Which made me think...If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be?

This is sooooo hard! My first thought was being able to master drawing. It’s something I’ve slowly been working on for many years but I’m totally inconsistent so it’s taken my ages to make any real progress.

My second thought would be to play guitar or piano. I have picked both of the them up over the years but it requires so much consistency that I’ve continued to fall short.

Writing might be a third choice. But I think most of my joy comes from the learning, not necessarily the mastery so I’m not sure that I’d actually be happy with my skill if it did magically materialize!

[Brendazzle]

I'd love to instantly be good at camping/setting up the campsite. My husband does pretty much everything while I photograph but I want to be more helpful. (I do prep the campfire meals at home, run through the packing checklist, unpack and put everything away when we get home... I'm useful but want to be more competent.)

I'd also love to be able to do deep space astrophotography with my 500mm lens. It took me a little while to feel confident in my Milky Way photos (with a 14mm lens) and those are a much bigger target than far-away nebulae.

[Robin Carlton]

I was really struggling to answer this question... I really like Cassie's instantly be able to speak more languages idea though. That's an awesome one and a skill that while I'd LOOOVE to have (to make travel more comfy and immersive mostly), it's one I know I don't have the patience, or memory at this point, to actually accomplish on my own.

I also wish I could pick a handwriting and have my handwriting magically transform into that.

[jaye]

THIS is the skill I wish i had/could learn. I give up easy and have little patience and I am the type of person who wants to go from beginning to knowing in the same day.. It really is a great character trait to be willing to sit in the middle to to speak.

That is my problem as well! I want to do it and do it well now. Due to that, I just don't try as I have already defeated myself before beginning.

[LynnZant]

I'm with Mari. I wanted to play electric guitar since I was around nine, but I can't even read music.

[TraceyM]

I bought a class in acrylic painting back on Black Friday. This year I've had a huge urge to make bright crazy paintings. There are a lot of artists in my family but I have my very own vision that I'd love to do. I guess I should look at said class so I can at least get the supplies needed!

[TraceyM]

That is my problem as well! I want to do it and do it well now. Due to that, I just don't try as I have already defeated myself before beginning.

I always want to go from A to Z and miss all the middle letters. Patience is not always my virtue.

[TraceyM]

Angie, I think your sewing is so cool. So many took up knitting a crocheting and there are only so many sweaters and throws a person needs. My daughter has been teaching herself more and more about sewing as she sews many of her own cosplay outfits.


My father and brother are the woodworkers in our family, and I've helped them with projects - sort of the woodworking equivalent of a soux chef - but I'd love to be confident enough to attempt some larger projects around my house.

My Mom did canning for years and years when I was little ... Allie, I'm still laughing over your "botulism" comment! :D

And I would LOVE to learn to play the piano. I have a piano-weighted keyboard in my bedroom, but it's currently being used to hold folded laundry <cringe>.

The past couple years, I've been focused on increasing my skill at sewing challenging types of garments. I've tackled blue jeans and swimsuits and at the end of the year, I did an instensive 8-week online course in custom bra-making and fitting. So I'm now sewing bras and panties, and I get better with each set I make.

This year, I invested in a 1st level course on couture pattern-making and sewing that focuses on skirts. It's all about starting from a person's individual body, rather than a pattern, and drafting their custom block and then creating custom clothing patterns for it. I'm hoping to save up to take the 2nd level course on pants in October.

And honestly, though it might be nice to instantly know everything and have that skill, I am really enjoying the learning process and the discovery moments of "aha!" as I go step-by-step. :)

[TraceyM]

We got a pontoon boat last year and I would like to instantly be an expert at driving it without any pointers from my husband, hahahaha
(I do have a friend who has been boating since she was 12 lined up to give me some tutorials this spring/summer!!)

I think I'm the only designer who ever drew a pontoon boat for a kit. LOL. They are a fun way to laze away a summer afternoon.

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

Just one thing? Oooh, I'd have to go with oil painting. I'd love to have canvas after canvas of flowers (roses) around my home until every blank spot is filled (hubby says he's going to start mounting things to the ceiling, so I don't know that I would get his support on that.

I just watched a few woodworking videos over the weekend, and I am so impressed by what you can create these days. If I didn't have physical limitations, I think I'd enjoy woodworking. Hey, now that I'm thinking about it, I could love to do wood carvings! Yes!

[LJSDesigns]

I want to do it all and be good at it right now. Really, the list of things I wish I could master in a blink of an eye is massive.

I think number one would be painting. I try, but I can never get beyond what I think it should look like to what it actually looks like and just keep doing things over and over.

So maybe that should be my answer; making the things I do look like they do in my head. In which case, I probably just need to be like Samatha on Bewitched and wiggle my nose to make anything and everything the way I want it.

Final answer, I need to instantly master witchcraft. The rest will take care of itself after that. :)

[Becca Bonneville]

Love all the different things everyone would love to do/learn. I think this just made me add more things to my want to learn list haha. I am like you, Lorie, with wanting to do it all and do it right now haha.

Angie love how you have embraced sewing and pushing yourself to keep learning more with it. You are amazing! I also agree on the learning process. It is nice to do. With my garden, I love it. With other things I need to learn more patience for sure.

Karli-Marie that is so freakin' awesome that you took up woodworking! Making wooden toys sounds so fun! I totally understand about reaching that done point. Hopefully, you will be inspired to pick it back up again! I think both piano and guitar are wonderful to learn.

Brendazzle: haha I know what you mean about being able to do more on your own vs. needing the husband to do it. I LOVE astrophotography! I have always thought that would be fun to do but never tried it. I love seeing the photographs others do!

Robin haha it is a hard question! I am in the same boat with learning languages. My memory is so bad. I can do so well with it but step away from Duolingo a bit and go back and don't remember what I learned fully haha. The handwriting would be so cool! I love all the different styles of hand lettering and would love to do that!

Tracey that sounds fun! I love colorful paintings! You should totally look at that class!

Cheryl I love florals! It would be amazing to paint flowers and put them everywhere! I think wood carving would be super cool!

Lorie the amount of times I wish I could wiggle my nose and poof things into existence haha. I 100% feel you there!

[Brendazzle]

I LOVE astrophotography! I have always thought that would be fun to do but never tried it. I love seeing the photographs others do!

We don't have a lot of dark skies here so I don't get to do it nearly as often as I would like. That's part of why I want to be better at camping ;) If you ever get a chance to, the galactic core rises just after sunset in the fall so you don't need to be up ridiculously early.

[angiekey]

Angie, I think your sewing is so cool. So many took up knitting a crocheting and there are only so many sweaters and throws a person needs. My daughter has been teaching herself more and more about sewing as she sews many of her own cosplay outfits.

Please tell your daughter I'm sending her a standing ovation! Picking up a new skill or learning a new technique with every project you sew is absolutely the best path to mastery. I'd love to see some of her finished cosplay outfits if you have photos!

I'm looking forward to the day I get to sew a more detailed costume - like, I'd love to sew a reproduction of a princess dress like the one from the live-action Cinderella movie, or make one of the dresses from the musical Hamilton. My daughter-in-law is a high school theatre teacher, and we've talked about it, so maybe for a future production ... or when my granddaughters get just a little bit older.

Or, I'd also love to make a really formal dress - either for myself, if my husband and I ever resume attending in-person Toastmasters conferences (I kind of miss the formal dinner/galas) or for one of my nieces as they're in their early high school years, so it may be around the corner. The problem is not just the investment of my time, but also the expense of the materials.

When I was a kid, you sewed your kids clothing because it was less expensive than buying ready-made from the store. We now live in a world of Fast Fashion where the quality of the material and the workmanship is crap, and garments are designed to fall apart after so many wears so that you have to keep buying new stuff ... so when they can get a crappy, cheap dress online for less than $100 and it could easily cost double that just to buy material ... well, I heard somebody put it best as "Sewing is not a budget hobby."

Sorry, talk about going off on a tangent ... LOL!

[angiekey]

Final answer, I need to instantly master witchcraft. The rest will take care of itself after that. :)

https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWlrM25qanM4M25ydnVjczBhanBxbnp 2bThvbGt1ejVncjRpdHU4aCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/EmGrTEv8T2JoRVKFnv/giphy.gif

Lorie, if you figure out how to do that, let me know - I'm still waiting for my Hogwarts letter!

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMWlrM250anpmYTI0ZXRhdzM1bnFkbHd 2bXR0OWM3MnNxcWV2cnRjOCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/L3UKTy1BxE5Hi/giphy.gif

[angiekey]

If I didn't have physical limitations, I think I'd enjoy woodworking. Hey, now that I'm thinking about it, I could love to do wood carvings! Yes!

Cheryl, I think you should get a wooden lathe and learn to turn pens, bowls, bottle stoppers, key rings, and all sorts of cool little things. It's easier on you physically than whittling, and with your eye for design, I bet you'd make AMAZING things!

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

Cheryl, I think you should get a wooden lathe and learn to turn pens, bowls, bottle stoppers, key rings, and all sorts of cool little things. It's easier on you physically than whittling, and with your eye for design, I bet you'd make AMAZING things!

Olivia's SO has made me a couple of things using her lathe. I think I'll get her to let me try it out before investing. I am fascinated by it! Thanks for the suggestion! :wub:

[AmieN1]

I would love woodworking too- but with the epoxy type of woodworking- tables, cutting boards etc. I follow this company in Canada that makes the most beautiful furniture but they are SOOOOO expensive! I'd love to make our own! ;)
https://blackforestwood.com/apps/gallery/album/dining-tables

[SeattleSheri]

There are lots of things I could say, but the first thing that came to my mind before even reading the other posts, was that I'd love to be able to build structures within my house ... built-in cabinets, etc. In theory, I know I'm capable of doing it, but I don't have the stamina to do the prep required! If we're talking purely creative, I wish I was better at drawing. I have ideas, but lack the skill to execute them (which is why I adore digital scrapbooking because I can leverage all of the beautiful creations of designers).