Has anyone taken up something new?

I used to be an avid gardener but since breaking my leg and having a plate inserted I can no longer do as much and started to extend my hobby of card making and now am well and truly addicted! I am gradually acquiring a large selection of dies having treated myself to a Grand Caibar machine and often make cards for Family and friends to give for special occasions.
I would love to exchange ideas etc with any other paper crafters out there.

If there are long enough waiting lists for the U3A groups you want to join it may well be possible to set up a second group, for example there are in 5 book groups in my area because people got tired of waiting and took on the leadership themselves.

I have just started a "things to do when I retire" list for May when I finish work. I am collecting details of lots of different things to do crafting wise. I have some really good ideas from my magazine Essentials and also from the Hobbycraft website. I need inspiration to encourage me to make things but am always pleased when I produce anything homemade and unique. One of my ideas is to do a memory frame for my daughters containing their wristbands from their birth, their first pair of shoes, a favourite book from their childhood, etc. etc. The trouble is it is growing so fast it may have to be a memory box!

I've just discovered a great way of dipping into new crafts. Try going on
You Tube/the craftchannel. Lots of professional short videos demonstrating various crafts and projects. Found more info on the Sissix machine here. Also I've been using the pinterest site where people put up pictures / videos of things they've been making. I've just finished making some quilted placemats, after looking at this site. Plus there was a step by step instruction with photos on how to do the binding around the edge. My previous attempts had looked like the proverbial dog's dinner. Lots and lots of projects to inspire you.

Just home from the community choir I joined last October. I can be on a "high" from one Tuesday to the next singing all the different songs around the house and annoying DH with the noise I make, but guess what, I don't care. I feel better mentally and physically and would recommend it to anyone of any age.

I have just joined our local choral society Nelliemoser and loving it so far. I have belonged to WI for many years GrandmaH so definitely not laughing. After a five year stint as President and four years as Treasurer I am looking forward to hanging up my quill pen and being a 'normal' member

Taking up archery, oh and trying to be grandmother

Well done, liminetta - it must be wonderful to be able to play an instrument.

How clever everyone is, I am so boring, my passion is geneology , work at it every day, family trees, transcribing , carrying out research for people in Australia, Canada and America. I don't mean this is boring, just I can bore friends and family senseless with all my useless info

I love cross stitching too, have never given trampolining a thought and never likely to, it sounds fun though

I do scrapbooking as well, its very addictive , and makes lovely presents - on my friends 60th she had stipulated no presents, but I facebooked her DDs and got loads of old family photos and made a mini book for her - she loved it

Thanks Carol for the pinterest website. I've been looking for something as there are only so many cross-stitch samplers the walls will hold. I love the tutorials, they make everything look so clear and easy. I really fancy all the patchwork items. Just need to dust off the sewing machine now. That's when I can drag myself away from the website.

Abandoning it for now. #gameofthrones

I have just signed up for an online French course. So far, I can't even find the next button to click on.

Before retiring I made cards for family & friends and knitted. I have made a couple of scrapbooks and am busy scanning old photos. I had to stop knitting due to rsi and decided to try crochet, which I hadn't done for 30 odd years. I've made handbags, toys, hats, hairslides and am attempting a short-sleeved cardi for me but am having to go slower as my wrist swells and aches little.

I've taken up jewellery making (which I love) and acrylic & watercolour painting and have got the sewing machine out of the cupboard. I've made a couple of dresses for my GD but it's mostly used for alterations. I'd like to have a go at quilting/patchwork.

I have joined a photography group and Local History group with the U3A and go on the occasional visit with them.

As you might have realised - I live alone!!
I learned crochet from library books and you tube and the painting from DVD's and you tube. I use the internet for learning and buying to keep costs down. Started small - and stayed that way - it will grow with me as I try to keep to a budget.

I have a cunning plan....

Goodness me Aka you are putting us all to shame . You Show off

I've just started trampolining ...first time this morning.

When I wa 45 I took 4 years of Keyboard lessons, and enjoyed that and then I wanted a piano, so I saved up and bought one.Then I had 2 years of piano lessons.A bit difficult fitting all this in what with looking after my Mother, and two baby grandchildren, but I kept at it.Years later I can sit down and practice my music, and the time flies by., because I enjoy it so much.Highly recommended.[Smile].

I have recently started knitting again, having not done it for a few years, after recently joining Pinterest and seeing all of these lovely projects that I wanted to do! I'm currently knitting a blanket for my grandson
Have a look at all these lovely images!
pinterest.com/loveknittingcom/pins/

Try joining a choir. There are lots about these days. Some just for fun some "serious" stuff. by which I mean you can choose what sort of music you want to sing.

I joined a community choir ?7 or8 yrs ago when I was in my late 50s and a choral society two years ago when I retired at 63. I am getting better at it every year. The new choir is challenging in a good way.

Singing is good for you physically and makes you feel good by getting the happy hormones going in your brain.

Not bad as I was told I was tone deaf at the age of 13. When you are very shy to start with and are then asked to go out to the front of a class in turn to sing to the teacher was for me so scary I could barely open my mouth. Singing is very confidence building .

I am recently retired and have found quilting quite a good hobby. It was just on a whim really. I'd just been for a wonderful facial with my friend and we went for lunch (as one does) and there it was - this lovely shop with materials all lined up like sweets begging us to come and check them out. So we did and we both love it. We signed up to a course so we could learn the fundamentals and I'm now making quilts. Bearing in mind I couldn't sew a thing when I was working. Hubby sewed all his buttons etc himself or got my mother to do it. I didn't feel any guilt whatsoever. And still don't! I'm going to teach my granddaughter if she shows any interest.

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parchment cards are beautiful,,,but i would only send them to people who i know would appreciate them as they take such a long time to make, they should be saved too, i love them,,,,

hi lesleyann.....welcome to gransnet,,,,,we are a nice bunch on here,,,,i havent long joined it,,,,scrapbooking is great i love it too,,,,i have just bought the seriff disc.. i made a 8x8 scrapbook for my brothers birthday,,,im the eldest so there was things he didnt know about mum and dad and the pleces we lived etc,,,,he is in his 50,s he thought it was great,,,photos he hadnt seen etc,,,,,,,his family loved it to so much that they want to make books, i learn a lot from watching you tube tutorials,,,,look at arleens tags scrapbooking the americans make amazing things, look for the victorian paper shoe on there too mazing,.......i also make cupcakes wedding cakes, and have started home baking and i just give it all away,,,,the neighbors just love it,