I have ra and would like some suggestions for a NEW hobby

pussycat
pussycat Member Posts: 36
edited 9. Mar 2009, 12:38 in Living with Arthritis archive
:D Hi I have had RA for a while now and over the years I have enjoyed sewing.
:( sadly the time has come that I can no longer manage this hobby
.......but new beginning's has anyone some ideas for a new hobby that I could cope with?????????
:P all suggestions would be greatly appreciated :D

Comments

  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,
    If you like sewing, you may like one of my hobbies, card making, its as difficult or easy as you make it and a lot of things are easy for people to handle. Try watching a craft programme. Q... on Tuesday at 2pm or by a magazine and see if you think you would like it. No need to be arty!!!. Thats one suggestion, see what you think. At the moment I'm making some for charity. Love Sue xxx
  • pussycat
    pussycat Member Posts: 36
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :D woodbon thankyou for replying. I had always thought that card making had to be fiddly and complicated
    :D I like your idea of making some for charity too, as even though I have lot's of friends and familly eventually I would wonder what to do with all those cards. :lol:

    I will try buying a magazine and trying out some simple designs as my hands and wrists are not too good, but I think I will give it a go!!!!

    I think because I have had to slowly give up on so many things that I enjoy doing because of the RA, it is a wrench having to give up on my sewing.

    At my husbands suggestion I have decided to start several new hobbies( so all ideas are welcome :) ) in the hope that I will be able to always have one that I can do even if in time I have to give up on other's in time.
  • nickynysmon08
    nickynysmon08 Bots Posts: 111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    my stepmother has severe arthritus and associated illnesses and i have sent her some watercolours she wanted to try also a set of oil colours and canvass.
    she has always painted but not for a long time. I think this is the best hobby for anyone, especially some who are a bit immobile with arthritis and such.
    I am quite happy to post suggestions to you in this respect, as how to get started. it is wonderfully peaceful to just sit and paint. it will take your mind off your illness- almost as good as taking tramadol!!!
    i am always painting, being retired and spending most of my time alone. I would say , try watercolours first.

    Nick
  • pussycat
    pussycat Member Posts: 36
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    nickynysmon08 wrote:
    my stepmother has severe arthritus and associated illnesses and i have sent her some watercolours she wanted to try also a set of oil colours and canvass.
    she has always painted but not for a long time. I think this is the best hobby for anyone, especially some who are a bit immobile with arthritis and such.
    I am quite happy to post suggestions to you in this respect, as how to get started. it is wonderfully peaceful to just sit and paint. it will take your mind off your illness- almost as good as taking tramadol!!!
    i am always painting, being retired and spending most of my time alone. I would say , try watercolours first.

    Nick

    Hi Nick thanks for the suggestion I am not a natural artist :lol: and would appreciate a bit of advice as to what I would initially need to get started. :D
    I am prepared to spend a bit of money on paint's , brushes etc , but am unsure as to what to buy, so all advice is welcome. :D
    Any help on what colours of watercolour paint's to buy initially would be a great start :D
    I do think that this could also be a hobby I would enjoy.
    I do like learning new thing's and as I live in Northumberland I have plenty of lovely scenery to inspire me. :D
    It is very kind of you to offer advice and as I am a complete novice regarding painting I would be grateful for any tip's you can pass on to me. :D
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,395
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I know just what you mean Pussycat I used to love knitting till I got RA and found it too frustrating to continue.

    I then discovered I could paint; I'd always loved drawing as a child and liked to draw cartoons for my lads, so I tried to copy something from one of their books and then I used their paints and brushes to fill it in. I was so proud of my achievement that I tried a more complicated picture of an owl and realised I really 'had' something. My husband framed my painting and bought me water colour paints and brushes for Christmas. I joined a class and now nearly 20 years down the line I take part in local art exhibitions, where i sell my work and my walls are covered in my paintings and I've met some lovely friends too.

    I also study French ... just to keep the old brain working - it's also another social group of people to mix with.

    I suggest you think of something that really interested you as a child or consider your favourite subject at school and do something in the same line but develop it in a way you can cope with now. :wink:

    Luv Legs :D
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • hazelm
    hazelm Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi pussycat, I too used to love sewing as my hobby, mainly crosstitching, and as my arthur got worse and i can't hold a needle properly now, I took up cardmaking and scrapbooking, and for me they have been a life saver, of course I have days when I'm stuck for inspiration but when it starts to flow it really takes my mind off my problems. You should give it a try, but, a word of warning, its very addictive and you will see loads of stash that you've "just got to have" :D :roll:
    take care hazelxx
  • weetabix
    weetabix Member Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with the card making.I have been doing it now for over four years. My hands and wrists are very badly affected some days i just dont feel up to it. but other days i can make quite a few cards..

    create and craft.tv is a great place to get card stash from..

    but be warned your hubbys bank balance will diminish :D

    good luck! let us know how you get on with any hobby you take up..

    weetabix
  • lindah
    lindah Member Posts: 445
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Can I endorse all of the above.My problem is too many hobbies but I do a different one depending on the state of my fingers and wrists etc on any given day.
    Our shared pastime was walking but now I have funny feet so don't get out as much.
    My embroidery has taken a back burner for the moment as has hand sewn patchwork but I replaced this with machine patchwork.
    I still feel as if I'm somehow cheating but what the heck.
    I have been knitting a jumper for my 2yr old grandson but aimed it one size too big and just do maybe a half dozen rows each day.
    I love to make cards and also have started a scrapbook album.This is great but as I love fabrics I am also doing a photo album in fabric using clever paper to iron on my copied photos then you add embellishments.If you use a leather quilters thimble this helps to grip the needle.
    Ones I have never tried but look interesting are flower arranging or sugarcraft and cake decorating. :idea: :idea: :idea:
  • nickynysmon08
    nickynysmon08 Bots Posts: 111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am not sure the moderator would approve but it may be better if you contact me via email, which is below , i would be delighted to help you. many would give their left arm to live amongst scenery where you are. I would be happy to get some information to you, it is a wonderful hobby, especially if mobility is becoming limited. and the only person you need to please is yourself.
    best wishes,
    Nick
    p.s.
    please contact me and i can supply you with a list, catalogues or anything else to get started,
    pussycat wrote:
    nickynysmon08 wrote:
    my stepmother has severe arthritus and associated illnesses and i have sent her some watercolours she wanted to try also a set of oil colours and canvass.
    she has always painted but not for a long time. I think this is the best hobby for anyone, especially some who are a bit immobile with arthritis and such.
    I am quite happy to post suggestions to you in this respect, as how to get started. it is wonderfully peaceful to just sit and paint. it will take your mind off your illness- almost as good as taking tramadol!!!
    i am always painting, being retired and spending most of my time alone. I would say , try watercolours first.

    Nick

    Hi Nick thanks for the suggestion I am not a natural artist :lol: and would appreciate a bit of advice as to what I would initially need to get started. :D
    I am prepared to spend a bit of money on paint's , brushes etc , but am unsure as to what to buy, so all advice is welcome. :D
    Any help on what colours of watercolour paint's to buy initially would be a great start :D
    I do think that this could also be a hobby I would enjoy.
    I do like learning new thing's and as I live in Northumberland I have plenty of lovely scenery to inspire me. :D
    It is very kind of you to offer advice and as I am a complete novice regarding painting I would be grateful for any tip's you can pass on to me. :D
  • pussycat
    pussycat Member Posts: 36
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :D Thankyou everyone for some good ideas :D

    Nick I have pm'd you for more details :D
  • cariadwelsh
    cariadwelsh Member Posts: 9
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with several of the writers on here card making is very relaxing I buy a lot frim the range or hobbycraft ,if you can get to these stores it will save you the p@p the t.v. channels charge. You can have die cut decoupage which means you just have to push the pieces out no fiddly cutting I attend a local authority class in card making . It can be as costly as your purse or imagination takes you so tread carefully in the beginning, if you buy packs of cards you wont need to cut out there either just decorate them. hope this helps.
    regards cariad welsh :roll:
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