Being a dilettante

[firecat]

Lately I feel like I want to learn something new, or continue learning something I've already done some of...mostly along the lines of arts and crafts. It's great that I want to do stuff and might have the energy to do stuff, because it's been a while since I felt that way. But it's also frustrating right now, because whatever part of my brain that I use to choose among various more or less equally good options seems to still be offline, so I can't make up my mind what I want to learn or where/how I want to learn it.


jewelry:
things to learn
using resin to make jewelry
wirework
enameling
chainmail
basic metalsmithing
basic soldering

places to learn
beading frenzy
baubles and beads
bay area bead extravaganza conference
beaducation.com
books and magazine articles

yarn crafts:
things to learn
nonstandard/historical/ethnic knitting techniques (knitting in two directions, twined knitting, bohus stickning)
techniques for knitting in color (fair isle, slip stitch)
incorporating beads into knitting
less common knitting stitches
fitting techniques
cable stitches and techniques
designing lace patterns

places to learn
stitches west conference
local yarn stores
web sites: knitty, ravelry, interweave
dvds, books and magazines

sewing
things to learn
embroidery machine
serger machine
long-arm quilting machine

places to learn
techshop

other stuff I think about learning/doing
lampworking
glass fusing
stained glass
wood shop machines and hand tools
ukulele, recorder, tin whistle, hand drums, singing (group and/or lessons)
logic pro (computer music software)
photoshop and other graphics software
photography

some things I keep feeling tempted to learn but have resisted so far
yarn dying, spinning
weaving
polymer clay, silver clay, glass clay
glass blowing

What do you want to learn? What are you glad you learned?

Comments

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

I can't make up my mind what I want to learn or where/how I want to learn it.

Well, you've made a great start -- you have a lovely list, and I'm really impressed that you included the places to learn the things.

I would like to learn how to make a proper necklace out of the beads I bought 2 years ago. I think it's a learn-by-doing thing, though I also have some instructions I found online. (Finishing it with the clasp is intimidating. Everything I've done before has wire ends sticking out.)

If I didn't have CFIDS, I'd like to learn to speak and read Japanese and French; how to cook and bake; how to use a variety of artists' media; how to scuba dive; and how to play a bunch of musical instruments.

Things I'm glad I've learned in the last few years: Some basics about using colored pencils and watercolors. Some basics in Photoshop -- I can create mandalas and manipulate designs for coloring and painting. That's all I've had the energy for.