Thursday, September 19, 2013

A Random Ramble

Hey friends, how's it going? It's 6:15pm on Wednesday right now. The back door is open but the sun is getting low and my feet are starting to get cold. I think socks are one of my newest ways to embrace Fall.

J is working late and I am staring at the dishes that have stacked up in the sink over the last few days because the dishwasher is still full of clean dishes. Yeahhh still not quite ready to take care of that so I'm going to stay here on the couch next to snoring Penny.

Today was a pretty productive day. My assistant, Mo, came over and folded a couple wholesale orders while I took care of various projects, including making a new calendar for my binder. I stopped using this binder about a year ago and I've been missing it lately. Sure, I have a calendar on my phone and on my computers, but there is just something I enjoy so much about an actual paper calendar to physically write on (paper nerd). I added all my show dates for the winter season, along with wedding dates for Etch. It's no wonder time has been flying.
I was filling out a form the other day, and one of the questions was "what are your hobbies?" It stumped me. I tried to think of something I do "just for fun," something that had no relation to my shop or my blog.

I couldn't think of anything.

I bake....for recipe posts.
I craft....for DIY posts.
I take pictures....for outfit posts.

Of course, I enjoy all these things. But is there ever a time when I take pictures without thinking about using them for this blog? Nope. If I (get around to) doing some crafting? Definitely making it into a blog post.

Honestly? This kind of bothers me. But isn't that sort of how owning your own business goes? It consumes you. You're almost always thinking about it.

I guess the good thing is.....I frickin love what I do! Sometimes work feels like hobby. And seeing as I haven't had a job I've ever really liked, finally having one is kind of a big deal.

What are your hobbies? Do you ever consider work as a hobby?

15 comments:

  1. I had some sort of freak-out last year when I realized I had no hobbies that I didn't turn into work. I'm getting better about doing things just for fun and not for business or blogging, which really helps take the pressure off!

    Though I imagine my knitting may end up on my blog eventually! haha

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  2. I work as a tour guide in Paris, and I find myself just doing more research whenever I have a day off (1 in the last 2 weeks!). Part of it is that there's always more to read or different ways to present things. I'm also friends with a lot of my colleagues, so even going out for drinks with friends, we talk about work at least 80% of the time. Sometimes I feel a bit sad at how much of my life work takes up, but ultimately I feel so lucky to be able to do something I love professionally. I think it's the secret to life.

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  3. My hobbies can be work-related too (ie: photography, writing, blogging) but I also knitting/crochet a hobby, even if I write about it on my blog, I don't really do it in order to make money from it ya know? It's ok if your hobbies are things that you may end up writing for your blog I think. You're very lucky to be in the position that you're in where you love your work and it can easily feel like a hobby.

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  4. I know what you mean...I tend to do a lot of things that used to be "hobbies" but are now just for blog posts. I love to read...but I always do a round up of what I have read on my blog! I also love to watch TV. I don't think this is a hobby as much as it is a bad habit :). I watch a lot of stupid tv!

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  5. I'm a paper calendar person, myself! I sometimes look at the one on my phone or computer, but it's pretty much for reference. My REAL calendar is on my fridge, where I know I'll always see it and remember things. I already have a 2014 calendar that I picked up at Glacier National Park. Each month is a different retro/art-deco style poster depicting a national park. I love it.

    Work as a hobby ... I have an adult job now, but I also do some freelance writing. Though it can be hard to come up with topics and photos and words, I still enjoy it. Writing IS one of my hobbies and--even if the words and posts end up being for someone else--I still get pleasure from it. I write for myself as much as I write for others. I don't think there is any harm in considering your work a hobby, or making your hobbies into work. What's important is that you love what you do!

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  6. You know you're doing the right thing when your job doesn't feel like actual work. I also avoid the dishes as much as possible, and love writing ideas and things to do down on paper rather than on my phone or tablet.

    As for hobbies...I enjoy swimming, painting, and going for walks with my family. Does shopping count?

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  7. I just started blogging about our experience in Tanzania but I have been always active on ravelry and craftster before that to show off my hobbies. So I don't think blogging about them takes away from the experience. You bake, you knit, you craft and you take photos while doing this. And those photos happen to have an audience right here. Nothing bad. Unless of course you start to do things only for the sake of blog and I don't thing that is the case here. So cheer up girl! :)

    (Oh those damn dishes, they tend to do the same around my sink. Lucky we have 12 plates :P )

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  8. Hahaha! I think it's okay to list work stuff among your hobbies when it's stuff you like doing! I certainly do that too!

    -Chelsea
    chelsandthecity.blogspot.com

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  9. I have too many hobbies and I can't afford to keep them up and running, neither is there enough days in the week to be able to pursue everything I'd like to!
    My old hobbies (as in the ones I've had for an eternity) are drawing, reading, sewing, crafting, gaming. But they are now going to include being a viking, swordsplay and dancing. I would love to incorporate more photography than I do, but beside art school, my fiancè and everything else... It's seems a bit difficult right now! :D

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  10. I am constantly trying to turn my hobbies into a business or blogging opportunities- I can't tell you how many domain names I've bought "just in case". But I do have a rule that knitting is for fun only. Of course I'm planning like 3 DIY projects invloving knitting to do for the blog, but you know, rules were made to be broken- don't beat yourself up about it.
    The way I look at it, I probably wouldn't do as much, and learn as many new projects if I couldn't share it with people with similar interests. For me, completing the project just doesn't feel enough, I need to share it. The blog allows me to do the many different things I'm passionate about and connect with people who are similar to me. It's hard to find people in my "real life" who care to discuss these things at length with me. I can see their eyes start to glaze after I utter the words Modge Podge. I think a lot of creative people are interested in A LOT of different things. I think blogging is sort of a gray area between business and hobby- it doesn't have to be black or white. Sure, you have your blog because it helps you sell your cards, and talk about your brand, but you also do it for the fun and satisfaction it provides you with to share other aspects of your life with your readers. --Margo Eyesofstyle.com

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  11. I totally understand. I mean I don't do everything for my blog but if I am doing it, it's going on my blog so I understand. Do you go out shopping for you? Or read (even a magazine)? Just ideas but I understand.

    I really really really want to be my own business owner. I am just not sure what to sell. I have tons of ideas but I am not sure how it would work out. Any suggestions?

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  12. I love your calendar binder and those little flags for the months - where did you get them??

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  13. This totally made me think of an article/post I just read on the importance of doing things that are meaningless: https://medium.com/american-dreamers/1c3db8dc8e23. A friend shared it last week, and I've been thinking about it ever since ... there isn't much I do anymore that's 'just because', and I'd like to work on that. :)

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  14. Oh, I can so identify! I feel like when people ask me what I do for fun I'm like "Uh....." And half the time I do something fun, in the back of my mind I'm thinking about how I can incorporate it into a blog post!

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  15. Your blog post struck a nerve. I've been thinking about this lately a lot: I have a full-time job and I blog on Look What I Made! were I explore my creative side. However my blog doesn't bring me any money. So it is a hobby or why else would I do it but I think about it like you for your own blog, I cook and bake and take pictures for it.

    So just because you do get money from your blog, is it not your hobby anymore? Or drawing and creating cards? Just because people started paying for your "hobby"? I don't have an answer for that and I was just wondering what your thoughts are.

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Thanks for the comment! I read them all and reply when I can. Please be sure your blogger account is linked to your e-mail so I can do so! (Tutorial on how to do that here: http://tinyurl.com/c6gh9fk) xo JA