Hobby Thread - October 4, 2025 [Santa Rex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. A spin of the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) landed on Christmas crafting.

If you are tempted to say "I don't make things for Christmas, so there is nothing here for me," let the thought pass. No Moron could possibly say such a thing. Stick around. You might be entertained or learn something. You might enjoy hearing from others and seeing what others are hobbying.

I have faith that you can find something in the content that resonates or contribute your own hobbying interests. Dig around in the content and soak in the comments. Be curious. Glad you're here.

TRex has been detailed for duty elsewhere, so behave yourself in the comments. The Grateful will be looking out for unapproved shenanigans.

[Top: Half off Christmas hobbying!]

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What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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We are under three months to Christmas. That means Christmas crafting needs to be in process!!!

What hobbying are you planning for this Christmas? Are you making gifts?

Are you making your own cards?

Are you already Christmas crafting?

Are you plotting decorations inside or outside your house?

Are you looking forward to putting out the products of Christmas crafting from prior years?

Do you have Christmas crafting hobbying traditions?

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We are blessed to have Christmas crafting projects from The Grateful.

Cross stitch ornaments anyone? These were made for donation to a church Christmas craft sale.

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I know what you're going to say. "I'm not much of a stitcher. I'm more of a painter."

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Yes, this has been posted many times on social media. I don't care.

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Random YouTube shorts of easy Christmas projects:

candy outdoor decoration

paper Santa

origami Christmas tree

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Are you wise in the ways of pine cone crafting?

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Christmas Minion mayhem:

More:
Inflatable minions take over Guelph neighbourhood for Christmas

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How its made:

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Truth.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a bonsai theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

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JTB gets the rare double in the notable comments from last week department:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute something from your personal hobbying. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:30 PM (+qU29)

2 I put up big Christmas displays, does that count?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:30 PM (uQesX)

3 Brings me fond memories of my grandmother ( my dad's mom) making Christmas ornaments all year around.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:33 PM (+qU29)

4 Greetings, hobbyists. Hope everyone is doing well today.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at October 04, 2025 05:33 PM (31p00)

5 It used to be, in the olde tymes, that elementary schools had kids make ornaments during class. They probably have them make gay stuff now.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:33 PM (uQesX)

6 Used to have an affectation for vintage fountain pens.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 04, 2025 05:34 PM (e8Sk7)

7 I think the White House Christmas ornament is on sale now.

We have a tree just for those. It's very small because we only have the ones issued during Trump I. Soon to be augmented with those issued under Trump II.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 04, 2025 05:36 PM (Q4IgG)

8 I've put a very small pinecone on my desk and people have actually asked what it was. This is in ETEX.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 05:36 PM (LHPAg)

9 It's Kinkade.

I hate to be scoldy. Thomas and I just happen to share the surname.

Sorry. Carry on. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:37 PM (0aYVJ)

10 Here's something about Christmas decor:

https://tinyurl.com/36ua4wzp

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:38 PM (uQesX)

11 Trying to get those C-bouts for the violin ribs bent without cracking. Every time I hear the heating coil in the bending iron click on or off, I am sure that it is that 1mm thick flamed maple cracking!

Posted by: Don in SoCo at October 04, 2025 05:39 PM (JhzmS)

12 In 2005 vintage pens were not silly expensive as now.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 04, 2025 05:39 PM (e8Sk7)

13 We have a tree just for those. It's very small because we only have the ones issued during Trump I. Soon to be augmented with those issued under Trump II.
Posted by: Martini Farmer
**********
Agreed...but we also included for Lincoln and others who respected the role, and the country

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 05:39 PM (IQ6Gq)

14 5 It used to be, in the olde tymes, that elementary schools had kids make ornaments during class. They probably have them make gay stuff now.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:33 PM (uQesX)
Vow right now, this very moment, to Merry Christmas the snot out of everybody you meet this season. All the way to January second.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 05:39 PM (LHPAg)

15 Christmas hobby threads already? Well Christmas does mean college football is mostly over. And my school is so awful I definitely need it to be over. I will not only allow this thread to continue but I am desperately grateful for it. Merry Christmas!!!

Posted by: HappyFun at October 04, 2025 05:40 PM (d2+05)

16 I've put a very small pinecone on my desk and people have actually asked what it was. This is in ETEX.
Posted by: Eromero
*********
I take it that it's a rare artifact in those parts....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 05:41 PM (IQ6Gq)

17 My wife has been playing Christmas music already

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:42 PM (+qU29)

18 16 I've put a very small pinecone on my desk and people have actually asked what it was. This is in ETEX.
Posted by: Eromero
*********
I take it that it's a rare artifact in those parts....
Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 05:41 PM (IQ6Gq)
Not really, you can' swing a dead cat without hitting a pine tree of some variety.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 05:44 PM (LHPAg)

19 How to improve a Thomas Kincaide image?

A-1J Skyraider dropping nape.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 04, 2025 05:45 PM (Ciygk)

20 On other hobby stuff
Fall In at Lancaster on Nov 7 Historical Miniatures Gaming Society have my tickets already, 3 Napoleonic games, 1 American Revolution game and 1 Wars of Ozz. Can't wait.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:45 PM (+qU29)

21 I found a guy on Ebay that rebuild Shaeffer Snorkel pens. They have become my favorites. Pretty reasonable, compared tothe cost of some new pens.

And I don't do Christmas knitting any more. It takes me too long to finish projects.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 04, 2025 05:47 PM (kUxzU)

22 How to improve a Thomas Kincaide image?---
Posted by: Anna Puma at October 04, 2025 05:45 PM (Ciygk)

*sigh*

It's all right. I've had people tell me to my face that I do not know how to spell my last name.

*kicks away soapbox*

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:47 PM (0aYVJ)

23 The Snorkel pen guy is 3rdlakerobert on ebay

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 04, 2025 05:48 PM (kUxzU)

24 > On other hobby stuff
Fall In at Lancaster on Nov 7 Historical Miniatures Gaming Society have my tickets already, 3 Napoleonic games, 1 American Revolution game and 1 Wars of Ozz. Can't wait.
Posted by: Skip
--------
I toyed around with some modern military wargaming using 1/285th scale MicroArmor from an outfit called GHQ. I just didn't have the patience, but do have a cool collection of Cold War micro armor. Bitch to paint.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 04, 2025 05:48 PM (Q4IgG)

25 My wife has been playing Christmas music already
Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:42 PM (+qU29)

Sending prayers.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:49 PM (0aYVJ)

26 Wal-Mart has Christmas decor fully deployed along with everything for Halloween in another part of the store.
So far, no Christmas music but I swear Wal-Mart radio today played some K-Pop Demon Hunter.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 04, 2025 05:49 PM (Ciygk)

27 My wife has been playing Christmas music already
Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:42 PM (+qU29)

Sending prayers.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame
*************
What, y'all don't play it year round?

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 05:50 PM (IQ6Gq)

28 I need to stop putting things off and get to work on kitty portraits for my wife and sons.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at October 04, 2025 05:51 PM (0aYVJ)

29 If you hear about a murder by beginning of November at least you know the motive

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:52 PM (+qU29)

30 Casa de Pablo has a pretty strictly enforced rule about no Christmas music until Thanksgiving. And it stops before midnight on Dec. 31. Mostly because I'm damn sure going to be asleep by then.

No nerd radio for me this weekend. Instead, I'm studying math and learning how to better use the slide rule I bought. I guess that's hobby-adjacent, since I'm not doing the math for any class or work related project.

Posted by: PabloD at October 04, 2025 05:56 PM (mSUOn)

31 I love those crochet Xmas trees, I have made a small forest in various colors hehe

Posted by: Frosted Lexi charm at October 04, 2025 05:56 PM (cMlcA)

32 Vow right now, this very moment, to Merry Christmas the snot out of everybody you meet this season. All the way to January second.
Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 05:39 PM (LHPAg)

Epiphany is on the 6th, isn't it?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (uQesX)

33 Question sort-of hobby related: when battery leaks get crud all over the contacts in a device, is there any way to clean the contacts or is the device now useless?

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (CHHv1)

34 20 On other hobby stuff
Fall In at Lancaster on Nov 7 Historical Miniatures Gaming Society have my tickets already, 3 Napoleonic games, 1 American Revolution game and 1 Wars of Ozz. Can't wait.
Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:45 PM (+qU29)

Hi Skip! Hope you have a great time. I used to go to this when it was much smaller, but haven't had the time to put it on my schedule since COVID.

Posted by: Retired, thank God at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (va0Yo)

35 Is there a list of Approved Shenanigans? Asking for a friend...

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, with questions at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (PiwSw)

36 Question sort-of hobby related: when battery leaks get crud all over the contacts in a device, is there any way to clean the contacts or is the device now useless?
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (CHHv1)

I just scrape it off with an x-acto knife.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:01 PM (uQesX)

37 If it is classic Gregorian chant Christmas music, I can tolerate it.

Even the old German stuff is okay.

It's way too early for the Bingster and the Rat Pack.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 06:01 PM (ZmEVT)

38 BeckoningChasm - lemon juice works well. So does a mix of baking soda and water. Use a cotton swab so you don't get lemon juice all down in the device.

Posted by: PabloD at October 04, 2025 06:01 PM (mSUOn)

39 If it is classic Gregorian chant Christmas music, I can tolerate it.

Even the old German stuff is okay.

It's way too early for the Bingster and the Rat Pack.
Posted by: no one of any consequence
************
Actually, all I really listen to are German Christmas carols, along with Leonard Bernstein CDs

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:03 PM (IQ6Gq)

40 Someone around here who knows more about chemistry than I do - and that's a large pool of candidates - can explain the whole acid / base thing as to why it works.

Posted by: PabloD at October 04, 2025 06:03 PM (mSUOn)

41 My wife made some really crappy Christmas ornament I don't know where before we were married. Flour, salt, food coloring, baking. Some were pink. Some were pale green.

Lord, I miss her.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 06:05 PM (ZmEVT)

42 There was the GRP christmas album. One tuned sounded like the demons from hell. "God rest ye merry gentlemen."

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 06:07 PM (ZmEVT)

43 I bought 3 new Christmas themed door mats this week from Lowes. The older ones we have are worn out and the designs have been obliterated.

The only Christmas crafting the fetching Mrs Beartooth does is going to every Christmas bazaar within 40 miles.

Posted by: Beartooth at October 04, 2025 06:09 PM (kanec)

44 One would pour Coke on a car battery, maybe just a cotton ball on something smaller maybe

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 06:09 PM (+qU29)

45 Thank you, folks.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 04, 2025 06:13 PM (CHHv1)

46 The cross-stitch ornaments in the little wooden hoops: my Mom used to make those before her arthritis made it too painful to be any fun. It's a hobby for the middle-aged, I guess.

Posted by: mikeski at October 04, 2025 06:13 PM (nhCoE)

47 As kids, our grandmother would get us these decorative ornaments that we'd decorate with acrylic beads and crystals with push-pins on a Styrofoam ball. Some were covered in silk, or some facsimile of.

Actually very pretty.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 04, 2025 06:14 PM (Q4IgG)

48 The cross-stitch ornaments in the little wooden hoops: my Mom used to make those before her arthritis made it too painful to be any fun. It's a hobby for the middle-aged, I guess.
Posted by: mikeski
***********
I feel for her...I am beyond thankful for my RA meds, and hope to be doing stitchery as long as I'm alive...otherwise, I'm going to be one cranky 'ette!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:16 PM (IQ6Gq)

49 Thank you, folks.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm

As mentioned, baking-soda water, or lemon juice or vinegar. Maybe even rubbing alcohol if it's not totally etched into the surface.

Alcohol will be safer if you do let some get on the circuit boards or whatever. It should just evaporate away, rather than an alkali or acid leaving behind conductive residue.

Posted by: mikeski at October 04, 2025 06:18 PM (nhCoE)

50 BeckoningChasm, they make spray on contact cleaner. You can run down to your local Radio Shack and get some. Otherwise a knife or pick to scrape that stuff out of there.

We haven't even got our Halloween stuff up yet and you guys are talking about Christmas? Let me make it thru Thanksgiving first.

Posted by: fd at October 04, 2025 06:19 PM (vFG9F)

51 Beautiful Christmas ornaments, the Grateful. Thanks for sending in pictures .

I also love the elves and owls made from pine cones. That's very clever.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:21 PM (7RYym)

52 Christmas and craft related. We always leave gifts as part of the Marine's Toys for Tots and try to cover all likely ages. Along with the usual kids' books and other things we include crafting kits of various kinds. We pick them up in the course of the year as we find them on sale. Jigsaw puzzles (since they have to be assembled), very basic cross stitch kits, even an elementary loom that can fold up and use inexpensive yarn. With coloring books we include a box of crayons or colored pencils.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:22 PM (yTvNw)

53 For crafters, last month, or even before, was the time to plan Christmas items.

The gifts don't make themselves, and don't just appear overnight!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 06:23 PM (rdVOm)

54 I spied a Candle / Soap suppy store on the trip home Friday. Making candles has come up on AoSHq and my wife does make candles to supply her habit. Monday going to stop and see what supplies they have.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 06:26 PM (+qU29)

55 I still have quite a few Christmas tree ornaments that I made when I was a child.

I can't hang them up because I have a few furry ornament assassins lurking about...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 06:28 PM (IBQGV)

56 Kincaid vs Godzilla painting should be on Art Thread...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 04, 2025 06:28 PM (ynpvh)

57 55 I still have quite a few Christmas tree ornaments that I made when I was a child.

I can't hang them up because I have a few furry ornament assassins lurking about...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 06:28 PM (IBQGV)

Yeah, it goes from kids destroying them to cats destroying them...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 04, 2025 06:29 PM (ynpvh)

58 19 How to improve a Thomas Kincaide image?

A-1J Skyraider dropping nape.
Posted by: Anna Puma at October 04, 2025 05:45 PM (Ciygk)
Thanks, Anna Puma. I love airplanes dropping nape.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 06:29 PM (LHPAg)

59 Santa and Christmas-theme wood carving may go on all year but the big push starts in summer. A simple carved ornament might only take a few hours to make but they are usually painted which adds time.

It's a big subset of the hobby since there are so many possibilities: flat plane Santas, chip carved snow flake ornaments, scroll saw creche scenes where details are added by hand, relief carved wreaths. Some carvers do nothing but Christmas themed items. One I want to try is a carved stocking with a little mouse face poking out of the top.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:30 PM (yTvNw)

60 I still have quite a few Christmas tree ornaments that I made when I was a child.

I can't hang them up because I have a few furry ornament assassins lurking about...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
*********
THIS is the only reason we do not have a cat.....Big tree + heirloom ornaments + cat = chaos

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

61 It's going to take some time to go through those videos in the post. The ones using pine cones really caught my eye.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:34 PM (yTvNw)

62 Christmas crafting? I'll make soap this year and hand that out. All my other crafting will be limited to sewing and knitting baby clothes for incoming grandson. The boy figured out how to make a kid, so now....

Well, we may be full time grandparents. We shall see.

Posted by: tcn, Pickle Queen of AK at October 04, 2025 06:34 PM (urtE/)

63 Every year, I tell myself: "self, you need to make something out of all those 'cones that are out in the barn"

Almost every year I get too busy with other things.

And yes, I have always loved collecting cones of various sizes and species. Alder make teeny tiny cones that are great for dollhouse decoration.

One year, I actually managed to clear-coat and lightly gold glitter some various cones, added them to a faux-evergreen wreath, wired on some jingle bells and red glass-ball ornaments...and gave it to my sister without taking any pictures.

*hangs head in shame*

I will do better in the future!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 06:34 PM (rdVOm)

64 I will do better in the future!
Posted by: JQ
************
It sounds absolutely lovely!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:36 PM (IQ6Gq)

65 "You can run down to your local Radio Shack and get some."

Hey, I found the guy who was frozen in 1986 and just got thawed out! :-)

Posted by: PabloD at October 04, 2025 06:37 PM (k29Yc)

66 When I lived in Germany as a wee little squirrel, there was a Christmas ornament factory not too far from where we lived. They had an amazing assortment of ornaments (and giant nutcrackers) for sale.

The Christkindlmarkets also had great selections of handmade Christmas ornaments.

My parents would buy me one of those every year, so I have several of those as well.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 06:38 PM (IBQGV)

67 I still have quite a few Christmas tree ornaments that I made when I was a child.

I can't hang them up because I have a few furry ornament assassins lurking about...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 06:28 PM (IBQGV)

I have a couple from Kindergarten I made mumble mumble years ago. Can still use them, too.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:38 PM (uQesX)

68 > 5 It used to be, in the olde tymes, that elementary schools had kids make ornaments during class. They probably have them make gay stuff now.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:33 PM (uQesX)

I'm old enough to remember making ashtrays in school.

They'd burn you at the stake for even mentioning that nowadays.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at October 04, 2025 06:39 PM (qpyNK)

69 The Christkindlmarkets also had great selections of handmade Christmas ornaments.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
***********
Santa Rex and I are huge fans of those markets, and have brought home many items over the years. And when I say many I am not exaggerating....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:41 PM (IQ6Gq)

70 In addition to those decorative gourds mentioned last week, I added a bundle of red corn on the cob. The kernels are ruby red which are a great contrast to the dried husks still attached. My attempts to draw them have been an 'interesting' exercise so far. I hope by the hundredth attempt, they will have improved. In the meantime, they are a source of humor.

And with the pine cones shown in the post I started thinking of how to draw them with graphite and pen and ink. If nothing else, it should show me the importance of patience and pacing.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:44 PM (yTvNw)

71 Question sort-of hobby related: when battery leaks get crud all over the contacts in a device, is there any way to clean the contacts or is the device now useless?
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 04, 2025 05:58 PM (CHHv1)

Electronic Contact Cleaner. Comes in a spray can that you can get at an auto parts store. Kind of pricey, but it works.

I've done all the above methods and they can work, but this stuff is pretty awesome. I've revived little household items that use batteries with it, and it's also saved the day with trailer harness connectors. The kind that might sit years without being used. Hit it and the mating connectors with this stuff.

Posted by: haffhowershower at October 04, 2025 06:44 PM (144I4)

72 I like those cross stitch ornaments in the post. Their handmade quality makes me think of family and Christmas.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:47 PM (yTvNw)

73 I think in school I think one year we made a ornament then had a Christmas tree in the classroom in Elementary school.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 06:49 PM (+qU29)

74 Just an observation, for those unaware of it:

"Wauwatosa initiative: In 2023, the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, gained national attention for promoting "inclusive" holiday decorations that deliberately avoided the standard red and green."

" Beyond Christmas: Individuals may prefer to keep a "winter tree" decorated with non-holiday colors that can stay up longer and match the rest of their home."
(my emphasis]

I noted last year that my little progressive burg has eliminated red and green from the 'Holiday Decorations'.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 04, 2025 06:49 PM (XeU6L)

75 Well, pairing hobbies and Christmas stuff, here is my sordid tale.

I can do basic woodworking, but am no craftsman. And when our first child was a toddler, I made a little lamp for him. It looks like one of those letter blocks that little kids play with. I used 1X6 pine boards to make a cube, rounded the corners and hand routed his first initial into it. I put a lamp kit in it and his Mom made a lampshade out of construction vehicles and whatnot. Kind of 'rustic' looking but cool.

Well, here's my confession of being a bad dad. His following siblings never got one of those for their own. So now that they're pretty much all grown up, I am going to rectify that and make one for each of them. I started early this summer and have all the blocks made and mostly painted. Need to finish them soon...

Posted by: haffhowershower at October 04, 2025 06:50 PM (144I4)

76 I like those cross stitch ornaments in the post. Their handmade quality makes me think of family and Christmas.
Posted by: JTB
************
thanks JTB...the top 3 (snowman, reindeer, and teddy bear) have been sent for younger cousins to open on St Nick's day...been sending them ornaments for a few years, the objective is one day when each has his/her own home and tree, they'll have memories to place on the tree.

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:51 PM (IQ6Gq)

77 I've cleaned battery contacts with a mix of vinegar and baking soda rubbed on with a pipe cleaner or old tooth brush. It's worked well so far and we always have the stuff around.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:52 PM (yTvNw)

78 My daughter did her tree in cross stitch ornaments. She worked on them all year and it was so cute. I get bored doing the same thing all the time but she is single minded when she's on a project.

Posted by: Megthered at October 04, 2025 06:53 PM (24Mcv)

79 Well, here's my confession of being a bad dad. His following siblings never got one of those for their own. So now that they're pretty much all grown up, I am going to rectify that and make one for each of them. I started early this summer and have all the blocks made and mostly painted. Need to finish them soon...

Posted by: haffhowershower
************
Wow, what a great gift. Please send TRex some photos so we all can oooh and ahhh...

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:53 PM (IQ6Gq)

80 In school, we made chains out of strips of construction paper. Also, strung popcorn and cranberries for outdoor garland. Rolled pinecones in peanut butter, then birdseed.

We had lots of fun until the hippies all graduated & got jobs in the school district!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 06:53 PM (rdVOm)

81 I noted last year that my little progressive burg has eliminated red and green from the 'Holiday Decorations'.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 04, 2025 06:49 PM (XeU6L
It’s not the tree they’re after.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 06:54 PM (LHPAg)

82 My daughter did her tree in cross stitch ornaments. She worked on them all year and it was so cute. I get bored doing the same thing all the time but she is single minded when she's on a project.
Posted by: Megthered
*********
Single minded is a much underrated super power.
Cross stitch is my relaxation therapy......

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:54 PM (IQ6Gq)

83 76 ... "the top 3 (snowman, reindeer, and teddy bear) have been sent for younger cousins to open on St Nick's day...been sending them ornaments for a few years, the objective is one day when each has his/her own home and tree, they'll have memories to place on the tree."

The Grateful,
Perfect! Just what I felt looking at them. They even have the benefits of not likely to break and light enough for even a small tree.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 06:56 PM (yTvNw)

84 I don't go crazy with Christmas lights, but I do like to put a few strings out over the porch just to brighten up things. Some of the houses in our neighborhood go all-out, and I appreciate it. I really like walking the dog when it's dark and cold, but everything is lit up. I find it very relaxing.

Posted by: PabloD at October 04, 2025 06:57 PM (k29Yc)

85 Gift related, but not Christmas. Our 25th Wedding Anniversary is Oct. 15, we will be spending it in Portugal (a place chosen after I eliminated all Islamist, Communist, War-adjacent nations, and countries either of us have ever been) and they have good Silver, I'm told. 25th is the Silver Anniversary, what's a good gift? Necklace, ring, bracelet, etc.?

Posted by: Lincolntf at October 04, 2025 06:58 PM (vV6n9)

86 In school, we made chains out of strips of construction paper. Also, strung popcorn and cranberries for outdoor garland. Rolled pinecones in peanut butter, then birdseed.
Posted by: JQ
*********
Well, your school was certainly more fun than mine was. But I admit that I always strung popcorn and cranberry garland for my Christmas trees when I moved out on my own....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 06:59 PM (IQ6Gq)

87 Grateful, those ornaments are beautiful, gee you do nice work. I used to make pinecone wreaths with my Mom back when I was a little girl, there is no shortage of cones around here, perhaps I should give it another try.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at October 04, 2025 07:00 PM (0nHVk)

88 Grateful, those ornaments are beautiful, gee you do nice work. I used to make pinecone wreaths with my Mom back when I was a little girl, there is no shortage of cones around here, perhaps I should give it another try.
Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz
*************
Thank you very much. Do try, and send TRex some photos.
I trust we'll see you in two weeks?

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:02 PM (IQ6Gq)

89 Mom was a crafter, as were both of my grandmothers. Between home- and school projects and various promotional items, all us kids had acquired loads of Christmas ornaments which Mom dutifully let us place on the tree every year.

As we grew up & moved away, Mom presented us each with a box of our own ornaments. She had added little tags with the year each was made or obtained. Fun!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 07:02 PM (rdVOm)

90 Don't you have to wait till the day after Christmas for the Christmas clearance?

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 04, 2025 07:02 PM (gjue8)

91 As we grew up & moved away, Mom presented us each with a box of our own ornaments. She had added little tags with the year each was made or obtained. Fun!
Posted by: JQ
************
That is absolutely fantastic. I try to put the year on the cousins' ormaments, too. My mother was not crafty, but her mother was huge stitcher and cook. Since I never met her, I assume my interests are genetic...

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:05 PM (IQ6Gq)

92 As an adjunct to my reading and fountain pen hobbies, I plan to start keeping a commonplace book. I've been spending more time reading poetry and literary exposition which provides so many beautiful phrases and deep ideas. I typically highlight those lines and mark the pages with book darts. But it's worth the time to copy them into a separate notebook along with the thoughts they engender. I have one of those leather wrapped notebooks with good quality paper. And I'll use a fountain pen to do the writing.

Good handwritten notes were a huge help back in college and in business meetings. Might as well apply that to things that bring beauty and meaning to life.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 07:07 PM (yTvNw)

93
No joy for The Big Dummy in BIS competition. But we will take what we got: two fat breed wins and a specialty best.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 07:09 PM (tgvbd)

94 25th is the Silver Anniversary, what's a good gift? Necklace, ring, bracelet, etc.?
Posted by: Lincolntf
-------

Whatever she's likely to wear!

I don't often wear rings or bracelets, for example. You know your wife best, but when in doubt... let her choose something.

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 07:10 PM (rdVOm)

95 My hobby this week is planning for this coming week is planning for the following week.

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 07:11 PM (LHPAg)

96 Mrs. JTB just brought out some things I had forgotten. Little figures made with pine cones ( a hedgehog, mice, etc.) and dressed like fairy tale characters. We picked them up along the Blue Ridge Parkway many years ago and they are adorable. It would be easy to use the technique for holiday-related figures.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 07:14 PM (yTvNw)

97 Don't you have to wait till the day after Christmas for the Christmas clearance?
Posted by: Boss Moss
-------

Mostly. But not always. There's Next Christmas to think about.

Always buy your wrap & ribbons on clearance, too!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 07:15 PM (rdVOm)

98 She wears/values necklaces and bracelets and rings. In that order, I think. So I should probably go with a necklace. I used to buy her jewelry all the time, I'm out of practice.

Posted by: Lincolntf at October 04, 2025 07:15 PM (vV6n9)

99 Checks in...
Checks date...
No, by God, AOSHQ beats Wallie World to Christmas!

Posted by: MkY at October 04, 2025 07:15 PM (cPGH3)

100 100

Posted by: Eromero at October 04, 2025 07:16 PM (LHPAg)

101 You mean there are people that actually use the bushel of pine cones that have been stashed in the garage for 20 years?

Wow.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 04, 2025 07:16 PM (cYBz/)

102 93 ... Hadrian,

Congrats of the Big Dummy's showing this week. Hope Finn is feeling better.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 07:16 PM (yTvNw)

103 MkY, Costco had Christmas stuff a couple of weeks ago already!

Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 07:18 PM (rdVOm)

104 Checks in...
Checks date...
No, by God, AOSHQ beats Wallie World to Christmas!
Posted by: MkY at October 04, 2025 07:15 PM (cPGH3)

MkY, Costco had Christmas stuff a couple of weeks ago already!
Posted by: JQ at October 04, 2025 07:18 PM (rdVOm)

Our WalMarts had them three weeks ago.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:20 PM (uQesX)

105 Mrs. JTB just brought out some things I had forgotten. Little figures made with pine cones ( a hedgehog, mice, etc.) and dressed like fairy tale characters. We picked them up along the Blue Ridge Parkway many years ago and they are adorable. It would be easy to use the technique for holiday-related figures.
Posted by: JTB
*********
Photos please! And thank you...

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:20 PM (IQ6Gq)

106 My mom loved collecting nativity sets. She had maybe 80-100? One year for Christmas I made her a set out of Sculpy clay. She loved it.

Her sister made an ornament for the White House Christmas tree one year. I think it was during the Clinton occupation.

Posted by: QED Texan at October 04, 2025 07:21 PM (fveCG)

107 There are some good Christmas Carol loops on You Tube.

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 04, 2025 07:21 PM (gjue8)

108 Thank you Grateful, you are too kind. I will try to snap some pics when they are finished. And thank you for stepping in today. I think all of us would be happy if you did it again some day!

And JTB, my kids and I like 'Paul Blart Mall Cop' movies. There's a line about hand-written sentiments that we quote.

Posted by: haffhowershower at October 04, 2025 07:21 PM (144I4)

109
Puppies love pine cones. That's what happened to ours.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 07:22 PM (tgvbd)

110 Needs more Stormtroopers.

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 04, 2025 07:23 PM (gjue8)

111 According to the very specific directions, this is the time I am to thank all of you for coming by, sharing, and commenting - before the next act takes the stage at AOSHQ. Please be sure to come back next week!
And congrats to Mr. E for #100. Done like a pro!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:23 PM (IQ6Gq)

112 Hadrian. I’ve been away all day. Finn?

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at October 04, 2025 07:24 PM (2NHgQ)

113 My mom loved collecting nativity sets. She had maybe 80-100? One year for Christmas I made her a set out of Sculpy clay. She loved it.

Her sister made an ornament for the White House Christmas tree one year. I think it was during the Clinton occupation.
Posted by: QED Texan
************
You come from bona fide Christmas people! Congrats.

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:25 PM (IQ6Gq)

114 Thank you The Grateful! I look forward to meeting you and Mr. T. Rex in a couple of weeks, as well as anyone else out there that's going. See ya!

Posted by: haffhowershower at October 04, 2025 07:26 PM (144I4)

115 Time for 4th of July themes next week?
Or is it Easter?

Posted by: MkY at October 04, 2025 07:26 PM (cPGH3)

116 I noted last year that my little progressive burg has eliminated red and green from the 'Holiday Decorations'.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 04, 2025 06:49 PM (XeU6L)
-----

So what are the acceptable inclusive and diverse colors allowed?

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at October 04, 2025 07:29 PM (kpS4V)

117 Time for 4th of July themes next week?
Or is it Easter?
Posted by: MkY
**********
I understand it all depends on the big AOS Wheel of Hobbies....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at October 04, 2025 07:29 PM (IQ6Gq)

118 Thanks to TRex and Grateful for another fine hobby thread. I expect to pick up some pine cones in the near future. Too many fun ideas in this thread.

Posted by: JTB at October 04, 2025 07:30 PM (yTvNw)

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