I tested it and it seemed to be working, but it still needed a roll to be sure. I immediately put one in and went outside to shoot. At 35°C. Bad idea. I was sweating after the first 5 minutes.

I brought the roll to develop the day after and now I’m waiting on the results. I really hope it comes out in some form and not white!

While waiting (you can skip ahead to the next section if you’re just here for that), I put together a little beginner recap of everything I’ve learned so far. For anyone who’s curious about starting out too.

What I’ve learned so far

The camera

If you’re just starting out, there are basically 3 types of analog camera worth knowing about.

SLRs (Single Lens Reflex) are the big ones with interchangeable lenses. They let you control settings like focus, aperture, and shutter speed. More control, more complexity, more weight.

Rangefinders are a bit more compact and quieter. Instead of seeing through the lens, you look through a separate viewfinder where you see two overlapping images. You focus by turning the lens until they merge into one. It’s a bit strange at first. The Canonet I bought is a rangefinder.

Point and shoots are exactly what they sound like. You point, you shoot. No manual settings, no overthinking. The Pentax Espio 60s I bought is a point and shoot.

The film

Film comes in two main formats: 35mm (also called 135) and 120. The format you use depends on the camera you pick. Start with 35mm. It’s the most widely available, the easiest to develop, and the cheapest.

Then choose between colour and black and white. I started with colour because the vibrance and vitality I look for just isn’t there in black and white for me. That said, I can see myself trying a black and white roll soon. Just not on the Brazil trip.

ISO tells you how sensitive the film is to light. 200 works best in bright conditions, 400 is more versatile. Everyone on Reddit pointed me towards Kodak Ultramax 400 for Brazil. For the test rolls I went with the cheapest I could find, Kodak Gold 200.

Loading and unloading

Load it wrong and you could shoot a full roll of blanks. Unload it wrong and you could burn everything before development. Search YouTube for a loading video specific to your camera. Once loaded, keep an eye on the rewind crank while you shoot. If it’s moving with each shot, the film is advancing. If not, something is wrong.

How to test a camera

Still figuring this out myself, so take it with a grain of salt.
For the mechanical part, search YouTube for something like “how to use a Canonet QL19.”

this profile give you a free checklist

how to tell if the SLR is working

how to tell if the Point and Shoot is working

The test roll is trickier. The key is a scientific approach, not a creative one. You’re not trying to take beautiful photos, you’re trying to understand your camera. Shoot in every condition: full light, shadow, indoors, with and without flash. Try each shutter speed. Take notes on every shot. Take the same shot in different settings so you can compare.

Development

Look for a lab that develops in house. It’s usually better quality and cheaper. Some labs let you choose your scanner, which is worth paying a bit more for. I went with a Noritsu. For file format, pick TIFF over JPEG if you want to edit your photos afterwards. And always pick up your negatives. If you’re not happy with the scans, you can rescan them elsewhere, or print them in a larger format later.

The PENTAX results

The photos came back. I’m a bit disappointed, but honestly it’s not the camera’s fault. It’s mine.

The Pentax handles dim light better than I expected, even with 200 ISO and no flash. But it doesn’t focus well on things closer than about a metre, especially with the zoom. I’m choosing to see that as character. The biggest surprise was how subtle the difference is from a digital photo. I expected something more immediately film-like. But it’s a 90s point and shoot, so maybe that’s why. I’m hoping the Canonet will give me more of that look. Brazil should help too.

One thing I learned: film isn’t immediate like digital, and that’s part of the charm. You’ll learn to enjoy the anticipation. The not knowing, the waiting. Embrace it.

But wait. There’s another camera in this story. July was a busy month for this hobby!

The Canonet

I picked up the Canonet from the repair shop. 60€ in the end. I was hoping for 50€, but by girl’s math I actually saved money since the first place quoted me 80€. So technically I saved 20€!

Every person I’ve talked to about analog photography has been incredibly nice, and the repair man was no exception. He told me to call whenever I need help, and suggested I always shoot in manual for better results. He got technical. I nodded enthusiastically.

The test roll did not go well. The frame counter isn’t working. I decided to shoot at sunset, which sounds romantic but meant I had about 30 minutes before the light disappeared. The settings confused me, I ended up asking AI on the spot, and at a certain point just went by gut. I didn’t even write down which settings I used for which shot. In the beginning the roll wasn’t advancing so I had to open the camera in the middle of a field and reload. Then I opened the back again to check if it was moving, discovered it was, and ruined some shots. Unloading was its own adventure..

I stress very easily when I’m a novice at a difficult hobby. This one is testing me.

The photos came back. Mostly out of focus, no sunset visible, overexposed by far. My cat was never in focus.

After a brief self-pity party, I decided to use the photos to practice editing. Most analog photographers I follow use some kind of software, so I figured it was time to learn. I asked the lab for TIFF files instead of JPEGs, downloaded Darktable, and started following tutorials. After a while I managed to make a drawn and parametric mask and use it to modify the colours of the sunset. Not a great outcome, but I’m genuinely proud of myself.

I’m going to keep practicing.

Have you ever come across Life on Film on Instagram? Yeah I know, how many of my hobbies start there? Do I spend too much time on it? Very possible. But anyway. It’s a profile that gives strangers analog cameras, then develops and shares the results. I find it magical.

When I was a teenager I really got into analog photography and bought multiple Lomography cameras and a couple of vintage ones. None of them are usable today. I also bought a lot of things to start developing at home, then forgot about it and never tried. I don’t even know where that stuff went. I guess my addiction to trying hobbies is not a new thing!

But anyway, back to now.
I have my Brazil trip coming up. So I decided to look for a camera I could buy cheap, develop cheap, and that would make photos in the vintage style of Life on Film.

I’m a bit scared of theft so I didn’t want something expensive that I could lose. I landed on the Kodak Ektar H35. As usual my budget was 50€, but I couldn’t find any new Ektar under that. I found one on Vinted for 50€ including 2 Kodak Gold 200 rolls, the ones I was interested in and that would cost 18€ each on Amazon. Considering development and scans (~8€) I’ll go a bit over budget. But nothing major. _{(Ah! Wait for later!!)}

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Reddit said no. Instagram said yes.

After buying I ended up in a little rabbit hole on Reddit (r/analogcommunity) that really demonized the Ektar H35. But their cons were all things I was actually looking for: it works best in bright sunny days, not indoors, and it’s a simple point and shoot with no option to change ISO, aperture etc.. It’s also still the cheapest option I could find that does half frames. All plastic? Yes. But does it work? Should be. On Instagram the story was different. A lot of reviews and example photos really gave me hope I made the right choice. I’m ready to sell it again on Vinted if after development I find it’s not what I’m looking for. Of course this means throwing away some potentially great shots in Brazil, but I’ll have my phone with me too so I’m not too worried.

The goal of this camera is candid shots. Something without overthinking or expecting perfect results. Something without the pressure.

Then I got a bit worried about loading and unloading the roll. I watched several videos.

Then I watched a lot of photos made with Gold 200 and Ultramax 400 and now I’m not so sure which one I prefer. Which one will be better for the trip. I think I won’t change rolls mid-trip, and I want to buy in bulk, so I need something versatile. Something that works in the Amazon, in the desert, and at the beach. That handles very bright environments without overexposing, but also shadier ones like under a forest canopy.
I asked Reddit for advice. Every reply was the same: buy Ultramax. I don’t really want to spend 40€ more for 3 rolls, but one roll costs 20€ so buying 3 makes sense, especially since I hope to use them in Iceland and Athens too.

Back to square one

The Ektar H35 arrived. Unfortunately it was broken. I sent it back and got a refund. Then I spent the next two days looking for another camera. This time, knowing a bit more about what was out there, I decided to look for something more professional while still staying within 50€. I asked Reddit in r/analogcommunity for suggestions and in the end I picked a Canonet QL19 for 30€, untested, because the result photos were the ones I liked most. It’s described as warm and cinematic, soft but detailed, slightly dreamy highlights, gentle contrast. A softer, more emotional feel compared to sharper SLR lenses.

Could I stop there? (you know the answer)

I decided to also buy a point and shoot to rely on for quick moments. A Pentax Espio 60s for 14€. The battery was tested and working, which is already better than completely untested like the Canonet. Let’s hope for the best and wait for them to arrive. I’ll check them mechanically, study the controls a bit, and try to shoot a sample roll with each.

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Stuck. Literally.

Ok the Canonet arrived. Everything including the battery seems to work, but sadly the shutters are stuck closed. From what I found online this is usually a gunk build-up problem. There’s a way to clean it yourself but it’s risky if you’re not a professional. Better to ask an expert for an estimate. I hope it’ll be around 50€ but my hopes aren’t high.

The lowest estimate came in at 70€-80€. I pondered the choice for a while. Well, like half a day. The thing is, I could sell it as untested, try to recover my loss, and buy another one, but everything I was finding under 50€ was also untested. So the loop could be endless. Buy another, find a new problem, resell it, maybe break even, start again. And none of the alternatives came close to the results I’d seen from the Canonet, which I was really looking forward to. I could also just close the chapter on this hobby entirely. Sell everything and decide it’s not worth it. But I’m too emotionally invested. I get attached easily to things I’ve spent time researching. My friends suggested I keep the camera and go for the repair. I’m not asking Reddit. I’m too afraid they’d talk me out of it.

The place that quoted me 70-80€ was in Milan. I was already convinced to go there when I decided to look around a bit more. Found a place closer to me that quoted 40-50€. Much better! I’m going there instead. Still need to check that everything else on the camera works, and I really hope the estimate doesn’t go up once they see it in person. Fingers crossed.
I can definitely say I got a bit burned by buying two cameras and neither working. My fault for trusting Vinted with something this complex. My fault for buying untested cameras. My fault for having faith in good luck when I’m notoriously unlucky with shopping. Oh well!

50€ was a fun idea

You know when I said my budget was 50€? I’m already over it and ready to more than triple it. I’m not great at respecting a budget! Here’s what I bought so far and what’s looking to come:
Films 27€ + Canonet 30€ + Pentax 14€ + battery 5€ + repairs 50€ + development of 2 test rolls 16€ = 142€
And then rolls and development for Brazil (at least 2?), Iceland (1?), Athens (1?)... ouch. If we don’t count travel as a hobby, this is definitely the most expensive one I’ve ever tried. I really hope I stick with it, because I need to justify the expense!

Oh, and the Pentax arrived. Everything seems to be working. I’m not celebrating yet. I need to test a roll on it first.

I will never understand how American creators can find so many Coach bags online, especially vintage, especially in slightly bad but restorable condition for just a couple of tenners each!

Ok, let me give you some context here. Everything for this month’s obsession started on Instagram, as it often does. It suggested me some reels of yooon_ie giving a “spa day” to a series of vintage Coach bags bought for under 25$ at the thrift store. It was very relaxing to watch. And I thought, I want to try to do this as well!

So I started a Vinted rabbit hole to find any slightly battered vintage Coach under 20/25€. To my disappointment there were none. I then asked ChatGPT some recommendations for more brands with good leather that restore easily, preferably vintage. An even deeper rabbit hole. In the end the ones that yielded the best results on Vinted were Fossil and Dooney and Bourke.

After what felt like countless sleepless nights, and was indeed only one night of rabid searching, I ended up with three bags. A beaten Fossil for 8€. A vintage red Bally mini bag with a detached inside panel and light scratches for 8€. And a yellow Comtesse in already great condition that I wanted purely for myself, negotiated down to 18€. Totaling with shipping I was still well under my 50€ budget, but I had to buy the products as well. Spoiler: I went over.

The toolkit

Based on availability in my country (Italy) and price, I ended up with a couple of horsehair brushes, the Saphir Crème Universelle, and the Fiebling glycerin soap. Most tutorials are US based and the products they recommend are either unavailable here or priced at absolute madness: 45€ for Bick 4, 84€ for Lexol! So I avoided those. I also tried consulting the r/leather subreddit on which cleaner to buy, but it didn’t yield many results.

Some say saddle soap can be too aggressive and to only use it if the leather clearly needs a clean. The glycerin soap is more delicate, which felt like a safer bet. I used it on both the Fossil and the Bally. I set the Comtesse aside. She’s sitting on my bag shelf. I didn’t want to risk ruining her. I’ll probably not wash her but I’ll condition her eventually.

The spa day

At some point I realised I needed to stop buying and start learning. So for what I learned: you need to clean the bag and then condition it. To clean you need to vacuum the inside, brush the outside, use a detergent for the leather, and, if needed, vinegar for mold and disinfectant for the inside. Then you condition it using a balm or a conditioner. Finally you brush the outside with a horsehair brush to evenly spread the conditioner and avoid sticky buildup.

I started with dry brushing and vacuuming the Fossil. I discovered a big strange but luckily not smelly spot on the inside. Then I washed the outside with the glycerin soap. It bled a bit of colour but didn’t fade. I felt cocky enough to try the same on the Bally. It bled red too, which was a small heart attack, but it didn’t fade either. I let both dry for a few days (I didn’t have time to deal with them before, but I don’t think they suffered the pause) then applied the conditioner.

Worth it?

Did I expect a more relaxing process? Yes.

Did I expect to enjoy it more? Yes.

The part I was most looking forward to were the results. The before and after. Restoring something to its potential. But after cleaning I couldn’t see much difference, and after conditioning, still not many visible results. Maybe I expected too much. Maybe I need more bags and more practice.

Should you try it?

Starting this, I vaguely thought I could resell the bags for a profit once done with the spa day. I’ll try to resell the Fossil because it’s absolutely not my style and I bought it solely for the purpose of this hobby. The Comtesse I bought for myself so there was never any doubt on that one. I was on the fence about the Bally, because it’s not something I’d envision on me, but I felt somewhat attached to it after trying to restore its beauty. As soon as I showed her to my mother, though, she really liked it, so I’ll happily gift it to her. The bag will remain in the family.

I’ll probably never make money with this, but I think that’s fine. Making money from a hobby should not be the goal anyway. The moment a hobby starts carrying financial expectations it can begin to feel a lot less like play and a lot more like work.

What I can say is that giving a spa day to a leather bag is something interesting to try. I’d suggest it to anyone who likes bags, appreciates thrifting, and is looking for a goal-oriented hobby that doesn’t take much time from start to finish.

If that sounds like you, try it out and let me know. I’m especially curious to see which bags you’d pick, and of course, the results!

My sources of inspiration

• The Leather Doc

• Yooon_ie

• Jxoris

• r/leather

Every time I plan a trip I do what I always do: I fall into a rabbit hole. This time it was Brazil, and somewhere between checking what to pack and whether to worry about mosquitoes, I stumbled across a piece of information that changed the trajectory of my month’s hobby. I don’t even know for sure if it’s true, but apparently in Brazil, outside of the very touristy places, people don’t speak much English. I immediately started worrying about misunderstandings and language barriers. Then I thought: I’m good at learning languages, I even like it. I have 4 months before August. Why not learn a bit of Portuguese before my trip? I don’t want to pass as a local. I just need enough to find a bathroom, pay for something, book a table, order at a restaurant.

Brain gym

Now, I had a very specific reason to start. But honestly, you don’t need one. Learning a language is one of the best things you can do for your brain. It challenges it, feeds it, keeps it busy. And it doesn’t need much: 15 minutes a day is enough to make a difference. Also, if you’re someone who reaches for their phone constantly like me, it’s a great way to replace scrolling. It just takes a little consistency and the right tools.

Four months, many apps

So what did I do this month? First, being Italian helped more than I expected. A lot of the vocabulary and grammar rules are similar. Still not easy, but not starting from zero either.

Next, the most controversial thing: I use DUOLINGO. I think it gets an unfair reputation. It’s free, very easy to use, slightly addictive, and if you repeat exercises often enough, things eventually stick. The fact that I can do it even at work doesn’t hurt either.

Apart from Duolingo, I also listen to a podcast called LINGUA DA GENTE, which I think is the best starting point for beginners because it includes English translations and explanations of the dialogues. I know the advice is always to just immerse yourself in the language, but I find this podcast the right mix for someone who just started. I’m already looking forward to stepping it up in a month or so, maybe with a podcast entirely in Portuguese.

I also use LINGUNO, a website with a great listening section where you hear a sentence and write it down. It also has a vocabulary section that works a bit like Anki flashcards. I built my own word list and try to work through it regularly. On top of that I watch a YouTube channel, use a free grammar ebook, and try to expose myself to the language through movies subbed or dubbed in Portuguese.

And last but not least, PREPLY. I have a great teacher, Vanessa, who is very patient and never seems bothered by my very basic level. We have a weekly one hour lesson. Her goal, I think, is to build me a survival kit of sentences for the trip. Things like please speak slowly, I don’t understand, I have a reservation, where’s the bathroom, how much is it. Through that I’m also building vocabulary and starting to feel like I could construct and understand sentences in those situations, at least a little. My favourite part of every lesson is when I reach for a word. Something I picked up from Duolingo or Linguno or Lingua da Gente, and it’s just there. It’s always a nice surprise.

Cautiously optimistic

4 weeks in, things feel good. But I’d be lying if I said I had no doubts. There’s always the fear of hitting a wall. I worry I’ll reach a point where my interest deflates and my motivation disappears without warning. But I also know that when I have a real goal I usually follow through. And my trip in August is very real (or I hope so, considering the current flights situation).

I’m cautiously optimistic. Still afraid I could give up unexpectedly, but also kind of convinced I won’t. If I manage to actually use Portuguese in Brazil in August, even just a little, I’ll be very proud of myself.

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Resources

• Duolingo — free, gamified, slightly addictive. Good for daily habit and vocabulary.

• Lingua da Gente — podcast for beginners of Brazilian Portuguese. Includes English explanations and translations.

• Linguno — great listening exercises, vocabulary flashcards, even a grammar section.

• Preply — platform for finding a tutor online. Real speaking practice is irreplaceable. (discount code - affiliate link)

• Plain Portuguese — a YouTube channel with slow, clear Portuguese made for learners.

• Português para Principiantes — a free grammar ebook from the University of Wisconsin. Well structured and useful.

• Movies — take a movie or show you already know and switch the language to Portuguese. I started with Angry Birds.

Most of these resources work for any language, not just Portuguese. Duolingo, Preply, and Linguno all support many others. And the general blueprint is the same: practice daily, train your ear, immerse yourself in the language, study the grammar. Just pick your language and go!

Sometime this spring I decided I wanted to learn embroidery.

It started with a bag, a Uniqlo banana bag, beige. Are they popular where you are too? Here you see them everywhere. They’re small, cheap, and somehow fit everything, which makes them the kind of bag you reach for without thinking.

I bought one with a specific plan in mind: I wanted to embroider flowers on it and carry it on my summer trip. Not a vague someday project, a real deadline, a real destination. I had never embroidered anything before, and I didn’t want to go in completely blind. A kit felt like the right entry point, a way to learn the basics before attempting the thing I actually cared about making.

So I ordered a kit. It cost around 14€, which felt like the right amount to spend on something I wasn’t sure I’d stick with. It came with everything: hoop, needles, thread, a small instruction booklet with basic stitches. I worked through it for a while, dutiful, slightly bored, and then I grew impatient and moved straight to the actual project.

What could go wrong

What I didn’t account for was the cat. Thread is, apparently, irresistible. So is a hoop left unattended for thirty seconds. If you have a cat, add “managing the cat” to your list of beginner challenges.

The first real obstacle was the embroidery paper. I bought the cheapest I could find, around 9€, and it turned out to be a mistake. It wouldn’t stick to the bag. My solution was to embroider the paper directly to the fabric to hold it in place, which felt improvised and slightly chaotic but worked fine.

Another obstacle, and a persistent one: separating the threads. Embroidery floss comes in six strands and you’ll usually need to split them before you start. I work with 3+3, which feels like the right balance between speed and manageability. But pulling them apart without creating a tangled mess? I haven’t cracked that yet.

The unexpected wins

My favourite discoveries were a tiny piece of plastic, a stitch that took me forever to master, and a flower that made it all worth it.

First, the needle threader. It came in the kit, I dismissed it immediately, and it turned out to be the most useful thing in the box.

Then the French knot, fiddly at first, then suddenly obvious once you find the right explanation (thanks YouTube!). I still don’t get it perfect every time, but I read something that reframed it for me: you’re the one who stared at this for hours. You know every stitch that went slightly wrong. Someone else just sees the result. I’ve stopped unpicking imperfect knots. The process is supposed to be relaxing.

And then the rose, long to make, repetitive, possibly meditative depending on the day. But genuinely beautiful when it’s done. A little dramatic, in a good way.

What made it work

If I had to name what made this work for me, it would come down to two things: having a real project and having the flexibility to fit it into my life.

On the project side, it matters more than I expected. Not a hoop for the wall, not a practice piece that ends up in a drawer. Something with a use, a destination. The bag makes the hours feel purposeful, which is what keeps me coming back to it.

It isn’t finished yet. I underestimated how long it would take, which is completely reasonable given that I’d never done this before, and I kept having to negotiate with the cat.

But that’s where the flexibility comes in. Embroidery fits into an entire afternoon or into 15 spare minutes between other things. I haven’t once felt like I didn’t have enough time for it.

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What you need to start

The honest answer is: not much.

The kit is the only essential. Pick one with colours you like, if you move on to a second project, you’ll be glad to have thread you’re already drawn to. The extra 100-thread pack was an indulgence and also absolutely worth it. More colours means more options, and options are most of the fun.

The transfer paper: worth buying, worth spending a little more than I did.

Useful links

For learning French knots: Your Ultimate Guide To French Knots!

For some flowers: TEN hand embroidered flowers tutorial

For more flower inspiration and tutorials: Rose, Daisy, Bee, Mini Flowers, Raspberries

Join a community! reddit embroidery

One last thing

I won’t tell you embroidery is for everyone. No hobby will ever be.

But the barrier to starting is lower than it looks, and the satisfaction of making something you’ll actually use is higher than expected.

Worst case? You try something new and don’t like it. The best case is a bag full of flowers you made yourself, going somewhere with you this summer.

Not because I needed a new hobby.

Actually, I probably never need a new hobby. Or do I? Do we, as humans, always need to try new things to feel like we can achieve the unknown? Sorry, I’m going on a mental trip.

But anyway... I follow this woman on Instagram who makes the most stunning linocut prints and at some point I thought: How hard can it be?

That sentence has started many things in my life.

For anyone who’s never tried it: linocut is basically fancy stamp-making. You carve a design into a block, ink it up, and press it onto paper. The carved-away parts stay white, the raised parts print in color. Simple in theory.

I bought a starter kit, the very popular Essdee one, because I wanted something self-contained, something that didn’t require research spirals or twelve tabs open comparing carving tools. Did I end up in a research spiral anyway? Yes I did.

But I like hobbies that come in a box. It makes them feel contained, temporary, like I can explore without fully rearranging my personality. Also, sometimes it’s cheaper than buying things separately. This time I spent 37€.

The kit comes with black ink, but I am not a black-and-white person.

Anyway, I told myself I would at least try it before buying other colors. But then I found out you can use cheap ink pads instead of very expensive and messy liquid ink specifically made for printing with linocut.

So I did not wait.

I bought a tiny yellow ink pad that arrived even before the kit itself. Then a green one soon after. And now I’m waiting on an orange one.

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What You’ll Actually Use

The essentials:

• Two cutters: One U-shaped a bit larger, one V-shaped a bit smaller. That’s truly all you need to start.

• Softcut blocks: Trust me—start here, not with traditional lino.

• Ink pads (not liquid ink): Hardcore opinion: Ink pads give you control. Liquid ink gives you mess and regret. Tsukineko is very famous for selling a lot of different colors in lines like Versacolor and VersaFineClair. I cannot recommend them enough for beginners! I paid 2€ for the little ink pad and then 7€ for the big ones.

• Transfer paper or baking paper: For getting your design onto the block. I used transfer paper that didn’t work on softcut, and then cheese paper because I was out of baking paper and that worked on the softcut (for this, check the tutorial below).

• Regular printer paper: Seriously, that’s it. I grabbed some from work. I also tried origami paper for colored backgrounds, which looked great!

Attempt One: Easier Said Than Done

I chose to start carving my cat as the first thing since I just adopted Mr. Fog and wanted to make him part of The Hobby Hopper.

To make it easier, I asked ChatGPT to simplify one of his photos into a beginner linocut design. Looking back... it was optimistic. There were a lot of tiny details. A lot of trust in my hands.

Transferring the design onto the softcut block using transfer paper didn’t work, so I switched to classic lino.

Then I started carving.

And within minutes, I cut myself.

Nothing dramatic. But a very clear reminder that these tools are sharp.

What surprised me more than the cut was how hard it was to find the right depth. At first I was too gentle, barely scratching the surface. The cutter would slide across the lino rather than bite into it. Then I overcorrected and went too deep, especially in the larger white areas, and my hand started aching from the constant pressure.

I also learned the fundamental rule of linocut: you carve away what you want to stay white, and leave behind what you want colored. This makes total sense once you understand it, but feels completely backwards when you’re staring at your design trying to figure out where to start. Your brain wants to carve the design itself, not the space around it.

Eventually, I left the cat half-finished that day.

But I didn’t want to end on frustration.

So I grabbed the softcut block, carved a super simple quick design, used my yellow ink pad, pressed the paper down with my hands...

And when I peeled it off?

It worked!

The lines were clean, the yellow was bright against the white paper, and even though it was just basic shapes, it was mine. That small, imperfect print made me disproportionately happy.

Attempt Two: The Cat Deserved Better

I went back to the cat a few days later, and carving felt calmer. My grip was more relaxed, my movements more deliberate. It wasn’t graceful, but it was steadier.

Printing, however, humbled me again.

This time I used the liquid ink from the kit, wanting to “do it properly.” I rolled on what I thought was a reasonable amount, pressed the paper carefully, and peeled it back with genuine anticipation.

Result? Details were lost. The ink flooded the delicate lines.

I made a classic beginner mistake: I used too much ink.

Lesson learned: ink pads aren’t just easier, they’re better for beginners.

Attempt Three: Finding My Flow

For my third attempt, I carved a “Hobby Egg” logo into softcut. I chose thicker lines. Simpler shapes.

The carving took about an hour, but the hour flew. The softcut was forgiving enough that I could relax rather than wrestling with the material. My hand didn’t hurt. The blade moved smoothly.

I inked it with the mini ink pad, pressed it onto paper, and peeled it back.

The lines were clean. The yellow popped. I could actually see the design I’d intended.

Now I’m waiting for the orange ink pad to arrive so I can try a two-color print.

Attempt Four: Just Because

By the fourth try, I had relaxed. This was the first time I wasn’t trying to “get it right.”

I drew a simple fish directly on softcut. No ChatGPT, no transfer paper, just me and a pencil. Quick, loose, fun.

I'd bought green ink by then (told you I couldn't help myself), and I stamped it on green origami paper just to see what would happen.

Green on green.

I didn’t expect much, but the monochrome effect ended up looking surprisingly sophisticated. The texture of the origami paper gave it a completely different feel from the printer paper.

That might be my favorite kind of outcome.

I even filmed a small video while printing it, which felt like a tiny milestone.. not because it was perfect, but because I was relaxed enough to document it without overthinking it.

Softcut vs Classic Lino (A Very Early Opinion)

After trying both, here’s my honest comparison:

Classic lino is harder, requires more pressure, and hurts your hand after extended carving. The one advantage? It holds finer details better if you can actually carve them properly. I even read that warming it makes it easier to cut, so I sat on the block for a few minutes before carving again. I can’t say it changed anything, but it did make me laugh at myself a little.

Softcut is easier to carve, gentler on your hands, and much more beginner-friendly. You can work on it for longer without cramping up. The transfer paper didn’t work on it for me, but the (cheese)baking paper trick did. And it’s even cheaper!

At this stage, I find myself reaching for softcut without thinking. The way it responds to the blade, that smooth, clean cut, makes the whole process more enjoyable.

If I Were Starting Over Tomorrow

I’d do three things differently:

1. Start stupidly simple. Not a cat portrait. A circle. A leaf. Basic shapes until I understood how deep to cut and how much ink to use.

2. Skip straight to softcut and ink pads. Save yourself the frustration. You can experiment with traditional lino and liquid ink later if you want, but why make learning harder than it has to be?

3. Use a sturdy table you don’t care about. You need a surface that won’t scratch (or that you’re okay scratching). Also, carving bits will go everywhere, but they’re easy to clean up.

4. Accept that your first prints will teach you more than any tutorial. The gap between “understanding” and “doing” is real.

That said, I’m glad I tried everything. Figuring out what doesn’t work for you is part of the process. But if you want maximum satisfaction with minimum frustration, that’s my advice.

The Verdict

Difficulty: Medium. Not technically complex, but a bit physically demanding in ways you won’t expect.

Cost: Medium-low. Less than 50€ for a complete starter kit and some ink pads that’ll last you dozens of prints.

Mess factor: Low with ink pads, medium with liquid ink.

Time investment: 1-3 hours per design to start, depending on complexity. Printing itself takes minutes.

Satisfaction level: High. There’s something deeply rewarding about making something this tangible.

Would I do it again? I’m literally waiting on an orange ink pad to arrive so I can do it again. So yes.

Linocut sits in that sweet spot between artistic and practical, meditative and physical. It’s exactly the right amount of challenge: enough to feel accomplished when you nail it, but not so much that you want to quit.

If you’ve been curious, try it. Start simple. Use softcut. Buy the ink pad. And maybe don’t make your first project a cat portrait.

Tutorials Worth Your Time

I’m not going to pretend I just winged this. I watched tutorials. A lot of them. These are the ones that actually helped me:

PRINTMAKING Tutorial, How to LINOCUT for Beginners Pt. 1 Pt.2 Pt.3

Introduction to Linocut Printing for Beginners

Block Printing for Beginners How to Carve Your First Stamp

Beginner to Pro: How to do Linocut 2023 [Part 1] | Dano Does Things

Beginner to Pro: Linocut Image Transfers & Lining Up Prints 2023 [Part 2] | Dano Does Things

4 Ways to Transfer an Image to a Linoleum Block

I needed something to fill it. A small project, maybe. Something tactile. Something that would give my hands a purpose and my brain just enough to focus on without demanding too much.

That’s how I ended up with Kumihimo.

I’d never heard of it before I stumbled across it online: a Japanese braiding technique that uses a square or round frame and colorful threads to create cords and bracelets. I liked that it felt a bit niche, something unfamiliar. And that it was cheap! For about 20€, I got a book, a square frame, and an absurd amount of thread that I know I’ll never finish.

It felt like the perfect winter hobby: minimal setup, affordable, a little bit Y2K.

I briefly considered picking crochet back up instead, but I wanted to challenge myself with something new.

I thought it would be meditative. Repetitive in that good way, where your hands know what to do and your mind can wander. The kind of craft you do while half-watching a show or listening to a podcast in the background.

It wasn’t.

When repetition doesn’t become rhythm

Kumihimo is repetitive. There’s no question about that. You move threads in a pattern, over and over, watching the braid grow slowly beneath the frame.

In theory, it’s simple. In practice, I had to concentrate more than I wanted to. I managed to listen to a podcast once while braiding, but it felt like trying to read two books at the same time. Watching TV was completely out of the question.

The movements never became automatic for me. They stayed just effortful enough to demand attention, but not engaging enough to make that attention feel rewarding. I kept waiting for the moment when my hands would take over and my brain could rest. That moment never came.

I also had to let go of my expectations about speed. I’d read that a bracelet could take 20 minutes. Mine took at least 1 hour. The braid grew so slowly that I kept checking underneath, flipping it over to see if I’d made any real progress. That little reveal, the pattern emerging on the underside, was always satisfying. But the satisfaction faded quickly when I realized how much further I still had to go.

Time didn’t fly. It crawled. And I’m someone who picks hobbies specifically to make time soften, to make an evening feel shorter and gentler. Kumihimo did the opposite.

The problem with bookmarks

Part of my frustration, I think, came from the limited range of things you can actually make. A bracelet. A necklace. A bookmark. Maybe a keychain. I knew immediately I’d never wear the jewelry. That left me with bookmarks and keychains, and the thought of making the same thing over and over again drained me before I even started.

I realized something about myself through kumihimo: I need variation. I need different projects, different endings, different purposes. Doing the same small task on repeat, even if it’s technically “creative,” bores me to tears.

When I crochet, every project starts with a specific goal. I’m making bag charms, or a small pouch, or a gift for someone I care about. Finishing it feels like a small victory. I’ve always avoided things like crocheted granny squares for the same reason I struggled with kumihimo: they don’t go anywhere. There’s no point for me.

What I did like

But here’s the thing: I didn’t hate it entirely.

I liked the quiet weight of the threads in my hands. I liked that small flip-over moment, checking the underside of the braid to see the pattern taking shape. I felt genuinely proud when I finished my first piece, a simple bookmark that I ended up giving to my mum. She seemed to like it, or at least she was kind enough to pretend.

I tried kumihimo multiple times because I kept feeling like there was something there for me, even if I couldn’t quite reach it. I wanted to like it more than I actually did.

And in the end, trying it taught me something valuable: I don’t enjoy hobbies where the process matters more than the outcome. I need a project with a clear purpose and a clear ending to feel truly satisfied. I need to be working toward something, not just working.

That’s not a flaw in kumihimo. It’s just a truth about me.

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Why I’d still recommend it

Yes, I’d still recommend it!

Even though kumihimo didn’t become a keeper, I’d still recommend trying it, especially if you’re curious and looking for something low-commitment. I got like 4 hours of attention, experimentation, and mild satisfaction from it and it still feels like a good return. A hobby doesn’t need to last months or years to be worth trying. Sometimes trying something, enjoying it briefly, and then letting it go is part of the hobby itself. Not everything needs to stick.

Kumihimo is inexpensive. It’s easy to learn. It’s easy to store away when you’re tired or bored of it, maybe to pick up again another month, or another season, or never again. There’s no pressure. No guilt. Just a small experiment with almost no investment.

For me, kumihimo gave me a few calm hours, a few finished bookmark, and a clearer idea of what I actually look for in a hobby.

That feels like enough.

Resources I used

I didn’t go very deep with kumihimo, sure, but these are the things that worked best for me.

I used a square kumihimo frame. I chose it because I wanted to make mostly bookmarks: the square frame creates flatter cords, while round discs are better for bracelets and necklaces.

I preferred the book over video tutorials. Being able to see the pattern at all times and go at my own pace felt easier than following a video in real time. The book I used was How to Make 50 Fabulous Kumihimo Braids by Beth Kemp.

I tried two thread sizes (1mm-1.5mm) and liked 1.5mm better. The book often suggests 2mm as well. Thicker thread grows faster.

I used videos to explore different patterns beyond the ones in the book:

video 1

video 2

You don’t need much to start: one frame, one pattern, and a couple of threads.

I’ll let kumihimo go for now, but maybe it’ll spark something for you. A small moment, a quiet hour, or just a little curiosity to try something new.

A new job. Too many Christmas dinners to count: friends, colleagues (new and old), my tennis group, other friends. Gifts to buy, traffic to survive, schedules layered on schedules. The kind of month where your body keeps moving but your mind never quite catches up.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I realized I needed a hobby again. I’d gone without one for a while, and I could feel the effects: restlessness, irritability, that sense of having nowhere to put my attention. But I needed something very specific. Something portable. Something I could pick up for five minutes and put down just as easily. Something challenging and fun, but free (or very cheap), since December already demolishes my budget.

Enter chess, suggested months ago by someone in the comments whose name I’ve lost. If you’re reading this, thank you!

A couple nights ago, I played my first real chess game, on my grandfather’s board, against my partner. I had trained every day for a while before that, but always in fragments, never a full game. And clearly, it wasn’t enough. I lost very quickly.

And yet: it was so much fun.

My partner helped me mid-game, stopped me before bad moves, explained better ones. In most competitive games, that would feel condescending. In chess, with someone you love, it felt collaborative. Like we were building something together rather than trying to win. The frenetic pace of December stopped for an hour. It was exactly what I needed.

But before this happened, I spent December learning alone.

How? Where? On Duolingo.

Yes, Duolingo now lets you learn chess, and for me it was genuinely game-changing. Being able to learn anywhere, in 3 to 5 minute pockets, without carrying anything with me, and with a little green owl reminding me to practice, it worked.

It was the right hobby at the right time.

Well..probably not always at the right time!

Sometimes I was surrounded by wrapping paper, or at a work event, or waiting for cookies to finish baking, or getting ready to leave for dinner and I still played. Just five minutes. Just enough to scratch the itch.

Other times, I was home alone, waiting for my partner to come back from yet another holiday obligation, and I’d play for a good chunk of time. At one point Duolingo gave me unlimited energy for 3 days, and I went a little feral.

Some days, I didn’t play at all. December is unforgiving like that. My longest streak was 14 days, though, and I’m super proud of that.

Eventually, the app wasn’t enough.

My partner offered to teach me, and I had this old board from my grandfather hanging around. The only thing missing was the pieces. When the cheap wooden set I ordered finally arrived, I opened the box immediately. The weight of them in my hands made it real in a way the app never could. Like, yes this is my new hobby!

But nothing will beat the moment we started placing them on the board. That sound reminded me of playing checkers on that same board with my grandpa. It was so nostalgic and emotional. I felt like I was finally giving the board a purpose again.

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Alone, together, and in between

Starting with an app mattered. The lack of pressure mattered. I could abandon a lesson mid-move. Take 10 minutes to think without anyone waiting. Lose again and again with no witnesses but an algorithm that didn’t care.

But an app can’t replace playing with a real person.

I believe part of why chess is fun is that there’s another human being on the other side. You try to read them, try to beat them. You laugh together at silly mistakes, or genuinely admire a great move. And if you’re lucky enough to play with a good teacher, they’ll explain why a move was bad. They’ll let you take it back. They’ll ask, “Are you sure?” and give you just enough of a hint.

Playing with someone patient changes everything. But you might need the solo practice first to feel brave enough. I know I did.

The app gave me a baseline. I at least knew how pieces moved, what check meant, basic ideas. Without that, maybe the game with my partner would’ve been frustrating instead of fun.

To start

If you’re starting chess, here’s what worked for me:

• Start alone. Use an app, YouTube videos, whatever. Get comfortable moving the pieces. This isn’t about getting good. It’s about getting brave enough to sit across from a real person.

• Get a physical board. Doesn’t matter if it’s fancy. There’s something about the weight of pieces in your hand that makes it feel more real, more serious.

• Find your patient human. Someone who wants you to learn, not just to win. Someone who explains their thinking and laughs with you when you blunder your queen.

The timeline doesn’t matter. I spent weeks on Duolingo before my first real game. You might need more time. Or less. Or maybe you’ll skip the app entirely and jump straight into playing with a friend. Just know this: solo practice, physical pieces, and patient humans each offer something different. And together, they’re better than any one of them alone.

Somewhere between Duolingo reminders, my grandfather’s board, and that first game at the table, I realized I wasn’t really learning chess.

I was creating a reason to slow down with someone I love, during the one month of the year that seems designed to prevent exactly that. Maybe that’s what hobbies are for. Not mastery. Not productivity. But these small, deliberate pauses. Little pockets of meaning we carve out for ourselves.

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And before closing this year: Happy holidays.

Thank you for reading, for being here, and for sharing this little space with me. I hope the new year brings you moments of slowness, connection, and small joys.

But then I paused.

Because I do have a hobby. One that’s been with me since I was a teenager. Maybe that’s why I no longer see it as a hobby: it’s woven so deeply into my everyday life that it feels as natural as cooking dinner. But baking is a hobby. One of my oldest, my dearest, and the one I return to again and again.

I’ve been thinking about baking a lot this month, maybe because I finally did something I’ve been putting off for years: I bought Gâteaux by Christophe Felder and Camille Lesecq, the French edition I’ve always wanted. I kept thinking it wasn’t the right time to splurge on it. But I have 3 recipes from that book that I’ve used over and over for years. And this month, I decided it was time.

So I thought, maybe that’s worth writing about.

How It All Started (And How It Changed My Life)

When I was a teenager, baking was my break from studying. A comforting pocket of time where I could make something with my hands and feel like I was doing something real. I loved pushing my limits back then: researching techniques, experimenting wildly, trying things just to see if they’d work.

I don’t experiment like that anymore. Now I can read a recipe and know immediately if it’s a good fit for me. I trust my instincts about flavour and technique, but I’ve become more cautious. I don’t want to waste time or ingredients on something that might not work. I stick to sure things. Maybe I trust my skill less than I used to. Or maybe I just know what I like.

But there was a moment when baking transformed from a comforting hobby into something bigger.

10 years ago feel like a long time. But I still remember it like it was yesterday. I had just left a long, toxic relationship that kept me caged. I had dropped out of a university path that was absolutely wrong for me. I needed something different. I needed space, and something that felt like mine.

So I enrolled in pastry school.

It was an act of freedom.

Studying and then working as a pastry chef (for a brief time) changed everything about how I bake. I learned the magic of mise en place (the joy of having everything measured and ready before you even begin) and I still use that system for everything: cooking, working, even fixing a button.

But switching back to home baking after working in professional kitchens wasn’t easy. I realised that restaurant recipes don’t translate well to a home oven, home equipment, with home ingredients and home timing. That’s when I started searching for creators, pastry chefs, and books that offer recipes you can actually make at home, and succeed.

Some of my favourites are at the end of this article.

A Confession

My first instinct was to say: “don’t improvise when you bake.” But that wouldn’t be honest: I improvise all the time.

To be fair: I follow the recipe whenever possible. But if I’m out of an ingredient, or want a gluten-free or lower-sugar version, I’ll adapt. I swap flours. I swap or reduce sugars. And if a recipe calls for 20 grams of apricot jam inside the batter… well, you can bet I will not open a jar for that.

What I don’t do is make dramatic substitutions (no replacing eggs with anything random). Small tweaks? Yes. Chaos? No.

I’ve thrown plenty of things in the bin over the years. Muffins, especially, are not my forte. And recently I discovered that my beloved grandma’s hazelnut cake recipe contains too much sugar for today’s ingredients. It’s just too sweet now. I didn’t throw it away (it was still edible), but I’ve been reducing the sugar in each new version, trying to get it right.

The Notebook of a Baker

A friend told me the other night she can never find the same apple cake recipe twice, so she keeps trying new ones, with mixed results.

If you’re like her, here’s my gentlest advice: Get a notebook. Write down the best recipes the moment you taste them.

In a few years, you’ll have a thick, stained, slightly sticky treasure. Mine began when I worked in a restaurant in London. It’s full of memories, smudges, and notes in both English and Italian. I love it. Without it, half those recipes would be lost forever.

Here are some photos of it. It’s not pretty, but it’s very loved.

What Baking Feels Like (For Me)

When I think of baking today, I don’t see anything romantic, just my fridge and my kitchen, where all the magic happens. And the smell. That incredible smell of butter, sugar, and eggs mixing together.

My favourite scent of all is beurre noisette: brown butter that smells like toasted hazelnuts. It gives cakes a subtle, beautiful flavour. I also have a soft spot for chocolate. If I can bake something with chocolate in it, I will.

Baking makes me calm. It gives me a pocket of time where nothing else exists. Most days, baking is my me-time. A way to clear my mind and focus on one simple, tactile task.

It connects me straight back to childhood: to mud pies, imaginary potions, and chemistry experiments. Mixing things together still feels like magic.

Why Baking Makes a Great Hobby

Baking keeps you busy for an hour or two. You can start with almost nothing: a hand whisk, a cake pan, and a scale are more than enough. Over time, you can build an entire collection (I now own a ridiculous amount of tools, pans, molds, even a stand mixer, but none of it is essential).

Silicone spatulas are my personal weakness (but I only have 3!), and I love silicone financier molds. But again: optional.

It requires patience and precision but nothing more exotic than that. You don’t need a course, unless you want the community aspect. There are endless free resources online. And when you’re done, you’ve created something you can share or gift, which is its own joy.

I often bake on weekends, or when I’m stressed, or when I want to revisit the comfort of my grandma’s recipes. I need to be inspired. It feels like art. I have to be in the right frame of mind.

For Beginners: Where to Start

People often feel intimidated by baking because of the precision. But honestly, once you follow the instructions, success is much more attainable than it looks.

Your first attempt won’t be your best, that’s true. But you’ll learn quickly: consistency, colour, timing, how long to mix.

Beginner mistakes I see all the time:

• Leaving lumps in the batter. Please don’t do that.

• Not preparing ingredients beforehand (mise en place is your friend!).

Beginner bakes that almost always turn out well:

• A simple yogurt or carrot cake

• Banana bread

• Brownies (here’s a perfect score recipe from my notebook)

If you want to level up:

• Any cheesecake

• Canelés (for a real challenge)

• Tarte Bourdaloue (pear and almond.. a French classic!)

The Books & Creators I Trust

Beginner-friendly books:

• Gâteaux by Christophe Felder & Camille Lesecq (sadly it’s French only, I think)

• Anything by Christophe Felder. Try Pâtisserie

Advanced pastry books:

• Gastro by Antonio Bachour

Creators I love on Instagram:

• David Lebovitz

• EverydayPie (Kelli Avila)

What I Hope You Feel if You Try Baking

This month, I didn’t need something new. I needed something familiar. Something that lets me breathe. Baking did that. And maybe your oldest hobby can do that for you too.

If you try baking, or return to it after years away, I hope you feel curious. I hope you feel proud to create something with your hands. Even if it doesn’t become your thing, you still tried. Giving yourself permission to be new at something, vulnerable and unsure, is such a powerful act of self-care.

Whether it’s walking dogs, teaching kids, helping your community, or caring for the environment, there’s something for everyone.

I started by spending time with dogs, and along the way, I discovered joy, new skills, and a sense of purpose.

I also spoke with 5 amazing creators who volunteer in very different ways, and their experiences show just how varied and rewarding giving your time can be.

My volunteering story began one August morning, 3 years ago, when I reached out to a local shelter to set up an appointment.

I still clearly remember that day. I was excited but scared I was biting off more than I could chew. I’ve always loved dogs and had them as a kid growing up, but I can’t have one right now, as my partner and I both work full time and that wouldn’t be fair to a dog.

I was worried I would be too emotional or that volunteering would involve too much effort or commitment. But I still wanted to be around dogs, and I’d been following this rescue group on Instagram. When I discovered they were near my home, I thought this was a sign to get more involved.

The First Day

My first day at the shelter, I was scared and worried, nervous about doing something wrong or having to prove I belonged there. But everyone was incredibly kind and patient. They showed me how to safely get a dog out of a kennel and where to take them for walks. They accompanied me the entire time and explained that at this particular shelter, I wouldn’t need to clean kennels since they had paid staff for maintenance. This is rare and unusual in Italy where I live, though I’m not sure about other countries.

I spent some time with a dog who had just arrived, cuddling and keeping her company. It was such a peaceful and heartwarming moment. That’s when I decided I wanted to come back again. Then I was placed in a kennel with a group of puppies, and that was pure chaos and pure joy. They chewed my shoelaces, tumbled over each other, and climbed onto my lap like I was a jungle gym. I had never laughed so much while also being covered in tiny teeth marks.

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Discovering a Hidden Talent

After volunteering for a while, I started photographing the dogs. At the beginning, I was terrible at it. My photos were blurry, the dogs looked distracted, and I couldn’t capture their personalities at all. They gave me some tips, but it wasn’t enough. So I decided to teach myself. I found an amazing resource: a blog that sent out one short tip every day for 100 days in your email(101 Bite-Sized Ways to Improve Your Pet Photography. Delivered Daily).

That was the beginning of my journey into dog photography.

I also followed The Dogist on Instagram and learned how to use tennis balls and treats to capture a dog’s attention.

Little by little, I got better. I became the go-to photographer at the shelter, and they began using my photos to present dogs online to the community. I’m still proud of how helpful I was in this way, knowing that my photos may have helped some dogs find their forever homes.

The Magic of One-on-One Time

But my favorite part was always the walks. Taking the dogs out one by one felt magical. They were excited, curious, and so eager for cuddles and snacks. For me, it was the closest thing to having a dog of my own, but multiplied by dozens, and with even more meaning. Each dog had their own personality: some were eager to explore every smell, others just wanted to stay close and be petted, and some turned every walk into a game.

The End of a Chapter

I’m speaking in the past tense now because, sadly, the rescue I was volunteering for moved very far from me. I kept going for a while, but the hour-long commute each way wasn’t sustainable. I’m happy knowing that the dogs now live more freely in a large enclosure and roam daily the surrounding rural area rather than being walked on leashes like we used to do. But I felt redundant. They developed a less curated online presence, so my photography skills weren’t needed anymore, and I felt out of place.

I still miss it, but I decided the commute alone was reason enough to stop.

Some tips If You’re Thinking of Volunteering

Volunteering at the shelter taught me a lot. Some lessons I picked up the hard way, others made everything run smoothly. Here are a few insights I found useful; many of them, I’ve realized, apply to volunteering in other settings too.

Commit to a Regular Schedule - Be sure to have at least an afternoon or morning free every week, or every two weeks at max. Many shelters count on volunteers to maintain regular schedules, and they might not accept you if you only want to volunteer sporadically. But even if that’s your situation, try anyway! You might get lucky depending on where you are and what their needs are.

Don’t Worry About Being Too Emotional - If you’re concerned about getting too emotional, know that those feelings will settle somewhat with time. And nobody will judge you if you’re emotional. Shelter staff understand that working with animals in need affects people deeply.

Location Matters - Search for a place near where you live. Take it from my experience: a long commute each way will eventually take its toll, and you’ll likely stop going, especially if you already commute for work every day. Sustainability is key to long-term volunteering success.

Start Small - You don’t need special skills. Walking dogs, cuddling cats, folding blankets, or refilling food bowls all matter!

Be Prepared for Heartbreak - Some animals may not find homes, some may be sick, and some stories don’t have happy endings. It’s part of the reality of shelter work, but the lives you help save make it worthwhile.

Ask About Training and Support - Good shelters will provide orientation, training, and ongoing support. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request additional guidance. It shows you care about doing the job well.

Dress for the job - Long pants save you from scratch marks, darker colors hide mud and paw prints, and boots are your best friend (easy to clean, even if you step in something unpleasant).

Why You Should Try Volunteering

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering but weren’t sure it was “for you,” I get it. I had the same doubts before starting. But it turned out to be one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had. Here’s what makes it worth trying, even just once.

You’ll actually help someone - Your time makes a real difference: for people, communities, or animals. Walking a dog at a shelter, tutoring a student, helping with a local project. Every task matters.

It’s surprisingly good for you - Volunteering can genuinely reduce stress and boost your mood. There’s something about cuddling playful dogs or seeing someone’s face light up from your help that just hits different.

You’ll discover skills you didn’t know you had - I discovered my love for dog photography at the shelter. You might find out you’re great at teaching, organizing events, or leading projects. You just have to try.

You’ll meet people who get it - You’ll connect with people who share your interests and values. The kind of friendships that go beyond small talk.

You’ll see the impact - Watching dogs you’ve spent time with find homes, knowing you helped someone, improving your neighborhood, and knowing you played a part? That feeling sticks with you.

It fills whatever’s missing - Looking for meaning? A creative outlet? Connection? Volunteering might be exactly what you need. Spending time with dogs at the shelter gave me what I was missing at home.

Every time I left the shelter, I was tired, covered in dog hair, and completely muddy, but always lighter somehow. Volunteering gave me exactly what a hobby should: joy, learning, and a sense of belonging. If you’re on the fence, try it once. You might surprise yourself, and the animals will be thrilled you showed up.

There’s probably a volunteer opportunity near you right now. Animals, people, community projects, whatever speaks to you. And trust me: you’ll get far more from the experience than you give.

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The Interviews

But here’s the thing: everyone’s volunteering story is different. What works for me at the shelter might look nothing like what lights you up.

So I asked five creators who give their time in completely different ways: How did they start? What made them stay? What does it actually look like day-to-day? And what would they tell someone who’s still on the fence?

I reached out to Mark Williams (Change is Constant), Kate Tremills (Joyful Creating), Geraldine Ville (Scattered Seeds), Aisha Imtiaz (AI Marketing Playbook), and Serena Guirguis (Volunteeritude), who each bring their own spark to volunteering.

Here’s what they shared.

1) What kind of volunteering do/did you do, and how did you get started?

Mark:

I’m now retired, not currently volunteering, though over the years I’ve:

1. Been on my old school’s alumni committee;

2. Coached and refereed junior rugby;

3. Served as a non-executive director for a Welsh housing association and care group.

I was around 40 when I started. Each began for different reasons.

With the school, a friend suggested it. I had an affinity for the place and the committee wanted some “younger thinking,” though, to be honest, it ended up being the least rewarding: lots of talk about change, not much action.

The rugby came from being a volunteer parent. I wanted my kids to have options, so I helped coach. That grew into proper coaching and refereeing roles once I got the qualifications.

The housing association was quite different: a large organisation with about 1,000 staff. After losing both my parents, I wanted to give something back. I applied saying my reasons were both selfless and selfish: to contribute, learn, and eventually put “director” on my CV. They appreciated the honesty, and I stayed 12 years, progressing from board member to Chair of their Corporate Governance Committee.

Kate:

The volunteering I do these days is I am on two executive boards.

One is for an organization called Community Futures Cowichan (CFC). The CFC lends money to new and established entrepreneurs in the Cowichan Valley, where I live. It’s a long-standing organization that also provides a lot of education and support to business owners. Some of their workshops have included the Savvy CEO, specifically for female business owners, individual mentorship, and coaching programs. I am part of the executive board that decides how to lend the money, how to govern the organization, and what programs to run.

I’m also on the board of a brand new organization called Cowichan Women’s Business Network (CWBN). It’s a group that creates events and opportunities for women business owners to connect, support, and collaborate. And it intends to build a charitable arm that donates funds to other non-profits.

Geraldine:

I volunteered as a Samaritan four years ago until recently.

It’s a telephone helpline to help prevent suicides, so people have a non-judgemental person to talk to 24 hours a day. I had always wanted to be a Samaritan but I couldn’t commit to the minimum shifts, which are normally 4-8 hours every week.

However, after lockdown the London office trialled a new chat service, where only a commitment of two hours twice a month was needed. As I had to fit this into my working hours and they were all evening shifts, this was easier for me to manage. Also, the chat line was aimed at younger people or children, who wouldn’t necessarily make a phone call, which was also something that I cared very strongly about.

Aisha:

I started volunteering at a school for underprivileged children through a program called Rahbar, which means Mentor.

A friend told me about it, and I decided to join. For six weeks, every Saturday, I would visit the school to spend time with my mentees. I wanted to do something meaningful, and Rahbar gave me a chance to guide and support children who were full of dreams but needed direction.

Serena:

I got started volunteering by joining Key Club my sophomore year of high school.

Before that I would participate in random Ronald McDonald House events with my church like making breakfast or dinner for the families staying there.

But Key Club was my first introduction into organized volunteering and that is also the first club I fully integrated myself through volunteer leadership.

2) Was there a particular moment or story that made you want to keep doing it?

Mark:

• With the school committee, after a few years, very little seemed to change. The same old guard, the same reasons why things couldn’t be done. I’m motivated by helping people and actually seeing the help help, so I grew frustrated. My “why” didn’t align with the volunteer need.

• The rugby followed my kids’ age groups. The motivation was giving them and their friends the chance to play, improve, and make lifelong friends.It was fulfilling seeing the kids progress and my youngest did really well, even reaching regional level. When an injury ended his playing, my motivation ended too.

• With the housing association the motivation came from seeing the success stories as they unfolded. Theses roles were fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the group. People wanted to do the right thing, and mistakes were treated as lessons, not witch hunts. It’s probably one of the the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life, outside of family.

Kate:

What keeps me doing it are the connections. I learn so much from my fellow volunteers and I love knowing that I am making a difference in my community. It has also deepened my connection to my community and has built a lot of bonds among the fellow entrepreneurs.

Geraldine:

Really from the first day, every contact made me want to continue doing it. For as long as I had that person at the other end of the chat talking to me, the hope was that would lift some weight for them and prevent them contemplating suicide.

Many times they would thank you and say they felt better before they ended the chat. And it’s important that they knew we were there and available whenever they needed someone to talk to.

Aisha:

Yes, there was. The happiness on the students’ faces every time they saw me made my weekends feel special. Their laughter, their excitement, and the way they ran up to greet me made every effort worth it. We did many activities together like team building, workplace readiness sessions, and fun moments like painting.

One of my favorite memories was when a mentee proudly showed me a drawing of our group — mentees grown up and smiling together. That simple gesture reminded me that sometimes, being there is all it takes to make a difference.

Serena:

When I went to my first swamp cleanup with my friends, I noticed something interesting. People who were walking on the pier above where we were working would stop and look down and almost every single time they would ask, “What are you doing?” and we would answer and say that we were picking up microplastics from the marsh.

On these people’s face would be a look of surprise and you could tell they were wondering “Why on the earth would you do something as tedious as that” and something about the fact so many people had come together to do something that felt so little in hopes of making a difference genuinely inspired them and seeing that inspiration made volunteering mean more to me.

Because it wasn’t just about the service it was about the inspiration and impact it made in the togetherness of the community which was for once refreshing in a place that normally feels so separated and like everyone is in their own world.

3) What does a typical day or shift look like for you?

Mark:

School committee: Quarterly agenda-run meetings, 2–3 hours, little prep. This commitment wasn’t enough. It was too infrequent for me, and required little other than turning up. That simply isn’t me.

Rugby club: Twice weekly in season, plus prep meetings and awards evenings. Training would be 2-3 hours of an evening. Game day typically Sunday mornings e.g. 3-4 hours.

Housing association: About 1–2 days a month. Work included reading board papers, researching proposals, attending and chairing meetings, site visits to understand customers’ needs, and relevant training. Responsibility grew with seniority — as Chair, I was often the final decision-maker and signed key papers and contracts.

Kate:

A typical day/shift is a board meeting with a lot of animated discussion and decision making. The discussions are usually friendly but they can get heated, too! I’ll spend 2-3 hours with the board and leaders in the organization.

I also volunteer at the monthly dinner for CWBN that brings the members together to network and connect.

Geraldine:

A typical shift - you would sign up for in advance of between two and four hours on a weekday evening. You would arrive early to get your station set up and check in with the supervisor before making your chat available. If there are any particularly difficult or harrowing calls, you had supervisors to help you and support you.

And at the end of the shift you would check in with a supervisor, so you could talk through any problems or emotions. This part was particularly important, to ensure you didn’t bring the weight in those emotional conversations with you at the end of your shift though that is not always easy.

Aisha:

All the mentors gathered early at a fixed stop, and from there, we took a bus to the school. The journey took about an hour and a half, but it was always filled with conversations and laughter. When we arrived, mentors met first to discuss the day’s plan. Then we met our mentees and spent time working on activities that helped them learn teamwork and confidence.

I had five mentees under my guidance, and watching them grow each week was rewarding. At the end of the day, mentors gathered again to share experiences and reflect.

I was also chosen as a focal person, which allowed me to help organize activities, support fellow mentors and design future programs.

Serena:

A typical shift for volunteering usually includes some sort of leadership aspect because the 2 main organizations I volunteer at I have a leadership position in.

So, this might mean organizing a workshop and guiding Book Club members through the process of book letter writing and book mark making. I work in the groups on the projects as well because it is a great way to connect with club members to help them see the club as more than just a way to earn service hours but also a way to build a community if they feel inspired enough.

4)What would you tell someone who’s thinking about volunteering but feels unsure?

Mark:

Simply… just do it. What’s the worst that can happen? You can always stop. No-one is ever mandated to volunteer forever.

Even in large or small roles, imposter syndrome happens. But we all have skills, and the experiences we bring are unique. And so there could so easily be a “little gem” that you have, that’s worth its own weight in gold multiple times over.

You gain confidence, resilience, and new perspectives. If the culture fits you and the time commitment works, you’ll get enjoyment and make an impact.

The biggest thing is your “why”, your motivation. If that aligns with the volunteering need, your skills will almost certainly be useful.

So… just do it! There’s lots of upside, not much downside.

Kate:

What I would tell someone who feels unsure about volunteering is that it is incredibly rewarding. I always come away having learned something, connected with someone, or been challenged on an assumption.

It has also built a lot of confidence, especially in how I view myself and how deeply connected I feel with my community.

I highly recommend it for the connection. It’s amazing how isolated we can all feel these days, and volunteering is a beautiful way to make friends and contribute.

Geraldine:

For anyone thinking about volunteering, I would say find something that you feel a personal connection with.

Chat to as many people as you can about it and see if you can start off on a small scale, perhaps a trial day or a couple of hours, so you’re not committed to too much.

But for those relying on volunteers, it’s helpful to ensure this is something you can make a minimum commitment to, once you start.

Aisha:

I would tell them to take the first step and just try. Volunteering teaches you more than you expect.

It connects you to people, shows you how small actions can make a big difference, and gives your time a purpose.

You do not need to be perfect to help others. All you need is a kind heart and the willingness to give back to society. Once you start, you will realize how fulfilling it truly is.

Serena:

I would tell them just do it. It’s truly not something that requires anything of you than just some time and care. It also connects you with people you originally wouldn’t expect yourself to connect to.

It essentially breaks apart social cliques. I remember one of the first times I volunteered I was sort of nerdy and would talk in what some might call “an unnecessarily formal” manner- which I wouldn’t deny-

I ended up grouping up with one of the conventionally popular girls at my school. In the group we truly were able to laugh together at the amount of cigarettes we would see by the park and have conversations about teachers at school who we hated and loved.

Service literally just brings people together in common interest of helping something or someone.

Your Next Favorite Hobby

Volunteering comes in all shapes and sizes. As Mark, Kate, Geraldine, Aisha, and Serena show, what keeps people going isn’t just the task itself, but the connections, the small wins, and the unexpected skills you discover along the way.

So here’s the takeaway: start small, follow your curiosity, and see where it leads. You might learn something new, meet inspiring people, or just leave with a full heart.

Try it once. That’s all it takes to see why volunteering might just be your next favorite hobby.

While I wait for a hobby to sweep me off my feet, I decided to flirt with a few this weekend. Enter: speed hobbying.

Having already written about mini-hobbies, initially this felt somewhat similar. But as I explored the idea more, I was hooked! One afternoon, three hobbies to try, three tutorials to follow, and detailed reporting. Just the way I love it, sharing every impression, good or bad.

Do you think doing three hobbies in one session would ruin the fun or relaxation?

I felt incredibly excited during preparation: watching tutorials beforehand and researching each hobby put me in a genuinely good mood, highly interested and motivated. I feel this way every time I start a new hobby, but not so much when I fill free time with mini-hobbies. So I think this excitement alone will differentiate speed hobbying from my mini-hobby approach.

Hobby 1: Origami (Taking It Seriously)

For the first experiment, I wanted to dive into something I usually treat as a mini-hobby: origami. I don't do it often, and when I do, I only fold lily pads on scratch paper or sticky notes.

This time, I wanted to treat it like a real hobby. So I bought proper origami paper (nothing fancy, but still actual origami paper) and searched for the right tutorial.

Hobby 2: Tea Tasting (Venturing Into Niche Territory)

For the second hobby, I wanted something super niche: tea tasting. I bought three teas online from a famous Italian tea shop: a black, a yellow, and a green. I picked them somewhat randomly, considering only color and price (I'm always conservative when shopping for new hobbies).

Then I searched for tea tasting tutorials, expecting to find little, but stumbling upon a treasure trove of different approaches. After watching several, I picked one that seemed both accessible and professional.

A side note on this particular hobby: I’ve always felt insecure about my palate. I can tell the difference between supermarket and expensive wine, but not between a $20 and $100 bottle. Beer all tastes the same, and I barely notice the difference between butcher’s chicken and supermarket chicken. All this to say: I'm not confident in my palate, and I'm certain I lack tasting vocabulary. But that's partly why I chose this hobby: I want to improve!

After my research, I feared I didn't buy very good quality tea: at firts glance, they seem to contain leaf fragments and stems instead of whole leaves. But we'll discover more during the actual tasting.

Hobby 3: Watercolor Landscapes (The Relaxing Creative Choice)

For the third hobby, I was stumped. I wanted something relaxing—since doing three hobbies in one afternoon is challenging enough—but also creative, easy, and ideally cheap. I considered gardening, candle making, and embroidery, but none felt quite right.

I finally landed on watercolor landscape painting.

I already have some great watercolors, some less impressive ones, and good watercolor paper, so no additional purchases needed. I recently saw a reel claiming that watercolor quality matters less than having proper paper, so hopefully mine will work just fine.

I picked what seemed to be a very easy tutorial featuring a simple mountain lake scene with only two main colors involved. Perfect for someone who wanted to end the afternoon feeling accomplished rather than frustrated.

So here's what actually happened:

In 3 hours, I tried all three hobbies back to back, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect from cramming so much creative energy into one afternoon.

Origami: The Challenge I Didn't See Coming

Link tutorial

For the origami, I picked a chameleon.

It didn't seem easy, and indeed it wasn't, but I liked the idea of a challenge. I think I began well, but at the end, for the tail, I improvised a bit and it shows. I grew eager to finish, impatient to see the final result in my hands, and that didn't help.

I put some classical music on in the background to ease my mind but ended up lowering the volume significantly to focus better (like when you're parking the car and need to concentrate).

There were moments when I feared I couldn't finish it, but at the end, I'm still very happy with the result: it's very similar to the tutorial!

Even if it wasn't perfect, I could see myself picking up more difficult origami tutorials in the future, because treating it like a challenge was the part I appreciated most.

Rating: 7

Tea Tasting: An Unexpected Deep Dive

Link tutorial

The teas were: China Black Gunpowder, Yellow Maojian, and Organic Sencha Asagiri.

I'll start by saying it was the one that took the longest. I tried to follow the tutorial in every part, but ended up skipping a few steps. I brewed each tea twice, which was more involved than I expected. It was less fun than I anticipated, especially when I encountered the green tea, which I found genuinely off-putting. Still, I enjoyed it enough!

My tasting notes: the black was floral, nutty, and woody; the yellow had floral, mineral, and caramel notes; and the green one had notes of grass, seaweed, salt and fish that I really didn't enjoy.

According to the website: the black tea should be woody, caramel, and forest; the yellow should be flower, fruit, and sugary; the green should be salty, grassy, fresh, and vegetable.

The shop’s notes weren’t too far off then, so maybe I did better than I thought!

My favorite to drink alone was the yellow one.

I said alone because, deviating from the tutorial, I even tested how they tasted with biscuits. In this case, the black tea, which had reminded me of "granny tea" (in a comforting way), became my preference because the yellow was too floral and overpowering with food.

After the tasting, I went back to check the leaves. Two of the teas had intact leaves, and even the green one—the most fragmented—seemed like it was supposed to be that way. So my earlier fear about poor quality wasn’t really sustained.

I enjoyed doing something completely different from my usual routine, going out of my comfort zone. I don’t think tea tasting will become one of my hobby, but now I can appreciate and differentiate teas better “in the wild”. I’ll drink the black and yellow again, but the green one is going straight to my mom.

Rating: 7.5

Watercolor: The Surprise Winner

Link tutorial

I have to admit, I've always loved playing with watercolor, but it had been a while since my last time. I feared that following a tutorial would diminish that sense of freedom, but instead I appreciated the guidance.

Most likely because I picked a very easy tutorial. I'd never followed one for landscape painting before, but this one hit the spot. It was easy to follow, forgiving, and still gave me space to create. I really liked that it only needed two main colors (four if you count the highlights and mixing).

I skipped the swans (no gouache at home), but honestly I didn’t miss them.

The process was relaxing and felt like the quickest of the three hobbies.

I had dreaded the setup, thinking it would be more involved than the tea preparation, but I discovered I had everything stored in one convenient bag, which was a pleasant surprise.

Unlike my usual free-form painting where I completely zone out, this felt more like a gentle, focused meditation.

Rating: 8

The Verdict

So, did cramming three hobbies into one afternoon ruin the fun? Not at all.

I enjoyed each hobby, and I probably enjoyed them even more because they were part of this experiment. My energy shifted in interesting ways: the focus of origami, the methodical tea tasting, and the flow state of watercolor each brought out different sides of my curiosity.

Sure, you need an entire afternoon to recreate this, and that's not a luxury we have often. But would I try again with three different hobbies? I probably would.

I learned I’m more willing to push through challenges when variety is ahead. And that spontaneous detours (like testing tea with biscuits) often become the most memorable parts.

You can try this experiment too, or find one of these hobbies particularly interesting and focus on just that one. Or try all of them separately. It's really up to you.

I hope you enjoyed following me in this experience. If you try speed hobbying (or even just one of these hobbies) I’d love to hear how it goes. Which hobbies would make your list?

This month, I found myself with more free time than expected. A rare treat, right? But instead of diving into an old hobby or starting something new, I didn’t quite know what to do with myself. I didn’t want to scroll my way through the day, but I also wasn't in the mood to launch into a whole “journey.” I wasn’t bursting with enthusiasm. I was tired. I needed something small. Manageable. A way to fill the time without asking too much of myself. Not something that would spiral into a new obsession.

Maybe you’ve been there too: not quite bored, but not exactly inspired either.

You don’t want a new hobby, but you also don’t want the day to disappear into nothing.

It turns out, there’s a whole category of pastimes that that don’t expect us to be inspired or ambitious, just present. I gathered a few.

Puzzles (2-8 hours) There’s something deeply comforting about snapping puzzle pieces into place. The act of sorting, hunting for edges, and slowly seeing the image take shape is quietly rewarding. Choose a small one—ideally 200 to 500 pieces—and clear a little space on your table. There’s a clear end point, and when you’re done, you can put it away or pass it on.

Lego Sets (1-5 hours) come with instructions and a defined finish line. It’s tactile, nostalgic, and surprisingly calming. It’s the kind of task that keeps your hands busy and your brain just lightly focused.

Baking a Cake (1-2 hours) engages all your senses and creates something shareable. Choose a simple recipe, put on a playlist, and enjoy the transformation of basic ingredients into something comforting and delicious.

Craft Kits (2-10 hours) Cross-stitch, embroidery, candle-making, tiny clay food—whatever feels just fun enough. The beauty of a kit is that it gives you everything you need and a clear stopping point. No wandering around a craft store. No “learning a whole new hobby.” Just open, make, admire.

Origami (15 minutes - 1 hour) requires just paper and instructions, with each creation being a self-contained project. The rhythm of folding is surprisingly meditative, and the final shape feels like a tiny reward. Look up a tutorial for a crane, a frog, or something seasonal. My favourite is the waterlily.

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Go on a picnic (1-5 hours) This doesn’t have to be a perfectly curated basket moment. Toss a snack, a drink, and a blanket into a tote and find a patch of grass. Even a ten-minute sit in the sun can feel like a small act of care.

Visit a museum (3-4 hours). A museum offer curated experiences that require nothing except your presence. Choose exhibitions that spark your curiosity, a small museum if the big ones feel overwhelming, and don't feel obligated to see everything. Instead, spend quality time with a few pieces that speak to you, making the experience more meditation than marathon.

Take a slow stroll in the park (1-3 hours) No fitness tracker. No goal. Just a stroll. Watch the trees move. Look at what people are wearing. Sit on a bench if you feel like it. Sometimes, existing outside for a while is enough.

These little activities didn’t transform my month or unlock a new version of me, but that wasn’t the point. They offered the simple pleasure of starting and finishing something in the same day, with all the psychological perks that come with it. No pressure to improve, no long-term goals, just a little dopamine hit. I’ve started keeping a few options on hand for the next time free time sneaks up on me: a puzzle in the closet, a craft kit in a drawer, a list of nearby museums. Because sometimes, the best way to care for your energy is by doing something that asks very little of it.

Last summer, I started a thing that, by this spring, had become an undeniable, unfixable failure.

It all began with a post—one of those hypnotizing Instagram photos of gleaming, old ink bottles, freshly plucked from a riverbed. I decided I too needed to try this hobby. I even wrote it down on my bucket list: Mudlarking, River Treasure Hunting.

Yeah, I can already hear you asking: The what??

Historically, mudlarking was a means of survival, a way for the poorest Londoners to scavenge the Thames foreshore for anything valuable enough to sell. These days, it’s a niche hobby, a mix of historical research, outdoor adventure, and the thrill of unearthing long-lost artifacts.

Maybe it was the kid in me, forever obsessed with archaeology, treasure hunts, and finding hidden things. Maybe I was just bored out of my mind. Or maybe I’d spent too much time on Instagram, and the idea of wading through a river felt refreshingly offline.

Either way, by the end of July, I was deep in preparation mode.

The Over-the-Top Prep Phase

Step one: Clean out my basement. Step two: Turn it into a DIY workshop. Step three: Build a series of overly complicated tools for a hobby I had not yet tried.

Apparently, if you want to go treasure hunting in half a meter of water, you need specific gear—not the kind you can just order as a kit on Amazon (and trust me, I desperately searched). So, armed with wood, screws, and glue, I built two long retractable tools: a colander and a rake. I bought a plastic terrarium to use as a transparent bucket. A trip to the city got me some second-hand waders. Then came gloves, a belt to attach everything, and finally, I was set.

The real trick, though, is location. You need a stream where the current is gentle, the water is shallow, and, most importantly, it was once near a town or settlement from the 1800s. This part required some historical research, which, as an archive nerd, I thoroughly enjoyed. I was delighted to learn my town predated the 1800s and that a stream near my house sat at a historical crossroads. My hopes skyrocketed. Surely, I was about to stumble upon something amazing.

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The Reality Check

When it was finally time to test my setup, my partner insisted on coming along and watch me from the shore. Apparently, someone had to make sure I didn’t drown.

The first attempt? A disaster. I exhausted myself wading through the river for hours, only to come home with a few corroded metal scraps that, under all the rust, looked interesting. I never got around to cleaning them. Probably junk.

The second attempt? Worse. I found a bottle, but it wasn’t that old. Then I slipped, lost my footing, and went fully underwater. The river there was deeper and stronger than I’d realized. It ended up with a mouthful of some deeply unsettling brown water.

My partner, who had been standing on the bank playing with a cat, didn’t even notice my near-drowning until I stumbled out of the river, soaked from head to toe. So much for being there to save me!

The Aftermath

After two failed attempts and a newfound fear of dying in hip-deep water, I never went back.

At the end of last summer, I swore I’d try again in the spring, that this wasn’t a waste of time or money, that this was my grand life hobby.

Well, spring is here. And I quit. I feel absolutely zero desire to return. I’m not going to force myself just because Past Me was overly ambitious. My waders can dry rot in the basement. I won’t look back.

Some might judge me for this. The internet loves a success story, after all. But I’ve learned that not every passion becomes a lifelong pursuit, and that's okay. Some hobbies are meant to be brief, intense love affairs that burn bright and then fade away.

There’s no success here. Just a lot of misplaced enthusiasm, some weird metal scraps, and one very entertained riverbank cat.

And honestly? I’m fine with that.

At least now I know: some hobbies are better admired from afar—preferably from dry land.

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At first, I hesitated. I've always loved making art and getting my hands messy with glue and paint, but there was this voice in my head saying I wasn't good enough, not inventive enough. I mean, I can't even draw from imagination!

Turns out, that doesn’t matter. You can paint, collage, and draw from reference—it still counts! Your inspiration can come from anywhere: Pinterest, paintings, books, your morning coffee. Everything can exist in your art journal. It doesn't have to be good. It doesn't have to make sense.

That realization changed everything for me. Once I let go of the pressure, it became a magical escape: a way to relax, step away from screens, and just play.

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I committed to trying it everyday for a month but four days in, I hit my first wall. Zero inspiration, zero motivation. But I told myself: “Just 10 minutes, so I don't skip a day already”. I stamped a page with winter motifs I’d never used. Then, I painted a quick feather. And just like that, those 10 minutes turned into exactly what I needed: a mental reset. It’s true what they say: showing up is often the hardest part.

Other times, drawing was all I could think about. One night, I woke up at 4 a.m. and only fell back asleep by imagining myself sketching a self-portrait playing tennis!

I also experimented a bit. I tried markers instead of watercolor (faster but still messy). My hands stayed stained in blue, orange, and green for a day. Then there was my first collage attempt: a cactus. Everyone says to take a picture before gluing things down so you don't mess up the arrangement. I took the picture. Never looked at it. Just went with my gut. And you know what? I had a blast and loved how it turned out.

I've learned some things about myself too. Like how I apparently hate leaving things unfinished. If I can't complete a piece in one sitting (ideally 30 minutes max), anxiety kicks in about abandoning it. This makes me fast at sketching, terrible at complex drawing.

And then, I encountered some issues. I started wondering: Am I addicted to making art… or just to buying art supplies? Because suddenly, I need everything—pencils, pastels, gouache, better watercolors. The logical part of my brain says, "Buy one tool a month and learn to use it properly." The artistic part screams, "EVERYTHING. RIGHT. NOW.” And my wallet cries quietly in a corner.

So, yeah. One month in, and I think I'm hooked. While I'm not sure if I'll keep up the daily practice, I've learned something valuable: there's no single 'right way' to art journal. But if you're curious to try it yourself, here's how I got started, along with the resources that actually helped me.

About Those Art Supplies...

You'll want everything. But here's what you actually need to start:

• One medium that excites you (I chose watercolors, even if I wasn't able to stop there, but one is more than enough)

• A journal that can handle your medium (Good paper thickness came in handy. I didn't care much and used a moleskine I had at home, but the result is messy)

What I actually used the most:

• Scholar-grade watercolor

• Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor

• Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Beya Rebaï Limited Edition Warm Tone Set

• Koh-I-Noor Aquarelle colored pencils

• Posca UNI markers (Gold, Silver, Black, White)

• UHU glue stick

References

Time to start! Maybe you're already full of ideas and don't need any external help—that's great! But if you're like me, the blank page can be scary. This is where references become your best friends.

References can be anything that catches your eye. I tried illustrated books, paintings, my everyday life objects, and mostly Pinterest. You can actually develop your own style by using references, because you'll naturally gravitate toward things that resonate with you the most.

Some easy ways to build your inspiration library:

• Start a Pinterest board. Save everything that makes you think "I want to try that!".

• Keep a running list of simple things to draw. I have a note on my phone with ideas like “coffee cup," "the plant on my desk," "that cool cloud formation”.

• Take photos of interesting patterns you see during the day. That tile pattern at your local café? The way shadows fall on your bedroom wall? They all make great starting points!

• Go to the library and find some great illustrated book, like nature's ones for example.

  

Play with colors!

When in doubt, swatch it out! Some of my most relaxing sessions were just testing all my supplies - watercolors, markers, pencils, highlighters… it came in handy later on when I needed to check if I had a specific color or needed to mix it.

Also, you can play with palettes by using only certain colours in your paintings and drawings. A wonderful resource for finding well-paired palettes is the WADA SANZO website (they also published two books about it). You could also start with your favorite color, for example a bright blue or a warm red, and then have fun mixing up lighter and darker shades of it.

For more inspiration on using a limited palette, this Substack post is definitely worth a read: #001 Colour Palettes

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To start small or big

When you're just starting out, size can make a difference. I found that smaller pages worked best for me—it felt less intimidating and I could actually finish a piece in one sitting. Working small means carrying fewer supplies, taking up less space, and being able to create anywhere—at your desk, on the couch, even during a coffee break.

I like to divide an A4 page into 8 smaller pieces, a very accessible size. My journal itself it's a small Moleskine.

But many artists I follow love working in larger journals, giving them more room to explore details and breathing space for their compositions. The larger format lets them add more elements and make bigger, bolder strokes that just don't fit in smaller spaces. At the end of the day, there's no right or wrong way. Choose whatever feels more achievable for you!

A Few Gems Worth Exploring

Before I wrap up, let me share some of the resources, tutorials, and artists that have been fueling my art journaling obsession lately.

• Mindful Art Studio blends easy tutorials with mindfulness and meditation. She also holds a free weekly workshop that I found very relaxing and inspiring.

  15 Drawing Ideas You Can Do in 5 Minutes | Mindful Art Studio®

  Simple Watercolor Marks and Collage Lesson

• The idea of an "ugly sketchbook" feels so freeing. I loved this approach, quick, easy, and completely stress-free. Tawnie Jeanne Studios

• Fun, beginner-level tutorials perfect for exploring multiple materials and creative techniques. Rebel Unicorn Crafts

• In Emily's"Created" tab, you'll find plenty of amazing Uniposca tutorials. I'm hoping she continues this series! Emily Elisabeth

• A quick, fun challenge and a mini course for experimenting with abstract collage techniques—great for sparking creativity!

  Abstract Collage Creations

  Creative Elements 5-Day Challenge

• No link, but Matisse’s cut-outs are a masterclass in composition and color. If you’re playing around with collage, his work is proof that simple shapes can be very powerful.

• For more creative fuel, these Substacks offer free workshops and classes that I’ve found inspiring and accessible:

  Layers of a Creative Life | Charlene Lutz | Substack

  ART HANG PARTY! with Melissa Martin | Substack

So, what do you think? Does this hobby speak to you? Will you give it a try?

And remember: your journal, your rules. Some days you'll create masterpieces, other days, you might just splash some color around—and that's more than okay. The beauty of art journaling is in the process, not perfection. So, take the pressure off. Explore, experiment, and let yourself enjoy the mess!

I needed a hobby—something I could do indoors, anytime, whether I had 5 minutes or 3 hours. With this spirit, at the very end of December, I decided to try crochet.

This wasn’t my first attempt. When I was little, my grandma taught me the basics during endless afternoons at her house. Sadly, I’d forgotten everything.

But my motivation wasn't nostalgia. It was a crush.

A peculiar, strong, superficial and probably short-lived crush... on a bag charm. Very expensive ($$$) and totally out of stock. It was a chain of crocheted lilies of the valley. Not perfect, a bit too big for my purse. But beautiful, elegant, ethereal—and way out of my budget. So, of course, I decided to make one myself.

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By now, crochet had won me over. It's portable (everything fits in a little bag), cheap to start, can be done for 5 minutes or 3 hours, it's tangible and satisfying, and - surprise! - it's actually quite meditative.

It's meditation for people who can't stay still

In this guide, I'll share my month-long journey into the world of crochet - the good, the bad, and all the carefully collected tips in between. Plus, there's a fun bingo card at the end to track your own crochet adventures!

The Real Cost of Getting Started

(Or: My Shopping Spree Confessions)

The goal was clear. The path... less so. After watching a few tutorial videos (that I didn't realize weren't really that clear), I made some napkin calculations and headed to a little cozy shop in my town.

I almost never shop physically anymore. I felt very chic, very sophisticate. But also, how does a shop that only sells yarn and buttons in a little town survive in this economy? Money laundering?

My shopping journey went something like this:

• Trip 1: 3 small hooks and 2 fine yarns (green and white)

• Trip 2: 2 more yarns and another hook (because the first ones were too small)

• Trip 3: Amazon order of 3 more hooks (because now everything was too big)

• Final trip: A handful of yarns from the supermarket (sorry, cozy shop, I'll be back!)

Total damage? Less than $50, but it could have been way less if I'd understood yarn and hook sizes from the start. Lesson learned!

From Confusion to Creation: My First Month

For the lily of the valley alone, I tried 5 different tutorials before finding "the one." As of today, I've created many lilies of the valley and leaves, a few other flowers, and even attempted some bookmarks. Here's what I learned along the way...

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Is it for everyone?

Perfect for:

• People who like seeing tangible progress

• Methodical souls who enjoy following instructions

• Anyone who wants to create something with their hands

Maybe not so easy for:

• Perfectionists who get frustrated easily (hi, that's me!)

• Those seeking instant results

• Rebels who hate following instructions

• Easily distracted folks

But here's the thing - I'm definitely more in the "maybe not" category, and I still survived and had fun! So really, it's for anyone who wants to give it a shot.

Tutorial Heaven (and Pattern Hell)

Let's be honest: patterns are designed to make you feel dumb!

I definitely prefer video tutorials, and there are plenty. While learning to read patterns is technically possible (I managed to follow ONE!), I'm sticking with videos for now. I'm lazy and you know it.

Here some of my favourite video tutorial:

• Lily of the Valley

• Cactus

• Strawberry

• Easy Flower Bookmark

• Cat

• Lavender Bookmark

• Strawberry 3D car hanger(or bag charm!)

The Journey from Mess to Magic

Some hard-earned wisdom:

• Results will be rewarding, even if they're barely recognizable

• Don't compare your work-in-progress to the final picture in the tutorial

• Counting stitches is surprisingly hard (stitch markers are your friends!)

• Embracing imperfection is easier with crochet - nobody's going to judge your slightly wonky stitches

• Following instructions is crucial (it's like baking - freestyle only works after mastering the basics)

Getting Started: A step-by-step Guide

1. Pick Your Tools:

Buy a hook and a yarn. Ask for help if you're shopping in person, go by heart if not. Most yarns provide a recommended hook size on their labels. Try to search for it. I wish I have more tips here but I only discovered everyone use different metrics.

I personally love 1.50mm, 1.75mm, and 2mm hooks with fine cotton yarn, but that’s better for small projects. I also tried with a bigger yarn and a 4mm hook. It's easier to learn that way but the results were too big for me. It always depend on what you want to create too, a blanket it's better in a bigger size than a bookmark.

My sweet spot: 1.50mm, 1.75mm, and 2mm hooks with fine cotton yarn (but that's for small projects)

2. Find Your Teacher

I love a good course so I picked one by Domestika (add link). It cost less than $1 on sale and covered all the basics. I stopped after learning the stitches though. I'm not good enough to make a piece of clothing!

YouTube is another gold mine; just find a channel you like and slow down the video speed. This YouTube channel saved my sanity, it’s very clear and relaxing.

Pro tip: Use the 0.5x speed option on videos!

3. Start Creating

Learned the stitches, the magic ring and the slipknot? Great! Pick an easy tutorial of something you want to try to do and follow along! Don't give up at the beginning, you'll become better in no time!

Pick an easy tutorial and don't give up in the first hour (it gets better!)

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You're set!

If you feel ambitious, you can also learn how to read patterns, and try to follow one. Pinterest is full of them, or give a look at this free archived book.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Great! Then grab your hook, yarn, and let's play bingo together!

And remember: Every crocheter started as a complete beginner.

Your first creations might look like they were made by a caffeinated squirrel - and that's perfectly okay!

The joy is in the journey (but also, in finally making something that actually looks like what it's supposed to be).

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Alright, to start, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of this hobby, and honestly, there are reasons for that.

Is it easy? Nope.

Fun? Depends.

Challenging, frustrating and complex? Absolutely.

But also, it’s completely FREE. All you need is your computer, and let’s be real, January’s the perfect time to save some money.

Generative art might not ring a bell, but most of the world’s biggest museums showcase it!

Simply put, generative art happens when you give a computer or a machine a set of rules and let it create art. Each piece is unique and surprising because the system follows those instructions in its own way every time.

One cool example of this is Creative Coding, where artists write code (kind of like a recipe) to guide the computer.

The result feel part science experiment, part masterpiece!

My Take on Creative Coding

I’m not great at math or a programming expert, so I approach this hobby with a mix of curiosity and trial-and-error. The basics are simple, kind of like playing Battleship.

In p5.js (a beginner-friendly tool), you give the computer simple instructions, like “Draw a line from point A to point B,” and—voilà!—a line appears.

Couldn’t I just draw a line on paper? Sure. But that’s not as fun! What I love about creative coding is how you can mix surprises with control. You can make the art change slightly every time, adding a little randomness. Plus, I’m not great at drawing, so I let the computer do it for me!

That said, it’s a challenge. Creative coding can be rewarding, but maddening too. Some days I’m excited to tackle a problem, and other times, I avoid it for weeks cause I don’t want to deal with the frustration.

In one year, I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’ve got mixed feelings about that, but I want to be honest. I’m not going to hide a hobby I enjoy just because it’s hard, niche, or because I’ll never fully master it. So, here’s a snapshot of what I’ve learned so far.

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What I’ve Learned

• It’s a Time Sink

And you need a decent computer (sorry, phones just won’t cut it). But when I’ve got hours to spare (or I'd say minimum 30 minutes), this hobby makes time fly. When Netflix gets boring, try creative coding!

• You can learn to code or ask ChatGPT

I did both.

I took a beginner-friendly course (linked below) but often rely on ChatGPT to troubleshoot and help lay the foundation of my projects. Just ask, “I want to create [X] in p5.js,” test its code, chat and tweak it until it works. (It’s scary to admit this: I can already hear the purists gasping! But hey, it works!)

ChatGPT doesn’t always have the answers, though, so you’ll still need to do some research. Frustrating? Sometimes.

But with a solid base and some YouTube help, you can figure out most things. When stuck, forums are great (linked below as well).

For me, problem-solving has been half the fun (and pain).

• Inspiration Is Key. And it’s fun itself!

Figuring out what you want to create can be tough.

Pinterest is my go-to for inspiration—nature patterns, monochromatic palettes, and abstract shapes. I love browsing through fish and nature photos, or abstract art, imagining how I could recreate something similar in P5.js.

Start simple: geometric forms and easy color palettes.

Did I follow my own suggestion? Nope. I obsessed for hours over finding the “perfect” palette on Coolors. Worth it? No. But fun? Absolutely!

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• Wrapping it up can be the hardest part

Once your masterpiece is done you can download the image and share it on social media or even print it for your wall. This one is the EASY way, fast and clean.

But you can also share the code via link so others can view it. This gets COMPLICATED when you consider things like different screen sizes, not all browsers supporting JavaScript, or the quirks of Safari...

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could dive into NFTs and crypto if you want to sell it digitally. This part can be INSANELY COMPLICATED, especially if your art includes randomness or animation!

Your Creative Coding Blueprint: Step by Step

Getting started with creative coding can be overwhelming, but with the right resources and mindset, you’ll be creating your own generative art in no time. Here’s a refined roadmap to guide you.

1. Start with the Basics: p5.js

First things first, you need to get comfortable with p5.js. It’s perfect for beginners, especially if you’re an artist or someone with little to no programming experience.

Getting Started with p5.js:

• Visit the p5.js website, where you’ll find tutorials, documentation, and an editor to begin experimenting right away (the editor is where you create with code).

Course: Before diving deep into creating, it’s important to understand the basics. I recommend starting with a beginner course to get the fundamentals down.

• Learn p5.js | Codecademy: A hands-on, interactive way to learn. I really liked it. It’s very basic, but a great starting point! $FREE

• Domestika Course: Coding Creatively with JavaScript: A more in-depth course (I haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s a good option). $PAID

2. Explore Libraries for Extra Tools

Libraries are collections of pre-written code that make yur life easier. You can incorporate them into your project to add textures or create complex visual effects without starting from scratch.

• For textures, check out the a brush library to simulate effects like watercolor or pencil strokes. I personally love this one: p5-brush

3. Create Your First Project

Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s get into creating your first piece!

Plan: What do you want to create? (Starting simple is always a good idea.)

Start coding: Write your code in the p5.js editor and test it out.

Experiment: Add randomness to make your artwork feel more dynamic. Play with color, position, or size, and see how the changes affect the result. Experimentation is where the fun (and surprises) happen.

4. How to Get Help

At some point, you’ll hit a roadblock or not know where to start—and that’s perfectly okay! Creative coding isn’t easy, but there are plenty of ways to overcome obstacles:

• ChatGPT: Ask ChatGPT for help. Describe what you’re trying to do, and it might offer useful code or explanations. When that doesn't work, hit the forums!

• Community Help: Don’t hesitate to ask for help on forums. The community Is friendly and willing to help out. Here are some great places to start:

  • Processing Foundation Forum

  • p5.js Forum

  • Creative Coding Subreddit

  • Discord:

    • Birb’s Nest - try to take part in their challenges!

    • Generative

    • Coding Train Discord

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5. Learn from the Best

Check out these incredible artists and resources to see how much you can do with creative coding:

• Patt Vira: A fantastic YouTube resource for coding tutorials and inspiration.

• Start Learning Creative Coding YouTube Playlist: A playlist introducing creative coding concepts and techniques.

• Generative Artists on X: Here a list of some of my favourite GenArt artist, especially creative coders.

  Lars Wander (@larswander), zancan 🌿 (@zancan), Matt Perkins (@nudoru), Richard Nadler (@RichardNadler1), Tyler Hobbs Studio (@tylerxhobbs), Shunsuke Takawo 🐌 (@takawo), jana stýblová (@styblova), William Mapan (@williamapan), em (@em_pasin), Nat Sarkissian (@_NatSarkissian), Emily Xie (@emilyxxie), Todemashi (@todemashi), Hervé (@drhoodoo1), AluanWang (@IOivm)

6. Save, Share, and Show Off

Once you’re happy with your artwork, you’ll want to save it or share it with others. You can:

• Save it: You can download your image file and print it, or share it on social media to showcase your work.

• Share the code: You can also share your project as a link. Others can view it and interact with it in their browser (it works best with JavaScript-enabled browsers).

• Mint and sell: Ready to take it to the next level? You can mint your artwork as an NFT. This lets you share it in the digital art space and even make it available for sale.

Wrapping it up, creative coding is a fantastic mix of art, problem-solving, and experimentation. While it’s not always easy, it’s rewarding and allows for endless creativity and surprises.

I’m still learning and experimenting, and I hope this guide inspires you to dive in and give it a try. If you do, post your artwork here in the comments, I'd love to see them🧡

Thanks again for sticking with me!

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This is my favorite creation: I called it BUGgerfly because it resembles butterflies, but it started as something entirely different. A bug caused this effect, and it was unexpected yet so beautiful to me: the essence of this hobby.

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Disclaimer: This is a bonus article I didn’t originally plan, but I enjoyed chatting with Alex, Gabi, and Jenny so much that I can’t wait to repeat this experience with many more experts in future hobbies. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!

With Christmas around the corner, I found myself in the usual gift-giving panic. What do I get my best friend? The stakes are high - especially after my somewhat questionable birthday gift (we're not talking about that).

Since fallen down the vintage rabbit hole, I couldn't shake the idea of finding her something special from this world. But is gifting vintage brilliant or just plain risky? Will she appreciate the uniqness, the rarity, or will she find it cheap and gross?

PANIC. Despite knowing her since we were both nine-year-olds (yes, I'm questioning my friend credentials)I couldn’t predict the results. As a little consolation, I realized this it's a question many of us could face when considering vintage gifts.

I was well aware, I couldn’t answer this alone: I needed EXPERTS, people who live and breathe vintage. I also wanted to uncover the magic of it, from practical tips to the personal stories that make this hobby so addictive. I wanted to hear the passion, the excitement!

So, I reached out to my favorite vintage experts: Alex, Jenny and Gabi.

Alex is the mind behind 1-800-VINTAGE, a wonderful newsletter where practical tips meet fascinating stories from the vintage world. Based in NYC, she combines her journalist background with her vintage dealer expertise to bring you everything from garment care advices to the hidden side of vintage.

Jenny is the NewYorker turned Milanese behind Jenny Sais Quoi. Artist, style icon and vintage expert: her confident and classy, head-to-toe polished outfits inspire fashion courage in everyone! Her newsletter is full of curated vintage finds and styling inspiration. It feels like getting advice from that chic friend who makes everything look effortless.

Gabi is the brilliant author of The Vintage Vault. Her newsletter taught me how to uncover the history of my vintage pieces, like a true detective! Her knowledge runs deep, and her articles cover many great aspects of vintage, but her research series—where she analyzes, dates, and styles her readers’ items—is the true masterclass.

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I asked each of them 5 questions—3 broad ones and 2 bonus ones, about their personal experiences. Their answers are packed with useful tips, surprising stories, and so much passion that it’s impossible not to feel excited about exploring vintage yourself.

1• Is there a piece that you had to really hunt down or a white whale you've been looking for? Do you think that challenge makes it more special?

Alex: My vintage wish list is a mile long, so there’s always something I’m on the hunt for. There are a few pieces in my personal collection that I had to wait a long time to come across in my price range. I found my perfect pair of jeans on Poshmark, they’re 1970’s Levi’s plowboy flares. I found a Rino Pirovano clear orange InterDesign swivel organizer at a little antique mall upstate, it’s on my bedside table. I collect ILGWU [International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union] memorabilia.

One thing that has eluded me so far is a 1970’s Dallas Handbags telephone purse. I specifically want the smaller rotary shaped one in red! I’ve come across a few in white and black, and the bigger style of the red one. I think it’ll be even more exciting when I finally find it because I’ve waited so many years.

Gabi: Yes! By now, everyone I know is well aware that I've been on the hunt for an Alley Cat piece by Betsey Johnson for years. Sure, I could buy one online for $500, but finding one in the "vintage wild"? That’s the dream. I know the moment it happens, it’ll feel so rewarding. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of knowing the vintage gods have smiled upon you—and the joy of sharing the story of how you found it. Honestly, I think I’m in it as much for the story as for the piece itself.

Jenny: Yes! I looked for ten years for the Marc Jacobs dress I recently posted (originally from Spring 2008). I usually like particular collections.

2• I’m torn about gifting vintage to someone who doesn’t know much about it. Have you ever given vintage as a gift? How did it go? Do you have a go-to approach for situations like this?

Alex: I absolutely love giving vintage gifts. I think as a vintage “person” people definitely expect it from me, so I’ve never gotten an unhappy response. But I understand why it could feel risky or impolite. I actually wrote a gift guide last year with some suggestions for accessible vintage and secondhand, and I just released this year’s vintage gift guide.

I think the number one rule for gift giving is mindfulness. Really think about your recipient. What do they want, what do they like? I think even someone who isn’t “in” to vintage will appreciate a secondhand gift if the gift itself is something they really like, and it feels personal and thoughtful.

Gabi: Gifting vintage is undeniably cool—end of story. But I get that not everyone feels the same way. Personally, I pride myself on being a thoughtful gift-giver, and I think that’s the key to successfully gifting vintage. For example, my grandma once told me how much she had wanted an "Evening in Paris" perfume as a teenager, so finding a vintage bottle made for the perfect gift. A baker might adore a vintage Pyrex dish.

It’s all about focusing on the recipient’s interests and then if you can find something vintage that’s unique, meaningful, and comes with a story, all the better!

Jenny: Definitely! But I do agree, most people that you would give vintage to, you would want it to be in at least decent condition. For example a nice little vintage Hermes small silk scarf with the original box, even if it’s been worn, could be nice.

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3• What's one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started collecting vintage?

Alex: I’ve been shopping secondhand for as long as I can remember, my mom was always really into flea markets and garage sales so I learned the ropes from her as a kid.

I think one of the most important things to keep in mind is that all things come and go. There’s more than enough for everyone!

When it comes to a special, “one of one” industry like vintage, it’s easy to get caught up in the feeling of missing out. There are regrets about selling something, disappointment that something you love wasn’t your size, feeling like you should have bought something that you didn’t, kicking yourself for wearing a piece out and spilling hot sauce on it.

Just remember that whatever didn’t work for you worked for someone else and vice versa, and that the best thing we can do to honor the vintage that’s already out there is to wear it and love it and use it and maybe spill a little hot sauce on it. It’ll be fine.

Gabi: "Collect what you love!" — a grandma quote. I used to get so caught up in curating a perfect "1970s aesthetic" that I passed on some truly stunning pieces just because they didn’t fit my vision. Now, I’m happy to say I’ve let that go, and I focus on collecting beautiful vintage that I genuinely love.

Jenny: That old shoes rarely hold up! The glue is GONE.

Gabi

4• I’m totally hooked on your ‘researching vintage pieces’ series—I need popcorn for every reveal! When you're deep into your detective work, have you ever stumbled upon a discovery that caught you completely off guard? Or maybe one that led you down a surprising rabbit hole?

Gabi: Honestly, almost every time! The most surprising discovery so far has to be a coat from my boyfriend's mom. It had belonged to her grandma, but she didn’t know much about it. The label read "Milium," and after some research, I learned that Milium was a rare fabric lining made with metal, produced for only a few years in the 1950s. It was designed to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Through that discovery, I even found some old newspaper clippings from Des Moines, Iowa, where she believes her grandma likely bought it. She was so emotional, and I was completely in awe. It was such a cool experience.

5• Your newsletter got me into uncovering the stories behind my vintage pieces, and now it’s one of my favorite parts of the hobby! Except when I hit a dead end. That’s so frustrating! When that happens, how do you push through—or how do you know when to let it go?

Gabi: Oh boy, I might not be the best person to ask about this—I’m stubborn and will almost never give up. I usually follow three steps: 1) check the labels and tags, 2) analyze the construction (zippers, buttons, seams, fabric, etc.), and 3) assess the style. If I hit a dead end, I move to the next step. That said, if you’re completely stumped on all three fronts, it might be time to pass the item on to someone who might have better luck. And hey, if you ever get to that point, feel free to reach out to me—I’d love to help!

Jenny

4• You’ve lived in New York and now Milan—do you think New Yorkers and Milanesi approach vintage in different ways?

Jenny: Depends on the New Yorker and the Milanese. I think older generations of both, care more about quality and holding onto their items, having less, treating them better, etc.

Younger people are always worse at this, because they usually don’t have a strong idea of their style yet and are still discovering it through trends, being influenced by friends etc. I think as you get older you know yourself better.

5• You have this amazing way of blending timeless elegance with bold twists that really encourages others to try new looks with confidence. What’s a recent outfit or style choice you made that pushed you out of your comfort zone, but totally paid off?

Jenny: I was really into skirts for a long time, and dresses. I still love them but lately i’ve been buying 1970s printed shirts and ysl jackets and been pairing them with different pant shapes. That’s been fun. It’s like I’m going through the decades again, from 50s to 60s to 70s.

JENNY SAIS QUOI

A Fall Vintage Haul

As mentioned last week I’ve been loving a stronger shoulder (or complete lack thereof). At the same time, I’ve been trying to expand my collection of vintage into designers I haven’t dipped too heavily into in the past. Enter the above vintage YSL jacket purchase on Vinted for 150 eur…

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2 years ago · 251 likes · 7 comments · Jenny Walton

Alex

4• If a newbie like me wants to sell vintage pieces (e.g., wrong purchase), do you have any advice on setting prices or how to make listings stand out?

Alex: Pricing is one of the most complicated parts of being a vintage dealer. For someone getting into selling, or selling their own pieces casually, I’d focus on a few key factors: how much you invested in a piece, what condition the piece is in, and how rare and/or desirable the item is.

One of the most common rookie mistakes I see is people relying entirely on comparable listings for pricing. The problem is that an item can be listed for literally any price - just because someone is asking for $500, doesn’t mean anyone is actually willing to pay that. Sometimes specific factors can drastically affect value, such as color, size, or condition. Looking at the prices for sold items is much more helpful than prices for active listings, because they give you an idea of what a customer was actually willing and ready to pay for.

In terms of making a listing stand out, I think the two most important factors are lighting and good descriptions.

People will always respond better to clothing that’s modeled on a body, but even hanger photos or flatlays will be greatly improved by shooting in good lighting. Not only will your photos be more aesthetically appealing, but potential buyers will also be able to clearly see colors, prints, and other decorative details.

In terms of product copy, I always err on the side of oversharing. Background information can definitely add a wow factor, like where a vintage item was sourced or who the previous owner was. But there’s also just the practical elements - good measurements, fiber contents, where the garment was made, etc.. I personally wouldn’t buy any vintage from an online seller who didn’t provide that information.

5• Your articles “Did Cinderella Kill Schiaparelli?” and “What's Up With All of the Tiny Vintage?” totally blew my mind! I love how you connect culture, vintage, and fashion history. Is there a piece that holds a story most people wouldn’t expect?

Alex: Thank you so much! I really appreciate that, I have a small audience here on Substack so I’m really honored to hear that people are enjoying my work here. I think making connections between fashion, history, and culture is so easy because it’s all so deeply interconnected.

I truly believe that fashion and how we interact with it is one of the most important day-to-day choices we can make, and that clothing acts as one of the purest forms of art and self expression.

One of my favorite little unexpected tidbits is about vintage plastic coil bags. I had been on the hunt for one for a while, and my best friend and brother-in-law actually gifted me one for Christmas last year. They’re commonly referred to as “telephone cord bags” - pretty much every online listing refers to them by this name. But in 2023, Wendy Dager of the Vintage Purse Museum released this article, “Plastic Coil Handbags - Dispelling the Myths of the “Telephone Cord Purse”. Dager extensively researched the style and proved through records, advertisements, and patents that the original coil design had nothing to do with phones at all! The “Telephone Cord” name is a contemporary designation, for obvious reasons, and has essentially become the new name for an old style.

I feel like this is such a fascinating example of how information spreads, particularly in vintage. These bags are widely known by an incorrect name, but not through any intentional malice, and they’ve essentially been renamed by the vintage community in the process. It’s a really interesting look at how vintage history and information is passed on within the community.

A huge thank you to Jenny, Alex and Gabi for sharing their passion and wisdom.

I hope their insights inspire your own vintage adventures!

Follow them for even more inspiration—and stick around for more hobby deep dives!

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See that little black bag in the corner? My original caption was “Not in the best shape. I made a mistake.” And honestly, that’s how I felt. As I unboxed it, I found scratches, a replaced panel, and some fading. Not ideal, but for 35€ on Vinted, it didn’t seem worth the hassle to return. So, I kept it.

I didn’t know much about it, and an initial Google Lens search of the logo hadn’t helped. I could tell it was old—really old—but that was about it. I consoled myself thinking I could still use it as ‘trial bag’ for DIY restoration.

I wanted to tell you all this. It’s important to share the mistakes and the less-than-glamorous sides of a hobby, not just the highlights.

But as I typed out the caption, curiosity hit me. I’d just photographed the bag for the collage, so I tried Google Lens again. A few minutes later, I was staring at a match: the exact bag, crafted by DELVAUX in 1959 to honor the Belgian royal wedding. Mine isn’t authenticated, but it’s likely a 1959 DELVAUX. Did I know the brand before? Nope. But now I’m feeling pretty proud of snagging a piece of history for just 35€! (And relieved I didn’t paint on it.)

As you’ve probably gathered, I went all in on vintage shopping this month.

Now, I’m not exactly a fashion devotee. Sure, I know what I like, and I’ve got a Pinterest board packed with outfit inspiration that I rarely look at. But day-to-day? I wear whatever’s comfortable and acceptable for the office—usually straight off the drying rack, un-ironed. I carefully plan my outfits only a few times a year, for weddings, dinners, or big events.

Then, last year I inherited a vintage couture alpaca coat, which felt like the most luxurious thing I’d ever owned. It was exciting, but then life moved on, and vintage didn’t really cross my mind again.

Fast forward to late September this year: I went to a vintage event with my sister—and had an absolute blast! I picked up a fur coat for 100€, a cape for 40€, and a couple of hats (which I’ll probably only wear once or twice, I know). There’s nothing like the thrill of a great deal! A few days later, I was fully down the vintage shopping rabbit hole. Hard.

So, here’s what I’ve gathered so far.

the WHY

There’s something thrilling about hunting down a piece you’ve become obsessed with—the anxious waiting, the joy when you succeed, and the doubts that linger in between.

A few weeks ago, I spotted a stunning vintage bag on Vinted. I always check when the seller last logged in, and this one hadn’t been active for a while. That made me nervous—someone could snatch it up at full price before they even saw my offer. Still, I decided to take a chance, sent my offer, and held my breath. I even checked online, but there wasn't another one for sale anywhere!

After a couple of anxious days, I was tempted to pay full price just to end my agony (it wasn't that much anyway! I just love to bargain). But I held on for one more night. The next morning, I got the news: my offer was accepted!

My Furla bag is a perfect example of why this hobby brings me (and potentially you) so much joy:

• Treasure hunting thrill. Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? Sure, you don’t need to engage in one while vintage shopping. I tried browsing aimlessly, but it just didn’t work for me—there’s too much out there. In a physical shop, it could work, but who has the time? I prefer having a piece or outfit in mind and starting my digital search from there. When I finally find THE piece, it feels incredible. Try searching for an item you’ve had your eye on - but vintage! The treasure hunt doesn’t have to stop there, though—if you’re into it, there’s an entire history waiting to be discovered. Many vintage aficionados skip this step, but for me, digging into its past makes the find feel even more rewarding.

• The joy of surprise. With a good treasure hunt comes the thrill of discovery—the excitement of uncovering something after hours of digging. The joy of unboxing the result of your hard work or wearing it for the first time and realizing it fits like a glove. And the surprise of finding out you’ve got a treasure in your hands that neither you nor the seller even knew about!

• The satisfaction of a great deal. And of course, there's also the feeling that you scored a great deal—like when I paid just 30€ for a rare vintage Furla in mint condition. Mind-blowing!

Also, I know it’s predictable, but buying vintage is more sustainable. For example, buying a vintage real fur item is far more environmentally friendly than buying a new synthetic one. A vintage leather bag will hold up better than a new one because it’s often lined with natural materials, while new bags typically use synthetic linings, which can cause leather to lose its shape and decompose faster. Plus, vintage bags are generally easier to repair. Vintage items are timeless—if cared for properly, they can last for decades.

About Researching

As you can see, my favorite part is digging for information or finding the perfect piece. I spent hours and hours researching the Furla bag to pinpoint its exact year or at least the moment they started and ended using its logo. I'm still halfway through. I even wrote to Furla but had poor results. I learned a lot though, especially thanks to The Vintage Vault, who does this in her newsletter here on Substack:

1- Google Lens: Start by scanning the label or the entire piece, adding the brand name if you can. I usually focus on labels and logos first, but sometimes the item itself can yield better results. For example, the DELVAUX logo in my bag features only a gold carriage, which returned no results. When I finally put in the entire bag photo, it took me 5 minutes to find the exact match.

2- Dig Deeper: If you get no hits, it’s time to dig a little deeper. N.B. For this phase you need the brand name. With that in hand, research the brand’s history and the various labels they’ve used over the years. For label information, check out the Vintage Fashion Guild, which has a list of well-known labels and articles that explain how to date them.

3- Archives: If you're still stuck, try searching historical archives (I’ve compiled a list of helpful links below). The goal is to find photos—typically in old ads—that feature the logo on your item. For my Furla bag, I found ads with the same logo dated 1984 and 1997, and then one from 1997 with a new version. This helped me narrow the timeframe to 1977-1997 (since 1977 is when they started making bags instead of reselling big brands). It’s a ongoing process, but you get the idea. Aim for the shortest time range possible—ideally within 10 years. And you might even get lucky and find your exact piece in one of those ads!

4- Stitching and Style: If you have no labels, consider dating your piece based on its stitching and style. This approach is considered Expert Level!

My fav archives online:

• Vogue US archives

• Gallica - French Fashion Press from the late 18th to mid-20th century

• Internet Archives

• New York Magazine Archives on Google Books

• New York Public Library Fashion Collection

• Conde Nast Collections

• Google Arts & Culture Vogue Archive

• Vogue Italy Archives

• Vanity Fair Archives

• Perfume Drinker - master list of 349 online archived fashion magazines

• Hprints - extensive collection of vintage fashion ads

Got more? Drop them in the comments!

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A hobby for everyone!

I know, at first glance, this might seem like a female-dominated hobby. It's true that most of the creators I’ve encountered are women. But there’s one standout exception: Lorenzo Bises, an Italian IG creator with a very distinctive style and a deep passion for vintage. He’s my go-to for vintage shopping tips in Milan and the best menswear vintage inspiration I know.

If you care about style, want timeless pieces at great prices, or feel like modern fashion lacks quality, vintage shopping is for you, no matter your gender!

And here’s the best part: you don’t have to dress like you’re starring in a 50s movie to enjoy vintage shopping. In fact, there are endless ways to integrate vintage into modern outfits. Start with simple monochrome pieces and clean lines—they’ll be easy to mix into your everyday wardrobe. A good coat, for instance, often feels timeless because its style has remained largely unchanged for years. The same applies to bags.

If you fall for a more statement-making piece, just balance it out with basic items to let that it shine!

For further inspiration, there are a couple of IG profiles I always refer to when looking for vintage outfit ideas:

• Jenny Walton (who also has a wonderful newsletter here on Substack)

• Lilah Ramzi (a Vogue editor)

Jenny is one of my favorite creators on IG and my go-to for everything style-related. And Lila Ramzi makes me dream of attending fancy events just to find a spectacular vintage dress like hers to wear.

But WHERE, HOW, and WHAT?

Finding vintage treasures means knowing where to look, how to shop, and what to search for.

First, you need to know your measurements. Vintage sizes differ from modern sizes and aren't standardized, so always refer to measurements. Seems tedious, I know, but trust me, it’s worth it! This method helped me snag a skirt that fits me like a glove.

When it comes to shopping, I typically lean toward coats and bags, because it’s easier to find them in great quality and condition. Skirts come in third place since I can figure out the measurements more easily.

Here are some of the marvelous coats I've stumbled upon, with links in the captions (I've already collected too many!).

Regarding where to shop, online, you’ve got plenty of options. My favorites are:

• Etsy

• eBay

• Vinted

• Vestiaire Collective

Pro & Cons: Vinted’s great for deals but has amateur photos and is EU-only. Vestiaire Collective is the place for high-end couture, though it can be a pricey and boring. Etsy’s well organized with mostly professional and great photos but beware—fake vintage items can slip through despite the filters. eBay it’s a bit of a mess, but full of the wildest, most unique pieces, if you dig deep.

On this note, a must-read is Thanks, it’s from eBay Substack newsletter where I’ve found pieces I would’ve never discovered otherwise!

It’s important to consider that many of these sites feature sellers who aren’t professionals, which often results in less-than-stellar photos. These items might stay longer on the market, so they’re usually priced lower. Don’t let an unappealing photo stop you—if you can clearly see the item and any flaws, still give it a shot. You’d be surprised at the gems you can find this way! The two bags I bought had just a few dark, poorly lit photos each, from sellers who weren’t into vintage. I still took the chance, with great success, I may say!

Dark-colored items can be trickier to evaluate. If you’re interested in something, take a few extra minutes to ask the seller for more details or photos. When it comes to bags, focus on the corners, handles, and metal pieces.

That said, I went on the hunt for a black or blue dress for my New Year's Eve dinner, and now my collection is overflowing with options. I’ve included a few of my favorites here for you!

Care to care?

Once I find a piece I love, the next step is ensuring it stays in great condition—because the older it is, the more it deserves special attention.

My go-to source for care tips has been 1-800-vintage on Substack. She’s a pro vintage seller, and her newsletter has been a goldmine for everything from stain removal to the importance of tailoring and general garment care. I can’t recommend it enough, and her article “Tiny Vintage” is a must-read for everyone venturing into vintage.

I’ve also heard storing vintage clothes in acid-free tissue paper or white cotton is ideal. While I haven't tried it yet, I do store my bags in dust bags with stuffing paper to preserve their shape. I’m also on the lookout for a good leather care product—if you have any recommendations, let me know!

So, yes, there’s plenty to consider, but with a good tailor and dry cleaner, you’re good to start.

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So now you know:

• Why

• Where

• What

• How

And you've got plenty of links and six amazing people to check out!

In the end, this is my biggest takeaway: If I was able to score two amazing bags in less than a month—mostly relying on my instinct—I’m confident you could do even better! Trust me, once you land that first gem, you’ll be hooked!

Of course, to close, I couldn’t skip sharing some interesting facts I discovered along the way:

• H&M and Zara have been rocking the fashion world for decades! H&M started in 1947 as a small women’s shop in Sweden and expanded after acquiring a hunting and fishing store. Zara was founded in 1974 in Spain, quickly revolutionizing fast fashion.

• Ralph Lauren started his fashion career designing ties! His first line launched in 1967, featuring distinctive bold colors and unique patterns that gained immense popularity.

• Only 16 fashion houses can officially use the term “haute couture.” This designation is protected by law in France, ensuring that only those adhering to strict standards can claim the title.

• The first sunglasses were invented in the 12th century by Chinese judges to hide their eyes while interrogating witnesses. It wasn't until the 1920s that sunglasses became a popular fashion accessory, largely influenced by Hollywood stars wearing them.

• The term "bikini" was coined in 1946 after the Bikini Atoll, where atomic bomb tests were conducted, suggesting that the swimsuit would create a “bombshell” reaction in the fashion world.

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for sticking with me🧡

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You're bored.

Sure, you could do the laundry that's been waiting since Monday. Or read that book you started over the summer.

But, let's be honest—you wish you had something else to do. Something fun, exciting, thrilling!

I feel the same.

Because boredom happens. Even when you have a hundred things you could do, none of them feel remotely interesting in that moment.

My meditation podcast says I should embrace and enjoy these boring moments. It's still unclear to me how.

Is it more difficult to start something new, or to find something new to start?

I was wondering this while Googling “how to ferment lemons” the other day.

The point is, I just love trying new things. I love learning and testing. I have an endless collection of screenshots and bookmarks because I believe I might go back to them. My Amazon wishlist is out of control.

My brain constantly craves new inputs. And I feed it.

Every month or so, I stumble upon something so captivating that it takes over my life. I hyperfocus for hours, ignore everything else, spend money I shouldn’t, and fall into rabbit holes deeper than canyons. Then, when it no longer sparks joy, I’m back to square one.

That's what this newsletter is about.

A collection of the amazing hobbies I’ll try—and some I've already tried.

You'll find the best links, books, tips, and tricks, along with recommendations for great newsletters and profiles.

Let’s be clear: I’m no expert. And you don’t need to become one either!

This space is here for you to get quick insights, bursts of inspiration, and fun new ideas—all without the pressure to master anything.

I just hope to help you find what you might love—or maybe want to skip.

And even if you’re too busy, this newsletter is perfect for giving you fresh conversation starters for your next dinner party!

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So, get ready and don’t forget to subscribe! This might just become your new favorite read ❤️