I have been asked what hobby is my favorite. I usually reply that hobbies is my hobby. For me, the enjoyment is the challenge for learning something new and apply some creativity in making something.
My hobbies include stained glass, pottery, woodworking, some metal (though I’m not really good at it). I’ve also done lighter hobbies such as floral arranging, thread related (macramé, crochet, tatting, knitting) and soap making. This area highlights some of my work and techniques I have found useful.
There is nothing like the feel of finished wood. It is organic and takes on a life of its own. My main hobby these days (when not on the computer) is working with wood. Making wooden objects provide a form for leaving a legacy to those I care most.
No one knows how or where soap making had originated. There are recipes that date back 5000 years with variations appearing in Mesopotamia, Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome. Modern commercially prodoced soaps are really detergents in bar form. Once you have experienced handmade soap from natural plant sources, you never desire to go to the store to buy another bar.
If you have ever worked with clay, you understand the enjoyment of opening the kiln after a firing to see the surprise that was created. I was able to take a pottery class in college and after graduating, invested in the essential equipment to do this art at home.