Hobbies Ward Off Winter’s Chill

By Kendra Bobowick

Once the shoveling is finished and the fire has been stoked, busy hands will again reach for something to do.

Hobbyists have the cure for idle time that accumulates in darker months when the sun sets early and bitter weather keeps residents indoors.

“It helps with a snowier winter when you are left without a chance to go out,” said Friends of Counted Embroidery, Laurel Chapter President Pat Marshall.

She is referring to time she devotes to embroidery, a hobby and craft that has a history and value in her life.

“It’s something my mother had taught me,” she explained. Her time spent on embroidery was interrupted, however.

“You put things aside in life and then you find yourself with time again and remember the things you enjoyed doing,” Ms Marshall said. “I am hooked on it.”

The hobby also soothes, she said.

“In our group we call it therapy. It’s very relaxing and an escape,” she said. “You get into what you are doing and the world could crumble around you — it’s cheap therapy.”

Hobbies also provide enjoyment, and will compel a hobbyist to find several moments a day to embroider or sew, play piano, finish a crossword, delve into research, try a new camera lens, or whatever the pastime may be.

Ms Marshall said, “When you have something you enjoy, you make time, and sometimes that might only be a half-hour each day.” She finds her time later in the day.

“[It’s] usually in the evening when all else is done, so you hurry through everything else…” Ms Marshall said. She has been an embroidery club member for four years. Contact her at 364-0399.

Leaving the intricacies of embroidery, the realm of hobbies also encompasses research and hones the mind for one resident.

Genealogy Club of Newtown founder Harlan Jessup works with genealogy both professionally and in his spare time.

“For me it provides intellectual stimulation and keeps my mind active,” he said. More than tracking people and family histories, genealogy is fun, he said.

“I like to figure out problem situations, and get great enjoyment in connecting people to their ancestors,” Mr Jessup said. “I enjoy helping people find something.” He also agrees that his work and hobby fill his time.

“Without it, I would look for other things,” he admitted. Already he has a hand in other activities, such as helping maintain the Appalachian Trail through Connecticut, “to keep me busy,” he said. The Genealogy Club of Newtown meets at the library at 7 pm on the second Wednesday of the month. Contact Mr Jessup at 270-7887 or Mary Maki at 426-3889.

Photography provides focus for John Tucci, the current president of Flagpole Photographers of Newtown.

Looking at photography, and computer-generated photo manipulation as an art, and as the club as a source of both enjoyment and motivation, he mentioned the frequent contests run by his or other photo groups.

“It constantly gives you focus on what to shoot,” he said. The club is also a way to meet others with similar interests.

“It makes it more interesting and keeps you thinking…” Photography indulges different interests for those holding the camera.

“The thing about photography is that each [person] has something they like to shoot. Some like nature, plants; I like lets and people,” he said. “I like getting in close and capturing spontaneous images…” For Mr Tucci, photography offers more than a personal extension.

He sees different layers of value. “Like anything extracurricular, it’s another dimension beyond the work world and family world — it gives you creative space,” he said. This space is valuable. Mr Tucci continued, “Within the creative space you feel whole — a part of things.”

As a hobby, he said, “I gives a different dimension to your skills, it’s additive and it takes you away from other things. It has its own space…and it takes you away.”

Specifically, photography helps Mr Tucci feel more connected with his hometown. “With photography it’s a way to touch or be a part of Newtown … It’s capturing my moments in Newtown.” Smokehouses, maple syrup, people and children doing different things are all a part of what he seeks with his lens. “I feel more connected,” he said.

His craft is also a way of educating himself.

“I like to put things together in a creative way and I like to learn more and by trying techniques or using [photo software] it enhances my abilities,” said Mr Tucci.

Contact Flagpole Photographers at 270-8576.

Resident Peg Jacques hand-crafts quilts. About 15 years ago, Ms Jacques began her craft following a day that changed her life.

“I was a software engineer and in 1988 I woke up and was paralyzed on my right side. I had Multiple Sclerosis,” she said. After much physical therapy she was still having trouble with her hand coordination.

“I took a quilting class to boost my motor skills,” she said. The class did much more than improve her coordination, however.

“It literally saved my life and became an obsession. I have wonderful skill now and it’s challenging and stimulating,” Ms Jacques said.

“[Quilting] is the best thing that I ever did in my life, it has really been a life saver,” she said.

Her designs are creative, and require much time and attention to details in the patterns and color themes, for example.

“You have to think about colors and contrast and it’s artistic — I design on my own and it has enhanced my life so much.” Nearly nine months are required for her to finish a quilt. “It’s no quick project,” she said.

Evolving from the first days of her quilting lessons is the now established group, Sew Together Girls, who work on the craft for their personal projects, and make projects for donation.

“Last year we gave a quilt to Friends of the Library and they raffled it,” Ms Jacques said.

Collectively the Gals are a “great group,” she said. “It is fun and you have something in common and can get excited over — each quilt has its own personality,” Ms Jacques said.

Similar to the feelings expressed by other hobbyists, she explained the psychological value of having a pastime.

“It’s relaxing and puts you in a different place — another world — and you end up with something beautiful when you are done,” she said.

The Sew Together Gals meet at the library regularly, contact Ms Jacques at 270-8314 for times and dates.