I like sewing. Whether it's sewing on a button, mending a pair of rippy jeans or working on a completly new project like a denim backpack or holiday crafts. I really enjoy threading that first needle and pulling together fabric. Sewing is such a nice old traditional thing, practical too!

When I was a kid my Mom and I sewed together. Neither of my sisters would really learn. Now, when we are all adults they still need to get my Mom to hem pants and mend rips for them. Not me! Over Christmas I got my first sewing machine. Before now I have done everything by hand. I still haven't done much with the machine but once I'm moved and settled somewhere I am really looking forward to putting that machine into motion.

In particular, I have patterns for quilts, Raggedy Ann dolls, teddy bears and backpacks. Once I get the hang of using the machine I can get back to finding cheap sources of fabric and then start selling some of my work. There are always places to sell sewing crafts. As fewer people learn to sew those of us "in the know" can take advantage of them, in a crafty way.

I haven't sold much of my work. Once I hemmed up pants for a young guy at work and charged him by the pair. That was a nice extra bit of cash for me. I was able to do all the pants in one night, by hand back then. It only cost me my time and the thread.

What do you sew, if you sew? I really like seeing quilts in particular. This summer I will be back in Ontario and in the late summer, shortly before Labour Day you can be sure I will be down at the CNE (The Canadian National Exhibition) looking at the winning quilts.

The warm weather seems to be here. Outside I can see tulips and all the other early Spring flowers blooming. The days get longer as they warm up. It won't be long before school is out for the Summer. What will you be doing in the meantime?

There is all that time between dinner, clean up, homework and bedtime to fill. A lot of people just watch TV. Kind of boring but it makes the time pass quickly. But, is that enough for you, just filling in time? Wouldn't you rather be doing something more fun and interesting?

Instead of TV how about doing something. Get your friends and family involved or just do it yourself. Pick a hobby or craft, there are an endless supply of them. Reading, writing, collecting zillions of different things (postcards, stamps, buttons, kites, model planes, marbles, rocks, etc.), building models, birdhouses, sewing, playing board games, sports, making a journal or scrapbook, keeping a little garden, and so on. Its never ending list. Just go to a web directory and take a look at the different hobbies, crafts and collections listed.

Once you find something that suits you, look for other people in your area doing the same thing or having the same interests. You might find a group near you or a group that has regular meetings to share ideas and show off collections and creations. Some things will even have summer camps for kids.