# Damn, sobriety is boring! Got any artsy crafty stuff recommendations?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 18, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084 "2016-05-18T14:25:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/21 "2016-05-19T15:14:21Z")
> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Learn a musical instrument? Or, if you already play one, play it more. Start a band!
That was the first thing I thought. You could also make instruments. If you don’t want to sink a lot of money into it, you could make [cigar box guitars](http://cigarboxguitars.com/).
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### Author:  [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/22 "2016-05-19T15:26:11Z")
Photography.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/23 "2016-05-19T17:34:18Z")
Drink other stuff? Learn to distinguish whiskey from bourbon from scotch. Ouzo from Raki from saki. Single malts from, er, multiple malts? Oh, whatever, seems like I’m the one who needs lessons in all this stuff,
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/24 "2016-05-19T20:51:47Z")
Post-90s web design.
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### Author:  [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/25 "2016-05-19T21:54:10Z")
Papercutting?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2016, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/26 "2016-05-20T06:16:31Z")
Take some crafts classes? If you don’t know what you like to do, and you don’t have anything in particular you want to make, you’ll just be aimlessly experimenting and you may be frustrated or bored.
If you find something you really would like to work on because you enjoy the results (gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting and woodworking seem to be solid performers here, but there are lots of other ways to make things as well), then you’ll be invested in it and will enjoy it, and will get lots of positive feedback when you make things for other people as well.
Congrats on being sober(er), it really is fun when you get used to it!
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### Author:  [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/27 "2016-05-20T16:28:59Z")
How about getting another job or doing voluntary work? Live TV is basically all crap 90% of the time and requires copious amounts of alcohol and/or drugs (or stupidity) to make it bearable, all that pent up energy could be put to really good use.
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### Author:  [@Sal\_Villano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Villano)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/28 "2016-05-21T12:40:47Z")
> [@PlumBob](#):
>
> Hand made wire trees?
>
> I bought this guys book. Talked to him on the phone & asked about payment he said send me a check when you get the book. Good book & guy.
>
> [http://www.salvillano.com/index.htm](http://www.salvillano.com/index.htm)
Thank you for recommending my book. You can see all my art work at [www.salvillano.com](http://www.salvillano.com)
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### Author:  [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/29 "2016-05-21T18:02:14Z")
> [@Sal\_Villano](#):
>
> Thank you for recommending my book. You can see all my art work at [www.salvillano.com](http://www.salvillano.com)
Your work is seriously gorgeous!
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### Author:  [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/30 "2016-05-21T20:27:11Z")
JustinC mentioned volunteer work, and you might know this already but there are things you can do from home, not tied to specific hours. For example, I’ve made calls for the Humane Society to remind people about an upcoming event, or thank them for a donation. Another type of service is to pick up a bunch of cards that need to be sent out, then personalize them as requested and drop them in the mail. Or you can do projects based on whatever expertise you have. You could contact the volunteer coordinator of an organization to discuss possibilities if this interests you.
USCDiver mentioned adult coloring books. I got some of those at Christmas, and I really like it. It can be as simple as filling in color between the lines on the page, or getting more creative with it with different materials and techniques. There are lots of YouTube videos on adult coloring and/or drawing, if this interests you.
Do you ever go on Pinterest? That might be a good place to browse for artsy crafty ideas.
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### Author:  [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/31 "2016-05-21T20:31:11Z")
Painting?
Hiking and walking?
Bicycling?
Museums big and little?
Photography?
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### Author:  [@CurrlyD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurrlyD)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/32 "2016-05-26T02:41:27Z")
Zentangle, creative doodling. You don’t have to be artistically inclined. Amazon has a number of books, and my favorite is _One Zentangle a Day_. It’s helped me get used to sobriety.
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Vallejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Vallejo)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/33 "2017-10-16T21:46:30Z")
If you want to do something a little more ‘presentation’ worthy beyond just knitting and spinnin’ yarn, you could try macrame (knots instead of weaves). It’s not too tough once you dive in and you can actually use it to hang stuff. You can [hang it off the wall](http://blog.staspicturehanging.com/macrame-wall-hangings-tapestry/) also, as its own slice of art. Here’s a [little intro to it](http://www.redheart.com/articles/macrame-patterns-and-knots). Try the small stuff and maybe sketch/ macrame something for your kitchen or bathroom 🙂
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### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/34 "2017-10-19T17:28:00Z")
You could also try cross stitch as it used to suck me in for hours. You could also try learning a New and Useless Skill every year, as in something you wouldn’t put on a CV. So far I’ve tried Blues harmonica, Tin whistle, knots, origami, and the minimum math to do QM and Theoretical physics. Anything at all that interests you.
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### Author:  [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/35 "2017-10-19T17:34:53Z")
Art?
Mafia? (We’re at Giraffe)
Writing?
Music? (I play harsh noise)
Sewing?
Cooking?
Weed?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/36 "2017-10-19T17:49:56Z")
Jewelry making is fun. I made a bunch of paper beads and strung them into long strings and made a bead curtain. Cheap and time consuming and EASY. You need old mags and plain old glue. Don’t buy the kit, it is worthless get a toothpick or skewer to roll with. Plenty of instructions on Pinterest.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/37 "2017-10-19T17:53:25Z")
:o
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/38 "2017-10-19T19:34:23Z")
> [@Grrr](#):
>
> :o
Hey you asked, us boring non drinkers have a life to fill up, too! Seriously if you were honest the ammt. You were drinking doesn’t sound excessive, to me! Could be I am wrong though, I have been around heavy drinkers my whole life. So judge for yourself, IANP.
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### Author:  [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/39 "2017-10-19T19:44:35Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Hey you asked, us boring non drinkers have a life to fill up, too! Seriously if you were honest the ammt. You were drinking doesn’t sound excessive, to me! Could be I am wrong though, I have been around heavy drinkers my whole life. So judge for yourself, IANP.
To be honest, I usually drink while doing all those activities I mentioned.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sobriety-is-boring-got-any-artsy-crafty-stuff-recommendations/755084/40 "2017-10-19T20:04:42Z")
I think that the embarrassed face might be related to the fact that this thread was a year and a half old when **Rick Vallejo** bumped it. **Grrr!**'s situation has probably changed significantly in that time, in some way, that makes this thread less relevant (possibly including having returned to drinking, having found a satisfactory new hobby already, or having learned to cope with sobriety without a new hobby).
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