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Crafts & Hobbies

These days, the word "hobby" evokes a sense of blase interest. Children have hobbies; bored housewives might have a hobby or two; the rest of us can scarcely be bothered. The original connotation was much different, however—a person's hobby was their avocation, not a primary sense of income, but certainly the focus of passion and interest.

To put it in perspective: Rene Descartes was a mathemetician by trade, but his hobby or avocation was philosophy. Not everyone with a hobby is going to change the course of Western civilization, but the point is that Descartes' hobby wasn't a mere back-drawer doodad he pulled out when he was bored and lonely, it was a motivating force in his life.

We're not suggesting hobbies need to take over your life, like robots in some creepy sci-fi movie. Just the opposite, in fact—hobbies should keep us from surrendering to the doldrums of existence, make us excited, provide an opportunity to exercise our creative talents and explore our interests. They shouldn't be simply a way to pass the time, because that's just another name for boredom.

At the same time, making your hobbies (whether they include cooking, weaving, woodworking, book-binding, or origami) the focus of all your attention is just as harmful. If you find yourself only working to fuel your interests, your hobbies (however harmless they were to begin with) have become your idols and you need to put them aside and learn to prioritize. Still, you need to have interests outside of work, and they need to be cultivated and not just casually dabbled in from time to time.

Why do we take hobbies so seriously? Because what we spend our free time doing reveals a great deal about who we are. If your primary activity when you aren't at work or cleaning the house or whatever is buying clothes, then clothes are what's important to you. The same is true for playing video games, watching reality TV, and bare-knuckle boxing.

It's important to choose hobbies that are constructive. As Christians, we're to do everything to the glory of God, and while some activities done in moderation might be fun, doing them all the time is more a sign of selfish addiction than simple enjoyment. Hobbies should be relaxing, of course, but they should be good for something, and good for other people.

The books you'll find below won't tell you what your hobby should be. They will, however, help you develop the skills related to certain hobbies so you can pursue them to the best of your ability. In a world that excuses lack of excellence and even defends poor quality, we need to work even harder to do our best, whether in our vocations or our avocations.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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66 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 11th grade (Ages 16-17)
Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers
by Lesley Stanfield
from Collins & Brown
for 6th-Adult
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
America's Knitting Book
by Gertrude Taylor
from Charles Scribner's Sons
for 8th-Adult
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
American Ship Models and How to Build Them
by V. R. Grimwood, foreword by Howard I. Chapelle
from Bonanza Books
for 9th-Adult
in Nautical History (Location: VIN-NAUT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Beginner Book: Warfare by Duct Tape
by Steven Erickson
from Chinquapin Press
for 4th-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$11.95
Big Book of Geometric Designs and Illusions to Color
by Koichi Sato, Spyros Horemis
illustrated edition from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$7.95
Boy Joiner and Model Maker
by E. A. Davidson
Reprint from Hope Chest Legacy, Inc.
for 4th-12th grade
in Carpentry for Kids (Location: SS-CARP)
$15.00 (3 in stock)
Bumper Book of Nature
by Stephen Moss
1st edition from Crown Trade Paperbacks
for 1st-Adult
in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE)
Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers
by Scott D. Campbell
40th edition from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$1.00 (1 in stock)
Contained Garden
from Viking Press
for 10th-Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Crafts and Hobbies
from Reader's Digest
for 9th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts
by Leah Kramer
from Ten Speed Press
for 6th-12th grade
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Cut & Assemble the Mayflower
by A. G. Smith
2020 Reprint from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Cut and Assemble a Crusader Castle in Full Color
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
History Reference/Art Project for 7th-Adult
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Dangerous Book for Boys
by Conn & Hal Iggulden
from William Morrow & Company
for 3rd-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$22.99
Dazzling Designs - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Deviously Difficult Mind-Bending Puzzles
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Dolls' House Fireplaces & Stoves
by Patricia King
from Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd
for 8th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Double Dangerous Book for Boys
by Conn & Hal Iggulden
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$24.99
Down & Dirty
by Ellen Zachos
1st edition from Storey Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$19.95
Eleventh Hour
by Graeme Base
from Scholastic Inc.
for 5th-Adult
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Encyclopedia of Origami & Papercraft Techniques
by Paul Jackson
from Running Press
for 9th-Adult
in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Fiendishly Frustrating Brain-Twisting Puzzles
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Floral Borders on Layout Grids
by Stefen Bernath, designer
from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Garden Flowers Iron-On Transfer Patterns
by Claire Bryant
from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
God of the Garden
by Andrew Peterson
from B&H Books
for 10th-Adult
in Creating Culture (Location: XCU-CRE)
$17.99
Great Outdoor Adventures
by Outdoor Life editors, illustrated by Ray Pioch
from E.P. Dutton & Co.
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Anthology Collections (Location: VIN-ANTH)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Hiking the Columbia River Gorge
by Russ Schneider
from Falcon Press Publishing
for 10th-adult
in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Hinged Square & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Home Machinist's Handbook
by Doug Briney
1st edition from McGraw-Hill
for 10th-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
Homesteading
by Abigail R. Gehring
2nd edition from Skyhorse Publishing
for 9th-12th grade
in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self)
$27.95
How to Carve Wood
by Richard Butz
from Taunton Press
for 10th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Costume
by Doreen Yarwood
from Dover Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Diversity & Multicultural Books (Location: HISMC-MUL)
$22.00 (1 in stock)
Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers
by Kate Greenaway
from Gramercy Books
for all ages
in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH)
Knight Book: Warfare by Duct Tape
by Steven Erickson
from Chinquapin Press
for 4th-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$20.95
Knotty Number Problems & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Language of Flowers
by Kate Greenaway
from Dover Publications
for all ages
in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH)
$6.95
Leonardo's Mirror & Other Puzzles
Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
First Edition from Sterling Publishing Co.
for 7th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Loopy Logic Problems & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
M.C. Escher Kaleidocycles
Box from Purple Pomegranate Productions
for 6th-Adult
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Mary Engelbreit: Christmas Ideas
by Mary Engelbreit
from Meredith Press
for 9th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Modelling for Amateurs
How to Do It #20
by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis
from The Studio Publications, Inc.
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$6.50 (1 in stock)
Modern Book of Whittling and Woodcarving
by E. J. Tangerman
from McGraw-Hill
for 6th-Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Monty Hall Problem & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection #12
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
My Family Tree Workbook
by Rosemary A. Chorzempa
from Dover Publications
for 4th grade-adult
in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
New Testament Crossword Puzzles
by Mrs. John G. Weaver
for 4th-12th grade
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Old-fashioned Silhouettes
Dover Clip Art
by Carol Belanger Grafton
from Dover Publications
for 5th-Adult
in Paper Crafts & Origami (Location: ELE-ORI)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Op Art - Coloring Book
by Jean Larcher
First Edition from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$4.99
Optical Illusions - Coloring Book
by Koichi Sato
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Orchard Mason Bee
by Brian L. Griffin, illustrated by Sharon Smith
1st edition from Knox Cellars Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Peerless Probability Problems & Other Problems
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Pulled Thread Embroidery
by Moyra McNeill
1993 reprint from Dover Publications
for 8th-Adult
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Puzzling Optical Illusions
Dover Game and Puzzle Activity Books
by Thomas Crawford
from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Optical Illusions and Magic Tricks (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$3.00
Secret Garden Notebook
from David R. Godine
for 7th-Adult
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Shoelace Problem & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Simple Foods for the Pack
A Sierra Club Outdoor Adventure Guide
by Claudia Axcell, Vikki Kinmont Kath, Diana Cooke
3rd edition from Sierra Club Books
for 9th-Adult
in Miscellaneous Cookbooks (Location: COOK-MIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Simply Handmade
by Carol F. Dahlstrom
from Meredith Corporation
for 9th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Sneakiest Uses for Everyday Things
from Andrews McMeel
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
Survival Handbook - The Official U.S. Army Guide
by Department of the Army
from Dover Publications
for 7th-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$14.95
Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors
by Maureen Taylor
from Houghton Mifflin
for 6th-Adult
in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Tough Topology Problems & Other Puzzles
Ivan Moscovich's Mastermind Collection
by Ivan Moscovich
from Sterling Publishing Co.
Math Puzzles for 9th-Adult
in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Traditional Quilts for Kids to Make
by Barbara J. Eikmeier
from Martingale and Company
for 6th-Adult
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Visual Illusions - Coloring Book
by Spyros Horemis
from Dover Publications
for 4th-Adult
in Abstract & Mosaic Coloring Books (Location: COL-ABS)
$3.99
Walking with Spring
by Earl V. Shaffer
from Appalachian Trail Conservancy
for 7th-Adult
in Hiking & Outdoor Adventures (Location: NAT-HIKE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Walter Potter's Curious World of Taxidermy
by Pat Morris with Joanna Ebenstein
from Constable & Robinson
for 3rd-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
by Joshua Piven & David Borgenicht
from Chronicle Books
for 7th-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Yellow Owl's Little Print
by Christine Schmidt
from Potter Craft
for 6th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$10.50 (1 in stock)
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