Now that we’ve settled into fall a bit, I find that, while I’m glad to be comfortable and at home, I miss the fun and adventure that came with summertime. As the temperatures change, and I know I’m going to be spending a bit more time inside, I wonder: What should I do to keep from feeling cooped up as it gets colder?
Well, when in doubt, I turn to two things: Redecoration, and trying new things. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized there are a lot of ways for me to combine these two solutions! There are plenty of artsy, crafty things I can do that allow me to create something new and unique for my home, and be entertained while doing it!
Here’s a list of a few of the ideas I came up with. I hope you try your hand at them too, and create home decor at the same time. (Remember: The only requirement to be an artist is to make something!)
1. Go to a Paint and Sip
This is a fun activity you can do alone or with friends, and you come out of it with a piece of art that YOU made, and can display in your home!
When you go, an instructor is there with a painting they’ve done, usually modeled after one done by a famous artist. The instructor walks you through making it, step by step, and you end up learning a little bit about the artist and their style along the way! A glass of wine is optional, but I’ve found that it helps keep you from worrying or overthinking too much while you work. 😉
The painting shown here is an imitation of a Matisse done at Dish and Dabble in Havertown. You can book a private event for you and your friends, or go to their open paint nights to make some new friends! Everyone there is so friendly, and the instructors are awesome.
2. Paint some pottery
This is another funny, artsy one, and might be right for you if you want to paint, not necessarily paint a picture, or if you need a new bowl or statuette or knicknack for somewhere in your home. Personalized dishes and mugs are always fun, too!
MudRoom Studio in Ardmore is a great place to go for this. They do kids’ and adult parties, and open hours. They, like Dish and Dabble, are BYOB. You can just do the pottery, or you can work with glass and make mosaics!
3. Knit a Throw
If you’d rather stay inside than go out to make things, you might want to consider knitting a stylish or seasonal throw blanket for your couches. Knitting is a nice, calming activity that you can do while watching TV or listening to an audio book.
If you’ve never knitted before: Don’t worry! It’s not as difficult as it might seem. Most people who try it for the first time actually say they find it very calming. A blanket or throw is a good place to start, because it’s just a long, flat article, but if you want to start smaller, a scarf might be a good way to go.
4. Make a Quilt
If knitting isn’t for you, but you’d like to make a throw for your couch or your wall, maybe you could try quilting. Quilting is also great if you have a lot of scraps of fabric lying around.
Or, alternatively, if you or one of your children has a lot of T-shirts for activities they do, but they don’t really get worn, you can make them into a quilt! That way you get to keep the memories, but don’t have a bunch of shirts taking up space in your drawers.
Here is a guide on how to make a normal quilt, and here’s one on how to make a T-shirt quilt.
5. Carve some Pumpkins
Of course, in the spirit of the season, I had to include the ultimate fall activity of carving pumpkins. You can do this on your own or with friends and family – Some people even have pumpkin carving parties!
If you want, you can even save the seeds to toast and the guts to make pumpkin pie.
Of course, pumpkin carving is a very messy activity. Check back a little later in the month for a blog post full of pumpkin carving alternatives!
