Hobby Thread - December 21, 2024 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread.

As previewed, the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) has determined that the Hobby Thread theme of the week is Christmas and Hanukkah crafting. The Wheel is feeling festive and might be a little tipsy after getting into the spiked eggnog.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Even though it is arguably religion, college football is fair game. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls. Pants are optional.

Gifts, cards, decorations, nativities, food, stockings, advent calendars, ornaments, etc. Anything you make or fashion for Christmas or Hanukkah is eligible. What are you crafting? What have you crafted in the past that was memorable? Do you make gifts for others? Are you guilty of taking on projects that involve a last minute push to complete? Do you make your own decorations? Do you have friends, neighbors or relatives that are noteworthy for their holiday crafting?

Top photo: when the Germans say that their Nutcrackers are handmade, they mean it. Good history on Nutcrackers here from Atlas Obscura.

Nutcracker Museum Website in German. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Yum!

Crafty goodies from German Christmas Markets:

How cookie cutters are made:

Piper sent photos of two different Buche de Noels and a box of cupcakes.

I make the meringue mushrooms and I made the little mouse. My mom had a decorative saw that I hope I can get my hands on next time I visit my stepfather. The ornaments on the cupcakes are made out of white chocolate that I hand painted with edible paint to make them look metallic. The silver hangers are marzipan with edible glitter.

Yum! Thank you!

TRex is not wise in the ways of making cookies and is generally banned from the kitchen. However, it is great to see that the holiday theme includes those of the dinosaur persuasion. (Hat tip: Iris)

YouTube has many 3D printing videos for Christmas. Picked this one at random based mostly on the snowmen and custom gift boxes:

Old school 3D. More elaborate than snowflakes TRex made as a youth, but these look great:

Looking for a White Elephant gift? The Hobby Thread has you covered. Some assembly required:

What is a White Elephant gift and why is is called a White Elephant?

Wikipedia describes a White Elephant as a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities. The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party goers rather than to give or acquire a genuinely valuable or highly sought item.

White Elephants are common among office parties but calibrate your gift ideas with the correct degree of irreverence in your office culture.

Where does the term White Elephant come from? Wikipedia says the phrase comes from the historic practice of the King of Siam (now Thailand) giving rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the upkeep costs. The story is likely more legend than fact, given that albino elephants are rare, valuable and sacred. Short answer? No idea.

Here is the part that TRex did not know until doing research for the thread: Other names for White Elephant include Dirty Santa, Yankee Swap, Shifty Santa, Bad Santa, the Grinch Game, Thieving Elves, Snatchy Christmas Rat, Cutthroat Christmas, Redneck Santa, Machiavellian Christmas, Kamikaze Gift Exchange and Bastard Secret Santa.

Snatchy Christmas Rat?? Kamikaze gift exchange? Dirty Santa? Huffington Post says so. Which means nothing, so looking to the Horde for your knowledge.

From PA Dutchman:

Outstanding. Thank you for sharing!

Snickerdoodles from Lurker NorCal Sierra Nevada Foothills:

Yum! Thank you!

Christmas ornaments from Lirio100:

I have made Christmas ornaments on and off for years, but I usually make them to give away, My sister sent me a picture a couple of weeks ago because she has some questions about ones I had made her (the ornaments in a row). I have no idea now why I thought it was a good idea to send Valentine hearts for Christmas ornaments!

The other picture is a cross stitch ornament I did keep, along with a hanging. The third ornament is in progress (yes, a very late start) that will be a Christmas tree in the center of a small hanging. I'm making two for my daughter and daughter in law.

Thank you!

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week with a theme of toys and games? The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Someone mentioned Chinese Checkers last week. TRex saw a set (metal playing board and marbles) in good condition at an antique store today with a price tag of $36. It stayed at the antiques store.

Notable comments from last week:

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

If Christmas or Hanukkah crafting is not your thing and you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different hobby next time. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com All Christmas items are 60 percent off (exclusions apply).

posted by Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

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