greenbeanmama Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 I'm thinking ahead to Christmas and my husband's birthday. He is a geek by nature, but I like to broaden his horizons a bit, so I get him "unusual" gifts sometimes to spur on new hobbies. Some that he has really enjoyed are a ukulele, sewing machine, and lock picking set. Once he has the basic tools, he really likes researching, watching how-to videos, and essentially teaching himself how to do this new thing...but they aren't things he would ever pick for himself. Does anyone have suggestions for unusual self-taught skills I could interest him in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) nm Edited August 14, 2017 by lllll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cecropia Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Birdwatching Mounting/spreading butterflies Wood burning art Bonsai Ham radio Blacksmithing Yoyo tricks Stained glass Cake or cookie decorating Knot tying Calligraphy Whittling Painting miniatures (like Airfix) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historically accurate Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 (edited) Dollhouses Model Trains Birdwatching Juggling Balloon Animals ETA: My brother likes to do stained glass garden stones. He does traditional stained glass as well, but his garden stones are gorgeous. Athletic pursuits (if he likes those): Ninja warrior obstacle courses, unicycle Edited July 28, 2017 by beckyjo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I'm not sure the name but they are wooden puzzle cubes that can only be taken apart a certain way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 wood burning uni-cycling - I have a friend whose husband is in a unicycle club, so it must be a thing with people. - they perform at parades and such. bag pipes (expensive though). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I'm not sure the name but they are wooden puzzle cubes that can only be taken apart a certain way. I started our family on a set similar to this one, after a visit to a science museum that sets out trays with challenges. Now we collect them, and I recently got hubby a book on ideas to craft his own:) https://www.walmart.com/ip/12-Wooden-Puzzles-Set-In-Wooden-Suitcase/188800722?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3446&adid=22222222228065603641&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=169669905961&wl4=pla-274628516536&wl5=9027500&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113490045&wl11=online&wl12=188800722&wl13=&veh=sem 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Tenkara--this is an exquisite Japanese form of fly fishing that involves elegance and rustic perfection, according to my husband, who has been researching it. Croquet Heirloom bread baking (start with "Artisan Baking" or some such) or Heirloom Cookie Baking (springele, speculas, etc.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Robotics 3D printing Lost wax casting gemology/minerology meteorology Learn a new language Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xahm Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Beer brewing (or root beer if alcohol it's avoided) My husband is currently teaching himself magic tricks from you tube. The kind he goes for can be done with a plain deck of cards and some coins, so not much to buy, though 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Love these ideas. A few I haven't seen mentioned: If he's a coffee drinker, bean roasting supplies. You can buy green beans and do the roasting yourself. It's an art. Did anyone mention beer brewing? Digital art supplies, like a digital drawing pad to use with software. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Knitting or crochet. Scuba diving Sculpting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Raising mushrooms carving painting or modeling miniatures bookbinding finding latitude and longitude the old-fashioned way sextant/compass/whatever paper airplane design pickled vegetables or make your own hot sauce dry-stacking rock walls kite making harmonica knife sharpening foraging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenbeanmama Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 Wow, I wouldn't have thought of many of these! He also likes 3D printing, painting minis, knife sharpening, puzzles...these are all things he's dabbled in. I can't believe how many listed that I also have tried! He might go for ham radio, stained glass, learning Greek, or blacksmithing might be worth looking into! And a few I'm not sure what they are - off to Google to educate myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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