Something to do winter evenings

FlorayG

My main hobbies are horses and gardening which means, as I work full-time, both are pretty much on hold all winter. I tend to spend winter evenings reading and I really would like something practical to do which will either earn me money or help a charity.
I spend all day on a computer so don't want to do anything online based. I've always been better at fine rather than gross work (for example, I used to do tapestry and embroidery, but never could get into dressmaking or knitting) and it needs to be something I can do in the living room so nothing too messy.
Any suggestions?

p00hsticks

Perhaps thinking about possible outlets and demand for whatever you make/do might help point you in a direction ?
Etsy is the obvious platform if you want to make money yourself, if you want to raise funds for charity perhaps ask what they have a use for ? 

I'm part of a craft club and some of the ladies make christmas decorations and cards to sell in aid of charity - as you say you used to do tapestry and embroidery, perhaps plastic canvas christmas tree decorations ? there are plenty of patterns out there .... just search for 'plastic canvas tree decorations'   

Brie

painting?  watercolour doesn't have to be messy.  a small selection of half pans and a water brush and a small watercolour paper pad with a ring binding?  Get something that's at least student quality rather than cheap cheap as the results might be very disappointing even if the picture itself is fine.  Watercolour pencils are also good fun.  If you're not too sure you could buy one of those (cheap cheap) sets they sell at Lidl just to try it out.  

I know someone that paperfolds.  She takes old books from charity shops and makes them into something interesting.  

Dorset buttons?  Never tried it myself but it looks interesting.

I used to make catnip mice.  Crochet, a bit of stuffing and a good teaspoon full of real catnip.  Made 100 one year and took them to work and sold the lot at £1 a piece for RSPCA.  Had to stop it when my cats got too interested.

Jack06019

Do you have a supply of willow near you, by a stream or river perhaps? You could maybe get some cut, now would be a good time or later in the autumn also, and make Christmas wreaths.You just have to create a circular frame out of two of the thicker whips by twisting them together, interweave some smaller willow whips and then in the gaps you can interweave winter foliage such as ivy, yew and holly, and decorate it with holly berries, and/or artificial decorations and ribbon. They cost a fortune from shops, I'm sure that you could undercut them and still get a very good return on your time.

PS - the best book I have found on willow weaving is Willow Basketry - a how-to guide by Jonathan Ridgeon.

FlorayG

Brie said:

I used to make catnip mice.  Crochet, a bit of stuffing and a good teaspoon full of real catnip.  Made 100 one year and took them to work and sold the lot at £1 a piece for RSPCA.  Had to stop it when my cats got too interested.

this is a great idea if I didn't have five cats of my own; I'm not sure if I could cope with fending them off my work every few minutes lol