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Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

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Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#651

Post by stanko »

Maybe not that niche for this group, but I love pen plotting. I use code to create drawings and then pen plot them on paper [0]. The ability to bring something digital into the physical world is really fulfilling for me and makes the process much more tangible. I have an Axidraw A3, and it might be the best purchase I ever made.

In the last few months I haven't done much as I'm currently obsessed by gamedev. But now when you reminded me, I want to plot a few pieces I started last year and never finished.

[0] https://muffinman.io/art/

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#652

Post by bombcar »

jedberg wrote: post #317
rationalist wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Warning: Do NOT click on [1] unless you have 25 minutes to spend transfixed on a video. Holy cow...

It takes about 10 hours per minute of song to make a sequence like that. Imagine if AI could help speed that up!

I wonder if you can break down the sequences into segments (parts) and then the AI doesn't have to know how to control LEDs directly, but can instead put sequences together in accordance with the music.

Maybe even process MIDI files somehow ...

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#653

Post by ttsalami »

ggambetta wrote: post #128

I'm into book restoration, here's a gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1oNxCfKJp4k6yjoZ9 Much less niche, but I'm also really into acting: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=do5PicgU0Jw

Hi! I've been interested in starting book restoration as a hobby as well, are there any resources you recommend to start learning?

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#654

Post by komali2 »

trick-or-treat wrote: post #575
komali2 wrote: post #552

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure the OP didn't mean they literally put a note in an excel document next to your name. So to explore the issue, is your anxiety around the fact that some people will think some aspects of your personality or behavior or weird? Because I could drop you into the middle of Vietnam (or whatever, pick some country you've never been to) and like 90% of people would think you're a bit weird. It's not really a…

I imagined everyone at these events independently classifying everyone else and just sort of nodding knowingly at each other about who the weirdos are. And so the fact that I don't do that must mean that I'm one of the weirdos. And sure, it doesn't really matter other than it's a reason to avoid events.

> And sure, it doesn't really matter other than it's a reason to avoid events.

I guess it's this part I'm not really understanding - what harm are you avoiding?

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#655

Post by klooney »

Sailing. Good to focus your eyes on something not glowing, the cold and wet makes you feel really alive. There's a bottomless pit of cheap old boats and maintenance to learn about- or if you like buying toys, the sky is the limit.

I like racing dingies, adds a social aspect, but ymmv.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#656

Post by MezzoDelCammin »

shivekkhurana wrote: post #27

I started designing my own clothes. The insight was that I spend 80% money on suits that I wear 2 times a year, and the rest was low quality clothing I actually wore. I flipped it, and made suits and pants that I could wear everyday. The fast fashion stores were crap quality, my body is not a template size and I care about fabric and comfort. The process was to learn how to sketch, to determine fabrics, colors and fi…

OK, fairly specific question - how did You get to that pants silouhete? It seems from the pics You went for something like a straight leg plus some extra room and fairly fitted waist / butt. Is that a response to a trend (oversized work clothes seem to be the thing these past few years), or is there some practical reason too (mainly for the extra room in the leg shape)?

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#657

Post by apgwoz »

ogou wrote: post #452
apgwoz wrote: post #396

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like your stuff! I’ve been coveting a plotter for a while, but I’m pretty sure it won’t get used enough to justify the expense. :/ I do find the term “printmaking” hilarious because there’s just sooo many ways to make prints. I tried to get into linocut fairly recently, but the battleship grey linoleum I had wasn’t very good. It cracked and crumbled pretty easily. I did get some of pink Speedball “blocks,” but it g…

Thanks for the compliment. Linocuts and monotypes have been considered printmaking for hundreds of years. Those pen plots are also collaged and modified by hand, so not only mechanical. I see all that as traditional printmaking. As for having nothing to saw, there can be a lot of fulfillment in exploring basic themes, like geometric shapes or silhouettes of animals.

There’s no doubt that stuff is print making. My point is that there are multiple ways of doing (within each of these): relief, Intaglio, lithography, screen printing, offset.

So if you say, “I’m a print maker,” it describes basically nothing. :)

This is just a general statement, not directed at you. Sorry it felt that way.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#659

Post by andrewhaupt »

joshmarinacci wrote: post #321
andrewhaupt wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats awesome! I'm doing apple stuff on the other side of the Cascades (Eugene), starting a cidery and trying to find rare varieties to graft. And doing little software projects like https://pomological.art/ . Would love to get in touch if you want people to propagate these varieties you're finding and would potentially be interested in sharing some scion wood!

You’re in Eugene!? Me too. I’d love to meet up some time to talk about your software over coffee.

Nice! Sounds good, shoot me an email: haupt.andrew@protonmail.com

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#660

Post by andrewhaupt »

jamiek88 wrote: post #365
andrewhaupt wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats awesome! I'm doing apple stuff on the other side of the Cascades (Eugene), starting a cidery and trying to find rare varieties to graft. And doing little software projects like https://pomological.art/ . Would love to get in touch if you want people to propagate these varieties you're finding and would potentially be interested in sharing some scion wood!

Small world! I’m doing it on the mid/south Oregon coast! Started with a late neighbors trees and went from there! My work and operation is small, limited to residential yards/gardens and particularly focused on dwarf and columnar varieties. Used your site quite a bit! Thanks for making it.

Good stuff! I honestly didn't know anyone used it so I'm happy to hear that
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