Back to Back Beetles (Photo by D.L.) Look -- down the road! It's a fish... it's a dragon... it's an art car! Talk about a hobby with some pizzazz. Cartists, as art car creators are often known, possess visions as varied as the personalities who wander our planet. From their favorite sport, to beloved childhood tales, to Mother Nature, their inspirations are limitless. Some even choose to use the dirt on the car as their palette, while others turn their cars into living art. Although it may seem that art car creation is only for the art-car-driving enthusiast, this hobby appears to be without limitations. Famous artists have tried their hands at auto artistry, and it has branched out to inspire installation art and permanent public pieces. Longing to see an art car in person, but not up for hunting them down at Burning Man or in frozen climes? Not to worry. Just make your way to one of the numerous parades to be found throughout the country or stop by a museum. Art car folks are a welcoming crowd and you're sure to be impressed. Suggested Sites... Art Car Museum - watch the art car slide show or make the trip in person. ArtCar Fest - the west coast's largest gathering of art cars. Flickr: Art Cars - photo pool featuring art cars on parade and up close and personal. WikiHow: How to Create an Art Car - roll up your sleeves and become a cartist yourself.

Directory categories: Art Cars, Lowriders, Car Art, Roadside Attractions

Archived under: ArtCars, Artists, Arts, Autos, Fanatics, Festivals, Hobbies, Museums

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Autumn-themed scrapbook page (By Desi Zavatta Musolino) On paper, scrapbooking is a moneymaking juggernaut. An army of Creative Memories consultants prowls homes worldwide, looking for new memory-makers, and there's even a reality TV show in the works. Think scrapbooking means just playing around with some photos and paper? Think again! Creativity is the key, and the industry has plenty of ways to spice up the deal. Expo, anyone? A spa getaway, perhaps? How about a trip to Tuscany -- or even a cruise? And if competition is what draws you in, you can find that, too -- but beware the consequences! If, after all of that, you feel prepared to crop and collage your way into this acid-free world, you're going to need to come prepared. Get yourself a slew of embellishments, paper, and glue. And, of course, you'll need something to cart it all around in. It seems space can become a bit of a problem, but Martha's here to help you. (Isn't she always?) So, get down with the lingo, get your scrapbook on, and join the cream of the croppers! Suggested Sites... Two Peas in a Bucket - Kaboose's scrapbooking community and retail site. Creating Keepsakes - browse the gallery and shop for supplies. Scrap Smack - blog and messageboard for the scrapbooking community. Memory Makers - visit the idea gallery and find scrapping resources.

Directory categories: Scrapbooking Magazines, Monthly Scrapbooking Clubs, Scrapbooking Supplies and Equipment, Scrapbooking

Archived under: Arts, Crafts, Hobbies, Home and Garden, Homemade, Photography, Scrapbooking

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A cute little terrarium (Photo by Taryn Domingos) Minnesota. Saskatchewan. Greenland. Buenos Aires! What's a girl to do when harsh temperatures simply don't allow for the beautiful garden of her dreams? Apartment-dwellers have known for years that a simple windowbox can go a long way toward improving your daily outlook, especially if you prefer to cook with fresh herbs and vegetables. But you don't have to watch your lovely plants get buried in snow, hail, and errant pets right outside your window: You can just bring the whole thing inside. You probably won't get the same wildlife visits, but, hey -- no snails! A terrarium is another good solution, even if you don't go full-on Conservatory of Flowers in its construction. A succulent garden needs very little attention, and a water garden could include that awesome desktop fountain you've been trying to give away. Or if you've really got time on your hands, dip into bonsai, and we'll see you again in about 30 years. Suggested Sites... Sunset Magazine - your mom used it for a reason: it's the Bible of gardening in the United States. Better Homes and Gardens - lots of advice, projects, and neat tools like a virtual landscaper. You Grow Girl - forums and articles by and for the contemporary gardener. Guerilla Flowerpots - PingMag showcases Tokyo's growing efforts to bring green to the city. Winter - when will it end, anyway?

Directory categories: Planters and Windowboxes, Houseplants, Gardening Magazines

Archived under: Crafts, Flowers, Gardening, Hobbies, Home and Garden, Nature

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(Photo by Herman Turnip) If you can't hit the long ball or climb your way out of a sand trap like Tiger, maybe it's time hang up the 9-iron. You can always switch to miniature golf, where the water features are benign and the windmills are friendly. The first "Lady's Putting Club" was created in the late 1800s in St. Andrews, Scotland to create a diversion for the ladies who had an interest in being out on the links. It didn't take long for men and children to hop on board with the miniature version of the game. By the 1920s the game had spread across the globe, from Sweden to the tops of Manhattan skyscrapers. This surge of popularity was soon followed by fierce competition among the putters. The first national miniature golf competition took place in Tennessee on this day in 1930. Brutal battles on the Astroturf have raged ever since. Today, the top mini-golf gurus train hard, compete worldwide, and even keep world records. If you have keen aim and a fondness for tiny obstacles, grab your putter and head on out. Suggested Sites... U.S. ProMiniGolf Association (USPMGA) - professional mini golf... really? Mini Golf Pics - photos galore. Mini Golf 2008 - home of the upcoming European Championships, teeing off in May 2008. The Putting Penguin - scouting the locations of the best windmills and loop-di-loops. Simply Putt: Mini Golf Is an Art Form - looking at the aesthetic of the game.

Directory categories: Miniature Golf, Course Designers, Disc Golf, Golf

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Entertainment, Golf, Hobbies, Miniature Golf

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(Photo by Gaetan Lee) On this day in 1857, Thorstein Veblen was born. Who, you might ask, is Thorstein Veblen, and why are we spending precious pixels on him? An American economist, Veblen is most famous for his 1899 book, "The Theory of the Leisure." While it may sound like an invitation to sleep in and slack off, it's actually a critique of class hierarchy and how the ruling class becomes the leisure class by subjugating lower classes through menial work. Veblen coined the terms "conspicuous consumption" and "conspicuous leisure" to describe the waste of money and time by people striving to obtain a higher status. If that view of leisure has you feeling guilty about calling in "sick" today, you may appreciate a philosophy that celebrates the idle life. In 1937, Chinese philosopher Lin Yutang penned (from a comfy sofa, no doubt) "The Importance of Living." It hails the joys of lying in bed, loafing, and lounging. And today, through frequent pub visits and a not-so-frequent journal, Tom Hodgkinson is doing his best to promote all things idle. He and his fellow loafers are swinging back at the culture of work and the fast life by doing, well, not much. Today, go slow. Sleep in and don't forget that siesta. Suggested Sites... The Idler - fighting the work ethic. Idle Idols: Lin Yutang - a profile of the icon of idlers, Chinese philosopher Lin Yutang. International Institute of Not Doing Much - do less... slowly. The Cloud Appreciation Society - be sure to look up at the clouds today. Anxiety Culture - offering a wealth of ideas to help you navigate the crazy, work-obsessed life.

Directory categories: Travel, Walking, Hobbies, Dreaming, Cocktail Recipes

Archived under: Hobbies, Sleep, Society and Culture, Travel, Work

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