Hobby

Out of the 5 birthday parties, 3 store openings, 1 graduation ceremony, and 2 weddings I’ve been to over the past year, 8 events featured a balloon arch or garland!

It’s safe to say that balloon arches and garlands have soared in popularity, and I’m all here for it! I mean, they’re super versatile, relatively affordable, and end up looking great in pictures, so what’s not to love?

If you’re a DIY head like me, then you probably couldn’t rest until you’ve learned to build these balloon decorations yourself. Well, you’re in luck – today’s article is an easy step-by-step guide on how to make a balloon arch with strip to save you time, effort, and money.

If you’re not familiar with a balloon strip, let me tell you now: it’s going to rock your balloon decorating world! It’s basically a plastic strip with holes that hold balloons’ knots, but I’ll explain more below, so let’s get started!

What You Need — Supplies List

Ask any good DIYer, and they’ll tell you that a successful project always starts with gathering all the tools and materials necessary to complete it. The last thing you want to do is find out mid-execution that you don’t have any glue or you forgot to buy tape!

So here’s a list of the supplies you’ll need to put together a balloon arch using a decorative balloon strip:

1. Balloons

First of all, you’re going to need balloons, a lot of them. Well, it really depends on the size of the balloon arch you want to build, but I’d say the minimum for this type of project is about 100 to 150 balloons.

These are enough balloons to make an arch that goes about halfway over a standard doorway. You’ll need double the number of balloons if you want to make a full arch that goes all the way over a standard doorway.

Of course, if you want a bigger arch, you’ll need more balloons.

My advice in this aspect is “better safe than sorry”, so buying more balloons than your arch ends up needing is way better than running out of a balloon while building it. Not to mention, you can always save the extra balloons for your next balloon decoration!

As for the size of the balloons, that’s really up to your taste. Personally, I prefer the way arches look when you mix big balloons with small ones. It’s just prettier, fuller, and seems more professional.

Color-wise, it comes down to the occasion and your preference. You can choose any number of colors you want, but I think 3 or 4 is the sweet spot.

Some of my favorite color combinations are lilac/navy blue/grey, black/gold/champagne, and white/gold/baby pink/hot pink.

2. Electric Inflator

Image source: Pinterest

Next, you’ll need an electric inflator to blow up the balloons. You may be on the fence about buying an inflator, but trust me, you don’t want to blow all those balloons up yourself.

Not only will you go out of breath really fast (probably around balloon number 20), but you’ll also take a lot longer to get all the balloons inflated than if you’d just used an inflater.

Investing in an electric inflator can reduce the time it takes to blow up balloons by more than half the time it takes when using a hand pump even.

It’s not even fair to compare an electric inflator with your lungs; the number of balloons that’d take you an hour to manually blow up will be done in less than 20 minutes if you use an inflator.

If you don’t want to buy an electric inflator, you can get a balloon pump instead. It’s more convenient than blowing balloons yourself, but it’ll take a while longer than an inflator and will require some elbow grease from you.

3. Balloon strip

This is the key element of today’s project that’ll help you arrange and fix your balloons into the desired arch shape. So if you’re not familiar with this handy tool, it’s time I introduce you!

A balloon decorating strip or a balloon decorating tape is a plastic strip with holes spread across its length. It’s transparent so you don’t need to worry about its color interfering with the color scheme of the balloons.

These strips come in 3 different configurations when it comes to the size and placement of the holes. There are strips with single same-size holes, strips with single different-size holes, and strips with key-shaped or double holes.

For a balloon arch, you can use any type of balloon strip as long as you’re blowing up the balloons to the proper size.

4. Wall hooks

To hang your balloon arch over a doorway or on a wall, you’ll need to buy some wall hooks. The type with an adhesive back is what I prefer most since it’s easy to set up and take off. It also doesn’t leave marks behind or damage the wall

Since the balloon arch is very lightweight, adhesive wall hooks are enough to support them. There’s no need for nails unless you already have them hammered.

5. Glue dots

Image source: Pinterest

These will help you stick smaller balloons onto the balloons fitted into the strip to fill up any empty spaces and add an extra dimension to the arch.

6. Additional ornaments

This one is optional and depends on the theme of the occasion. Some ideas you can try are faux flowers, fresh flowers, ribbons, tulle, or leaves.

7. String

8. Scissors

9. Pencil

How to Make a Balloon Arch With Strip — Steps

Now that you have your supplies ready, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Step 1: Blow up the Balloons

The first step is for you to blow up all of the balloons that you’ve estimated making your arch will require. As I mentioned earlier, an electric balloon inflator will help do it quickly and effortlessly.

Be sure to inflate the balloons into appropriate sizes according to the holes in the strip. Smaller holes typically hold balloons 3 to 9 inches large, while bigger ones can hold balloons up to 18 inches large.

Even if you got a single same-size hole strip, it’s better if you inflate your balloon into different sizes to make the arch look more interesting.

When blowing up the bigger balloons, make sure you don’t inflate them. You’ll know you overdid it if your balloons look like a pear. You want them to look more symmetrically rounded like a ball.

Step 2: Add Balloons to the Strip

Image source: Pinterest

With all your balloons inflated and tied, start to insert them into the strip. Just grab the knotted end of each balloon and push it through the hole.

You don’t need to follow a specific pattern of colors if you don’t want to. Random color placement can look pretty awesome in my experience.

Continue to add balloons to the strip until the arch is as long as you want it to be. Once you reach the desired length, cut the balloon decorating strip and place the arch on the floor.

Step 3: Attach Wall Hooks

Grab the wall hooks and attach at least 3 to 4 hooks at different points that would make an arch shape if you were to connect them. You may want to use a pencil to mark these spots first to avoid sticky mistakes.

Step 4: Make String Loops

Grab the string and cut pieces that are long enough to go through a hole on the balloon strip then get tied into a loop. You’ll need as many string loops as the number of hooks you put on the wall.

Step 5: Hang the Arch

Hang the balloons on the wall by linking the string loops to wall hooks. You now have a balloon arch!

Step 6: Touch Up

This step is all about final touches to make the balloon arch look fuller and prettier. Grab small balloons and use the glue dots to stick them on the arch wherever you can see any empty spaces.

This is also the time to add any extra ornaments you want. Once you’re done, take a step back and admire your creation!

Other Styling Ideas

Using a balloon decorating strip, you can also make other shapes with balloons besides an arch such as:

• A balloon garland — this one looks like a crooked half-arch.
• A balloon wave — here, you’ll just need to place your wall hooks in an alternating up-and-down pattern.
• A balloon banner — here, you’ll place the wall hooks in a straight line.
• A balloon frame or half-frame — this is where you place the hooks to make an upside-down L-shape. You can do just one ‘L’ or add a mirroring one to make a full-frame.

Wrap Up

There you have it, a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a balloon arch with strip. While it may seem like a complicated task, using a balloon decorating strip transforms it into a fun project that you can do with your family or friends!

The Lo-Fi house has become one of the main phenomena in the world of electronic music over the past few years. We did not notice how this music moved from our headphones to the main clubs worldwide. Why is it so special and why it shouldn’t be neglected – read below.

Lo-Fi as Alternative

The digital revolution of the 90s influenced many aspects of electronic music culture. The move from analog to digital has changed the sound and approach to music writing, forcing major industry players to compete for the purest sound. At this time, music called “Lo-Fi” emerged as a reaction to “Hi-Fi” recordings, aimed at the commercialization of music in general.

The first was the indie rock bands of the mid-90s who massively recorded their music through cheap four-channel cassette recorders. Today, lofi music download is available to everyone, especially on the free download stock libraries.

The irony is that house has been lo-fi music from the beginning. For example, one of the house godfathers, Frankie Knuckles, recorded his first DJ set on cassette tapes. However, the term “lo-fi house” only became widespread in 2015, as a description of a bunch of young house producers whose recordings began to spread like a virus. Many of them deliberately invented rather stupid names for themselves, playing on the absurdity of their work.

In an attempt to play retro, they greatly distorted their music, adding some noise in contrast to mainstream pretentiousness. In most cases, tracks in this style are intended to be listened to through headphones rather than powerful audio systems. Until recently, this style remained an exclusively Internet phenomenon, whose circle of admirers was limited to a few thousand subscribers. However, the situation is rapidly changing, and famous labels have started using it.

Examples of the genre

1) DJ Boring – Winona

This is one of the defining dance tracks of 2016, earning over 600,000 YouTube views in its first three months. The composition is dedicated to actress Winona Ryder, and excerpts from her interview with British presenter Terry Wogan are used in the track.

2) Mall Grab – Menace II Society

Australian nugget Jordan Alexander (Mall Grab) has grown from an unknown producer to a world-class DJ by the age of 23. Almost all of his tracks are in demand on dance floors around the world.

3) Subjoi – Love Shy

The discharged noise crashes against the bass line, shooting into the void like a blaster. A whining, nasal vocal hook heats the atmosphere of the smoky garage up. This is the composition of Luke Palmer, released on the leading label Lobster Theremin.

4) Florian Kupfer – Feelin

From the very beginning of his career, the German musician linked the aesthetics of the early house and its modern trends. Faded and gloomy, but at the same time retaining a glimmer of light – the track involves you from the first seconds.

5) Delroy Edwards – Always

Delroy Edwards has been plowing his own way through house music for several years. The musician’s father (actor Ron Perlman) once answered a question about his son’s music: “I think my son is the smoothest motherfucker on the planet.”

Just like the name implies, dirt bikes get dirty. These rugged vehicles are made for off-road tracks and trails, so they can take a lot of wear and tear. But, dirt bikes can work hard and still look good with suitable graphics. The following guide will explain how to use and install a graphics kit and find a good one.

Benefits Of A Graphics Kit

There are several good reasons for using a graphics kit. For one thing, it can dramatically improve the appearance of a bike. Decals add color and design that significantly improve a bike’s visual appeal, and they can make an old bike look brand new. An eye-catching motorcycle isn’t just a pleasure to look at. It can also add to the market value of a motorcycle for sale. But, a graphics kit isn’t just for looks. Made of flexible vinyl, graphics kits protect the bike from scuffs and scratches, and when decals get damaged, they’re easy to replace. 

Installing A Graphics Kit

Before installing a new graphics kit on a dirt bike, owners should remove any old decals and inspect the plastic to ensure it’s in reasonably good condition. The next step is to clean the bike and plastic surfaces very thoroughly. The best cleaning product for plastic is a strong degreaser. When the bike is immaculate and dry, it’s time to apply the decals.

The key to getting a smooth cover is to attach the center of the decal to the plastic first and slowly press outward. Patience is key. If air bubbles or wrinkles appear, just lift up the adhesive and reapply it. It’s best to work on a tiny area at a time. If the decal doesn’t easily conform to the shape of the plastic, a hairdryer can be a great tool to heat and soften the vinyl, which will make it easier to stretch and shape. Once a decal is attached, it may be necessary to cut excess material around the edges. 

Install a graphics kit when the bike is somewhat warm for best results. Experts recommend letting a bike sit in a 60-degree (Fahrenheit) garage for several hours before adding decals. In addition, it’s essential to give the decals at least 24 hours to fully bond before taking the bike out for a ride.

Choosing A Graphics Kit

Most people choose a graphics kit for the color, design, and branding. For example, many owners choose decals that represent their favorite racing team. Some owners select graphics that match their other gear. A kit that will look good and last will be made of thick vinyl so that they will stand up to the friction of riding boots and resist the effects of dirt, mud, and gravel. UV protection is another valuable feature that keeps the color from fading or the vinyl breaking down.

Where To Buy A Graphics Kit

Graphics kits are available in many online and in physical buildings. The key to finding a high-quality product is doing a little research to find a reputable dealer and then examining the available options. Product reviews can give helpful information about how long a graphics kit will last under different driving conditions. Finding the fitting graphics kit is the best and fastest way to provide an older bike a cool new look.

2021 is the year to try all of the most fantastic hobbies. As they say, the best time to start anything – is right now!

Hobbies are proven to make us happier, and we can all attest to being the happiest when we are indulging in the things we love to do.

Reading, writing, watching our favorite movies on repeat all count. But some other hobbies just feel a little bit cooler, or at least a bit more exciting!

According to Head to Health, different hobbies bring us a range of benefits, a few include:

• Listening to music can help reduce stress and increase relaxation
• Creative hobbies give us a healthy bump in happiness that lasts through to the following day
• Hobbies can improve self-esteem and feed into confidence

Not only do we get mental benefits, but we can also enjoy creatively spending our free time.

Musical instruments

If you love listening to music, then it might be time to be on the other end of the headphones – and create something for other people to hear.

You probably already appreciate all the hard work that goes into putting the music together that you listen to. But you will get a whole new appreciation when you start learning the notes.

The trouble can be with choosing which instrument you want to play. Guitar and piano are very popular options, and there are plenty of free tutorials available on YouTube.

Card games

Card games have long been a pastime for millions of people, for thousands of years. The great thing about card games is that you can play them in person with friends and family or play them online as a solo pursuit.

The choice is yours. Some of the most popular games are patience, Uno, rummy, and poker. Take some time to learn the rules for playing poker, and before long, you’ll be playing for cash pots online! One of the best things about learning to play card games is that they can be very social. Most games are suitable for all ages – ideal for taking decks of cards to gatherings.

Need to start easy? Here are some of the best starter card games:

• Spoons card game
• Californian Speed
• War
• Spit card games
• Scat

Digital art

It used to be that to create incredible digital artworks; you would likely need a course and Photoshop. However, now there are so many programs designed for all levels of artistic ability – and free online courses to help you make the most of the programs. Digital art will take time to learn, but the result is worth it.

Although this one might start as a hobby, you might find that your skills are in demand in the online world. Giving you a cool side-hustle to earn money. If you have a computer or a tablet, then you are ready to start exploring creating digital art.

Here are some free and paid software options for you to consider:

• Krita – free – available on Windows, macOS, Linux
• Procreate – around $10 – for the iPhone and iPad
• MediBang Paint Pro – free – for windows and macOS
• Artweaver – Free – windows

Language

Planning on traveling or expanding your career? Learning a new language is a sure-fire way to make both of those things more fun and more accessible.

Learning a language can be problematic early on – getting to grips with pronunciation and tone changes. But after a while, you’ll be super excited to test out your skills.

You can learn the language any way that you like—classes every week, online courses, mobile phone apps – or a combination of all of them. You might choose to have a running subscription that offers a range of languages like Duolingo.

Here are some of the best language learning apps.

• Duolingo – with both free and paid options – a massive range of languages, available as an app too.
• Babble – monthly subscription – an interactive app that sticks with a traditional learning method.
• Memrise – monthly subscription – this is ideal for learning conversational skills using real-world examples.

DIY

Doing it yourself isn’t new – but it might be new to you. Odd jobs around the home or completing more significant DIY projects and upcycling furniture might just be the hobby you are looking for. DIY is creative but takes an element of planning too. What works need to be done? What is the most cost-effective way to do it?

And which type of DIY will you enjoy doing?

Upcycling furniture can teach you new skills like upholstery, distressing, and if you choose to sell your goods, you’ll learn how to manage a business too. If you need some inspiration on cool projects, blogs and websites are dedicated to making IKEA furniture and turning it into beautiful pieces. DIY doesn’t just cover big items either; you can DIY some beautiful collage artwork, make sculptures, bookbinding, even bullet journalling counts as DIY!

If you have children in your life, or you love fairytales and myths, then creating mini fairy houses for the garden is a great DIY project. Terrariums and closed atmosphere spheres can be a stunning addition to your home and take any form you like. DIY covers so many different areas you’ll be hard pushed to narrow down your list to just a few projects.

A Few Parting Words

If you have spare time that you want to use more enjoyably and productively, then getting started on one of these fun hobbies is perfect. Once you get ready well, you might even turn your fun hobby into a side hustle and make some cash from your skills.  And they best bit? It doesn’t matter how many hobbies you have or try to find the one that works for you.

Are you looking to pick up a new hobby or sport? Are you looking to add a little fun, relaxation, and physical activity to your routine? If so, you may want to look into all the great benefits golfing can offer. It’s a classic sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and all skill levels. And with so many incredible and world-class golf courses to be found across the country, it could even spark a travel bug in you, leading to you checking out these famed courses in person. If you’re not yet convinced that golf is for you, let’s take a look at five reasons to start playing golf regularly.

Golf Is an Excellent Workout

When you think about golf, you may not think about it as a workout, but that’s exactly the case. It’s a non-traditional workout, which can make it more enticing. In fact, golf is seen as a full-body workout that isn’t the case for every exercise. You’ll be using a large variety of muscles, there will be walking involved, which is a good form of cardio and even lifting.

Golf is Accessible for All Ages and Fitness Levels

Not every exercise is suited to all ages and fitness levels. Some can be a bit dangerous to do depending on your physical health. That isn’t the case with golf. Because this is a solo sport where you will take things at your own speed and comfort level, anyone can enjoy it. For those of you who may not feel you can handle walking the whole course while carrying/pulling your clubs, then you can always use a golf cart. Golf carts are especially popular with seniors who often end up purchasing their own cart. Purchasing your own cart gives you the option of adding accessories to fit your needs.

Golf Can be Seen as a Social Activity

Besides golf being a physical workout, it can also be seen as a social activity. Sure, you get to head out onto the course by yourself, or even go to the driving range solo, but it’s also a fabulous sport to play with family and friends. You can head out as a foursome and really make a whole day of it.

Golf Gives You the Ability to Enjoy the Outdoors

Another fabulous benefit that golf has going for it is the fact that you get to enjoy the outdoors while playing. Fresh air is good for everyone and can aid in your physical and mental well-being. Even if you’re just golfing once a week, that is one time each week you will be outdoors for hours at a time.

Explore the Golf Courses Across Country

Golfing can also act as that perfect theme for your next holiday. Rather than base your destination on a beach or the hotel itself, why not base it on the golf courses the destination has? There are also resorts with on-site golfing, making it convenient and completely stress free to hit the links while on vacation. As of 2021, the US has more than 9,600 golf courses, which means you have no shortage of options. You can even take this to the next level and start exploring courses around the world, as there are plenty of countries and destinations that bill golfing as one of the top attractions.

So, if you’ve been putting off giving golf a try and weren’t really sure if it was for you, it’s time to jump right in and give it a go. You may just find that it becomes your new favorite sport and hobby.

As recently as ten years ago, a new guitarist would find themselves staring at a page of notation trying to learn how to play the guitar, or paying out hundreds of dollars a month for guitar lessons.

Luckily for today’s beginners, the internet has delivered a gigantic amount of free content to help them on their guitar journey, not only in guitar websites like KillerGuitarRigs, but in everyone’s favorite music school, YouTube.

Of course, with such a wealth of guitarists available on YouTube (numbering in the hundreds if not thousands), it can be hard to know which ones to pay attention to as a beginner.

We’re going to walk you through five of the best YouTubers for beginners, and by the end of this post, you should be on solid footing to find someone who matches your playing and learning style, so you can get on the road to being a guitar god.

Andy Guitar

Andy Crowley is a music teacher who has hundreds of lessons on his YouTube channel and a large library of lessons on his website. His channel has around two million subscribers and has had over two hundred million views.

One of the things I like about Andy’s channel is that he tries to connect his lessons together for beginners. Many YouTubers treat each video as a standalone entity, which can be a huge disadvantage to learners as it means there’s no clear path for what to learn.

Andy addresses this issue by having playlists that join videos together to give you a clear learning path.

Andy does that I like because he has regular challenges for his viewers, like a “play every day for ten days” challenge.

The benefit of this is it makes learners feel like they’re part of something fun instead of learning on their own, and it gives them a certain amount of accountability to propel their studies.

Overall, Andy Guitar is possibly the only channel you’ll need, but at the very least, it’s a great start.

Marty Music

Marty Schwartz has a long history as an online guitar teacher. A San Diego native, Marty reinvented himself as the internet’s busiest guitar teacher after losing his teaching job, first launching JamPlay and then his own Marty Music channel.

He now boasts almost three million subscribers and over four hundred million views. Along the way, he’s shared stages with bands such as Blues Traveller and Slightly Stoopid, and has been called in to teach guitar to some of the biggest names in entertainment, such as Jason Stratham.

The thing I like about Marty’s Channel is that, along with lessons, he acts like something of a guitar magazine. He teaches concepts and techniques, but he also has a ton of videos on how to play certain songs, as well as videos where he does things like visit the Gibson factory.

If you want to mix learning with entertainment, Marty is your guy.

Fender

Being one of the biggest guitar companies in the world, Fender, of course, has a viral YouTube channel with over a million subscribers.

However, in the last year, Fender has started to reinvent itself on YouTube with a huge amount of educational content to complement their more advertising-oriented content.

The main reason for Fender to do this is to get people to sign up for Fender Play, which is their wildly popular online lesson service.

However, the lessons they have uploaded to YouTube are incredibly talented music teachers, including some well-known names and a ton of Berkeley graduates.

While they don’t have the breadth of lessons that some of the other channels on our list, they do have some of the best lessons on their cover topics.

Justin Guitar

Justin Sandercoe is one of the best-loved guitarists on YouTube due to his relaxing, friendly approach to playing the guitar. In complementing his website, his channel guides new players from the very basics to some of the most challenging things you can do on the guitar.

Justin has about a 1.4million viewers on his channel, and an incredible two hundred and ten million views.

One of the great things about Justin’s channel is his lick library, a series of lessons that teach you various blues and jazz licks that you can incorporate into your playing.

As someone who’s played guitar for over 30 years, I even find myself picking up some new things every time I go there.

Highly recommended.

Jam Track Central

Jam track Central is maybe not quite as much for beginners as the others on our list, but one of the great things about it is that it provides a ton of great content for beginners who are maybe easing into intermediate playing.

In addition, they have a wide range of backing tracks for you to solo over – and this is key. One of the best ways for a guitarist to get comfortable with a new scale is to get a backing track in that key and then just practice the scale over and over – and Jam track Central is perfect for this.

Overall, JTC probably won’t teach you to play guitar the same way that the others on our list would, but if you work your way through the others, it will provide the next step in your journey as a guitarist – hence it’s inclusion at the end of our list.

Conclusion

There is no right or wrong way to learn the guitar, only how that works best for any given guitarist. Some people swear by books, some people like to sit with their favorite tab website, and some people like to watch someone on YouTube describe and then demonstrate something for them before they attempt it themselves.

One of the great parts of being a guitarist is that it is truly a lifetime of learning – and what works for you today might not be what works for you at your next stage.

In your lifetime as a guitarist, you’ll find yourself consulting any and all methods – and why not, if it works, it works.

Enjoy!

We all have our hobbies and the activities we enjoy. With work and responsibilities piling up, investing in our hobbies has never been so essential.

What comes into your mind when you think of the word ‘hobby’? Are you into any sports or are you more of the stay-cation type? Or are you a homebody who likes to watch Netflix and bake cookies?

Everybody certainly has different things they are passionate about doing. These hobbies make our lives exciting and give us a much-needed break from our hectic lives. That’s why we invest in hobbies by buying gear, going on trips, always practicing, and trying to get better at it. But some hobbies can get expensive and the last thing we want is being burdened by something we enjoy so much.

There are actually some tips and tricks to get around with saving money on any hobby gear, and we’ll list them down for you right here.

How Can You Save Money on Your Hobbies?

1. Do Your Research and Buy from Trusted Brands

Trusted brands are not necessarily the old and reputable brands with the most expensive items! Although these classic brands have earned their reputation, you can find newcomers in the market with good and durable materials that might be cheaper. Before buying anything, however, you might need to do some digging and find out the specific gear and materials you need.

For example, if you are into outdoor biking, check your local surplus stores if they have the parts you are looking for before ordering one from the high-end bike shop at the mall. And here is another tip – if seasoned bikers shop at those stores as well, then you can ask them how their shopping experience has been like and why they trust this particular store. It always helps to get a second opinion, especially from someone knowledgeable!

2. Invest in High-Quality Items

While high-quality items are more expensive, keep in mind that they will last you longer. So you are actually saving more money because you won’t have to repurchase that item anytime soon. Let’s say you are buying hiking boots – the smarter option is to buy a durable pair that will give you comfort and protection for the next few years at least.

This is far better than buying a cheap pair that will tear out after three climbs! It will even guarantee you a safe hiking experience, preventing you from getting into accidents and injuries.

3. Be on the Lookout for Discounts, Sales, and Coupon Codes

Lastly – use brand discounts to your advantage! Stores often have sales at the end of every season so why not do your shopping then?

Other than sales, there are coupon codes and promos throughout the year. Carolina boot coupons, let’s say, always come in handy because you will save a lot of dollars by simply entering a promo code before checking out from their website.

You may be wondering why brands use lots of promo codes and give discounts to new and returning customers. Well, it’s actually a win-win situation because the brands are promised a sale and customers get what they want for a cheaper price. So don’t hesitate about looking for some coupon codes before buying your hobby gear!