Ended Official BYC Mini Contest - What is Your Hobby?

[N F C]

Entry #2 - Photography
I've enjoyed photography from a very young age, and I've got probably 8 USB thumb-drives full of photos I've taken over time. I believe that photos capture memories and important, magnificent things. It's a way to preserve family time, and capture wildlife at their finest. In particular, I've been photographing hummingbirds in the past two years as a way to honor my late Grandmother and her love for them.

When photographing wildlife, it requires patience. I don't have a fancy camera, but I love the one I have because my husband gave it to me! I still consider myself a beginner with much to learn. I've sold a very small amount via stock image websites, and have yet to ever win a photo contest, but I keep trying!

My favorite thing to photograph outside of hummingbirds is old, abandoned chimneys and barns. I do this because it requires a moment to stop and think- who lived here? How special was this place to them? What is the history of this land? It's a way to preserve forgotten places.

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Good job on catching a hummer!

 

[FortCluck]

Thanks, but I'll admire her from afar. My 3 house cats would leave me if I brought a dog into the family.

She's very cat friendly

 

[FortCluck]

Entry #2 - Photography
I've enjoyed photography from a very young age, and I've got probably 8 USB thumb-drives full of photos I've taken over time. I believe that photos capture memories and important, magnificent things. It's a way to preserve family time, and capture wildlife at their finest. In particular, I've been photographing hummingbirds in the past two years as a way to honor my late Grandmother and her love for them.

When photographing wildlife, it requires patience. I don't have a fancy camera, but I love the one I have because my husband gave it to me! I still consider myself a beginner with much to learn. I've sold a very small amount via stock image websites, and have yet to ever win a photo contest, but I keep trying!

My favorite thing to photograph outside of hummingbirds is old, abandoned chimneys and barns. I do this because it requires a moment to stop and think- who lived here? How special was this place to them? What is the history of this land? It's a way to preserve forgotten places.

View attachment 1967673

Love this picture!

 

[featherhead007]

You want her? We call her a purple minion because sometimes she can be very sweet, but sometimes she is the most evil thing that I ever did see!

She wasn't the runt of her litter and had very stumpy legs. She definitely grew out of the stumpy legs! She's so energetic and I think she gets that from the Jack Russell side.

Sounds just like my hen Beetov-Hen. She can be so sweet but then a real monster!

 

[FortCluck]

Sounds just like my hen Beetov-Hen. She can be so sweet but then a real monster!

I have a cockerel that's a real tool too. He's been working my nerves lately!

 

[featherhead007]

BEETOV-HEN, The magnificent monster!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Final Entry #3 - Crafting Bone Needles
I only got into this about two years back on sheer accident. I remembered making a bone spear as a kid, and examining some shards of deer leg bone a few years ago I thought to myself, how can I make a needle? I remembered shaping the spear with stone, so I found a big piece of sandstone near the branch and brought it back to use. I made my first needle and used it to sew together a deer hide arrow quiver for my husband's birthday last year.

Since then, I've made close to 20 of them from deer leg bones. These legs are also considered a waste product, and we take the sinew, hooves, bone, and occasionally hide from them. The dried bone is split into small fragments and I then shape them by hand on that same piece of sandstone. A hole is drilled in one end and twine or Poplar cordage looped through. I enjoy using them when normal needles bend up with use in thick buckskin/hides. I've managed to sell one of them so far, but I really just enjoy reducing the waste after a hunt by making these. It requires a deal of time for something so small, but actually being able to use one makes it so worthwhile.

 

[The Phantom]

Entry #1 - Tanning Hides
I've been tanning hides for the past 5 years, with 3 years being very productful after a period of learning. It may sound odd, but I consider it respectful to the animals when the hides are tanned by reducing waste. In particular, we pick up unwanted hides from processors and hunters because they are normally considered waste and tossed/buried. The hides are then tanned and essentially given new life by display or crafting (we've made mittens, hand muffs, quivers, stockings, walking stick handles). We also make buckskin every so often.

It's a very seasonal thing- only in Fall/Winter seasons when hunting and trapping is open. It requires a small monetary investment, but alot of time and effort. I'd say the hardest part is the fleshing and stretching. I'm not a beginner, but no expert either. However, I am proud to say I've tanned probably a good 20 squirrels, a handful of rabbits and raccoons, and close to 35+ deer hides I'd guess? I am lucky to say it has provided income by selling tanned deer hides (legally in the state you can sell finished, tanned hides).

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Cool!!! My family and I do taxidermy. My coot is on the first post by sumi.

 

[The Phantom]

Final Entry #3 - Crafting Bone Needles
I only got into this about two years back on sheer accident. I remembered making a bone spear as a kid, and examining some shards of deer leg bone a few years ago I thought to myself, how can I make a needle? I remembered shaping the spear with stone, so I found a big piece of sandstone near the branch and brought it back to use. I made my first needle and used it to sew together a deer hide arrow quiver for my husband's birthday last year.

Since then, I've made close to 20 of them from deer leg bones. These legs are also considered a waste product, and we take the sinew, hooves, bone, and occasionally hide from them. The dried bone is split into small fragments and I then shape them by hand on that same piece of sandstone. A hole is drilled in one end and twine or Poplar cordage looped through. I enjoy using them when normal needles bend up with use in thick buckskin/hides. I've managed to sell one of them so far, but I really just enjoy reducing the waste after a hunt by making these. It requires a deal of time for something so small, but actually being able to use one makes it so worthwhile.

View attachment 1967689

Wow!! Love bone art lol

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@The Phantom - I've been wanting to get into taxidermy honestly. I looked up some stuff through McKenzie Taxidermy Supply and saw they had a kit to do a shoulder mount of deer. I wanted to try a personal hunt sometime and see if I could do it. Any good books/video recommendations?