Keeping Busy with the Hobbies We Love

A few weeks ago, we shared a rundown of the various activities some of us here at ModSquad enjoy in our spare time. From creative crafts, cooking, and baking, to group activities like board games and medieval combat (yes, you read that right), the hobbies we enjoy are as diverse as we are. In fact, it’s this same diversity that allows us to staff our various projects with Mods who we know are passionate about the corresponding client and subject matter.

Since we couldn’t fit everyone into the first article, we wanted to follow up and share even more of the things into which we pour our passion in our free time. Enjoy!

I like nearly all arts-and-craftsy activities — things like baking and cooking, knitting, crochet, sewing, and cross-stitch, as well as embroidery and a bit of jewellery making. I prefer handmade things far more than purchased ones, and I’ll often add onto items I buy. I can’t even say what got me interested in these hobbies — I am 49 years old, and if I believe my family, I’ve been crafting since I was about four.

One of my current projects is a string puppet. The body is made with wooden sticks, and the hands, head, and feet are modeled out of wood clay. She is not finished yet; makeup and clothes are missing and she’s upset that I still haven’t given her a proper hairstyle.

My big dream would win the lottery — not incredibly big, just enough to allow me to focus on arts and crafts and improve my skills. Like taking a class at the London Jewellery School, or doing porcelain painting classes in Limoges, France.
—Regina Weiss

My life has always revolved around my family. I love to bake with my children, play board games with them, go for long walks, and do pretty much whatever they want to do!

What I enjoy when I get a little free time is reading lots of different genres. Anything from The Wheel of Time to Pride and Prejudice! I also love music (again, lots of different genres). Andre Rieu is one of my favourites!

I take different notions, but my family will always be my constant”
—Paula Campbell

My hobby is running like a mad woman all over the country! 5Ks, half and full marathons — the lot! At the end of October, I’ll be adding the Dublin Marathon to my list.

I’ve been running since I was 17 (I’m 25 now) and ran my first competitive race when I was 19. I joined my local running club, City of Derry Spartans AC, when I turned 20. I have run nearly 100 races, including the Derry Marathon and eight half marathons. My best half marathon time is 1 hour, 37 minutes, and my best marathon time is 3 hours, 43 minutes. I’ve been training for Dublin for five months and hope to beat my time!

Modsquad is amazing because I can fit my wacky running obsession around my work! And it allows me to stay on my toes!
—Janeen Leese

I always felt a strong connection with art. Whether it be photography, drawing, sculpture, design, or animation, I used to have no doubts that I wanted to work with it professionally.

I started an artistic baking company a few months before I joined ModSquad. Although I still enjoy creating and am very proud of everything I achieved as a baker, my passion for online communities somehow overcame that other side of me, and I’m now a lot happier as a Mod than I was when I was obligated to create. Being open to being creative when you’re inspired, while still having a job that challenges you in a way that doesn’t makes you lose interest for it, seems ideal.

I have a YouTube channel called Watch Me Do Stuff, which is on pause now but was doing pretty well! Maybe it’s time for some new cookies? Well, we’ll see!
—Debora Ferraz

Sometime around 1994, I attended one of those “home parties” about organizing your photos. From that point on, I was hooked on scrapbooking. It appealed to my crafty side, designing pages around our life events, as well as my practical Virgo side of preserving photographs and documenting memories. I’ve made albums as gifts, but since having kids my photos have grown exponentially and I don’t make many for gifts any more. When I took time out from my career to have my kids, I worked part time in a scrapbook store. Believe it or not, the California State Fair has a scrapbooking category, and I’ve entered three times. I received two third-place finishes and one first-place finish. It’s kinda neat to have a blue ribbon from the California State Fair!
—Gina Miller, Director, People Operations

There’s certainly something about rock and roll that you can’t pin down. Whatever it is, it helped mould my life. It turned me from a bored, unemployed greenhorn into a person who remembered that his childhood dream was to become a rockstar. I’ve not become one yet, but when nobody gave me a stage, I was like, “Forget this, I’ll get my own stage!” and went busking. It paid off. The more dedication you put into it, the better the rewards. And if you don’t call this rock and roll, you’ve certainly never met people who just enjoy having a good time. I’m currently in Edinburgh, and guess what I’m up to right now…
—Hauke Denissen, Assistant Project Manager