Category: Design
Origami as a Hobby
Origami is widely known throughout the world today. Most commonly used by people to make different animal sculptures by folding pieces of paper, origami is both a recreational activity as well as an art form. This art form said to have originated from ancient Japan, roughly a millennium or so ago. Some scholars debate that the art form originated back in the 6th Century AD, while others believe that it could be even older.
The term “Origami” derives from two Japanese words “Ori,” which means folded, and “Kami,” which means paper. Origami is an art form that incorporates the aspects of creativity, games, and mathematical puzzles into a single craft. In its art form, origami is able to attract a lot of people today. A simple activity, people are able to produce the most ingenious sculptures and designs by doing nothing more than intricately folding a piece of paper.
Several art and crafts forms involve the use of paper, but origami is a technique that stands out. The unique quality about origami is that you just need to use paper without the help of any other material to form sculptures.
Through a series of well-planned folds and creases, people can make anything from the simplest of animal sculptures to highly sophisticated structures. There is no cutting, gluing or any other technique involved.
Many people think origami has little more use than being a pastime for children, but this art form carries more weight than it is generally given credit for. Mathematicians, architects, medical professionals, computer programmers, and engineers are just some of the professionals at the top level who are able to take inspiration from origami in their fields.
Traveling from Japan to China, and then to the rest of the world over the centuries, the art of origami is now an internationally practiced craft. It is used as a pastime for children and adults alike. This art of paper-folding even extends from use as a leisure activity to use in various professional fields.
After retiring from computer technology job, Amita Vadlamudi now likes pursuing hobbies, fitness, reading and occasionally tweeting. The following is Amita Vadlamudi’s Twitter Page.
Crossword Puzzles Make a Good Hobby
With the digital technology dominating contemporary times, pursuing crossword puzzles as a hobby may seem like a primitive activity, a relic left over from ancient times. But even in this computer dominated age doing crossword puzzles on the paper is a major hobby for many people – young and old alike. For many enthusiasts crossword puzzles are an integral part of their morning ritual. They are as welcoming as the morning light and as stimulating as the hot sip of freshly brewed coffee.
This seemingly old-school hobby is more relevant today than ever. Aside from simply keeping the people occupied, crossword puzzles have many healthful benefits such as stimulating minds, keeping the brains sharp, and helping people connect with others. Following are some of the benefits that the crossword puzzles can bring.
- Shortcut to Smartness
Crossword puzzles flex cognition, boast verbal skills and prepare peoples’ brains for challenges they face. They trigger connections between ideas and words, stimulate brain activity and help hone the memory and recall skills.
- Therapy without Cost
The satisfaction that comes after solving a puzzle is not as short-lived as you think. It triggers the production of dopamine – a neurotransmitter which gives feelings of pleasure and uplifts your mood instantly. This intellectually demanding activity can take your mind off everyday worries and help you deal with stress as well. Solve puzzles, solve problems!
- Maintain Social Bonds
When pursued as a group hobby, crossword puzzles help strengthen social ties by creating shared memories and a sense of group accomplishment. It nurtures the ability to collaborate strategically and manage conflicts. If you feel lonely too often, this hobby will turn your spare time into an opportunity to socialize!
Choosing the right kind of hobby can completely transform your outlook on life. Crossword puzzles could be just what the doctor would have ordered for individuals who have free time to fill, who would like to keep their minds and brains sharp and who would like to make and keep healthy social connections. Start your crossword puzzle journey today and see their wholesome impacts unfold.
Amita Vadlamudi is the author of numerous articles on this site as well some of her other web sites. Following are the links to some of Amita Vadlamudi’s other articles dealing with hobbies:
https://amitavadlamudi.wordpress.com/2019/03/24/stamp-collecting/
https://amitavadlamudi.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/candle-making/
https://amitavadlamudi.wordpress.com/2018/04/29/the-hobby-of-coin-collecting/
The Ancient Development of Pottery Techniques
Pottery Techniques
Image: ancientgreece.com
Amita Vadlamudi has a background in information technology that includes providing computer systems analysis support for distributed system and mainframe platforms. Amita Vadlamudi has a strong interest in ancient civilizations and traditions that developed, such as the craft of pottery.
With humans’ use of clay dating back as far as 30,000 years, the oldest place of pottery manufacture discovered so far is the Odai Yamamoto site in Japan. Fragments found at the archaeological site have been dated as far back as 16,500 years. By about 13,000 years ago, the Jomon culture of Japan was creating intricately patterned clay vessels that were used in food preparation. The Jomon employed an open-fire technique that involved relatively low temperatures.
Pottery was taken to the next level in the Near East during the early Neolithic era. The same high-temperature ovens used for baking bread and parching grains were used to fire pottery and create a superior end product.
Amita Vadlamudi's Blog 