As a little girl, I remember having such fondness for art. I was age 7 when my family started affirming my knack for drawing, closely copying cartoon characters freehand on my sketchbook, all by myself. I didn’t know I was good at it, it just simply tickled the young, creative bone in me. I then moved to silk painting which was deeply delightful for me, then fast-forward to my later elementary years when I started winning school contests for art competitions using oil pastels.

Then the big transition to adolescence happened, and the pursuit of art just didn’t seem as appealing. The hobby was immediately forgotten, but then in my mid-20s, I enrolled for a semester in fashion school just for fun. To my surprise, sketching designs and finishing it in watercolor felt natural to me (muscle memory, maybe?). As the course ended, I was surprised to be at the top of my class.

I guess it’s true, revisiting a childhood hobby brings deep satisfaction in our adult lives. According to an interview by FortuneWell.com, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Master of Science, Courtney Cope shared, “Positive memories and experiences from our childhood can create what is known as a ‘happiness anchor.’ When we revisit a ‘happiness anchor,’ it can bring some of those good feelings from childhood back into the present day. Often, this experience will allow us as adults to feel a sense of joy, connection, or relaxation that perhaps hasn’t been felt in quite some time.”

Which “happiness anchor” should you revisit?

Creating with your hands does wonders for your brain functions and overall mental health. According to award-winning physician, Susan Biali Haas, MD, “When we use our hands on a task that is not cognitively demanding, it gives the mind a chance to relax and rest. When our brains are ‘offline,’ it gives us a chance to work on problems behind the scenes. It's not uncommon for people to have breakthrough ideas while mindlessly working on something with their hands. When we engage in a repetitive task, completely taking our minds off whatever problem or issue we have been struggling with, the solution will often magically appear. Using our hands may actually be key to maintaining a healthy mood. And the lack of this type of activity may contribute to feelings of irritability, apathy, and depression.”

Add to that how a creative hobby gives you time for self-reflection and enjoyment. It also promotes a sense of achievement, pleasure, and relaxation. Serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, and dopamine, A.K.A. your happy hormones, are released when engaging in hobbies. Besides elevated moods, it also sharpens time-management, patience, and creativity, resulting in increased self-esteem and confidence. And once you share your world with other like-minded hobbyists, it allows your social circle to flourish, and have deep connections, too.

All across the board, studies have shown that hobbies, whether old or new, provide so many enriching benefits, both physiologically and psychologically. This 2024, I really want to exchange my mindless scrolling with life-boosting activities. I recently intentionally set the time to try out popular recreational workshops in Manila to revisit my childhood hobbies, and they just might spark something in you, too.

Paint & Sip Classes by Drip Splash

There’s a new paint and sip spot in town!

All the way from Sydney, this hip version of “paint and sip” takes the activity to a cool new experience. With a hip-hop playlist blasting in the background, delicious bevies to choose from (the strawberry gin cocktail is A MUST) participants can expect to move and groove as they paint. What made me feel more confident is the inclusion of a stencil, and art guide, too. It definitely lessened the intimidation for a beginner like me, and their custom Paint Your Pet package made it extra sweet because it was such a delight to paint our beloved cat, Alfie (to be booked in advance for P2000 per head, comes with 2 drinks).

Paint Your Pet is one of their best-selling packages

Don’t worry, if you want to just walk in for a session, they have pop culture-inspired ready stencils to select from, too. It’s at P1500 inclusive of one drink, a complete set of art materials, an apron, and the guidance of their friendly and accommodating art guide, Kayla. You can also bring your own drinks and snacks at no additional cost.

I definitely recommend this experience to be shared with your barkada (friend group), as Steve Selvey, the awesome owner, also encourages their guests to rock their lungs out on their Karaoke Nights. If you wanna zone in and have me-time instead, it’s all good, too. The environment is enjoyable enough even by yourself, and it’s also good to unwind and unplug alone from time to time. I wasn’t expecting to have so much fun at Drip Splash, but picking up a paint brush definitely took me back to my “happiness anchor.” My mood was elevated, my joy was evident, and my pride shined through after I signed my finished work!

My first paint & sip masterpiece, our cat, Alfie

Watch out for Karaoke Nights (P1800) where prizes are up for grabs, and their Neon Nights (also P1800) where you get to paint with glow in the dark materials, and be hypnotized by the awesome mural that surrounds you. Private events are available, too!

Book a slot here.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Location: 2/F Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Rug Tufting Classes by Rug Rat

I never would have expected that making rugs are so much fun!

I always loved decorating with rugs in the house. They’re fuzzy, cute, and instantly add to the coziness and aesthetic of the interiors. When I saw rug artists on social media, it piqued my interest. The designs, the process, the colors–it was all so captivating to me! Good thing Rug Rat now offers rug tufting workshops, and I knew I had to try it myself!

Their studio was easy to find, and the airy and artsy ambiance of their workshop makes one be immediately in awe. When we got to our stations, Annix, our teacher, gave us complete instructions and safety tips for our briefing.

I wish they had a more color variety of yarn but it was enough for my monochromatic rainbow rug. I sent my design prior to our class because they had to create a custom stencil for it. It was a collaboration via e-mail because they informed me that minor tweaks had to be made because the initial design was not beginner-friendly. Good thing they told me, I would have regretted sticking to it!

After I selected my set of yarns, we set up our tufting guns and got to work. Rug tufting is a technique used in the manufacturing of carpets and rugs. It involves the creation of a textile surface by punching loops of yarn or thread through a backing material. This process results in the formation of a pile, which is the visible surface of the rug. The gun was pretty heavy, good thing there is a 3-hour allotment to finish the activity.

My sister doing finishing touches on her cow print rug

I was pretty amazed at how therapeutic the session was. Of course, I was frustrated at the inconveniences that come with being a newbie, but it was all part of my learning curve, and it signaled me to be more forgiving towards myself, too! Once I got the hang of it, I was pretty impressed with how repeating the motion instantly made better lines of threaded loops on my canvas.

I can’t believe we made these in 3 hours!

What I love about the elements of this activity is how mistakes aren’t much visible, since the yarn gives a fuzzy appearance. The process may seem daunting, but it gets easier in the end (I totally enjoyed shearing my final piece). The only cons were having to constantly thread the yarn when it falls through its placement, and how heavy the gun actually was (my wrist felt sore after). Overall, the gunning method was highly satisfying, and the final piece makes it all worth it.

Tip: Choose a simple, flat design so you finish on time. Also, wearing a wrist brace support may help with the post-activity soreness.

Rug tufting by Rug Rat is priced at P4,200. You may bring in one friend to split the cost of one rug.

Book a class here.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Location: Bumi & Ashe Studio, Cubao Expo, Quezon City

Bear Drip Workshop by Paint It Fun

For a quick yet enthralling art workshop, the first Drip Bear concept studio is here at Paint It Fun in San Juan! Originating from Australia, this light and easy activity is relaxing, fun, and suitable for beginners of all ages. The marbled finish is so cool and trippy, and I like that you can choose from many different ceramics and items to work with (decors, keychains, lamps, coin banks).

Anyone can make a paint-drip masterpiece at Paint It Fun!

It may seem too easy, but it still actually requires pouring techniques to achieve the hypnotizing marbled effect. I chose a bear with a moon lamp and coin slot on its back, so it's both decorative and functional. The fun began right when I started selecting my paint colors! Paint It Fun provides a full set of materials to equip you to drip, from acrylic paint, metallic paint, and glitters, to aprons, tray, brush, and gloves. Now I just had to let my imagination run wild with how I wanted my bear to look!

Kimm Ochoa and Lizzie Ty Choa, two of the four co-owners, insightfully welcomed and guided me to their briefing station where they discussed the factors that will affect the final artwork. From layers of paint, angle of cup, and speed of pouring, these will all create different results. Kimm demonstrated the process to give me an idea on how to approach the activity. When I finally had an idea, it was time to let it drip!

The activity lasted for 1 full hour, inclusive of the Paint Pour on Canvas I also tried. Lizzie and Kimm shared that they’re a big hit for corporate and birthday parties, since it’s a hobby that just about anyone and everyone can do! I loved the final look of my bear lamp/coin bank, and honestly, I just felt like a giddy kid all throughout! It definitely sparks joy, and I recommend doing it with kids or other kids at heart.

Bear keychains are at P580, while other functional items like phone stands, lamps, and coin banks start at P1500. They also have Supreme Drips with bigger bears available starting at P5000 (52cm in length). On-hand ready kits are available so you can gift it to others or do at home.

Note: Some final works are to be left in the studio to dry for pick up once ready. Avail the take out packaging for an additional cost and you can bring it with you right after!

Book a slot here.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Location: 2/F Unbox, Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City

Ceramic Hand-building Workshop by Studio Matisse

Did you have a fascination with clay back in your childhood? I remember molding, sculpting and shaping the colorful, malleable, and soft toy with my tiny hands when I was younger. Now you can revisit the enjoyable and playful activity and let your creativity take over! Only this time, you get to actually use and display your final sculptures!

Studio Matisse, a whimsical pottery studio, opened their hand-building classes where you can create whatever you want with clay. The class includes 1 kilogram of food grade clay, tools, apron, paint materials, firing (baking the final sculptures to harden it), and glazing (glossy coating). Pau, a ceramic artist and teacher, was soft-spoken and thorough as she pleasantly guided us all throughout the experience.

I’m not gonna lie, the stiffness of the clay was intimidating and challenging, and it can be a bit of a workout (we even did some stretching)! We started with a walk-through of all the materials laid out before us, and then we sketched our design. The ball of clay can make 2-3 items, but I recommend sticking to plates, catch trays, and small cups for beginners, since there is only a 3-hour allotment to finish everything. I initially designed a bathtub catch tray, but changed my mind last minute and decided to just make a vase instead. This was the hardest I tried among the other activities listed above, but there’s something so de-stressing with sculpting clay. It surely made me have so much more respect and appreciation for ceramic artists, as this is something that takes a lot of skill and patience to do!

Hand-building pottery is perfect for barkada dates and family bonding!

Good thing Pau was very hands on with us, her students, as she was always ready to lend a helping hand. I was deeply impressed at how fast she manipulates the earthy material, demonstrating professional artistic talent.

The best part of the activity was interacting with the clay. You have to “wake it up,” smoothen it, knead it, and sculpt it according to your design. No wonder we were asked to cut our nails before the class, it was all over my hands the moment I played with it (it washes off easily though)! I like how it pushes my imagination, creativity, and patience as time is a common denominator in some factors (final color of clay only shows after firing, and getting its desired shape takes a lot of tries). After getting lost in the activity for 2.5 hours, my vase was ready for painting.

My sister’s creations from 1 ball of clay: an egg catch tray, a flat tray, and a “chesty” cup.

It takes 2-3 months for the final work to be claimed (firing has to be done in big batches), I can only hope I did my clay justice. I was still overall pleased with my work, and I can’t wait to see the finished ceramic sculpture! Just think of it as a gift you pre-made for yourself. It’s like letting my future self be surprised with a gift I made for me!

Hand-building pottery is at P3500 per head. They have a cafe for drinks and small bites at an added cost.

Book a slot through their Instagram.
Location: 3rd floor, 6 Missouri Street, Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City (enter beside Ricksha restaurant and take the stairs)

Having a hobby and sticking to it means committing to self-care, or maybe even healing our inner child. It unplugs us from the hustle and bustle of life, and pushes us to be more grounded on our interests. My important takeaway from pursuing hobbies is this: it’s okay to get lost in an activity and just have sheer fun, without the pressure of perfection or profit. Some things are meant to just give us space to be ourselves, and spark something good within.

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