New Year, New Hobbies!

The beginning of a new year usually brings resolutions and the desire to start afresh. This is great but sometimes starting out a new hobby or activity can be time-consuming and expensive. You may not want to sink a lot of money into something that you may not enjoy.

Luckily, MHL is here with a number of money-saving options you can take advantage of when investigating something new:

Learn new handicrafts like knitting, crochet, sewing, and drawing by using our Creativebug service
Work through that list of Hollywood Classics or Criterion Collection films with Kanopy
Broaden your mind with the Great Courses on topics from history to literature to politics and beyond
Borrow items from the Library of Things to help you bike, stargaze, or digitize your family's history

Of course, we also have books on a variety of subjects! See some selections below for some new hobbies you may want to investigate this year.

For more help finding information, please contact the Reference Desk at rdesk@mhl.org, 978-623-8430, or chat with us.

The complete guide to drawing for beginners : 21 step-by step lessons
by Yoshiko Ogura

In The Complete Guide to Drawing for Beginners, experienced art instructor Yoshiko Ogura explains the basics of pencil drawing through a series of lessons that provide insights on artistic composition, simulating highlights and shadows, depicting realistic forms, rendering texture and creating a sense of depth in your artwork. At the beginning of the book, she provides you with all the information you need to get started-what materials to buy, how to prepare your work surface, pencils and erasers-even how to sit correctly when drawing. Once you know these, Ogura provides a series of easy and clear step-by-step lessons showing you how to draw simple objects while gaining an understanding of the essential concepts of perspective, how to convey hard and soft surfaces and textures, composition and balance. From here, you progress to more complex shapes and objects including landscapes and portraits of people and animals, as she explains all the additional concepts needed to draw these realistically.

Foolproof preserving : a guide to small batch jams, jellies, pickles, condiments, and more
by America's Test Kitchen

Tested and approved by America's Test Kitchen, a detailed guide to home preserving, perfect for novice canners and experts alike, offers more than 100 foolproof recipes, from sweet jams to whole fruits, along with detailed tutorials, troubleshooting tips, equipment information and insight into the science behind canning.

The hero's closet : sewing for cosplay and costuming
by Gillian Conahan

This essential handbook offers detailed, step-by-step instructions that cover the basics of sewing costumes (which often require skills not found in standard sewing guides) to help even the most novice sewists create the costumes of their dreams. A skilled crafter and avid cosplayer, Gillian Conahan walks readers through finding inspiration online and through their fandom; shares insight into translating character art into real-world garments; and offers advice on pattern selection, alterations, fabrics, and embellishment techniques. The book also features 11 original step-by-step basic patterns--such as jumpsuits, jackets, and pants. It then suggests ideas for mixing and matching these basics to create costumes of all styles, including superheroes, pirates, elves, school girls, and adventurers.

Every body yoga : let go of fear, get on the mat, love your body
by Jessamyn Stanley

An internationally recognized, stereotype-shattering yogi welcomes people of all shapes and sizes to start practicing yoga with simple instructions for 50 basic yoga poses and 10 sequences and reinforces the idea that yoga is about how someone feels, not looks.

How to deal : tarot for everyday life
by Sami Main

Presents an introduction to fortune telling using tarot cards and offers information on how the cards interact with each other and what questions to ask.

Zakka wool appliqué : 60+ sweetly stitched designs, useful projects for joyful living
by Minki Kim

This book features charming wool felt appliqué designs that can be put to beautiful use in projects for your home and gifting. The book has instructions for 60+ appliqué patterns, instructions for 6 projects, and a gallery of additional project ideas.

Check out our Applique Kit to help you get started!

Fly tying for beginners : how to tie 50 failsafe flies
by Peter Gathercole

Any angler who takes up the art of fly tying will discover an added dimension to the wonderful sport of fly fishing. This profusely illustrated instruction book shows beginners how to craft 50 professional-looking flies for trout and salmon fishing. Each fly-tying project consists of step-by-step instructions accompanied by close-up photos of the work in progress and a large photo of the finished fly. Beginners will learn how to make dry flies, wet flies, bugs, nymphs, hairwings, and streamers. They'll also get advice on which flies are best for catching which variety of fish. Author Peter Gathercole is the ideal fly-tying instructor, offering a thorough grounding in the core techniques required for fly tying, while assuming no previous knowledge on the reader's part. As he instructs, he also demonstrates that with good guidance and a little practice, every angler can tie a fly that is good enough to fool a fish.

Whittling handbook
by Peter Benson

Introduces whittling, guiding readers through basic skills, offering projects that progress in difficulty, and discussing the materials and tools needed.

Getting started with Raspberry Pi
by Matt Richardson

Helps readers get acquainted with hardware features on the Pi's board; learn enough Linux to move around the operating system; pick up the basics of Python and Scratch and start programming; draw graphics, play sounds and handle mouse events with the Pygame framework; use the Pi's input and output pins to do some hardware hacking and much more.

Miniature bonsai : the complete guide to super-mini bonsai
by Terutoshi Iwai

A step-by-step guide, revealing the Japanese art of super-mini bonsai gardening, provides basic techniques and value tips for growing miniature flowering trees, pines, maples, oaks. Junipers and other varieties of tiny trees and potted plants that are readily available and last for years.

The art and craft of tea : an enthusiast's guide to selecting, brewing, and serving exquisite tea
by Joseph Uhl

In The Art and Craft of Tea, entrepreneur and enthusiast Joseph Wesley Uhl brings to the story of tea its due reverence, making its history, traditions, and possibilities accessible to all. If you want to go beyond reading and enter your kitchen, Joseph offers "recipes" for creating your own tea blends using natural ingredients. Inside you'll find:- A detailed overview of tea's history and origins- Thoughtful descriptions of global brewing methods- Innovative ideas for iced tea, tea cocktails, and DIY blends.

Player's handbook : Everything a Player Needs to Create Heroic Characters for the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game
by James Wyatt

A player's handbook for the newest edition of the role-playing game contains rules for character creation and advancement, backgrounds and skills, exploration, equipment, and spells.

Rather play board games? Take a look at our collection.

So you want to start a podcast : finding your voice, telling your story, and building a community that will listen
by Kristen Meinzer

An award-winning commentator and producer shares her expertise, providing aspiring podcasters with advice for working smarter, not harder as they start their own audio forum.

Moon New England Hiking : Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby
by Kelsey Perrett

Cool off under a cascading waterfall, pick wild blueberries from a meadow, and take in views of endless autumnal foliage. Take a dip in the ocean after scaling the cliffs in Acadia or meander through shorebird habitats in Rhode Island. Visit a replica of Thoreau's cabin at historic Walden Pond, enjoy a peaceful afternoon on a secluded trail, and marvel at the Boston skyline from afar.