Hobbies can be a great reminder that how we spend our time isn’t always about acquiring mastery. Sometimes, they’re simply about widening our scope of creativity so that we have more resources with which to express ourselves—and more ways to invite others into our lives.
While the start of a new year might herald big plans for productivity and efficiency, it can also call to the deeper parts of who we are. What do we love doing? What do we dream of making? Where could we use a nudge toward developing those soft skills even more, for the sheer joy of creating?
Below, we’re sharing a few ideas from Magnolia Workshops to help welcome that creativity in. Whether it’s feeling more comfortable hosting a crowd or setting paint to canvas for the very first time, let these hobbies inspire how you might want to grow in 2025, both in service to yourself and the community around you.
Floral Arranging
Whose day wouldn’t be made by spending it amongst the flowers? In this workshop with floral artist Gabriela Salazer, she teaches you how to create professional-looking floral arrangements with a unique sense of movement and form—great for your home, a special celebration, or even as a gift for a friend. After all, flowers need no invitation.
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Cooking Like a Chef
Time in the kitchen is always well spent, but especially when you have the basics down and feel confident enough to improvise on a meal. Let Chef Katie Button equip you with the tips, tricks, and techniques necessary to make dining in just as good as ordering out.
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Entertaining Expertise
If you wish cooking for a crowd was more of your thing, wish granted. Chef Charles Hunter III shares his favorite crowd-pleasing recipes in this workshop, detailing how everything from the menu to the plating can foster more ease—and togetherness—around a table.
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Acrylic Painting
Meditative, relaxing, and an analog way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Painter Rebecca Weller guides you through the main principles of painting with acrylics in this step-by-step workshop designed for beginners. Let a still life capture your attention in a whole new way.
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Develop a Greenthumb
Take care of your plants and they will take care of you—plus, serve as sweet gifts for friends! In this approachable workshop, plant expert Hilton Carter shares his best advice for learning how to choose, cultivate, and propagate plants at home. A little green can be a lovely thing.
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