Financial Budgeting for Hobbies

As the craft, sewing and quilting participants graduate onto additional projects, they have begun to recognize quality equipment and supplies needed to create the project they have envisioned. Their purchase of equipment has been added into the family budget, and at times, paid out on a lay-a-way situation to accommodate the participants needs and their families.

Eleven (11) craft type workshops were provided to county residents and extension homemaker members throughout the last year. The workshops ranged from beginning quilting to wool felting, to sewing and basketry. Twenty percent (20%) of the workshop participants signed up for another workshop upon completing their first class. Approximately half of those who signed up for a second class, choose a class to further their skills. While others choose classes to learn alternative skills. For insistence, those who had enrolled in the beginner quilting class, then enrolled in another quilting class to further their skills. Whereas others may have chosen to enroll in the basketry class rather than another quilting class.

Eighty-five percent of the individuals who attended a workshop provided by the Lea County Extension Service, completed the project, and have moved onto other projects.

Holiday craft workshops were provided for the general public, extension homemakers, and the parents of Headstart. Each of the class participants completed one or more projects during the allotted time period. Twenty-five percent of those participants, purchased additional supplies and made holiday crafts for family and friends.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the participants who attended a craft, quilting or sewing workshop entered their items in the local county fair or quilt show.

As a result of the holiday craft workshops:
•20% if the workshop participants completed additional crafts as a gift for family and friends.
•10% enrolled in additional extension service programs
•20% of the participants have begun to improve their crafts skills and move onto more difficult items/projects.

Throughout the last year, various beginner quilting classes, working with fleece and holiday craft workshops were done with the Extension Homemakers, parents of Headstart and interested county residents. Once each class was completed:
•80% of the participants would recognize the equipment necessary to complete the project on their own.
•30% of the participants purchased additional supplies to duplicate the craft at home.
•90% of the participants completed the craft item during class time to show off to other classmates as well as family and friends.