As well as singing and teaching and being a little bit obsessed with painting my nails, I also like to quill. If you don't know what quilling is, well you're not alone. Until a couple of years ago when i discovered fantastic paper artist Yulia Brodskaya I had never heard of quilling either. Her art is incredibly intricate and stunningly beautiful, and although the cards I make bare no resemblance to her three-dimensional paper artworks, she got me interested in what you can do with little strips of paper. I now make and sell greetings cards which feature quilled elements as well as snippets of vintage sheet music, the perfect way to unwind after a long day of rehearsals.
What do you do when you aren't singing?
What do you do when you aren't singing?
Here are some of the varied responses from fellow singers posted on the Opera Talk facebook page:
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Ballina Gee Apart from earning a living to support my singing, I let go by doing vertical apparatus fitness and related classes.
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Eleanor Frances Waterpolo! If angry bits in opera aren't enough to vent, it's the perfect outlet!
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Megan O'Leary photography and my regular Zumba fitness classes
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Mirella Reiche Horse back riding, tango dancing, reading, 'swimming'/ relaxing at the lake, walk in the forest, hang out with friends.
- Rochelle Hart Running, doing stuff with my dog, reading, watching movies. I also enjoying going out dancing with my husband and friends. And travel (when I can afford it). And ballet, which I'm taking up again soon after several years away. I also am an (ex-)archaeologist. And I'm writing a novel between gigs.
- Caroline Parkes I earn my living by being a biomedical scientist in histopathology. As well as singing I love cooking and write a food blog.
- Laura Hudson I used to earn an extra living being a Chemical Engineer, until the singing took over and I made the choice. Now, to unwind, I'm an avid knitter and like to dance like a loon with whoever isn't too embarrassed by my funky moves!
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Colin Reed I used to earn my main living being an industrial development chemist, and then business manager. I still very occasionally supplement my singing income by doing some consultancy. Apart from that I grow stuff on an allotment, cook it afterwards, brew beer, cycle, try to stop my cat from destroying the house, and try to find time to do the BBC Music Magazine crossword.
- Helen Anne Gregory I'm a photographer and I knit, sew, embroider and make amigurumi crochet animals. In my last job at Garsington this summer I crocheted all my fellow cast members their animal characters as after show gifts. I also make to order and sell enough to keep me in beer most of the year round.
- Mari Wyn Williams I freelance and work for the bbc as a broadcasting assistant and sing for tourists at cardiff castle, it's fun and gives me plenty of performing practice! A box set is the best distraction for me when it's quiet or I'm away from home!
How about you? Comment with your favourite non-singing activities...
