I recently took part in an on-line course in which three instructors were all on-screen together from their homes. One woman had a quilt hanging behind her and I was so distracted by the quilt I forget much of the material. I wanted to ask her to move over a bit so I could see the quilt. :) Later on, I just had to send her an e-mail and ask about the quilt. She sent me the most wonderful reply about her eccentric aunt who made it.
I've been known to sit, bored, at functions especially in large, fancy ballrooms, and sketch the ceiling design for a later quilt border or pattern. There are ideas all over the place! (and now I've given away my secret of looking like I'm taking notes during those meetings)