Hi and welcome from sunny Southern California. I make art quilts, too, and also am a retired teacher. When I was working, often I'd wake up in the middle of the night so I could sew. The most helpful way for me to learn was by taking classes, and I had some wonderful teachers. I flew all over the country to take classes from the best, and now we just have to watch YouTube. Aside from Covid, in many ways life has gotten easier.
Joining a guild that has an art group would be very helpful, too. Once you meet in person you'll find an opportunity to make friends, get new ideas and help.
Let us know how you're progressing. When I retired I needed a year and a half to organize my house, clean closets, drawers, etc. When you're working, you can't afford the time. Now every day is like the weekend!