Covid Opportunity
 

What has being sequestered with Covid given you the opportunity to learn?

I have always wanted to be an artist, but knew I just didn't have that ability ever since my first grade teacher criticized my work. Well -- I had seen alcohol ink art online and loved the way the colors flowed and that all you had to do was blow them around with a straw. As I got into it, of course I needed the right paper that allowed the ink to flow (Kirkland photo paper or Staples, using the wrong side) and different devices to blow the ink around (low wattage hair dryer, airbrush, etc.), isopropyl alcohol and the ink (JoAnns' coupons). There are outstanding teachers on YouTube to learn from, too.

Now I'm learning to do modern calligraphy so I can do pretty lettering on the cards I make with alcohol ink.

So, even though I'm practically older than even senior citizens, I'm still excited about learning new things and thrilled that with the generous help of YouTube teachers, I can learn them.

How about you?

I learned to bake sourdough bread. It definitely involved a learning curve. I made several frisbees before getting something edible.

We’ve been in this house for 20 years, and I used my kitchen more this past year than the previous years! I learned how much I enjoyed eating food at home. Well, of course, after the first 6 or 8 months, I was kind of over it (fixing and eating every single meal here).

I didn’t start anything new but I did read a lot - and I mean a lot!!! I do get electronic books sometimes but I still really want to hold an actual book, so I’ve been keeping Amazon, Barnes and Noble and BooksAMillion (BAM) coming to my home as I have free shipping from all three!!!

Sandy in Mooresville, NC (visiting family in Colorado)

I learned to relax and enjoy my home and surroundings. Cooking and pulling weeds isn't so bad after all. I was always on the go. Covid taught me to slow down and enjoy what I have.

I would say patience but I haven't quite gotten the hang of it just yet https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/shock.png

Since retirement over 4 years ago we spent a lot of time at home. I felt much better about it when we started going out to shop for our own food. I like to see whats new or how so many people were hoarding so much TP, paper towels and different foods.

I haven't learned a new form of art nor have I caught up on all my quilts. I have started a number of tops and completed 12 so far. I have a ton of blocks made to put into quilts but am nowhere close to getting them sewn together.
What I have learned is to slow down and in turned stop hurting my body so much. I have a very bad back and all the activities I like to do put stress on my back. So I have slowed down. That is a miracle all its own. No Rhizotomy in about a year and a half. I have one scheduled for this month since it is finally catching up to me. Then I should be pain free for a good 6 months or more. COVID has taught me to slow down and love more where I am with what I am doing. My love of quilting and now using the Accuquilt System had increased what I can do to a point I will never run out of quilts to make.

I took three on-line classes from Helen Godden and learned her techniques for painting on her quilts using dyes as well as acrylic paints, and also learned some nifty new fmq patterns from her. I joined Debby Brown's Color Block quilt along in January and that means that each month I have a big quilt to practice all kinds of FMQ and ruler work ideas on without the stress of trying to do something completely original to put in a show. I have learned how much I enjoy just puttering around the house doing things that need doing and treating my creative outlets as fun hobbies rather than post retirement second careers- as someone who has always insisted that my hobbies pay for themselves, this is a real breakthrough https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png.

Rob

I have learned to slow down and smell the flowers. Not go, go, go all the time. Much more relaxed.

With no where to go and school being out I kept my grandkids almost daily. We crafted, baked, and watch lots of movies and had virtual school to do. I learned that I would never have liked being a school teacher.

I have commented previously on here, that for me, Covid allowed me to enjoy my home, my garden, and my flowers. I did not learn any new quilting skills, or take any online classes to learn a new pattern or technique, but I did buy a Cricut cutting machine and did set it up (which for the electronically challenged is quite a feat) https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hunf.png and have learned how to use it. I also had (have) the time to focus on sewing as a small craft business, I am selling items in three locations now, and am hoping to add a few more. I am very appreciative of this time in my life, and grateful for my new found joy of slowing down. I know it may sound foolish to some, but, I for one am looking forward to another summer much like last years.

We saved on gasoline because we didn’t go much. I sorted my way through 11 boxes of pictures & picture albums. In most cases vacation pictures got tossed away. Evidently a cousin was doing the same thing because we got an envelope in the mail with old family pictures.

I made fabric masks for awhile last year when things first happened but it ended up being a really bad idea for me: I internalized more stress because I felt so much responsibility for so many people's safety and ended up being wound up to the point where I couldn't sleep or eat, much less sew, lost ten pounds, I took a six month break from sewing after that cause the mere thought of making masks or my sewing machine made me want to scream. I ended up doing a lot of crochet with cotton, made lots of potholders and washcloths which I gave away as fast as I made them. I did make 2 quilts after my sewing break and I've got another in planning stages and I'm still crocheting as well. Have a coworker who is expecting around the holidays and I'm planning baby blankets and burp cloths too.

soooo, I learned that I cannot take the weight of the world upon my shoulders and I need to take better care of my mental health. I also learned that I really enjoy crocheting potholders. I learned that I need to be at work, me home all day for a few weeks on end is just awful for me, I don't know what I'll do if I retire someday.

Austinite, retirement can be a challenge. We own our own business and I'm older than my husband so I'm still working 3 afternoons a week even though I'm 68 and that's okay. I think easing into retirement is a good thing. It can be so easy to lose focus when you don't have a structured schedule to keep. i struggled a lot when my ankle was broken and I couldn't work. I'm really happy with working like I am now. I get some contact with people on the days I'm in the office which helps me keep from getting too isolated. Work is important to me to help me keep my perspective