Learning New Skills
Remember this blanket? Well, I've unearthed the project, dusted the blanket off and resumed knitting while watching TV in the evenings. The heat wave is still going full blast outside but inside, I am blissfully in an "autumn" state of mind. Each day comes and goes and daylight is lost a tiny bit, the angle of the sun makes the heat bearable and I know cozy days are ahead of me.
This week I started a self guided photography course that I've been meaning to start for ages. I was delighted to take notes but more importantly to learn something new! My grandfather (Mom's dad) was a huge proponent of self education.
He claimed that anything could be learned with a book. I have to agree, I learned to knit through self education. I am partial to a "real" book as well. Being able to flip through pages, jump from chapter to chapter is much easier with a physical book than a digital book.
Before the days of google maps and internet, I relied of written directions to get from point A to point B. If someone drew me a map or gave me landmarks without street names, I'd groan and my anxiety would go through the roof! My spacial reasoning is lacking...
Anyways, my photography goals are simple. I'm refreshing my understanding of exposure and want to shoot more in manual mode. I've become lax and frequently set my camera to auto. I know I can be more creative than that! So yeah, I'm in learning mode and enjoying my class of one.
I'm thinking of all sorts of mini learning courses to set for myself. Cooking for two would be up on my list of challenges and expanding my food repertoire. But if you know me well, I talk about that goal often and then sit and knit. It's what knitters do.
Speaking of knitting, I have another baby girl-to-be to knit for once again for someone in at my husband's work! I do have some never ending pink yarn but I'm thinking of branching out to another color. I'll be out shopping this weekend, if I find something great. If not well I'm using pink.
What have you learned lately that is new? How do you like to learn? I'd love to know!
Good morning! My favorite blanket I see! Lucky you you with heat wave- we have chance of snow in Glacier. That is a very good photo book by the way - he has several, you'll learn a lot. I learn thru reading and Internet. They have some neat courses on UDEMY, craftsy etc. sometimes blogs have great classes. Have fun trying something new!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ideas, Camilla!
DeleteMy grandmother told me the same thing - you can learn anything from a book, and learning new things is important throughout your life. Books work well for me, and I've begun to branch out to youtube videos for new ways to cast on and off. I've also taken a few Coursera online courses (math and biology) but they take focus and time that I don't always have. I'm glad to see the return of your blanket!
ReplyDeleteboth of my kids have done coursera, I have not.... yet. I just might!
DeleteI thought of you yesterday when I made a Target run and saw the aisles of Halloween stuff and the pumpkin creamer. And I was sweating in the 95+ heat. We have 6-8 weeks before any relief from the heat in NC. xo Tammy
ReplyDeletewe finally had a break in the weather!
DeleteThat blanket is beautiful!! And, from one life long learner - it is the best thing you can do for your brain! I am continually trying new recipes, new techniques, new ideas! For me, it is the stuff of daily living!
ReplyDeleteYes Kat! I cannot imagine not learning through life.
DeleteI learn best by reading first, then doing. Your blanket reminds me of Fall and I hope we will have some nice cool, crisp weather soon! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWe are twins in the learning then :) I hope it gets crisp outside super fast.
DeleteThe blanket is looking so fun and colorful! And you know I always love a picture of Frodo. I'm taking a short course on bookbinding. Not sure I would ever make a thicker book, but I love the idea of the little notebook I'll make with this class.
ReplyDeleteI've pinterest (ed) some bookbinding tutorials but haven't tried. It looks like fun!
DeleteI run from charts and graphs and maps. Im hopeless in this arena. I learn with WORDS and directions, written very carefully.
ReplyDeleteFrodo is adorbs.
What am I learning new? How to clean soap scum from a glass shower door. 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 dawn. Works like a charm. The vinegar needs to be warm.
also:
new yarn stores in my area
also:
how to live with well and septic. One ply toilet paper apparently.
and more!
another tip for well and septic is to have some extra water (like jugs or a back yard pool like me). If the electric goes then you cannot flush....unless you're super cool and have a back up generator.
DeleteLove your blanket! I've attempted to start a 10-stitch blanket several times but for some reason, my joins never look right. I should probably add that to my 'learn' list. I should also join you in the photography class. About all I've mastered with my camera is Off & On and sometimes, I still have trouble with Off. It's so much fun to lug everything outdoors & get set up to take photos of my knitting only to discover a dead camera battery. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteyou have to slip the first stitch and that makes the join look "neat".
DeleteI love learning new stuff and I am usually happier when I can learn it by myself. I find it really hard to stumble across the perfect teacher or course so often I'll just keep looking until I found exactly what I want.
ReplyDeleteNew things I've been trying to learn:
I started using Duolingo in order to learn a bit of Portuguese. I'll go to Portugal in about a months and I decided it might be fun to see how far I get with about 15 minutes each day. Can't say that I learned a lot so far but who knows I might discover that I picked up more than I expected and I've only done it for 23 days.
My daughter has self taught many languages and she is quite proficient in French and Spanish. I hope you reach your goal and can speak in a few weeks when you go to Portugal.
DeleteMost things I can learn from Youtube videos or blog posts and by also jumping right in. I haven't taken any sort of class for a very long time. I did sign up for a STITCHES West one next year. I have Craftsy sewing classes marked for later try out also. I recently learned how to work a cash register that does most of the thinking at book fair. I've been helping the librarian after school with sales.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear what you think of the craftsy classes when you do them.
DeleteWe learned some new music in choir this week and relearned some old pieces. It's amazing how you forget!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine!!
DeleteReading your post, I realize that we are very similar. I like book learning also and I prefer a physical book although I will use a digital at times. I was reading other comments and I too want to start Duolingo in order to learn a new language. So glad you picked up that scrappy blanket again. How about lavender and green or lavender with yellow for that little baby's blanket. Something different from pink. Then again you could do lavender and pink also.
ReplyDeleteI like the convenience of digital but the heft of a book makes it "real" for me.
DeleteI am pondering some stranded Colorwork as a new learning project - I am currently just so drawn to all things Shetland
ReplyDeleteI think I heard the new knitting vogue mag has colorwork...I haven't had a chance to flip through yet.
DeleteI'm with you - I prefer a "real" book with paper and ink, however, I did quite a bit of reading this past summer on my Kindle and I always read my scriptures on my Kindle in the morning while I eat my breakfast. l also enjoy learning new things with reading and read a lot of non-fiction. That blanket you are making is so fun and colorful. You are a very talented knitter! Enjoy a relaxing weekend!
ReplyDeleteKindles are perfect for traveling! I used mine while in Santa Barbara!
DeleteI also learn best through reading and prefer a real book to digital. Although I do use videos and ebooks sometimes (videos were especially helpful when I was learning to crochet) - it is just not the same. I tend to rush through them, whereas book learning slows me down and I absorb the contents more deeply. Enjoy your photography course!
ReplyDeleteI think that is why I decided to act like my photo book is a class, self imposed but tiny bite sized pieces work for me.
DeleteI do best at learning something new when someone shows me first, then I can use a book or written instructions to remember it. I can sometimes figure things out from the beginning through a book, but if someone shows me, it makes a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteI get to frustrated with myself and with people so me being alone helps me learn best, I wish I could learn from watching!
DeleteMy newest sock yarn blanket has made it to almost active status again, too! (a square here and there and it hasn't been put up.)
ReplyDeleteWhen the fall semester began, I signed up for a photography class at the community college. I took the same one 4 years ago, got the hang of 'manual' but never captured what I needed to know about Photoshop. Same class---different teacher (this one more focused on the ART and composition and SeEIng) and I'm learning oodles!!! Also....about why you really really need to shoot in RAW. (I totally ignored THAT first time around, too!!!!) Oh, so much to learn!!! You are so right....lifelong learning is the best!!! (especially when you can just audit and not worry about a grade...although being rather type A, I'm still compulsive! moi??! hee hee!!!!)
That is so cool you are taking the class again and gaining more knowledge! Teachers make such a difference.
DeleteI love that you are learning new skills, I believe it keeps one young.
ReplyDeleteToday I knit an afterthought pocket for my Shalom Cardigan. I had to knit it twice, the
first time I knit it upside down, but I kept at it and I got it!
Hope your weekend is going well.
how exciting that your pocket worked!!! Yay!
DeleteI love self-learning, too. I love investigating what I want and learning at my own pace. I also find that books work for me. I use YouTube videos sometimes, but other times a book is just right!
ReplyDeleteself pace and no pressure are both winners for me :)
DeleteHow wonderful Karen, that you are learning something new. It is never too late or you are never too old to learn. Photography is exciting and you'll see the word through a lense, which will truly change you. I know it did me :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Mari!!
DeleteOh that blanket will be so lovely when it's done. I love that you are still learning all the things you want to learn. I'm the same way... my husband calls me the perpetual student. Recently, I just finished my intermediate course in herbal studies (online course) and am now setting into the wide world of homeschooling curriculums. I'm thinking of homeschooling my son in 2 years... although he's been making great progress, I still don't see how he'll be able to follow along in a school setting. 2 years is a long time though, wonderful things could happen. I'm also teaching myself to crochet. :-) So much stuff to learn!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I love your self taught course! I've done that often. I tried it with knitting but found it to be very difficult. I really need to observe someone else when learning stitches. This weekend I am going to Squam and two of my cabin mates are knitters. They have promised to help me figure out the sweater I started years ago. Today at a local bookstore they had a big display of knitting books. Are there any you would recommend?
ReplyDelete