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| Most of the nation is spending a tremendous amount of time at home, and people are bored. They're looking to resurrect old hobbies — or start new ones. “I think we're in a general ‘makers movement,’ “ says Dayna Isom Johnson, trend expert for the e-commerce crafting site Etsy.
"Younger people, older people — everyone wants to do something with their hands again. People are craving something special,” says Isom Johnson, who was a judge on the new NBC television show Making It, a competition series for makers that was hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. “They want something unique that can't be found anywhere else."
In fact, there has been an increase in demand for a variety of arts-and-crafts activities (as well as musical instruments and toys), since a greater number of people have entered self-isolation, according to NMPI, a digital marketing agency that studies these trends. And “arts-and-crafts retailers are considered more of an ‘essential’ during this time as they are able to facilitate enjoyment during times of self-isolation."
Handmade (and handmade-looking) pieces can be purchased online or in stores; or you can learn these crafts yourself with the help of DIY kits and online tutorials. “People are craving that time when you could show off something you made and feel proud,” Isom Johnson adds.
In fact, according to NMPI, “an increased number of news articles, blogs and YouTube videos are detailing crafts and hobbies to carry out at home, while people are social distancing, focusing on the positive impacts including stress and anxiety reduction."
The pandemic has made it difficult to obtain the proper thread and yarn in some places. But Amazon can typically deliver in less than a week; crafts stores like Joann's Fabrics and Michael's sometimes offer same-day delivery, if there's a store near you.
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