my first fried twinkie ever.

If you've never been to the War Eagle craft fair in Arkansas, you should really try to go just once.


 And if you do go....here are a few things to keep in mind.

 #1 It really doesn't matter if you go at 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m., you will be stuck in traffic for at least an hour....so be ready to entertain yourself.

#2 The traffic really isn't that bad...because you are surrounded by Arkansas in the fall. And it is gorgeous.

#3 Watch out for Turkey legs in the parking field. We ran over this one. It made me hungry for a turkey leg. And then I saw the grease stain on the tire. And I still wanted one.

#4 Put a bird on it.

#5 War Eagle has amazing food. I decided to try something new. A fried twinkie. My first ever. And probably my last. It tasted like a funnel cake.

#6 Funnel cakes and kettle corn are delicious.

#7 Cotton candy is delicious too. Especially to kids.

#8 There are some pretty cool crafts at War Eagle. Many of the things I saw were from Pinterest. Some were new to me...and I thought, hey, I wonder if I can find a DIY for that on Pinterest....or hey, I could probably figure that out...and do it with my students....I wonder where I can get 50 metal rods?

#9 Wear comfortable shoes.

#10 Or just have someone push you in a stroller.

#11 Real craftsmen are so cool.

#12 Some people are hard core about craft fairs. Rain, sleet, or two broke feet....they are there. (Back to # 9, wear comfortable shoes.)

#13 Arkansas really is beautiful this time of year. My favorite part of the whole event was sitting by the river, enjoying the shade, watching the people.

Some of my favorite memories are days like this. When the sun is shining, and I'm trying something new. I'm so happy to have my new camera. It was a fun day taking pictures and telling the story of War Eagle. 

I can crochet!

I finally figured out how to crochet. I watched a couple of videos and I looked at a couple of picture tutorials (this site was especially helpful) and I think I finally figured it out. I can't do everything, of course...but next I hope to learn how to make a granny square. I love this blog tutorial too!

Other things I want to make:

A colorful pillowcase with a crochet border--WOW!

An owl purse: (gahhh! I can't remember where I found this picture but I love him!)

Garland (Better start on this now!)

A circle (for flowers) Or any other sort of crochet flower! (Videos here) So pretty!!
I found these to be very special!

One of these gorgeous pillows:

One of these macrame owls possibly from this pattern. Or these. And I just love this idea!

A heart

(I am in love with these) I keep looking at the photos over and over again. The colors are so gorgeous, I had to share them with you!

My goal was to be able to make a snow day hat (before the end of winter). The tutorial can be found here.

My hat isn't perfect...In fact, I will probably make another one....but I am proud of it anyway!

I did not make the granny square afgan behind me...but I love it!

I am a crafter.

So I have decided that I don't care what people think of my habits. I am a crafter. As an art teacher, I have been through a liberal university art program and I understand the difference between crafts and conceptually based art. Conceptual art is amazing, I love to go to galleries and climb inside people's emotions and ideas....I love visual art, it is amazing to see what people do with artistic techniques and I love to share those things with my students. I believe that in order to teach art, I must indulge in some sort of creative outlet or else I am a hippocrate. I believe that eventually I will need to express my self in a more conceptual way...but for right now....I can achieve artistic satisfaction with my card making and scrapbooking endeavors. For the time being, I don't need canvases and clay nearly as much as I need acrylic, ink and paper. I don't think that cards and scrapbook pages are nearly as respected as watercolor paintings or sculptures in the eyes of my college professors, friends, and other artistic patrons, but I am okay with that. Adhesive, stickers, scissors, embossing, punches, chipboard, ribbon, glitter, eyelets, embellishments!!!! These are some of my favorite things right now. Following a layout or a color scheme are really great exercises and online contests force me to flex my creative boundaries. I enjoy limits and boundaries. I love taking pictures, but I am an amature photographer. My photos aren't taken to be shown in galleries or to win prizes on a grand scale. My needs are met whenever I take a shot with perfect lighting and a little bit of artistic vision. I literally spend hours a day reading blogs, looking at supplies, trying out techniques....and I love it....

My Work Space

A family member recently constructed the MOTHER of all crafting areas. A bonus room featuring a gift wrapping station and matching cute furniture and colorful baskets and accessory holders for every embellishment. I have to admit, I am soooo jealous even though I haven't seen this bonus room, it is already a family legend, I have heard all about it from family members, even grown men are in awe of its beauty and charm. *Sigh*....I keep reminding myself that I am only 25 and I have a tiny house. The basement just had a few walls constructed over the weekend, so I hope to have my own real crafting space eventually with plenty of built-in storage...But for now, I settle for a corner of the spare bedroom. It has large windows which are great for natural light, but there isn't much room for a desk with the big spare bed and clothing dresser in the corner.

The black dresser with the T.V. on top holds only art supplies, pictures and other scrapbooking stuff.







The tan dresser holds clothes, but I've turned the top into a shelf for my albums and Close to My Heart business supplies. You might notice shelf with ribbon holders. I got a K&Co. Ribbon box at the flea market for $1 recently, it is perched atop a ribbon box with a clear lid from Hobby Lobby, this was a really great buy.












So I don't really have any tips on organization, I tend to spread everything out on the floor when I work. I do have a cabinet with a book case on top and a space for storing my paper on bottom. The shelves on top are great for displaying stuff. I am also not so great at making this the scrapbooking room of my dreams....I've got 3 clashing colors of red going on, matched up with black and white accents and green walls....*Sigh* I will get there eventually.




Ooh, before I forget, here is a great find from JoAnn's...It is a recycled newspaper trash can. I've seen this stuff before at Pier One, but it is always so expensive. I got a great deal on this.


I've decided to share this messy space with you because even though it isn't the MOTHER of all crafting areas, it is mine and I like it just fine. To see another work space for my friend and fellow CTMH consultant, click here.