Crafters Anonymous

Hi, my name is Kim and I am a craftaholic. For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed creating new things out of raw materials. I remember going to the old downtown public library as a kid and my first destination was the nonfiction section. Usually I'd stock up on craft books, how-to books, and a few Nancy Drew books. Then I'd come home and make a mess.

I think it is genetic. I remember my mom painting, making wreaths, and near the end of her life, rubber stamping. And I see it in two of my children. When B was only 2 she made a huge mess each and every day practicing cutting. There would be little paper scraps all over the living room table which I could only throw away after she went to bed because they were her "creations". She still does this but now we confine the mess to her own room.

I realized this week as I try to straighten up after the Christmas wrapping season that I have WAY TOO MANY craft supplies. I can't get rid of them though since they are all important. I have been sewing for over 20 years so much of it is fabric and notions. Over the years I have collected materials and tried my hand at calligraphy,macrame, leather work, cross stitch, quilting, flower arranging/wreathmaking, tie-dye, soap and candle making, candy molding, cake decorating, jewelry making, rubber stamping, and most currently, knitting and aromatherapy(the making of the homemade bath salts, etc.) I truly enjoy all of these and wish I had time to do them more.

I think it partially comes from a desire to be self-sufficient. If I can do it myself, I want to. The one thing I would like to do in that effort I still haven't done much of is gardening. I know it isn't crafting but to me it falls in the same arena of pursuing the pioneer spirit. Sometimes I think I was born about 200 years too late.

But then, they didn't have a glue gun on the prairie.