Good morning craft universe

Good morning world. I am up and getting ready to leave town for a few days to visit moms. What does this mean for the blog and for craft land in general. Well for starters no internet! That is right no computer at moms. No facebook (well just from my phone) no surfing, no anything! Sometimes it is nice and sometimes it is the time I start to twitch from computer withdraw. I know I know. It should not be that way. A simple piece of machinery should not take over our lives but it has and it does.

The good part of going to moms is.......I get to truly relax. I can usually sit and watch her favorite show with her.........the weather channel............and work on a bit of crafting. I also get to go to a craft store I don't have around here so that is always fun! I also get to think and plan. Toss craft ideas around with a friend. You know the things that will be very important planning stages of this little venture.

So I am grabbing a note book to throw in my bag so I can plan plan plan. I will begin to plan what I want to make, who I want to make it for as well as a brief time line of when things need to be done. Right now I am thinking 12 gifts at 1 a month. Not to bad right? I am thinking 12 bigger gifts. You know knitting a scarf, making pillows with favorite sports teams, a fleece jacket. Things like that. Now keep in mind I have not even made out the list to see how many people I have on the list so this may not work. Stay tuned to find out!

OK so now onto another topic. This handmade craft challenge. I was talking to a friend yesterday and told her about it. Her response was "you know I am not crafty". Then I reminded her she could support the little crafter. That she can do and said she would. Think of it this way....it keeps you out of the mall on a horribly busy day. Gotta love that. She also asked if for her birthday I would give her crochet or knitting lessons. She is thinking of trying to make a scarf as a gift for Christmas! AWESOME! You can do it!

So I want to make this an official challenge. Join me in the year of the handmade gift. Make some gifts this year or support the little independent crafter. Learn a new craft. It is great stress relieve and relaxing. There are many things that can be done as a family. Post and let me know you are joining. Send me pictures of your progress. I will post them here (with permission of course). Send in project ideas. There are so many out there. You never know who you may inspire. Know a crafter with an etsy shop. Send me the link and I will include it.

The year of the Handmade Gift officially starts on Saturday! Begin planning today! Here's to a great and creative 2011 everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hello everyone. It seems like a million years since I have had time to post. I apologize for that. Craft show season was really packed with shows. Between that, my new woman's networking group and Christmas I have been a bit crazier than normal.

Oh and I do want to thank my friends for agreeing that I was crazy in my last post. It means a lot. Thanks guys you are gems and I love you.

I was watching Julie and Julia today. I really like that movie. It got me to thinking about this blog and how I never pay it the attention it deserves. I mean life is crazy and I only have so much time right? So I mentioned something the other day and I think I need to take it one step further.

I decided this is the year of the scrapbook. I have several I want to do for gifts and even a couple started. I decided this is the year that i finish them. But lets take it a step or two further shall we. Do you have any idea how much craft stuff I own? How many wonderful gifts I have in the making right here in my house? The correct answer is TONS! probably literally. So this is where I need your help my friends.

I declare this year 2011 the year of the handmade crafts! I challenge you to make handmade crafts for gifts this year for Christmas. You have an entire year! you can do it I know you can. If you can't.....well that is ok I encourage you to support the small time crafters who made all the fabulous gifts. Check out www.etsy.com for some great had crafted items. You can find almost anything. Go to local craft shows. you will be amazed at what you can find. there are amazing things out there. Who will join me in this endeavor? Come on speak up you can do it!

To help you out along the way this year this is what I promise to do. I promise to:

make one handmade item for each person on my Christmas list
blog on an average of once a week about my progress
share lots of craft pictures
offer new and creative ideas for items that can be easily handmade to my faithful blog followers
create a list of my favorite etsy shops here on my blog
actually add new items to my etsy shop

As I think of more things I will add them. For now I think this about covers it. Who knew a movie such as Julie and Julia would make me so creative!

Here is to an awesome handmade gift giving year everyone! together we can turn next Christmas into a great event full of wonderful thoughtful gifts from the heart without spending a ton of money. It will be a special memory for all involved.