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I’m Eileen and I’m a craft-aholic.

I had that realization last month, when I went looking in my stash for some small items to add to a tote I was decorating for Totally Tote Tuesday #5. I was genuinely shocked at all of the great bits and pieces I’ve been neglecting.

I keep buying more and more - more supplies, more cool craft tools - and forgetting about some of the great stuff I just "had to have" before I saw the new latest and greatest.

I think I’ve gotten too scattered in what I’m trying to do and what I’m trying to learn. I jump from one art form to another and often have several unrelated projects in process. I have to accept that I can’t have it all and I can’t do it all.

When I had my little gift shop and was stocking it or filling commission orders, I was extremely focused. What the customers wanted kept me very targeted and I had a much higher success rate with individual projects than I have now.

I’ve been reading lately that multi-tasking is no longer viewed as a good thing. No one really multi-tasks. All you’re doing when you try to is forcing your brain to jump between tasks. It’s stressful; plus the performance on the individual tasks actually degrades.

When I was in the corporate world, promotions went to the best multi-taskers. Multi-tasking was the be-all and end-all. I’m so glad that’s over with. Then why, for heaven’s sake, am I forcing myself to multi-task now that I’m my own boss?!

Do you multi-task or hoard craft supplies? How do you feel about it? How do you deal with it? We’d love to hear your ideas.

We have some new projects on site as usual. Plus you’ll find lots of other projects to inspire you in our Craft Ideas Section.

Please read on for all the fun details.

Eileen

HALLOWEEN CRAFTS

• Halloween Cupcake Stand
• Milk Jug Ghost
• Apple Shrunken Heads
• Halloween CD Ghost
• Spooky Halloween Spiders
• Fall Pumpkin Centerpiece - Psst, it’s made from dryer vent tubing!

New Articles

Dealing with Poor Quality Craft Kits

Tammy Powley Earrings: a Kit That Delivers

Spooooky Halloween Crafts and Customs

Making One-of-a-Kind Wedding Shoes

Serenity Bracelet Makeover

Sarah’s Big Idea Makes Rain for Those in Need

(Budding) Artist Profile - Tara T.

More New Totes

Do you love totes? If you love making them, decorating them or giving totes as gifts, stop by the Artful Crafter blog on Tuesdays to see featured tote bag ideas.

Here are the totes we featured in September.

Koi Beach-Themed Tote Bag

Next Style Kit Tote

Would you like to have one of your designs featured?

Any type of bag qualifies: fabric, fiber, paper - big market tote, beach bag, diaper bag, gift bag, purse ... you name it.

Just reply to this newsletter with a note telling me about your bag and load your bag photo(s) to our Members Gallery. Let us know if you have an Etsy store, website or blog and anything else interesting about your bag design.

Each Tuesday, when possible, we’ll feature a tote or two on the blog and let readers know how to contact you if you so desire.

Free eBook by Mandy Steward

If you ever doubt that you are - or could be - an artist, you NEED to read Messy Canvas, a free e-book by author/artist Mandy Steward. It’s beautifully written and down-to-earth spoken from the heart. .

Wooden Letters
Family Stickers