As a crafter I live a life continually out of sync. I have been lost among orange, gold and brown fabrics for weeks now. Halloween monsters have been haunting me and pumpkin spice latte thoughts have been swirling in my head for at least two months. My autumn projects are all done just as the season starts. If you are on the craft fair circuit I know you know what I'm saying. Summer is Autumn.

I am no longer as offended by stores putting holiday decorations out early. After all, I'm already needing those Halloween supplies in July and Christmas trinkets in August. And I can be out of sync in the opposite direction, too. I may be the only one shuffling through the 90% off bin of 4th of July decorations in November because, after all, summer crafting by then is right around the corner. So, I guess sometimes I'm really far ahead so I won't be late or so far behind so I can be early? It's a strange organizational way to live!

So today's blog pictures are the result of living my past few months in my out-of-sync world. Hope you enjoy them.Come and visit me if you can. And wait...did I just hear the distant sound of Christmas music? And I think I just saw some awesome red heart fabric. Autumn is Winter. But now you understand why.

As I rush around this week getting ready to go to my first craft show of the Fall season, I sometimes have a millisecond when I think "Am I crazy? Why do I do this?" These unsettling thoughts pass quickly and I get right back on track. It's because the answer to the question is really very clear.

I have to make things. It's been that way forever. I took bits of fabric and fashioned doll clothes and embroidered designs with colored flosses when I could barely read. The high point of my summer when I was a bit older was going to a local department store, looking at the Christmas craft kits and picking out my summer project. And then I spent endless hours applying beads and sequins onto felt making beautiful decorations that still sparkle in my home today. I didn't last long sewing in Home Ec - it was all so logical, why would I need someone to teach me the obvious? When my kids were little, happy nights were spent in a quiet house creating Halloween costumes and special Christmas dresses. Now I have craft days for the grandkids and it's sometimes difficult to determine who is having more fun. I've always gone for the homemade gift, the do-it-yourself, the next technique to be learned.

Today's picture is a snippet from the bulletin board in my craft area. When I found it I immediately knew it was me. That little girl still prefers to create as long as her eyes can see. Most nights you will find me folding my work and putting it away. And I am happy knowing that I can take up my work again in the morning and continue to craft some more. I can't help it.