Arts and crafts are by far one of my favorite things in the world. I love going to arts and crafts festivals, gift shops, stores like Michael’s and Joann’s Craft store, and exploring crafts on the web as well. My mother was the one who introduced me to crafting and my grandmother did quilting as well as needlepoint and crocheting. But it was during a visitation with my mother during her stay in a mental health hospital that she became obsessed with arts and crafts. I didn’t know that this was possible. I’ve never been (personally) hospitalized in a mental health hospital before but I’ve seen and witnessed mental health hospitals before and was surprised by this.

The nurse on duty told me that arts and crafts are a way of coping and keeps the patients busy. I remember that some patients would draw, color with coloring books, paint, and even play cards as well as puzzles. I didn’t realize how effective this was for me until I tried it. I love word search puzzles and pretty much anything that challenges my mind and keeps me from not thinking of my problems. I can literally spend a couple of hours playing word puzzles, fill out word searches, crossword puzzles and others, too. After that visit at the hospital, I became obsessed with going to arts and craft stores.

Some of my absolute favorites are:

• Puzzles (any kind)
• Paper quilling
• Latch hooking

There’s a lot of awesome arts & crafts, too:

• Drawing (I wish! This is a goal that I want to achieve.)
• Painting (Another goal of mine)
• Candle making
• Stepping stones
• Knitting & Crocheting
• Needlepoint
• Sewing
• Quilting
• DYI projects
• Customizing and personalizing items like pillows, purses, frames and etc.

Long story short, I completed so many latch hook projects over the years that I could probably fill an entire room in my house because I did so many of them. Being creative is awesome and really does stimulate the brain. Find which arts and crafts are the best for you!

FYI, as soon I can find some of my pieces, I will gladly share them for all to see.