def set_form_elements!(form_elements)
      @form_elements = form_elements
      
      @form_elements.each do |fe|
        methods = <<-EOS
          def #{fe.field_name}
            attributes[:#{fe.field_name}]
          end
        
          def #{fe.field_name}=(new_val)
            attributes[:#{fe.field_name}] = new_val
          end
        EOS
        instance_eval methods, __FILE__, __LINE__
 
        # set a defaul if we have one
        attributes[fe.field_name.to_sym] = fe.default unless fe.default.nil?
      end
    end