Balzer Designs

Miss Crow for February!

Miss Crow released some awesome kits this month!  Here's what I did with them...

Thanks for stopping by!

Packing For a Crop

Right now I'm supposed to be packing to go and crop for four days at this event.  And I'm procrastinating by writing this post about what I'm packing.  Indulge me, please?

Now that I regularly go to crops with the Manhattan Scrapbookers, I have my packing down to a science.  Much like organizing your crafty space and supplies, there are no rules that work for everyone.  You have to do it the way your brain works.  Here are three things I know about the way I create:

1. I'll use it if I can see it.
2. I like using paint and ink on everything.
3. I print photos as I go.

I'm sure you have several certainties about the way you create too.  Here's how I use mine to help me pack:

1. I'll use it if I can see it.

Therefore, I pack for setup.  What does that mean?  For me, it's not enough to just pack the supply.  I need to pack it in such a way that it unpacks usefully. For example, here is a desk organizer.  I place this organizer, exactly like this, into my crop bag and go.

 

When I open my bag and unpack, there's virtually no set up.  Everything comes out in containers that sit on the table as packed.  This makes it fast and easy to sit down and get to work! 

2. I like using paint and ink on everything.

But paint can be very messy away from a sink.  So, I know that I have to bring the following:

• Teflon Sheet: to protect my work surface
• Rag: to clean up messes fast (and so much greener than a roll of paper towel)
• Spray Bottle of Water: this is a quick way to add water (in a controlled fashion)
• Water Brushes: This way I don't need an open container full of water on my table (that's an accident waiting to happen)

And then of course, I bring all the paints and inks!

3. I print photos as I go.

I used to try to pre-print my photos before a crop, but I felt very uninspired when I sat down to scrap.  So, now I pack my laptop and my photo printer (Epson PictureMate).  I make sure to carry extra paper, extra ink, an extension cord, and a power strip.  Admittedly, it's a bit of a pain in the behind to drag all that technology around, but I can't scrap any other way.  So, I just put together a technology tote bag - throw it all in and go!

Other than that, I pack the usual stuff: cardstock, paper, trimmer, etc.  In general, as long as I've got my basic tools and numbers 1,2, and 3 covered, I'm a-okay.

I found these links where other people discuss packing for a crop:

• from Organized Scrapbooking: This article is from 2004, but I think it's truly excellent.  Really gives some good advice for thinking about packing.  And how to limit your packing.
• from Memory Workshop: This is a site that hosts crops.  I really like the breakdown they provide for creating page kits. 
• from Croppin Corner: The focus of this article is on getting organized to crop.  The author takes you from sketch through sorting photos and so on.
• from Dream Events: This is a site that hosts crops (in fact, the crop I'm going to) and much of the advice is specific to that particular type of event, but I think it's smart and up to date.  And for anyone who has never been to a large weekend crop, it's a good primer on what you can expect.

How about you?  Any tips for packing for a crop?

Project Fifty-Two: Playing Catch Up

Whew.  Trying to grab a moment to catch my breath and play catch up!  I'm keeping up with Project Fifty-Two (just barely - how about you?) and I wanted to share the last few things I've made (and don't forget to check out the excellently cool stuff from the flickr group) for the project....

Week Five (January 29 - February 4)
This is a digital layout using this kit by Miss Crow.  I spent a quick two days in San Francisco to see my grandmother, but we escaped the nursing home for a few hours to walk along the cliffs.

Week Six (February 5 - February 11)
I posted this quilt as part of my blog post about making samples for Quilting Arts TV.  During this week I had a spectacular fight with my Father and worked out my feelings in this quilt about the two of us.

Week Seven (February 12 - February 18)
I've already shown this off and even did a tutorial on it.  This was Valentine's Day week.  Me and the hubs.  Need I say more?

And finally, this week: Week Eight (February 19 - February 25)
I printed out a photograph of my glammed up self and just wrote a few lines to remember the moment.

Remember, this is supposed to be as unstressful as possible.  Just create something about what's going on this week for you.  Take a photo.  Write a few lines of thought.  Or create something elaborate.  It's totally up to you!

And please do check out the flickr group.  The projects that people are sharing are beautiful, emotional, cool, clever, funny, and just generally amazing!

I'm heading off to four days of cropping in New Jersey!  I'll try to blog from the road, but if not, see you on Monday!

Thanks for stopping by!

That's a Wrap!

I did it!  Whew.  There I am on the set of Quilting Arts TV.  What you can't see is the butterflies that were fluttering about in my stomach.  I had such a sleepless night - tossing and turning - complete with major anxiety dreams.  My "call time" was 9:30am, but I didn't tape anything until about 4pm.  All that waiting time meant a wild roller coaster of nerves and calmness.

I was the last one to arrive at the studio.  The green room was full of chattering quilty ladies when I arrived.  And they all seemed to know each other.  Super intimidating.  (And truth be told, I recognized quite a few of them from their books, DVDs, etc.)  So, I slunk in rather quietly and waited for my turn in the makeup chair.  Here's a close up of me all dolled up with more makeup than I've ever worn in my life!

I'm strictly a moisturizer and chapstick kind of gal, so it's fun to see this (somewhat foreign) version of myself. 

After makeup (and a bit of hairspray), I chatted with some of the other amazing guests (including Frieda Anderson, Maria Elkins, Yvonne Porcella, Loralie Harris, and Laura Wasilowski) in the green room.  At lunch, Laura passed on some excellent advice.  When she was younger, an older artist became frustrated with Laura's complaining about not having time to do her art. Laura had young children at the time and felt very stretched by all the demands of life.  The older artist said, "Either you're an artist or not.  Your family may need you, but they don't need you all the time."  Laura went on to say that it's a choice.  And she's been very happy with the one she made.

Everyone's work was gloriously cool.  (When you're in the green room, you can watch the segments being taped on the monitor.)  I didn't manage to get photos (I got shy around all that famous-ness and didn't want to be a silly fan girl), but Maria Elkins' husband was showing off this quilt of hers, and I couldn't resist a snapshot:

Um...she's kind of amazing.

The taping itself went really well.  Host Pokey Bolton, was so sweet.  She had a hectic day, taping all the openings and working with six different guests!  I know there were photos taken of the two of us on set, and a few of me with the other amazing guests  But, they were all taken with other people's cameras, so I'll have to wait to get my hands on those! 

And I have to thank producer Kathie Stull and her assistant, Katherine Lamanscu, who always make sure the day goes smoothly.  They both made me feel very, very relaxed, as did the entire crew.  Helen Gregory, Quilting Arts Magazine's Managing Editor was also there, keeping an eye on things in the green room.  Thanks, all around!

You can check out some bits and pieces from the set below....

It's very Martha Stewart or Pottery Barn, don't you think?

And how's this for awesome good news?  Pokey took three of my quilts for publishing in Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, and my ribbon cuff, two scarves, two different necklaces, and a pair of earrings for publishing in Quilting Arts Magazine's Gift Issue!  I have to write the corresponding articles now, but I'm totally thrilled!  It will be my first time in both magazines. I subscribe to both of them, but I've never considered my work "good enough" to submit.  It took all of my strength not to giggle uncontrollably when she asked if I minded her taking them!

Well, thanks for letting me share!  Now that it's all over, I feel relaxed and maybe just a little sad that it's all over.  The episodes should air starting in June 2009 on PBS.  You can check local listings for it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Yep, I work in a sweat shop.

My back is killing me.

I think I have tendonitis in my right wrist.

My index finger and thumb are in serious pain.

My apartment is a disaster.

I think my nail beds may be permanently dyed blue.

And my shoulders are useless.

But, it was all worth it!  I've been sitting at the sewing machine for the last week.  Seriously, other than sleep, some meetings, teaching a class, and the occasional meal, I've been sewing, sewing, sewing.  I am a procrastinator and it really bit me in the backside this week.

On Monday morning, I'll be at Beachwood Studios, outside Cleveland, for the taping of two episodes of Quilting Arts TV (PBS).  For one of the episodes, I'm doing "Scrappy Scarves."  I'll be sharing how to make these beauties:

 

Plus two other cool scarves that use up fabric scraps.  (I'm too tired to take photos and they're already semi-packed.) 

And for the second episode, I'll be sharing how to make these really cool canvas art quilts:

The photographs aren't great, but you get the idea.  They're wonderfully colorful and the transferred photographs almost look like paintings.

One of the reasons that I've been so busy is because you have to make both the actual projects and all the "step outs."  You're supposed to make two sets of them (in case you mess up and need another take), but my plane leaves in about twelve hours, and I don't think I'm going to have the time to....  Though, do I really need to sleep?  Well, I *do* need to pack.  Now, I just have to figure out what I'm going to wear and if I own some sort of cleaning supply that will get rid of these blue fingers!

I'll try to blog from the road!  Thanks for stopping by!