Balzer Designs

Around Here: November 2018

Hello, friends!  Here's a little bit about life right now:

What are you listening to?

Literally -- at this very moment of writing this blog post -- I've got my Pandora classical music station blasting.  I find that I can't listen to music with words when I'm writing.  It creates a conflict in my brain and I stop being able to think.

What are you wearing?

This coat. 

And I'm looking really smug in the photo because I moved the buttons all by myself instead of taking it to a tailor.  Me and my sewing machine are definitely becoming better and better friends!

What have you bought?

Technically, I didn't buy it. Steve bought it for me.  But I am love with this big wool shawl that he bought me when we were in Ireland!

What are you reading?

I finally finished The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing.  I've been reading it for MONTHS.  It's a really good book, but it contains a lot of tragedy and I kept having to put it down because it was upsetting me -- especially towards the end.  When I finally finished the book, I was in a public waiting room.  And I cried.  It was awkward.  Good writing can really move you.

Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?

Lately I've really been into Sarah Golden.  Here's a peek at some of her work:

There's a kind of effortless-ness about her work that I like so much.  It's quirky and colorful and I even find the flat-ness of her work deeply appealing. 

So, there you have it!  That's the scoop on life around here at the moment.  If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog.  I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday!  This is the most recent vlog:

Thanks for stopping by!

Around Here: October 2018

Hello, friends!  Here's a little bit about life right now:

What are you listening to?

I have Buddy Guy & Junior Wells on repeat at the moment.  You can get a taste in this YouTube video:

What are you wearing?

Winter has come.

And yes, my mittens are attached to my sleeves with clips like a five-year-old.  

What have you bought?

I'm actually trying very hard NOT to buy things.  In fact, I'm in the process of throwing things away, donating things, and trying to clean out some of the clutter.  That said, I did buy a set of Russian Piping Tips.

But, more on that tomorrow!

What are you reading?

Steve and I are taking turns reading chapters of What On Earth Evolved out loud to each other.  Reading feels like it must be a solitary experience.  But, most of us are lucky enough to start out being read to.  And then that experience stops.  But there's no reason it has to.  Reading out loud is a slower process but I find it very enjoyable.  And I find being read to to be quite a treat!  In my twenties, my Mom read one chapter of Away to me -- over the phone -- every night.  I have remembered that book -- and that experience -- for many years.  It has stayed with me in a way that other books haven't.

Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?

The whimsical pictoral collages of clover_robin make me happy!

She has a book called Cut Paper Pictures, which I haven't bought yet.  But, it's on my wishlist for sure! 

So, there you have it!  That's the scoop on life around here at the moment.  If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog.  I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday!  This is the most recent vlog:

Thanks for stopping by!

Around Here: September

Hello, friends!  Here's a little bit about life right now:

What are you listening to?

My current favorite podcast is "Stuff You Should Know."  I just listened to an hour on patents.  It should have been boring, but I was fascinated.  Hosts Chuck and Josh dive deep on stuff that we all sort of know about but really ought to have a stronger working knowledge about.

What are you wearing?

Black on black on black.  It's my favorite color to wear.  It mixes and matches and allows you to wear obnoxious earrings.  ;)

What have you bought?

Can we talk about something that I haven't bought yet, but I've been shopping for?

I'm trying to figure out the flooring in my future studio space (the attic of our new house).  I'm thinking this hardy laminate from Home Depot is the way to go, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience/advice?  From what I've read, it's supposed to take a beating and clean up easily.

What are you reading?

I'm heading back through Jane Austen -- a ritual I take on every decade or so.  I'm always amazed that I can be surprised by books I've read a million times before.  The truth of the matter is that I know the plots inside out but depending on where I am in my life, different details strike me each time I read the books.  

Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?

Susana McDonnell aka linocaveprints. Her carving and printing on yards and yards of fabric is fabulous geometric perfection. I swoon over her work and I think you will too:

 

So much yummy geometry.  So impressive!

So, there you have it!  That's the scoop on life around here at the moment.  If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog.  I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday!  This is the most recent vlog:

Thanks for stopping by!

--

P.S. I will be hosting a Facebook Live event on my Facebook page tomorrow (Wednesday, September 26) from 1-1:30pm EST all about the **new** ScanNCut.  If you've got questions, I've (hopefully) got answers! 

Around Here: August 2018

Hello, friends!  Here's a little bit about life right now:

What are you listening to?

I've really been enjoying the NPR radio broadcast: Only a Game -- also available as a podcast.  I'm a casual (rather than rabid) sports fan and I find the reporting and discussions on this show fascinating and informative.  I believe in having a little bit of knowledge about a lot of things and Only a Game helps me stay up to date with sports.

What are you wearing?

Spanx.  Lots of Spanx to smooth out the bumps!

What have you bought?

Flowers!  I love having flowers in my house!

What are you reading?

My Mom gifted me a subscription to New York Magazine.  Even though I no longer live in NYC, I still really enjoy the magazine.  I don't think you need to be a New Yorker to like it.  It's full of great articles, a touch of celebrity gossip, and a crossword puzzle that is much easier than the New York Times, but still a challenge!

Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?

David Shillinglaw is amazing.  I love the mask-like faces, his murals are AMAZING, and he does disorganized yet organized so well!

  

 

Swoon worthy!

So, there you have it!  That's the scoop on life around here at the moment.  If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog.  I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday!  This is the most recent vlog:

Thanks for stopping by!

Around Here: July 2018

Hello, friends!  Here's a little bit about life right now:

What are you listening to?

Marissa turned me onto the "Yacht Rock" channel on Spotify.  Perfect background music for happy painting.

What are you wearing?

Summer dresses and a smile!

What have you bought?

This eye mirror insisted on coming home with me from France. 

I think it will fit perfectly into the new house!

What are you reading?

My Mom e-mailed me this wonderful story from The Washington Post about the bond between a man and a crane.

Who are you stalking...er, admiring from afar?

Jen Hewett.  She's a printmaker and a clothing maker and a stitcher and now has a line of fabric with Cotton + Steel and a book that I want!

So, there you have it!  That's the scoop on life around here at the moment.  If you'd like more behind-the-scenes real life fun, you can always check out my vlog.  I post a new vlog to my YouTube channel every Wednesday!  This is last week's vlog (this week's vlog will be up on my YouTube channel tomorrow):

Thanks for stopping by!