Balzer Designs

Around Here: June 2020

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life around here right now: What are you working on? I am deep deep deep into projects for Make It Artsy. As you can imagine, because of the pandemic, very few guests are coming to the shoot at the end of July, so I have a bit more work to do than usual. I am planning projects involving stenciling, bookbinding, jewelry making, sewing, painting, and more! This is a fun segment from last season of the show, where I demonstrate my faux shibori technique: What are you loving? The deli paper I use... Read more →

Around Here: May 2020

Hello, friends! I have to confess that I've been trapped somewhere between burnout and depression lately. But I'm rallying. So let's focus on the positive! source Here's a little bit about life around here right now: What are you wearing? FYI: DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK IN THE WORD T-SHIRTS. I DID NOT PUT IT IN THIS BLOG POST AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET RID OF IT. Pajama bottom like they're pants, ice-dyed t-shirts, and lots of handmade masks: What have you bought? So. Many. Baby. Things. Our most recent purchase: a bag full of silicone balls and... Read more →

Around Here: April 2020

Hello, friends! I hope your quarantine life is settling into a happy routine. Here's a little bit about life around here right now: What are you wearing? Black, black, black. Black sweatshirt. Black t-shirt. Black hoodie. Sometimes accessorized with an apron... ...and sometimes accessorized with a baby on my chest. As a side note: after years of insisting that leggings aren't pants, this pandemic has changed my mind. Leggings are pants and they're the pants I wear every day. Black leggings, of course. What have you bought? We bought a Jolly Jumper and the baby loooooves it! What are you... Read more →

Around Here: March 2020

Hello, friends! I suppose everybody's life is a little bit weird at the moment. But, I'll take safe at home over the alternative. Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? I get dressed in a kind of uniform every single day: sweatpants or leggings, nursing tank, sweatshirt or sweater. Hair up (the baby is in the hair grabbing phase) and if I'm lucky, my contacts go in. Final accessory: baby. I haven't worn any "real" clothes in ages. And makeup...ha ha ha. We are all about the basics around here! What have you bought? I... Read more →

Around Here: February 2020

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? Most days it's sweatpants or leggings and a t-shirt, but I did get to dress up on Monday for an event at the museum, so here I am looking like a real person: What have you bought? I'm currently on a mission to lose the baby weight. So I've hopped back on Weight Watchers and I'm trying to remind myself that slow and steady wins the race. I also know myself and I need treats. I found these frozen yogurt bars and they are super delish... Read more →

Around Here: January 2020

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? Short sleeves! Well, not at the moment. But we spent a week in Hawaii this month where my baby got to meet his cousin -- who is just 7 weeks older than he is. What have you bought? On my last "Around Here" post, I mentioned that we were headed to Hawaii and someone recommend UV Skinz for the baby. I ordered some and they were great! Super cute and really functional. So good, in fact, that my brother asked to permanently borrow one of them... Read more →

Around Here: December 2019

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? My glasses and a baby. Besides wearing the baby and my glasses, I can be found in sweatpants or leggings and a sweater almost every single day. It's pretty glamorous! What have you bought? I keep telling myself that I'm not going to make everything about the baby. But the truth is, the baby is an all consuming part of my life at the moment. He and I spend most of every single day together, to the exclusion of everything else. Other than groceries, the only... Read more →

Around Here: November 2019

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? Maternity leggings plus anything in my closet that will still fit me. The good news is that I've always liked flowy clothing and empire waists, so I have a surprising amount of non-maternity tops that work for maternity! On a side note, this pregnancy has brought about a surprising body image depression. Considering the fact that I was much heavier in my 20s than I am now, nine months pregnant, you'd think I'd be fine with the weight gain and the body changes. But it has... Read more →

Around Here: October 2019

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? Anything and everything I own with an empire waist. Although, now that the weather is colder, I've been living in maternity leggings and t-shirts with big sweaters. Also, this striped shirt is on my body like 4 days a week: By coincidence, a friend bought me a really cute baby outfit that blends perfectly with the shirt! LOL! What have you bought? Food. We have yet to cook a meal in our new kitchen. It's simply not unpacked, and so we've been eating at my Mom's... Read more →

Around Here: September 2019

Hello, friends! Here's a little bit about life right now: What are you wearing? I have been spelunking through my closet to figure out which clothes will work for my new body. Thank goodness I've always like empire waist dresses! This dress is an oldie from Asos Curve. What have you bought? Lighting! This month we bought an antique chandelier and sconce for our front hall, along with some antique shades. Choosing shades for the lights was really interesting. First, you're limited by the number of available shades. For instance, our chandelier requires 5 shades. Finding 5 matching antique glass... Read more →