This is going to be a truly miscellaneous post. I’ve got a lot of little things to share.
GETTING HOME
I’m back from Milwaukee and the Bead & Button Show a day late. After waiting in the airport and the plane for 6 hours, they cancelled my flight. I trundled off to a charming airport hotel for the evening and flew back to NYC this morning. As disgruntled as I am about being delayed, the good news is I didn’t have anything scheduled for today that I missed. So, I’ve decided that I’m lucky. (Especially because the people in front of me when we were being rebooked were travelling with a crying baby. That must be terrible!)
IN MY MAIL
Sorting through the mail today, I discovered that someone from The City Quilter had sent me a copy of Chelsea Now: the weekly newspaper of Chelsea (a neighborhood in NYC for those unfamiliar with The City). There’s a lovely article about The City Quilter in the paper and a brief bit about me:
Julie Balzer, on the other hand, is enjoying not having a prospective home for her quilt. The young and talented artist—her quilt, entitled “The Sum is Greater than the Parts,” recently won “Most Innovative” and “Viewer’s Choice: Third Place” in the 2007 Empire Quilters Show—has just discovered creating something for the sake of creating. “It’s been a journey for me as an artist [because now] I don’t feel like things have to be useful. [I don’t have to answer the question] where will it go? It’s pretty, and that’s it.”
SEEKING OPINIONS
I really love the concept behind Altered Pencil Lines, especially as someone who often struggles with altered items. But, I’ve noticed that very few people are playing along. So, I’ve been thinking about why that might be. I have a few ideas, but I’d love to know from you (bad or good opinions). Is it not interesting? Don’t like the projects? Don’t understand the concept? Not enough of a challenge? No time? Too much of a challenge? Confused? Don’t like the format? Don’t make altered items? Never heard of it? Etc. Let me know what you think either in the comments section or by shooting me an e-mail. I want to help make it a great and inspiring blog, but I need your help to do that. Thanks in advance!
THE BEAD & BUTTON SHOW: SOME THOUGHTS
Wow. So much more than I expected. Wow. Wow. Wow. I wish I could share how truly wonderful this experience was. I shipped all of my stuff home (scary) and can’t wait for it to arrive so that I can post photos! I have to say, The Bead & Button Show made the majority of scrapbooking events I’ve been to seem ridiculous. The show floor had more vendors than I’ve ever seen. It was amazing. The classes were inspiring and fascinating and there were so many of them! Over 400 different classes offered! But, more than that, the week was so very well organized. I have absolutely no complaints (that’s rare for me – LOL!) about the efficiency and organization of every event. I definitely want to go back next year. I’m hopeful that it will work out schedule-wise.
I’ll post photos as soon as the boxes (and I do mean boxes and boxes) arrive from Milwaukee. And, next week, you can see the art journal I kept while in Milwaukee on Craft Critique.
LAYOUT-A-DAY IS BAD
So, in March 2006, a lovely woman named Marci Lambert started a very bad and evil thing: “Layout-a-Day” at Two Peas in a Bucket. I thought she was crazy (having just come off of doing a layout-a-week, which felt like a lot). But, I decided to jump in. I didn’t quite do a layout every day, but I was close. I took April and May 2006 off and then returned with a vengeance in June 2006. I was determined to create an album with a layout about each and every day in June. And, I did. It was a seriously exhausting struggle, but it did two things for me:
1. I learned to take photos of and to scrap “everyday” events.
2. I became much quicker at putting together a layout.
I took a break in July 2006 and then dabbled in and out in November and December. Since January, I have been scrapping almost every day. And now I’m addicted! I actually feel bad if I don’t do something scrappy every day. I haven’t scrapped in ten or eleven days (since I’ve been away) and I feel it. Evil, evil layout-a-day!!!
Hey Julie – welcome back!! I’m glad you had fun at the show. Congrats on being quoted in Chelsea Now. Okay – regarding Altered Lines – I really love the concept, but to be honest, I don’t do altered items that often. Keeping up with scrapbooking alone is enough for me, I don’t have the time to devote to other hobbies like sewing or quilting. Also using a layout sketch for altered items is a little bit of a stretch for me. I have to respect you guys – you are so much more creative than I am.
Hey Julie – welcome back!! I’m glad you had fun at the show. Congrats on being quoted in Chelsea Now. Okay – regarding Altered Lines – I really love the concept, but to be honest, I don’t do altered items that often. Keeping up with scrapbooking alone is enough for me, I don’t have the time to devote to other hobbies like sewing or quilting. Also using a layout sketch for altered items is a little bit of a stretch for me. I have to respect you guys – you are so much more creative than I am.
Hey Julie – welcome back!! I’m glad you had fun at the show. Congrats on being quoted in Chelsea Now. Okay – regarding Altered Lines – I really love the concept, but to be honest, I don’t do altered items that often. Keeping up with scrapbooking alone is enough for me, I don’t have the time to devote to other hobbies like sewing or quilting. Also using a layout sketch for altered items is a little bit of a stretch for me. I have to respect you guys – you are so much more creative than I am.
Hey Julie – welcome back!! I’m glad you had fun at the show. Congrats on being quoted in Chelsea Now. Okay – regarding Altered Lines – I really love the concept, but to be honest, I don’t do altered items that often. Keeping up with scrapbooking alone is enough for me, I don’t have the time to devote to other hobbies like sewing or quilting. Also using a layout sketch for altered items is a little bit of a stretch for me. I have to respect you guys – you are so much more creative than I am.
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog (I’m a regular, even though I don’t comment much…), and I envy you for scrapping every day! I’m still at the stage where it takes me 2-3 hours to scrap, and I’m overwhelmed by all the materials, I think. But if you say you were slow one year ago, maybe I should start, too! I do try to play in my art journal more, so that may be a bit similar…well, made me think anyway. Thanks. 🙂
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog (I’m a regular, even though I don’t comment much…), and I envy you for scrapping every day! I’m still at the stage where it takes me 2-3 hours to scrap, and I’m overwhelmed by all the materials, I think. But if you say you were slow one year ago, maybe I should start, too! I do try to play in my art journal more, so that may be a bit similar…well, made me think anyway. Thanks. 🙂
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog (I’m a regular, even though I don’t comment much…), and I envy you for scrapping every day! I’m still at the stage where it takes me 2-3 hours to scrap, and I’m overwhelmed by all the materials, I think. But if you say you were slow one year ago, maybe I should start, too! I do try to play in my art journal more, so that may be a bit similar…well, made me think anyway. Thanks. 🙂
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog (I’m a regular, even though I don’t comment much…), and I envy you for scrapping every day! I’m still at the stage where it takes me 2-3 hours to scrap, and I’m overwhelmed by all the materials, I think. But if you say you were slow one year ago, maybe I should start, too! I do try to play in my art journal more, so that may be a bit similar…well, made me think anyway. Thanks. 🙂
I’m not sure actually I understand the pencil line concept…except if it’s off a sketch I generally can’t scrap that way…those are really pretty layouts though!!!!!!
I’m not sure actually I understand the pencil line concept…except if it’s off a sketch I generally can’t scrap that way…those are really pretty layouts though!!!!!!
I’m not sure actually I understand the pencil line concept…except if it’s off a sketch I generally can’t scrap that way…those are really pretty layouts though!!!!!!
I’m not sure actually I understand the pencil line concept…except if it’s off a sketch I generally can’t scrap that way…those are really pretty layouts though!!!!!!
glad you had a fabby time.
glad you had a fabby time.
glad you had a fabby time.
glad you had a fabby time.
Can’t wait to see all your goodies from the show.
How cool about Chelsea Now!
Can’t wait to see all your goodies from the show.
How cool about Chelsea Now!
Can’t wait to see all your goodies from the show.
How cool about Chelsea Now!
Can’t wait to see all your goodies from the show.
How cool about Chelsea Now!