Happy Halloween everyone!  Hope you have a spooktacular day!  We have done zero decorating for Halloween this year because we're still unpacking, but here are some pumpkins Steve and I painted back in 2016:

image from balzerdesigns.typepad.com
image from balzerdesigns.typepad.com

I'm usually 100% against anything fake, but I've been thinking that I might buy some *gasp* fake pumpkins and paint them.  That way I'd have them year after year instead of having to re-do it every year…is that sacrilege?  I'm going to have to think about that.  We will see if the after-Halloween sales offer any great deals on fake pumpkins!

In the meantime, I've got a big bowl of candy and I'm ready for the trick or treaters!  And if they don't come, I've still got a big bowl of candy.  So, win-win!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

42 thoughts on “Happy Halloween!

  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • A lot of people can’t afford all the pretty lawn decorations for each season, then throwing them away and starting over year after year. A series on crafting beautiful lasting decorations would be wonderful. Plus sometimes beloved decorations become heirlooms……

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • Now that you have a big house to decorate making your own permanent decorations, adding to them each year, seems like a great idea. Dating them,too, as a record of how your tastes grow or change….each room could have it’s own spooky theme. I use to love decorating when I lived in a neighborhood, but now my closest neighbors are cows, donkeys and various wildlife.

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • I think it would be smart to use the “fake” pumpkins and gradually add to them over the years. Storage will be something to consider..shelving in the basement or large totes would be my recommendation. I too watch the after season sales and add to my collection and I use them as a porch, yard decoration. The decorations are usually just for us as we live in an area that sees turkeys, deer, chipmunks, and the like. No trick or treater’s. I used to decorate the porch, yard with real ones and all those animals would eat holes in them….kind of spoils the look!!
    I have not painted mine but you have inspired me..thanks

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! I especially want to thank you because you taught me how to color out of the box. I never appreciated my doodling until I started seeing your artistic gifts. No comparison by any means, I just want to thank you for teaching me the endless possibilities of art.

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply
  • Here in Maricopa County (Arizona), decorating with real pumpkins is illegal, because the javalina LOVE them! Looking around town, not many people know this…they are still around. But I love the idea of “reusing” decorations rather than trashing them in the end. I also love the comments others have made about you starting an heirloom collection of “Julie originals” to decorate your new house each year. Best wishes to you in your new home with your growing family!

    Reply

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