There are so many amazing, creative, thoughtful people out there.  Here's a round-up of some of my recent favorite blog posts:

On the 7gypsies blog, Mou Saha (one of the scrappers I adore) shares a fabulous paint filled accordion album that she made.  Here's one image, but you have to click through and see them all!

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 On the Fancy Pants blog, Jolene Plenaar shares her "flower techniques album."

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I love the idea of putting techniques into a book so they're easy to find and you don't have to remember them!  Her beautiful album is full of great flower techniques!

Kerry Lynn decorated her sewing machine with Hambly rub-ons. 

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How genius is that?

This isn't really a project.  It's a quote from Rilke.  I *loved* it when I read it on Jen's blog (and somebody brought it up in a class I taught on Friday too!)

I beg you…to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without ever noticing it, live your way into the answer… Rainer Maria Rilke

She used it on a wonderful monochromatic layout and I may have to try it on a layout as well.  I'm always looking for answers and wanting to know the consequences and all that stuff.  It's a beautiful and eloquent reminder to go with the flow and enjoy the process of living.

In a similar vein, I stumble onto Brené Brown's blog and she's doing a whole week on the idea of "worthiness:"

Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone; I am enough.

It’s going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging

And the whole topic must just be in the air because I saw this on Suzi Blu's blog:

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Finally, Alisa Burke is my number one girl crush these days.  Her blog is full of amazing ideas and so much color and life and fun.  Her recent post on painting her floors made me so mad that we are renters.  Check out her painted carpet:

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And here is a fabulous pillow (the tutorial is on her blog):

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And now the messy dress tutorial that has me itching to try out the Fabric Paint Cannon from Tulip:

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Gosh that girl is good! Basically the paint cannon gives a spray paint look without aerosol!  And you can mix your own colors and use fabric paint!!!  I have been googling like crazy to try to find the best price, but I haven't had much luck even finding it available for sale online.  Very frustrating.

Ah well, hope you're feeling as inspired as I am!  Have a great day!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

20 thoughts on “Blog Hoppin’

  • That carpet is gorgeous and the quotes are perfect for me right now. Must be the gray days and the end of the winter. Makes me want to evaluate myself before blooming in spring!

    Reply
  • That carpet is gorgeous and the quotes are perfect for me right now. Must be the gray days and the end of the winter. Makes me want to evaluate myself before blooming in spring!

    Reply
  • That carpet is gorgeous and the quotes are perfect for me right now. Must be the gray days and the end of the winter. Makes me want to evaluate myself before blooming in spring!

    Reply
  • That carpet is gorgeous and the quotes are perfect for me right now. Must be the gray days and the end of the winter. Makes me want to evaluate myself before blooming in spring!

    Reply
  • Love that dress and love the technique book! I really need to make me one of those :o) I’m always getting online to find those how to’s that I would love to try out.

    Reply
  • Love that dress and love the technique book! I really need to make me one of those :o) I’m always getting online to find those how to’s that I would love to try out.

    Reply
  • Love that dress and love the technique book! I really need to make me one of those :o) I’m always getting online to find those how to’s that I would love to try out.

    Reply
  • Love that dress and love the technique book! I really need to make me one of those :o) I’m always getting online to find those how to’s that I would love to try out.

    Reply
  • Julie, I love the art pieces you’ve gathered together but I especially love those quotes -man, did I need to hear those words this week! Thank you.

    Reply
  • Julie, I love the art pieces you’ve gathered together but I especially love those quotes -man, did I need to hear those words this week! Thank you.

    Reply
  • Julie, I love the art pieces you’ve gathered together but I especially love those quotes -man, did I need to hear those words this week! Thank you.

    Reply
  • Julie, I love the art pieces you’ve gathered together but I especially love those quotes -man, did I need to hear those words this week! Thank you.

    Reply
  • Julie, you can buy the Paint Cannon’s at Micheal’s. 🙂
    I’ve used them on paper if you check my blog… 😉
    Much Love

    Reply
  • Julie, you can buy the Paint Cannon’s at Micheal’s. 🙂
    I’ve used them on paper if you check my blog… 😉
    Much Love

    Reply
  • Julie, you can buy the Paint Cannon’s at Micheal’s. 🙂
    I’ve used them on paper if you check my blog… 😉
    Much Love

    Reply
  • Julie, you can buy the Paint Cannon’s at Micheal’s. 🙂
    I’ve used them on paper if you check my blog… 😉
    Much Love

    Reply

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