Guesting in July - Julie Fei-Fan Balzer!

My name is Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and I am a mixed-media artist and avid scrapbooker living in the middle of New York City. I tend to focus on integrating my every day life into everything I create. I love art that looks handmade - lots of tearing and inking and handwriting and hand cutting. I believe that mistakes are opportunities and hold fast to the notion that enjoyment of the process is just as important as the finished product! I like to think outside of the box --experimenting with paper, paint, and fabric. I'm also a technique and tool junkie, always trying to find a way to push my supplies further and see all the possibilities. You can see more of my work on my blog, on the upcoming season of Scrapbook Soup TV (PBS), and I have a line of stencils debuting with The Crafter's Workshop in July!

This was a very joyful layout to make. I think that's why it's myfavorite. It was one of those layouts where everything I tried just seemed to work. I had an idea for the background and I wasn't sure how it was going to come together. I was delighted when all of those tone-on-tone strips worked together and then the splash of turquoise seemed to jazz it up a bit. I'll admit that I was nervous when I decided to scrawl the big black scratchy circle on my layout. But Ialways try to embrace those kooky ideas, those things that scare me,and force myself to take the creative leap. And I'm so pleased that I did! One of the important creative lessons I've learned in the last year has been to stop making things so precious. So with that mantra in my mind, I cut up my Sassafras stickers, layered in paper and somevintage items, and just did what felt good. And I love the title with its glittery "glam" and hand-painted "girl." That combination of hard and soft has always appealed to me.

We live in a two-bedroom apartment and my sweet husband handed over the master bedroom to me for my studio. My creative space is all about the drawers. I *adore* drawers. They're the easiest way I knowof to stay organized because you can be messy, but still know where everything is.

I recently stopped by my husband's law firm and snapped this photo of him before he was aware that I was there. He was chatting on the phone with a client and reviewing some documents on his computer, but he's so relaxed and comfortable with his feet up on the desk. I think it's great that he loves his job. He's one of those lucky people whois spectacularly good at something that he loves to do. I smile everytime I look at this photo!