Category Archives: art

110: The Catch by Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer

art, balzer, beginner, being a student, career, career path, creativity, learning, Podcast

Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer, my brother, is the guest on today’s podcast.  His film, THE CATCH, is going to be debuting at the Austin Film Festival next Thursday.  Tickets are just $10 and you can watch from the comfort of your living room!  We had a great chat about his creative journey, filmmaking, and what it … Continue reading 110: The Catch by Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer →

086: Creativation 2019

art, business, craft, creativation, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Podcast, scanncut, scanncut dx, state of the industry, trade show

  I’m back from Creativation — aka the craft industry’s annual industry-only trade show.  This year I planned ahead and Mom and I did half the podcast before our trip and half the podcast after our trip.  I get pretty deep into some thoughts on the state of the industry in this one.  I hope … Continue reading 086: Creativation 2019 →

084: 2018 in Review

art, artist, classes, creative mistakes, creativity, Failure, home life balance, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, online classes, Podcast, quilting, sewing, teaching

  Today’s podcast is the first of several posts, looking back at the year that has been.  Goodbye, 2018.  You were a good year.  Some of the things referenced in the podcast include: Quilt-a-Month Project Sewing Clothes Crow Barn #100DaysofArtTweets 4×4 Abstracts Online Classes On the podcast we discuss “failed” or abandoned projects, choosing priorities, … Continue reading 084: 2018 in Review →

082: Team Teaching with Nathalie Kalbach

art, artist, classes, collage, creativity, experimentation, Germany, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, mixed media, mixed media circus, Nathalie Kalbach, online classes, painting, Podcast, teaching, travel

Today’s podcast is about team teaching and features a conversation with Nathalie Kalbach.  Nathalie is a self-taught mixed media artist. She was born in Germany and lived most of her adult life in Hamburg before moving to the United States in September 2013. She now lives in Jersey City, NJ. “For the last decade I … Continue reading 082: Team Teaching with Nathalie Kalbach →

081: Listener Mail

art, artist, balance, balzer designs, being a student, creative mistakes, creativity, Failure, home life balance, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, learning, listener mail, Podcast, teaching

  Mom and I are doing our best to get back into the podcast swing of things.  We’ve been podcasting since 2012 (6 YEARS!!!) but we’re not great about frequency.  This will be just our sixth podcast in 2018.  (Note to self: put podcast in calendar as a “to do.”)  All of that said, today’s … Continue reading 081: Listener Mail →

080: Artistic Fear

art, artist, career path, creative mistakes, Failure, failure is okay, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, learning, Podcast, teaching

  Mom and I are discussing artistic fear on today’s podcast.  What is it?  Why is it?  And how can you overcome it? From the podcast: The instagram post that started it all. The quote from Hugh Laurie. The Martha Graham/Agnes de Mille conversation. Some resources for you: 4 Painting Fears and How to Overcome … Continue reading 080: Artistic Fear →

079: Time & Perspective

art, artist, balzer designs, career path, creating every day, creative mistakes, creativity, crow barn, Failure, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, learning, mixed media, nancy crow, paris, Podcast, quilting, teaching, travel

  For the first time in podcast history, Mom and I are in the same room to record this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast!  I wonder if there’s any difference in how the podcast feels?  You’ll have to let me know! As mentioned on the podcast, I’ve got a bunch of teaching gigs … Continue reading 079: Time & Perspective →

078: In a Learning Phase

art, classes, creativity, dyeing, fabric arts, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, learning, paper piecing, Podcast, quilting, surface design, teaching, thread painting

  I am taking classes like a crazy person!  Well, like a person who really wants to learn stuff.  A lot of stuff.  As mentioned on the podcast, I’ve learned about Paper Piecing: Thread Painting: And most recently, about printing on fabric with dye in “Glorious Prints” (blog posts about it coming next week): As … Continue reading 078: In a Learning Phase →

077: On The Road Again

art, home life balance, housewares show, HSN, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, learning, met, modern quilt, MoMA, museum, museums, NYC, Podcast, ptouch embellish, quilt guild, scanncut, schiele, serger, sewing, travel

  It has been more than a month since our last podcast.  My excuse: I’ve been busy.  Most of the events we talk about on the podcast I haven’t yet shared here on the blog (I’ve got a major backlog of photos and stories to share!), so you’ll see a quick teaser photo for now … Continue reading 077: On The Road Again →

070: Summer Projects

art, Cloth Paper Scissors, curds and co, fancy food show, Jenn Mason, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, mixed media, MoMA, NYC, Podcast, scanncut, YouTube, youtube space

Today’s podcast is all about The 100 Day Project, classes I’m teaching, and visiting NYC (Fancy Food Show, YouTube Space, MoMA and getting my hair cut).  Mom picked out the photos and links to go with this week’s podcast. A preview of my visit to MoMA (more photos on the blog next week): Haircut before and … Continue reading 070: Summer Projects →