Home, Friends and Family abound...

Knitting circle with the bridal bead embroidery.

I've been picking up more hours at work and I feel a bit lost as far as getting any artwork done.  Luckily I have a bridal commission that I'm working on, which is keeping me beading.  Otherwise I might just stay in the bath tub with a book on nights I don't have anything going.  Which I'm trying to cut back some and stay in more, my house is starting to settle and feel more and more like home.

Measuring the beads for the dress.

I am getting at least one box unpacked per day, sometimes more. I just haven't the slightest clue where some stuff should go.  The interior house projects can be too overwhelming, so I have 2 focuses: 1) Fix the railing on my balcony and 2) trim all trees/bushes away from my house and garage so my homeowners insurance doesn't drop me.

(those cedars behind me are being cut back...)

Roof on the garage is not safe,  it's a good thing 

I was excellent at balance beam back in my gymnastics days...

I have a cool grill in my back yard...it needs cleaning out...

The pile of drywall, plaster and lathe and linoleum in my garage that I'm 

topping my garbage can with every Sunday evening.

As I keep reminding myself, my house is livable as-is, so house projects will be picked at.  I can. not. wait. to get back to my loom.  It's still wrapped up, but Amy coming over will give me the kick in the pants to have an unwrapping party and get a sample weaving on for my Porkies donation. 

So to keep myself in line, current art-pieces are:

1) Bridal Commission

2) Porkies Weaving (it might not be just a sample, I may end up just putting the piece on!)

3) Holiday Jewelry for galleries and the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Show

I am always up for taking on beading classes too.  I now have space in my dining room to teach and would love to do small private groups.  My base-rate is, per person, $20 for the first hour, $10 for every hour thereafter. Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends are my most-flexible days.  I'd prefer 2-weeks advanced notice so I can plan around work. You'll just have to ignore the boxes still floating around.

In the meantime, I have been having lots of fun and had friends in town more than I can remember.  I love having my own place. We celebrated Megan's Birthday then the next weekend Em came to visit from Colorado and I got to show her around Old Town and downtown Lansing.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Me and Em

Meat BBQ with Em on our Old Town day.

Because I want both my sides to be creamed corn with my brisket.

Abigail has invited me for the past 4 years to go charter fishing with her family on the weekend of the 4th.  I didn't have anyone to tell me they didn't want to do that, so I did, and I caught my first HUGE lake trout!

Me and Abigail

I couldn't stop staring at how beautiful the lures are. 

Definite inspiration for future jewelry.

And this past weekend, July 18th my second niece was born, Luna Lin.  My mom, dad and cousin Ky went to the hospital to visit. (After I played catchup with my dear friend Erin while I was in Fenton).

(No photos of the baby, that's the parents prerogative, 

I know some people are touchy about that)