a new friend went out of their way to know i like beads, and gave me these beautiful treasures. so inspired. in fact, it’s what motivated me to finish the last piece. i have ideas for these and can hardly wait to start….thank you!

living the north life. trail runs. clear fresh water. lake michigan.

sleeping bear national dunes. so pretty. close.

will need to outline each rock.and, i think the top left needs more for balance. ahhh! i have some new ideas and ready to start but will wrap this one up. taking a slow day today.

a day on Torch Lake. caribbean blue. so beautiful.

i’ll finish this one. really like it. have some new ideas. ready to start with those and finish this one. watching Disclosure Day.

april 30th.

tomorrow i will visit a bead store and it’s a little exciting. also, i am running around this lake and it is beautiful.

someone dear to me showed me embroidery from an art show with words sewn in a similar way. they took a few pics for me. have held the idea and wanted to use it.

new job. new project. new place? maybe. a change is good and i’m glad to have some new things to think about and work on. healthy.

took a weekend trip to santa fe. hopped a flight to ABQ, then the RailRunner train to santa fe. beautiful! wore some super comfy new clothes to run around santa fe for the short trip. no car needed. ran around the town to bischochitos, rainbowgate, beadweaver, the shed, rainbowman, kakawa, cafe pascual and hotel st. francis. got some new beads so it was all worth it.

the lettering shapes from a friend who saw an exhibit with embroidery at a museum and took a picture to share with me, thinking the design might be inspiring. yes! using that idea for the letters.

my mom wanted to bring my dad to see the Avenir exhibit. it’s too far. it won’t be possible to get him to Fort Collins. my dad has been an incredible force. he’s done all the right things in his life’s story arc. i just know he’d have been so proud. and that’s the important part.

my best friend michelle’s middle name is candace. the woman pointing up is said candace, one of her michelle’s mom’s lifelong best friends. michelle’s mom, katie, brought her friends to the Avenir.

so imagine the surprise when candace looks up, and sees a cross-stitch pattern she designed in the collection.

WHAT?!

1. who does cross-stitch.

2. who even makes cross-stitch patterns.

3. how can the worlds of my best friend, *her namesake, and christmas stockings intersect.

it’s so delightful and coincidental, can’t stop thinking about it how cool.

i bought the pattern years ago, maybe even long before i knew michelle. idk. it was years ago.

thanks for making something so cool, candy.

just wish i would have seen the moment when you realized your pattern was one of the the things i sewed. that would have been great. :-)

excited to teach a class at the Avenir tomorrow. made all the posters and sarah lillis is helping organize. we’ll make mini-stockings and attach embroidery scissors. i think it will be so fun. can hardly wait to be with other creatives and see what happens. fun!

many of the people i love were able to make it to the Avenir exhibit opening, “Deck the Hall: Julie Rieken’s Art Stockings” on my actual birthday. so special! then we went to dinner at the Rio. a great celebration. thanks all, for the support and love!

oct. 7th, 2025 - dec. 20th, 2025. it’s a little exciting to have an exhibit of my work at the Avenir Museum. thanks, christy, for being a lifelong friend and supporter, and for reaching out to them. here i am dropping the stockings off. one might be surprised how heavy each suitcase is.

escape. isn’t quieting the mind, but still excellent.

1. art class on lino block printing at museum of contemporary art.

2. rooftops.

3. water.

4. michelin stars in dark, hidden alleys with cardboard signs. 100% real.

5. hockey, baseball, and national open tennis.

6. beads. more beads.

creative fuel. ready to finish.