this morning i took a bit off time off work to pick-up what i thought would be both my newest book and my much-anticipated dslr camera. well, i was 50% right. i got the book. camera? not so much.

regarding the camera… suffice it to say, christina was a less than happy camper this morning. i wont belabour the issue, but i have to admit that i’m more than a little disappointed that it didn’t arrive. oh well.
<le sigh!>

but… on the brighter and cheerier side of things, my new book arrived and it’s beeeeeautiful! i mean really amazing. i’m so impressed with the printing of it and the weight / size of it is lovely. the cover is glossy and slick with the inside pages more of a satin finish, which means that the black fill in the design of the pages won’t show fingerprints! genius! the layout and design is much more ME, so that makes me really happy too.

the video below is a sneak peek of this latest publication.

right now, the book can only be ordered through our website by clicking here.

it will be available locally at my monthly portbello west show in limited amounts 15 per show and sells for $49.99 CAD. I hope you like it!

here is a video of the inside of our shop: StudioWERX on Main. isn’t it cute?

that’s my art buddy deb off in the distance. she came in for coffee with me and basically i ended up putting her to work helping me switch christmas inventory over to more springy stuff. we did end up going for coffee, but i’m a bad influence and made her miss the beginning of a superbowl party. oh well… i’m more fun anyways

here are the first of 8 new pieces trickling out off the studio and off the studio table onto etsy!

i love these new pieces. petite, soft and infinitely girly they are the stuff of romantic notions and dreams of living a far more sophisticated existence than i ever could.

this evening i did something that i’ve been wanting to do for weeks… i finally hung  block of artwork [yes, shamefully only my own work - thank god my husband enjoys it and is super supportive] in the living room. 15 pieces! yep, 15. looks pretty freaking spectacular too. i’ve been living with them in the studio, but as i ramp up my art production for portbello west, i’ve had to make room for new pieces, and i just can’t bear to box up my babies. so… after a little prodding and alot of help [thank god T is TALL] i hung all 15 pieces in 3 rows of 5. i’ll post a pic later this week once i get me my new camera.

ok. yeah i’m spoiled sometimes. my hubby is super supportive of all my artistic endeavours. so much so that for valentine’s day the amazing man bought me a new camera. an expensive one. but… it was way more expensive at the local future shop than online, so we took back the original camera - unopened [can i just say how PAINFUL it was knowing that the camera was sitting on the dining room table begging to be opened and used - pure torture] and purchased one online. it was supposed to arrive today, in point roberts. it didn’t. i was so disappointed. sad even. so a spectacular photo of my artwall will now have to wait until later in the week.

in the meantime… here is some pretty, girly eyecandy to enjoy [and buy - hint hint, nudge nudge]
have a good week peeps.

i’m working on about 8 new pieces right now… they will be listed early next week.
tune in over the weekend for a sneak peek of the new arty yumminess.

have a great weekend peeps and thank god it’s friday!

sunshine on cold, cloudless winter days.

there are times in vancouver where the sun does not come out for days, and days, and days <sigh>… it can be a real drag. BUT… when you have a day like today in the middle of winter, it makes the crappy greys not so bad.

a walk along the dyke in richmond, near my home, inspires me to create fresh, brightly colored artwork saturated with deep cerulean blues, sharp whites and the winter-deadened, deep, chocolate bark of a gnarled old tree. pure eye-candy in an otherwise grey winter existence.

it’s why i will never live anywhere else.
it’s why, even though my barometrically/storm triggered migraines are a constant threat, living with the changeling nature of Vancouver’s weather, makes the west coast Canada is so verdant and lush.
it’s why i love my city, and all the colour combinations, textures and creativity it inspires.
it is the best place to live.
it’s my home and my inspiration for living my best life.

my dear friend carmi. she’s a woman after my own heart and a little piece of me envies her everyday.

why? not because she has a lovely home, wonderful husband, adoring four-legged children [i’ve already got those minus some square footage - LOL!]. i envy her because she is a full-day, everyday, dedicated-to-her-craft, working-in-her-studio kind of artist. and man… that is certainly an inspiration to me!

carmi was fortunate enough to retire early in life [waaaaaaaaaaaaay before 99% of the population does]. however, this is not a woman who sits idly by, watching the world, mounds of toronto snow and days pass her by. nope. not my carmi. she is in her huge lower-floor studio virtually everyday doing what she loves best… creating art! specifically art cards, altered books, ‘poufs’ and the most incredible resin baubles you ever seen! her love of her craft has even spawned a new ‘job’. she now shows twice annually at one of the largest and most prestigious handmade art/craft events in canada - the one of a kind show.

one day… perhaps in the not ‘too’ distant future, i too will be able to take the plunge, quit my ‘regular’ and stay home to work in my studio everyday. doing what i love doing… getting painty, gluey, sticky hands for hours and hours on end. <sigh>

so miss carmi [i know you read this…] keep inspiring me to get there. keep pushing me to try. and keep egging me on, you never know… maybe one day, i could be you, minus the square footage!

since i’ve been fighting a flu bug for well over a week, valentine’s day is feeling a little grumpy…

t is making it infinitely better though, he got me the most surprising and wonderful v’day giftie… a new canon xti with an new 55-250 IS canon lens!! holy crapola! i must have been a good girl so far this year. maybe it’s my skinnier butt [i’m on a diet and have lost 10+lbs], maybe it’s my increased energy and enthuasiasm, who knows… but what i do know is that i love this guy with all my heart and he truly loves and knows mine [i’ve wanted this camera for about 6 months now!]

in the spirit of sending out felicitations to the world, here is my favorite valentine sentiment from 2008. it’s a little grumpy and dark, but it’s truly hilarious!

i’ve been looking at my schedule in the first half of the year and wow! i’m teaching alot in april lol!!
it’s going to be a bit of a where’s waldo for me, so here is the run down…

• Workshop: Sunday March 2nd at RubyDog’s Art House
  Art of Transference
  In this class you will learn to make image transfers using 6 transfer techniques! We will discuss ways to incorporate image transfer into your artwork, ideas for gift giving and more.
  This workshop includes lots of demos and hands on work making it a great opportunity to learn new techniques.**SPECIAL BONUS in this full day class will be a demo of Polaroid image transfers and then try it for yourself! NOTE: this is a technique/process-based class where you will create a large number of samples. Also please note that one method of transfer produces STRONG fumes. If you are sensitive or allergic to chemical smells, please consider this carefully before signing up for the workshop.
  Register for this class by contacting RubyDog’s Art House at 604.873.2825
• Workshop: Sunday April 6th at RubyDog’s Art House
  The Artful Shopper
  Follow a ‘green’ trend and create an artistic shopping bag that you will be proud to carry for your daily shopping excursions. Using quilting fabric, image transfers, ephemera and embroidery, we will create an 8×8 collage applique to be added to a plain jane grocery bag. Then extend your applique boudaries with fabric stamping, more embroidery and additional embellishments. Register for this class by contacting RubyDog’s Art House at 604.873.2825
• Workshop: INSPIRED.ARTIST WORKSHOP - April 10 & 12th
  Click on the banner graphic for details!
• Workshop: Sunday April 20th at RubyDog’s Art House - Vancouver
  Acrylic Alchemy
  An exploration of acrylic paint, acrylic mediums and painting techniques in the ‘from the ground up’ full-day class. Areas covered include basic colour theory, demystifying acrylics in all their forms, paint mixing and creating background textures as a foundation to abstract and mixed media art.
  Register for this class by contacting RubyDog’s Art House at 604.873.2825
• Workshop: Saturday April 26th at Clipper Street - Coquitlam
  Textile Anthology
  A photo, fabric, floral, ribbon, and bead filled class that explores the fusion of collage quilting and scrapbooking. Officially debuted at Donna Downey’s INSPIRED. ARTIST WORKSHOP retreat on April 10-11, 2008, be the first in Vancouver to take this fun and innovative class that takes hybrid scrapbooking to a new level! Register for this class by contacting Clipper Street
• Workshop: Sunday April 27th at Clipper Street - Langley
  Textile Anthology
  A photo, fabric, floral, ribbon, and bead filled class that explores the fusion of collage quilting and scrapbooking. Officially debuted at Donna Downey’s INSPIRED. ARTIST WORKSHOP retreat on April 10-11, 2008, be the first in Vancouver to take this fun and innovative class that takes hybrid scrapbooking to a new level! Register for this class by contacting Clipper Street

whew! then… add to that the dates i’m doing portobello west and it’s going to be a busy 1/2 half of 2008.

for a quick reference on these teaching dates and my portobello dates, please check out the bloggy sidebars for links and descriptions.

i hope to see some of you real soon!

here are the goods… enjoy!

yep. i finished another set of digiWERX digital paper called digiWERX: correspondingly tonight. created in a neutral black and white palette, with a few ‘tea stained’ accents, this ‘die-cut’ and shaped digital paper is to die for. i love it!

the foundation of the 10 page designs is vintage ledger paper and Victorian ornamentation. its a wicked combination of flourish and function, shaken and not stirred [ah yes, james bond is on the brain].

here are some ideas for how to use this yummy, digi-goodness:

• using the ‘die-cut’ frame edge, cut out your printed paper to create a shaped layout, card or collage element
• print the digital papers at 6×6 and crop off 2", punch and coil bind into a 4×6 mini-album or journal. people will be asking you where you got it from!
• use the ledger lines for journalling, card writing, for title placement, to adhere letter alphas…
• take advantage of the uncoloured Victorian illustrations and fill them with colour using pitt pens, markers, pencil crayons, whatever! it’s a great way to coordinate with your photos and other patterned papers.

enjoy…