sorry gang… no posts for a few days. i’m dealing with yet another bout of my lovely, chronic eye problem blepharitis and this is a bad one. nasty nasty. won’t go into the gory details, but suffice it to say… i’m looking a little scary!

be back to regular posting in a few days… in the meantime, enjoy this!

maya road accordion chipboard mini-album. sprayed with glimmer mist oriental poppy. layered with jenni bowlin tiny papers, vintage ephemera, stamped image from lazar studiowerx design sheet on bazzill white cardstock and finished with american crafts thickers.

wow. that’s all i have to say about having any kind of surgery. man does it take the wind outta your sails. something i, workaholic and general ‘busy person’, am just not used to! anyways… things are starting to settle into a more normal mode for me.

first thing i’m doing is overhauling my studio/workspace. since our store on main street closed last week, i now have the contents of 250 square feet of inventory and fixtures sitting in my already full studio! needless to say there is a LOT of stuff that will not be sticking around in there for long. I just can’t work in that chaotic an environment and i can’t get to half the stuff i need to reach in order to fill my online store orders, so a reorganization is mandatory before i can really get back to work in there.

so… today i am beginning a purge and collection of stuff that will be going into my studio/warehouse sale in august. here is a teaser list of the type of goodies that will be making it into my ’studio/warehouse sale’ pile for august…

• old somerset, cloth paper scissors and scrapbooking magazines for $1 each or buy 5 for $3.25
• art books starting at $1 or your best offer
• beautiful handpainted wool yarn [my hands can’t take wool very well - makes me sad, but you’ll be happy. it’s gorgeous stuff!]
• fabric scraps and yardage of grey fleece - cheap!
• overstock/discontinued lazar studiowerx rubberstamps
• lazar studioWERX rubberstamp grab bags…
  yep, the famous grab bags are back! you will get 4-6 medium/large stamps per brown grab bag for between $10 to $15 - now that is a killer deal. limited number of grab bags will be available.
• overstock acrylic blocks, embossing powder and ink pads
• overstock/discontinued paperWERX 12×12 paper
• starting at $1 - small embellishments like vials of seed beads, paper flowers, rub-ons chipboard wings and alphabets and whatever else i’m moving out
• remaining studioWERX on Main inventory that will no longer be carried in our online store

i have also decided to sell my personal mixed media original collages, limited edition giclees and abstract acrylic paintings as the ’studio’ part of the sale.

all artworks will be displayed/hung in my living room, upper hall and outdoors on easels [weather permitting] so even if you’re not super jazzed about the ‘warehouse sale’, this will be the first time i’m opening my studio for an artwork sale and you won’t want to miss that!

as with our last warehouse sale in 2006, there will be refreshments. my hubby t will no doubt bake up something yummy, chocolately and non-diety and we will put out his ‘manly baking’ sign again lol! there will be ice teas, lemonade, coffee and tea…

your next opportunity to purchase art products directly from us, in person and not online, will be at circle craft in november - 3 months from the date of this studio/warehouse sale. also… the product selection at circle craft will be more limited to rubberstamps, inks and rubberstamping supplies. there will be no artwork, extra embellishments, or large quantities of paper…

so with that in mind, i hope you will ’save the date’ for this once a year, summer event.
we look forward to seeing you soon!

for my online image transfer class… this is the ultimate image transfer class and you will learn so many ways to transfer images that your head will literally spin with ideas and new projects!

previously, this class has only been available locally in vancouver at our store, but since our store is now officially closed, i am offering this class online for the first time.

the class start date was delayed due to my surgery, so… if you are interested in registering for my 6-week ultimate image transfer class - the art of transference ONLINE - please click on the link on the right and you too can be part of this innovative and exciting image transfer workshop.

complete class details and faqs are available here and here.

don’t miss out on the registering for this class… the class will not be repeated until october/november. registration closes June 30, 2008.

until i go under the knife. eeek!! i have a ton to do before that too… so here is a quick update on the status of a few projects:

• Collaborative Mixed Media Book:
  this WILL be going ahead and i will be posting complete details along with submission guidelines after july 2, once i’m back on my feet after my gallbladder surgery this friday.
• Art of Transference ONLINE Class:
  this too is going on as planned; however, the start date of june 30 was issued prior to me knowing that i’d be going in for surgery this soon. the new start date for the class is going to be july 7. i apologize for the inconvenience, but with all the healing that will have to happen in the next two weeks i think it is best to delay the start date a bit. [ i didn’t think you’d want to hear me groaning in pain on the video tutorial LOL!]
• studioWERX on Main store closure:
  • the big job of packing up will be happening between june 26-30. thanks to leanne [rubydog’s art house owner], i will not be packing up the store myself. i’m under strict “no-lifting and no-exertion” rules for a few weeks. i will try to pop into the store before the official close depending on how i’m feeling. thanks to those who offered to help, but i think we’re ok for the pack-up…
  • i have two large fixtures up for sale and they can be seen in the store. leanne at rubydog has all the details about the pricing on the fixtures etc. please call the store at 604-873-2825 for more information.
• portobello west - june 29
  • yes. i will be attending portobello west. i will be the quiet, pale, red-haired girl in the corner of her booth. lol! i’m optimistically hoping to be at the show [i’ve already paid for the space!] and will be sitting quietly as my hubby and a dear friend deb help me out with sales at my booth.
  • the great thing about this show, this month in particular is that it is the first time i’m going to be showing a number of large 24×24″ pieces. i have just had a set of 12 original artworks reproduced on 24″x24″ and 18″x18″ stretched canvas giclees and the results are just stunning [if i say so myself]. the colour and reproduction quality is magnificent.
  • the price point, considering the size of the artwork, is very good [in my opinion]: limited edition 24×24 giclees will be selling for $250 CAD and 18×18 giclees for $150 CAD.  i’m super excited to be doing these and hope that there is interest in these significantly larger works.
  • included in this first batch of limited edition giclees are:
    4 - 24×24 botanical canvasses [2 new and 2 reproductions]
    4 - 18×18 mixed media collage portraits [all new artwork!]
    4 - 24×24 mixed media portraits [3 new artworks and 1 reproduction]

so that is the big, ‘biz’ stuff on the go at the moment and the timeline for delays due to my impending surgery.

i still have a ton of laundry to finish tonight and tomorrow, i’m trying  to get out one more shipping run before i’m in ‘recovery’ mode [it’s not looking too good for that at the moment], have to get my truck insurance completed, tidy the livingroom, kitchen and studio and generally just try to finish up ‘household stuff’ before i go under the knife.  it’s a lot to do. and only 49.75 hours now left to do it in. whew!

posting may be spotty between now and july 2. terry will pop on after i’m out though to let everyone know i’m ok [or at least i’m trying to convince him to].

if you live in the ‘hood, are one of my art buddies and want to come by to see me after the surgery, that is very nice and totally not necessary… but just in case, please call first - i may not be in the prettiest state and wouldn’t want to scare you with bedhead-rooster hair and bad, haven’t-brushed-my-teeth-today breath LOL! thanks =)

hey gang…

a number of you, my favorite blog-stalkers, live in the vancouver area and are aware that our brick and mortar storefront on main street is closing soon. the dates are now set and rubydog’s and studioWERX on Main will officially be closed on june 24, 2008.

yep, it’s sad. timing certainly sucks for me personally with gallbladder surgery looming in the next 4-6 weeks, but when life hands you lemons, you make a lemon-drop martini right? right!

our pricing on non-lazarstudiowerx product has always been very competitive and some say, a little underpriced. well, rejoice a little more my friends because virtually every non-lazarstudiowerx product is being marked down, waaaaaaaaaaaaay down, to clear before our tiny shop closes. so… take a big sip of that martini and dive in to do some kick ass shopping at well-below retail pricing. here is the run-down of the mark-down effective immediately:

• button sets - 50% off
• ALL non-lazar studiowerx rubberstamps - 50% off
• ALL maya road chipboard shapes, alphabets and sheers EXCLUDING chipboard albums - 30% off
• maya road ribbons sets - 50% off
• glimmer mist - 30% off
• embossing powders - 50% off
• tsukineko glue pads - 50% off
• kokuyo glue runners and refills - 50% off
• cosmo cricket blackboard chipboard books - 30% off
• american craft: thickers foam alpha stickers - 15% off
• american craft: remarks alpha stickers - 30% off
• heidi swapp chipboard alphabets - $2.50 per pkg!
• all rub-ons - 50% off
• crop-o-dile - 30%

whew! check out the sale while supplies last. all our inventory is in the store now so if it isn’t there, we are sold-out of it and will not be re-ordering.

we will be selling off a few of our store fixtures too, watch for a post in the next week about what pieces will be sold, pricing and pick-up dates.

also, a small plea for help… if anyone is able to lend a hand packing our smaller side of the store up between june 25-30, i’d be more than happy to pay you in rubberstamps, artsupplies, some of my original artwork, you name it.

i’m a little hampered at the moment with a very, very hectic 9-5 work schedule and my nasty a$$ gallbladder, and packing up the store may end up running into my surgery date. so… if you’re available to help me out during the day, or from 6-9pm on any of those dates at the end of june, i would certainly appreciate it. let me know! i can be reached at 778-231-2825.

it’s been grand being there for you as an rubberstamp, altered arts, collage, and scrapbook store on main street, and eventhough we’re leaving, we’re not gone forever! we’ll be selling new stamps and other fun goodies at circle craft in november, plus there is a warehouse sale date TBA this summer, once i know what’s happening with my surgery and what my recovery time will be.

thank you for your patronage throughout the last year and a bit.
now, go do some serious sale shopping!!!

hello!

i have some exciting educational news to share with you… since our store and rubydog’s art house is closing in the next 3-4 weeks, i’m going to have limited opportunities to teach classes directly to my students and customers. so, with that in mind, i have decided to offer my locally taught, consistently sold-out, Art of Transference class ONLINE!

yes! you better believe it! this class, up until now, has only been available to local vancouver area residents and to a few lucky people in toronto. however, with the internet and my vastly enhanced video capabilities [my flip camera lol!] i can now offer my art of transference class to anyone interested in taking it, from anywhere in the world. technology is cool.

Art of Transference Online Class:

Image transfer is a much used technique in mixed media, collage, paper and memory arts today. Through my image transfer teaching experience, I have learned that image transfer techniques need to be learned VISUALLY to ensure success. In this ‘all you ever wanted to know about image transfer’ class you will learn how to make your own image transfers using 10 DIFFERENT techniques covered over 6 weeks. Throughout the series you will be transferring provided vintage images and stock photography onto a variety of surfaces including watercolour paper, vintage paper, tile, fabric and metal using different mediums and techniques.

This workshop includes lots of video demos of techniques and encourages hands-on time for student to experiment with new techniques or perfect ones you may already know. And as a group, we will discuss ways to incorporate image transfer into your artwork, memory projects, ideas for gift giving and more.

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.

Class fee: $65 CAD (6 weeks)

here are the details…

• registration for the Art of Transference ONLINE class begins june 14 june 6 and will remain open until june 22, or until the maximum ‘classroom’ capacity is reached.
• please click on the ‘pay now’ button in the right column to complete your payment and registration before june 22 to be included in this first session of the Art of Transference ONLINE class.
• the first class will begin on june 30 with the first technique workshop and will include:
  • a downloadable PDF handout with supply list, step by step instructions and photo-support
  • BONUS downloadable PDF image transfer sheets with vintage images and stock photography. new sheets will be provided each week.
  • a comprehensive, high quality quicktime video tutorial for each technique covered plus supplementary videos where appropriate
  • an online chat to discuss problems/successes and project ideas for weekly technique(s).
    date and time to be determined based on student poll
  • access to private flickr student gallery and discussion board where students can submit their class examples and the projects
• classes will be held through an online, password-secured blog.
  after completing and payment for your registration is received, you will be given access to the blog with a provided login id and password.
• payment: all online class payment is through paypal. paypal now accepts credit card payments in addition to paypal account payments, so if you do not currently have a paypal account don’t worry. the transaction process is easy and relatively painless =)
• refunds: refunds will only be processed up to 24 hours before the first class is launched on june 30. all refunds requested after 12:00am, june 29th, 2008 will be denied.

planned course curriculum outline [this may be subject to minor schedule changes]:

• week 1: b/w and colour toner based transfers part i - 2 techniques
• week 2: b/w and colour toner based transfers part ii - 2 techniques
• week 3: inkjet transfers using acrylics part i - 2 techniques
• week 4: inkjet transfers using acrylics part ii - 2 techniques
• week 5: inkjet transfers using alternate solutions - 2 techniques
• week 6: polaroid image transfers - 2 techniques

IMPORTANT NOTE: This class will not be repeated until october 2008. please register today if you wish to take part in this first session.

so that is the scoop my friends. i hope that by offering this workshop series online, that i am giving more artists an opportunity to acquire new skills and empowering them with techniques that can bring new excitement to their artwork.

see you in class!

a few things to let you know about this weekend… there is a bunch of stuff, so here we go!

new hambly screenprints products have been uploaded to our online store site.
these product were originally intended for our brick & mortar store, but since we’re closing our vancouver location in a few weeks, i decided that it would become online store inventory only. we’ve added new hambly transparencies and some truly gorgeous new screenprinted metallic papers. yummy!

we have finally received our long awaited prima order. there are some great things in there and as with the hambly, this will become online store inventory. there are new clear stamps, paintable papers, collage flowers, matties and some other fun things. these will be added in the next couple of days so check out the NEW product section in our online store early next week.

we are definitely closing our storefront StudioWERX on Main, within rubydog’s art house, in a few weeks. if you live in the vancouver area, please take this opportunity to visit our store before it closes… we won’t be relocating to another location and will only be available for direct sales through our online store, circle craft christmas craft show and the occasional home studio day. don’t miss this chance to get some funky art supplies before we close!

also… i will be at portobello west tomorrow [i hope! more on this in a second] from 12-6pm. i will have a display of my original mixed media portrait collages in a variety of sizes including 3 very large pieces. please drop by for a visit! the location of this outstanding fashion and art market is at Rocky Mountaineer Station
1755 Cottrell Street in Vancouver

the adjacent map is a simple map of the area (click to enlarge | for a map from Google click here)

ok. so here is why i say i ‘hope’ to be there tomorrow. last night i experienced one of the most painful things i have ever endured in my life. now bear in mind i am a chronic migraine sufferer, so i have a pretty high pain threshold… but nothing, nothing prepared me for last night…

so i leave work to pick t up from the office. 2 minutes into my 5 minute drive i feel the nasty indigestion, that i’ve been having off and on for the last 6 weeks, flare up again. t was scheduled for a blood donor clinic, so i told him i would drop him off and go to the nearby pharmacy for some pepcid ac. i get to the pharm and by now the pain in my chest and upper digestive tract is getting pretty intense. i get the pepcid and chug about 2 tbsp of maalox as well, hoping to nip the pain in the bud - fast. well, that’s not what happened….

instead, the pain got worse, then my back started to hurt really badly. at 9pm i called my mom in a panic, wondering what i should do since the intensity of the abdomenal pain and back pain was not easing. i couldn’t sit, lie down or stand comfortably. i contemplated going to the emergency room… but on a friday night? no doubt i’d be there for many uncomfortable hours. i told mom what was happening and immediately she said gall bladder. shit! mom had her gall bladder removed over 18 years ago, but the pain of that gall bladder condition is still pretty fresh in her mind. so she recommended lots of skim milk, some bread and maybe non-fat yogurt to cut the acidity of the bile build up from the gall bladder. for a second parental opinion we called t’s mom barb. as soon as he said the words ’severe indigestion’ she said gall stones. ok. she too had gall stones about 4 years ago and she knew exactly where i was with it… double shit!

so basically last night as the pain intensified… i drank more milk. i went through 2L of skim milk in under 2 hours. that is more milk than i have ever drank that wasn’t in coffee in the last 20 years. it helped a little… but it was a loooong painful night. i got maybe 2-3 hours of sleep.

i hope that i don’t have a repeat of this bad episode again tonight. because if i do… attending portobello tomorrow is going to be pretty rough. and might not even be possible. that would suck. big time! so keep your fingers crossed for me that’s its a quiet, pain free night tonight.

the reason i’m relaying this info to you is because when i see my doctor on monday, i have no idea what he’s going to tell me and how i’m going to be feeling in the next few weeks. this may/may not impact my ability to ship orders on a regular basis. it may mean a brief hospital stay for surgery [let’s hope NOT!]. whatever the prognosis… i’ll keep everyone as up to date as possible. thanks for understanding.

time for another glass of milk!

i just had to scrap some of my 300+ red carpet massacre photos.

i decided to do a mini-book using cosmo cricket’s new blackboard black-core chipboard mini-book as the base [we have these available at our vancouver store studioWERX on Main]. i also used hambly screenprints transparencies, basic grey rubs and scarlett paper, paperWERX red earth paper, american craft alpha stickers and 7 gypsies labels. i love the look! so in keeping with the whole ‘red carpet massacre’ theme.

you can view the large, full-size images in my flickr account. enjoy…

hey gang…

a number of you have ordered the calendared vinyl that kal used at inspired through us. we’ve had a slight delay and will not be shipping your orders until next week. the initial batch of product was flawed and they are sending me new product to cover the bad batch initially sent to me. i expect it in hand on monday or tuesday this coming week. so hang in there, it’s on it’s way…

also… i’ve not been able to get my other shipping out this past week as initially planned, due to a ridiculous work schedule. i normally ship on wednesday and take the 2 hours out of my day to ship orders through point roberts, washington. unfortunately i’ve been working on some major deadlines and wasn’t able to go earlier in the week as planned. then, and here’s the real kicker, my right eye has been pretty much swollen shut since thursday and i can’t drive. nice.

i have this chronic eye condition called blepharitis which affects my upper eyelids. it is extremely uncomfortable and adversely affects my vision due to major eyelid swelling. it’s caused by stress and man, have i had a lot of that in the last 7 days!  i know i know… more information than you wanted to know, but i did want you to know that if you’re waiting on an order, it’s ready to go. the main delay is that the eye condition affects my depth perception and i just can’t drive safely at the moment. once i get this flare up in my eye sorted out, i’ll be well enough for the 2 hour round trip drive into the usa.

so thanks for your patience… i appreciate it! hang in there, your orders are coming out just as soon as I can get across the border. thanks!

hey all… i have some sad news to share.
our store studioWERX on Main is closing at the end of june. yep. it’s true.

the main reason for the closure is due to the unique situation our little storefront is in.

you see we sub-leased our store space of 250sq. feet in the front of the existing altered arts/collage store rubydog’s art house. leanne, rubydog owner, has decided after numerous years to close her store. in turn, that means that our little storefront is closing too.

i’m sad of course, but with a downturn in the economy in the usa affecting the buying power of people all over the world, with increasing higher leasing expenses, cost of gas and energy etc. it really doesn’t come as a huge surprise that this has happened. to be honest, i’ve been bracing myself for it for months.

what does this closure mean for lazar studiowerx?

• its really not a huge change other than our brick and mortar location will be closing.
• our online store is still open for business
• their will be some substantial new additions to the online store with new inventory and supplies coming on line from the closure of studioWERX on Main.
• we’ll be participating in circle craft in vancouver this november as we have in the past [yay!!]
• we may be opening our home studio for shopping on special weekends [these will be announced in the next few weeks as we determine dates]
• there is a very good likelyhood that artwerx/artistry will resurrect itself again and that i’ll begin the organizing of an event i the spring of next year
• i’ll still be teaching around town - dates and classes to be announced.

so my local buyers and my online shoppers, never fear… we’re still here. a little on our heels with the current state of things, but here none the less.

so please… shop the store in vancouver at 4738 main street while you can! check out the great sales that will be starting and please help leanne at rubydog out while there is still time for the store.

thank you for your patronage over the last year at studioWERX on Main. i will continue serving your needs locally and abroad either online or in someway here in vancouver. now and into the future.

xoxo christina