Vandercook SP15 time rental

I'm sorry but I'm not really back at the studio yet.
I will however be allowing people rent studio time on the Vandercook staring next week. I have had a few people I know rent time already. At the moment that is all I can really handle.
So, if you want to book time on the Vandercook the details are below and you should contact me via e-mail.


STUDIO RENTAL FOR INDEPENDANT WORK ON THE VANDERCOOK SP15
$35.00 for the first two hours/session
$10.00 for each additional hour/session
Add $20.00/hour if you need assistance and/or technical help.
A minimum of two hours must be booked per session.
Included; black rubber based ink, access to available wood type, metal type and cuts, furniture, leading, chase, clean up supplies.

e-mail: kozostudio@gmail.com 

It's Almost July!

How did July get here so quickly?

I had hoped to be able to start having workshops again in June!

It seems I was expecting too much of myself. Six months later, being is still  difficult to deal with and apparently that is very normal. I'm normal. 

I apologise to all of you that were looking forward to workshops. But, considering I haven't been able to work in my studio alone at all, it's best that I don't book anything until I am sure that I can follow through. I did work on one project for my friends, but they were there every time to sit with me and help. Anyroad, now that it is summer, I'm sure many of you want to get out of the city or do summer fun things on the weekends.

Planning

This is a picture of my new cabinet sitting on a lift at Don Black's. It weighs 500 lbs. The shallow drawers are for putting arranged type into for storage. We bought it as my Christmas/Baby present. I'm contemplating having a show in the future that is based around the cabinet and it's drawers.

Beautiful isn't it!

Well, I've been getting quite a few e-mails asking about workshops. I guess I should start thinking about scheduling some soon. I've been at the studio a lot lately helping my friends design and print their wedding invitations. They are both ceramic artists and they are trying, as much as  is possible, to have their wedding done by local artists and craftspeople. I think their idea is wonderful! I don't normally do wedding stuff, but I admire their plans so much I had to help. Working with them also gets me back into the swing of things!

So, I hope to have a couple of workshops in June. I'll keep you posted on the specifics as soon as I have them.

To all the people who have e-mailed asking for workshops, "Thank you for being so patient with me and for the beautiful notes of condolence and understanding."

Getting back into it

Well... I've been thinking of dates to start workshops again. I've been to the studio several times and can now be there without constant sighing. I will not have a booth at this year's Wayzegoose in Grimsby. I do hope to visit though!
I think I will start with some basic letterpress workshops in May.

Since the birth and loss of my son, I have been meeting many other people who have gone through perinatal loss. It is sad that there are SO MANY of us. I now am playing with an idea. One major thing that grieving parents need are tactile objects to help us remember and grieve for our child. There are very few resources for us. Most of them have to do with talking about our loss and sharing our grief. Not fun, but very theraputic and necessary. I thought it would be nice to also get together to create objects to help us remember our babies. Also something necessary but a little bit lighter. I have space and I know how to create and I would really like to share with other involuntary members of this special club that we have found ourselves in...

Too sad to think.

Facing the mystery of

life and death

we mourn the loss of our son

-Kai -

who accompanied us through a healthy

and hopeful pregnancy… but was stillborn

at 38 weeks

on January 7, 2009, 6 lbs.12 oz

Trying to float.

Hello,

Our son, Kai, was still born at 38 weeks.
We had found out the previous day that he was not breathing.
Labour was induced that afternoon and Kai was brought into this world the next morning.

I am taking time off to heal physically and emotionally with my husband and daughter.
I will not be writing or updating for a while.

Book Ornaments Workshop & Samples

Book Ornaments
Sun. Dec. 14, 11 am - 4 pm

Miniature books are one of my favourite things to make! Participants will create several small books that are perfect for hanging on a tree, giving as a gift, or using as a special card or album. Projects will be based on simple book structures such as the concertina, stab binding and origami fold star. Special attention will be paid to embellishing techniques for the pages and covers and spines. A variety of washi, chiyogami and other beautiful papers will be used on the covers, as well as findings, glass beads, ribbons, closures, etc.
Cost $50.00 + GST
Supply fee of $10.00 is due in cash on the day of the workshop.

These are some samples of books we'll be making at the Book Ornaments Workshop on Dec. 14th. I love tiny books! We hang or nestle them on our tree at Christmas. They're great gifts and you can put little drawing, pictures or sayings on the pages.

It's that time of year!

Chocolate Type! Yum!

I've seen this in several places on the web. The chocolates are made by a company in Germany.

Even though the letters are facing the correct way for reading I still think it's great. Hey, it's chocolate and letters together! Two of my favourite things! Now if I could get my chocolatier friend  here in Toronto to make these, wrong facing even, then I would be in heaven and full of chocolate!

Full Up!

Wow! That was fast. Both Intro. to Letterpress workshops have filled! I can't wait to teach some new faces about letterpress printing! Hopefully some of them will become addicted to the "Black Arts" and help keep it alive! Of course I'll give the regular warnings about how it eats away at your time, space and money... but the ones who get hooked don't seem to care. 

I love it. Letterpress slows one down and is so tactile.