Adventures at the LaRuDio

My studio is open so you can hear anything anyone else is doing. Yesterday I was working with  my door closed because the bunnies were with me at studio. A man came screaming in the back alley banging on the main barn door, apparently screaming for the guy who fixes bikes in one of the other studios. The bike guy ran across the studio and went out to deal with the screaming man. "Where is my fucking money?! I came for my money! I am going to fuck you up if you don't have it!" The bunnies were so scared they ran and hid, I ran and locked my door just in case this crazy man came in. I couldn't hear what the bike guy was saying to him, but after 5 minutes it was quite. I went out to see if the other girl working in the studio was okay or if she knew what was happening. She was fine, but freaked out as well. The bike guy had left the barn doors to the back alley unlocked and open. I went to see if he was out there, but they were gone. In case the screaming guy came back, we locked the barn doors. We weren't sure if the bike guy was kidnapped or hurt somewhere because he never came back. We weren't sure if we should call the police and report a possible abduction. I decided I would wait to call the non-emergency police number until I left studio to see if the bike guy would come back. (Side note: after living downtown for 6 months, I now have this number programmed into my phone.) Over two hours later he came back, with a girl screaming at him this time saying "she didn't want to get involved." I wanted to ask him what was going on, but when I went out into the common space he was back in his studio. Hopefully he doesn't get desperate enough to break into any of our studios....

Dolphin with Legs!

I had the strangest custom order request a couple months ago...it was so bizarre that I thought it was a joke. After speaking to them a couple times I figured they were serious so I went ahead a drew their crazy request: a dolphin with legs. Yes, a dolphin with legs. I wasn't sure if he wanted the dolphin to have pants or just look like a dolphin, but with legs so I drew him a few different options. I would normally say no to drawing dolphins, but this was such a strange request and an even stranger background story that I had to do it. He told me it was for his girlfriend who believed that dolphins had legs when they were in the womb and right when they are about to be born their legs become a tail. Not sure how old his girlfriend is, but the story alone made me want to try drawing some dolphins with legs. After sending him my sketches I never heard back from him. I was going through some of my drawings tonight and found them, so I thought I'd post them here. Enjoy.

Final Studio Setup + Craft Night this Friday!

The studio is finally put together! I want to get more chairs for it or maybe a small couch, but all in all it's all set up and painted. I found an old door and turned it into a desk (center of first photo). I am loving the new larger studio, except for the fact that the heat broke and the landlord at Ewing and Clark will not fix it. The heat has been broken for almost a month. I bought a small heater so I can pour resin, but it is still pretty cold. The best part about the new studio is that I have many work stations set up. I have an area to take photos, an area to roll out and bake the pendants, and a place to pour resin. Here's what it looks like:

I've also been working on some custom pieces. I had a great opportunity to create a Ganesha belt buckle. Here are the sketches I did; she chose the first one. 

The first craft night at the new studio is this Friday!! We are going to make pin pricked cards as seen here: http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-pinprick-cards-11855/ 

Can't wait! 

NEW LaRuDIO!!!

I started the move into the new studio (1 block north of Pike Place Market). I moved the majority of my stuff from the old studio and it seems like there is barely anything in there! I bought a couple storage shelves and it still seems empty. When I moved in the previous tenant left a gigantic vintage juke box and the landlord hasn't removed it, so I have to set up everything around it.
When I moved in yesterday the floor was pretty dirty, painted multiple colors with paint splatters everywhere so tonight I painted it dark brown. I was able to paint most of the floor tonight, meanwhile painting around the juke box and my things. Check out the pictures. Next I want to paint one of the walls teal...

Sketch of the day.

I sketched this a few weeks ago for a custom piece, but I like it so much that I have to share it here. 

giraffe family

LaRudio is on the move!

New LaRudio

As of January 1st, the La Ru art studio will be moving from Ballard to downtown Seattle (1 block north of Pike Place Market)!!! I am really excited about this because it is more than three times the size of the studio in Ballard and right by my house so I will have no excuse not to work at it.  The is a picture of half the studio. I will be kind of sad to leave my ActivSpace in Ballard because I like the location, the people, and participating in the Fremont Art Walk. 


Another bonus to the new studio is that I can start hosting ladies craft night again. This summer will be the 3 year anniversary of the craft group, so it will be good to get it going again. I hope to have one the end of January or February once I am settled in. Message me if you would like to be included in the craft night invite.


Once I move my art studio, I plan to have it open most Fridays and by appointment only. 


In other news if you ever wanted to know more about La Ru - it's history, the name, more about me, then check out this great blog by Elizabeth Rowe of Earmarks: http://earmarks-handmade.blogspot.com/2010/12/etsy-tuesdays-lauren-rudeck.html 

Urban Craft Uprising!!!

Urban Craft Uprising is this weekend!!! (December 4th and 5th, 11am-5pm) Free swag bags to the first 100 people each day! I am super excited about this show and hope to be finished with everything in time for Saturday!! 


Check out my interview and giveaway. Comment by midnight tonight to be entered to win a sweet day of the dead necklace!! http://urbancraftuprising.blogspot.com/2010/12/laru-interview-giveaway.html