Day 5, 6 and 7 at 890 Queen

Things got a little hairy here over the weekend.

Friday/Saturday - 2 trips to Rona, 28hrs of expert help
Chris, my brother arrived at 3pm on Friday to work on the tiles, he took one look at the floor and realized that we were not going to get the tiles laid this weekend :(. The floor under the window display ledge was in terrible condition and needed to be completely re-built! We decided to make a little step up in that area, about 4" to make this new floor a little easier to deal with. Chris prepped the floor for us and taught Gord how to lay the tiles, apparently this will be easy? Gord has cemented the joining areas of the cement board that Chris put down and will attempt to lay the tiles today (Monday).

Sunday - Moving Lost Wax Casting Studio
Danny, Monte, Julian and Simon all showed up to help Gord move the Lost Wax Casting (LWC) Studio. Things went pretty well but a little stressful since I wasn't able to be involved because I was needed at home with my little one, I would have like to have been there to make sure that everything got put in the right place and that nothing got taken out of 955 Queen that I might need over the next little while. The entry way to the basement at 890 Queen is a little tight so a few things wont fit down there :( I hope they will be able to get my washer down there when the time comes, I really need it.

I will take pictures of the progress and post them later today.

Day 4 at 890 Queen - The rest of the day

James did a great job with the tear down!

Day 4 at 890 Queen - Perfect Timing!

Great start to the day! My Landlord arranged for a rubbish removal company to come in this morning to take away everything that we don't need that was left behind. James arrived at 9:30 this morning to take down the walls and built-ins that we don't need. All will be carted away by the end of the day today!

Downtown Lumber delivered all my tiles and accessories and are ready for Chris to begin the installation of them Friday morning.

Day 3 at 890 Queen

I tried to take down the front door corridor and window display ledge by myself... after 30 minutes with the sledge hammer and crow bar I decided to call for help. James to the rescue! James will start at 10 am tomorrow and take care of business.

Cleared out my office today, so glad to get that over with. I was really afraid of that job but it turn out to be not too bad at all, and only took about 3 hrs and I managed to throw away of a lot of useless rubbish.

I am beginning to see the light!

Day 2 at 890 Queen

So the whole IKEA lamp hack thing is not going so well. IKEA North York said that they had some but when Gord got there they didn't have them, system was wrong, big system, big store, a gazillion employees but no KRYSSBO for me, I think that a smaller business would have at least checked and then put the item on hold for me! Small business 1, Big business 0 (but for this particular small business it's also a zero)

I ordered the tiles yesterday from Downtown Lumber and was trying to make arrangements to rent a truck to pick them up on Thursday when it occurred to me... "do you deliver?"... "Yes!" and it will be a free delivery! why don't these thing occur to me faster. I feel like I can count on these guys, I highly recommend them and they really know their product, a very refreshing change.

Dealing with the junk left behind and the rubbish left from my demolition tomorrow can be quite expensive. I called the 1800-GOTJUNK people today, it looks like it will cost about 400.00 to take it away! Way too much! Sure would be a handy service as they will bring it upstairs for me and everything but I think I may end up doing this myself. But it may be much more work than I think. The GOTJUNK guys are coming by next week to give me fee no obligation quote anyway.

I have made arrangements for the baby to hang out with my friend for a few hours tomorrow morning and I will enter 890 Queen with a sledge hammer and tile scraper. Wish me luck!

...If anyone has any leads on the KRYSSBO Pendant Light from IKEA please let me know. I know that I can get them if I drive to the States but there isn't one close enough.

Day 1 at 890 Queen - The Devil for an Angell

Chris (my new landlord) handed me the keys today at noon! so exited about the new space and it is mine, all mine!

The previous owner left a lot of stuff behind so a bit of junk removal is needed. Hopefully we will find someone fast and cheep to clear it out. A fresh start is needed.

The Walls - Not the best of starts, my contractor cut his finger open on the table saw a couple days ago when he was finishing up a table for his daughter. So that means that the walls that I was hoping to get up today will have to wait until next week or later.

Butterflies & Light Ceiling Installation - the IKEA lamp that I was going to hack has hit a snag, the KRYSSBO pendant lamp that I was going to use for parts has been discontinued as of 2 weeks ago! There are 2 of these lamps left at the North York IKEA and with all hope Gord will be successful in bringing them home to me tonight.

Flooring - After a long search I have found the tiles I need right in my neighbourhood at Downtown Lumber on Ossington. I have placed an order for 160 square feet of 3/4" hexagon tiles in white for the showroom and front entryway. Hopefully all will go smooth with the installation of the tiles this weekend.

We are moving!

The Devil's Workshop is very happy to announce that we will be moving to a new location right across the street from where we are now, our new address as of March 1st will be 890 Queen Street West!  We are taking over over the location where Angell Gallery currently resides, located on the south side of Queen Street right next to the very popular and yummy Swan restaurant (some of the best coffee on the strip!).  Jamie Angell Gallery is moving to a bigger space in the up and coming Gallery District on Ossington Street between Queen and Dundas. 

With this move we will enjoy the sunshine! Higher ceilings! A spectacular store front! And both or our classrooms on the same floor!  Our customers and students will enjoy the same personal customer service in our bright, vibrant, new space.


Over the month of February form the date that we take over the new space until opening on March 1st I will document the process. Juggling to staying open at our current location and as we set up and move one studio at a time beginning with the Lost Wax Casting studio mid February and finishing with the Silversmith Studio at the end of February... should be interesting.

Crafty Little Devils - Kalyna Pidwerbesky

It was a pleasure to meet Kalyna last night! Not only is Kalyna a maker of many beautiful things but she is an excellent baker of Short Bread Toffee Crunch Bars! Kalyna is a Toronto-based fibre Artisan who creates richly coloured textiles and wearable art using handwork techniques. Kalyna studied at OCAD and Sheridan Collage and has just begun her professional carrier as a Fibre Artisan and we wish her the best of Luck!

See more of Kalyna's work here www.artofkaruna.com

Crafty Little Devils - Melanie Davis

Melanie Davis of Valkyria creates silver jewellery and coloured drawings that harken back in to circa 1900 in their style and attention to detail. Depicting allegorical and mythological figures (such as mermaids) and creatures of the natural world (various insects and animals), she breathes new life into these themes, bringing old-school figural work into the 21st century.

Learn more about Melanie and see here work here

Crafty Little Devils - Annie Tung

After Graduating from OCAD Annie joined the prestigious group of Artists-in-Residence at the Harbourfront Centre here in Toronto. Annie is interested in creating contemporary, timeless, unique jewellery. Annie shares the element of surprise with here patrons in her familiar and unsuspecting shapes that are only revealed at the wearer's pleasure. When not at her bench creating her fascinating objects Annie love drinking coffee and riding her bike around town (a kindred spirit!) Contact Annie and see more of her work here