Crafty Shop Stop: RubyDog’s Art House

Credit: Leanne Bishop

Vancouver’s RubyDog is a one-of-a-kind art-supply-store-of-plenty named after owner Leanne’s beloved mutt

Our next Crafty Shop Stop is a must for all local crafters. Filled with creativity and inspiration, RubyDog carries a huge selection of art materials from collage and rubber stamps to books and magazines to rub off lettering and much, much more!
 

We asked owner Leanne Bishop our usual three Crafty Shop Stop questions…

DIY Vancouver: Describe your shop.

Leanne Bishop: I’ve opened a store that reflects my love of collage and altered books and allows me to indulge my passion for treasure hunting. If an item clicks with me and it can be included in a collage, inserted in an altered book or attached to an assemblage piece, I’ll carry it.

I’m also passionate about the creativity that is ignited in the workshop environment and have a roster of talented instructors ready to teach as soon as the back space of the store is completed. I truly want every person who enters the store to leave inspired, whether from viewing the art on display, meandering through all the findings or indulging in a workshop.

What can we find in the shop?

The eclectic inventory ranges from brand new craft embellishments to gorgeous scrapbook papers to vintage train tickets to piano keys to collage kits to 19th-century court documents to letterpress drawers to handcarved stamps from India and so much more.

I’m somewhat of a bookaholic, so indulge my addiction by stocking shelves with my favourite technique books and magazines. There is an ever-changing display of collage/mixed media art for inspiration and I’m honoured to showcase pieces, which are for sale, from many of my gifted customers.

Presently I have Figo stuffies from Claudia Segovia, bottle cap magnets and scrabble necklaces from Jennifer Conway, collage sheets and paper goods from ArtbyNaomi, altered books from Luci Lyttle and microscope collage jewellery from Carla Berkun.

What are your 3 favourite handmade items in your shop?

Wow. Trying to pick my three favourites is hard. I love everything in my store so much it’s sometimes hard for me to part with them. If I have to choose, though, I’d say…

1. A mixed media wall piece by Claudia Segovia, creator of those whimsical Figos.

2. A small letterpress drawer completely filled with wood prints in a multitude of sizes. It’s for display, not sale, but RubyDog’s does carry both the drawers and the type.

3. This is a silly item to include in this list, but I just made some wonderful, small paper shirts by folding maps and have hung them on a string with tiny clothespins, as signs. Every time I look at these miniatures, I smile. I’m happy to show anybody who drops in how to make them