Friday, October 29, 2010

a collection of masks with minouette


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i just love seeing what folks are collecting. i guess i kind of feel it tells us just a little bit about what inspires them, what they love, and what they choose to surround themselves with in their home. today, i'm delighted to present the next in the rikrak studio's collections series: 11 & a 1/2 quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting, (apart from their art supplies! ) you can also check out my new *the collectors* series on Etsy, based on these posts! hope you'll just love {perfect for halloween}: masks with ele willoughby.
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who (are you) : I'm Ele Willoughby, also known as minouette. 
I like to say I'm a scientist by day and artist by night - I work
as a geophysicist and a printmaker. I live in Toronto.

what (are you collecting) : I collect masks from all over the world.

when (did you start) : I've always been interested, and have made
several masks of my own, but I started gathering a collection about 10
years ago. My mother was going to Bali and asked what I would like her
to bring me. Of course, I said, "Masks!" She was surprised by my
answer, and I was surprised that other people aren't obsessed with
masks and don't know about the incredible Balinese tradition of mask
carving.

how (many do you have?): Hmm... let's see. Not including ones I've
made myself, or Hallowe'en costumes, I have seventeen.






where (do you find them) : Well, when I'm not making relief prints,
pillows, or art, my 'day job' is marine geophysics. One of the
wonderful perks of that job, specifically since I live far from any
ocean, is that it garuntees travel. So, I do make a point of trying to
look for masks whenever I visit places far from home. I'm fascinated
that most cultures have masks, and would love to have representatives
from everywhere (like I'd love to visit just about anywhere). Though,
many are gifts. Friends and family love knowing you collect something
- it makes it more obvious what sort of gift you would like. I want my
collection to also be a reminder of the places I've been (and people
in my life) , so I don't tend to buy masks unless I'm travelling.
Occasionally, though, I've come across an imported mask which speaks
to me. My collection so far includes masks from Bali, South Korea,
Japan, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Tanzania, Indonesia, and
India.

where (do you keep them) : On the wall!

what (‘s a crazy/interesting story behind one) :  I have two white
canine masks - the gifts of two of my best friends. When we were
undergraduates, we all shared a house. They adopted a wonderful,
smart, white  German Sheppard (named Agua, because she slept in her
water bowl as a tiny puppy). They went to Mexico for several months
and they brought back the white, paper dog mask. The mask, of course,
reminds me of Agua. That year, I got the chance to spend a month in
Japan, working at the Earthquake Research Institute, at the University
of Tokyo. Though the Japanese make many beautiful maks, for instance
for Noh theatre, as a grad student, I never found one which fit inside
my budget (or my greatly reduced luggage - thanks to a certain
careless airline, but that's another story). My friends surprised me
when I returned. They had managed to find a white kitsune (or fox
spirit) mask, which reminds me both of the Mexican mask, and of Agua.
So now, each of these masks means much more to me; each reminds me of
the other, of a great, former pet, of our long friendship and our
travels to Mexico and Japan. I love having two mask so unrelated, and
yet with parallels.



what (piece would you like to add): I would love to add a Canadian
mask - or several. I lived for three years in a rather rural part of
Vancouver Island, but I did not manage to get any of the incredible
masks made by the various Native groups, such as the Haida. I think I
was overwhelmed by the beauty and variety and had trouble choosing the
the right mask to invest in. I love the shapes, lines and graphic
colours they employ. Closer to home, the First Nations people of
Ontario make evocative masks with really organic lines, embellished
with things like hair or shell. Near Toronto, the McMichael Museum has
an amazing collection.

why (do you love them) :  When I was a teenager, I went out Christmas
carolling with a large group of people. A neighbour I didn't know
invited the entire group into her home and gave us hot chocolate. She
had the most incredible mask collection, covering an entire wall with
masks from all over the world. I thought, 'That's what I want.'
Artifacts and souvenirs of a life of travel, and adventure, and sort
of a celebration of what cultures have in common. I want to be careful
too - masks can have deep, spiritual meaning to their creators.  I
don't want to collect something to place on my wall if that's
disrespectful to someone's religious beliefs - something sacred, meant
for ritual, not meant to be in the home of an outsider. But I do love
the feeling they project. Sometimes masks are made to scare off
demons, represent animals, ancestors, spirits or gods. These are
artifacts embued with meaning. They are all made by hand. If a person
wears a mask, it allows them to inhabit something else, to 'be'
something else for a brief while. That can be freeing, or allow for
empathy- to place oneself in another's role.

which (one is your favourite) & why : I think that the one from Aruba
is my favorite. My mother bought it for me. I love the intracacy of
the coloration and design - but also, though I've taken an interest,
that this is a tradition I knew nothing about. It appears to be
painted elaborately, but in fact, the Quillacinga artisans use a
centuries-old technique, stretching thin pieces of coloured mopa mopa
(a resin and sort of natural rubber of the mopa mopa tree) over the
wood.

what (else do you collect) : Vintage tins, books (of course), turtle
things and I have a, um, hand-made paper and fabric collecting habit,
shall we say. :)



.......................




fabulous!
thanks so much, ele. what an amazing collection, nicey.

i just love ele's gorgeous print work.
owning my own minouette linocut, i can whole-heartedly attest to how gorgeous her work is. be sure to visit her gorgeous shop, filled with prints, ornaments, brooches and soft toys made from her amazing art.

and happy handmade halloween to you, nicies!
what are you dressing up as? 

 ele willoughby






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Thursday, October 28, 2010

a captivating giveaway with peg & awl built




there's something wholly ethereal and entirely poetic about the work of margaux & walter kent.
it's hantingly beautiful.
desiringly unique.
and eco-forward artistry at it's best.

i just love peg & awl and black spot books: where reclaimed delights for the home, garden & body sit next to mesmerizing photographs, drawings, and handcrafted books.

please read on to see how you can WIN an eclectic shopping spree in either of these gorgeous shops. 

it's a treasure trove of beauty at every turn. 
captiviating, indeed. 
you'll love it!

margaux & walter kent







and now ... one lucky rikrak studio reader will WIN 

---> a $35 gift certificate to 
the peg & awl shop
OR
the black spot books shop! <----



1. visit the lovely peg & awl shop.
...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!
=   1 entry

2. visit the wonderful black spot books shop. 
...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!
=   1 entry

3. become a fan of peg & awl's on facebook. 
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

4. follow BOTH peg & awl { they're @TheBlackSpotBks } AND the rikrak shop (that's me! @therikrakshopon twitter
... & tell us.
= 1 entry

5. follow/ subscribe to  the peg & awl blog.
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

6.  follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
... & tell us.
= 1 entry


7. share something that's captivating to you, lately. 
= 1 entry

8. tweet on twitter
... about this giveaway and come back here and tell us! be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! 
= 1 entry

9. blog about this giveaway
... come back and tell us.
= 1 entry

10. grab one of my NEW rikrak studio buttons,
like this one from the left hand sidebar, for YOUR BLOG!


the rikrak studio



the rikrak studio

and add it to your blog!
{ ... just copy & paste the text in the box above  onto your blog sidebar! thanks! }


11. :: PLEASE NOTE: 
each entry must be it's own comment.
thanks! ::


..........................................
:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 10 entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!

c) using random.org, 1 winner of the peg & awl giveaway will be chosen on friday november 5th @ 11pm EST.
d) open to contestants worldwide.
e) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.

 
................................................
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3 fun winners!



alrighty, niceykins!

i've got 3 lucky ducky winners to announce from 3 fabulous giveaways here on the blog!

drum roll please!




congrats to #161 ... *evelyn* of the sumikoshop! love your gorgeous jewelry, nicey!





congrats goes to #75 ... va! a fabulous frequent visitor to the blog, congrats nicey! 

 &

congrats goes to #386 ... donna warrington, who sounds like a wonderful nana! yay!


...........
tune in shortly for another great NEW giveaway for this week!
til then... don't forget to enter to win the 

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

call for submissions!


holiday bento box holidays cards by manvsgeorge
................

wanted: a few wonderful folks who'd like to give something fun away from their beautiful handmade or vintage or supplies shop!

i'm gonna be hosting a BIG GROUP giveaway on my blog next month - something a little like that superfun my birthday MEGA giveaway in september- and if that sounds like something you'd like to be part of, please email me at rikrakmail  @  yahoo.com  with a link to your lovely shop! :)
please put the title " holiday GROUP giveaway in the title of your message.

i'm looking for items:
* valued at over $20
* that fit into one of the following colour categories: red OR grey/gray/silver OR white

PLEASE NOTE: i'm not looking for holiday-specific items necessarily. i'll send you more info on exactly what i'd like when folks respond. 

thanks for considering it!
yay giveaways!
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

fun news!



great news to share with you, cuties!

mr. rikrak's {aka rob winger}  newest poetry book is hot off the presses!
and * the chimney stone * is fabulous!

the much anticipated followup to his super dooper award-winning debut * Muybridge's Horse * has hit bookstands, and though i MAY :) be a wee bit biased, you're gonna want one!

i love what the weakerthans superstar & wordsmith john k. samson has to say about * the chimney stone: ghazals *  -  “Rob Winger writes wonderful poems—musical, precise and insistent. In The Chimney Stone, Winger lovingly dismantles some great songs and uses their salvaged parts to build a surprising, beautiful new kind of lyric on the frame of an old one. It is a remarkable feat of empathy and nerve.”   





mmmhmmmm!

interested in one? head on over to chapters/indigo | amazon.com to order your copy, or visit fine bookstores everywhere!

and the author sure is cute. guaranteed :)

in the toronto area?

woohoo! come join us at the book launch next wednesday, november 3rd at the Supermarket in t.o.! as noted on mr. rikrak's site: the event will be hosted by CBC Radio 3's all-round-good-guy and music journalist, Vish Khanna, and include generous, short readings by the marvelous poet Matthew Tierney and the exceptional writer Emily Schultz

doors at 6:30.  readings starting at 7, sharp.   check out the facebook events page for details on the launch and RSVP to attend! 

yay to great new things, nicey!
{so proud of you, sweetie.} 
have some fun news to share?
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Monday, October 25, 2010

slumber party { part 14 } : who are your secret political crushes?




vote hand screen printed art print by strawberry luna
....................................

don't you just love a slumber party? comfy pjs, silly movies, telling your friends, old & new, your thoughts & crushes & dreams.... such fun! join us! you can catchup with some of our other slumber party fun here: and for today's party question: who are your secret politician crushes?
....................................


confession time.

i’ve been long attracted to political types; advocates; charismatic leaders.

*sigh*

i thought it was time for a fun political round of our slumber party…
who are your top 3 politician crushes? fictional or real.

don't be shy, cuties!
i'm off to vote!
...........


senator bill mckay {aka robert redford} 
in the film The Candidate

charismatic.
inspired.
dedicated.
reformer.
cute.
woohoo!
...........


prime minister pierre trudeau
{image: national archives of canada: photo by Duncan Cameron

opinionated.
articulate.
designer & chief advocate for canada's charter of rights & freedoms.
cultured.
love it!

...........


president Barack Obama
{photos by Frank Ockenfels}
intelligent.
humane.
thoughtful.
fun.
friendly.
wonderful!

 ..........
.
okay! so i've confessed!
there are my choices for top 3 secret political crushes!
now... let's snuggle into our cozy sleeping bags, open another bag of sour cream & onion chips, crank up the cyndi lauper,  giggle & whisper and hear yours! can't wait!
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Friday, October 22, 2010

a delightful giveaway with burlap & blue





happy friday, nicies!

hope it's a wonderful weekend ahead for each of you.
and what could be a better way to get the fun started then a party!?
well... have i got the giveaway for YOU, then!

linda's burlap & blue shop is filled with  gorgeous vintage-inspired, handcrafted goods, perfect for entertaining.  beautiful dessert pedestals { you know how i LOVE dessert pedestals!  why save them for a fancy event? i use mine all the time!) , lovely tile coasters, and a charming dash of the whimsical in each unique creation.

so get out your snazzy linens, nicey!
it's party time.

read on to see how YOU can WIN a burlap & blue gift certificate!

burlap & blue





gorgeous!
and now... one lucky rikrak studio reader will WIN 
----> a $35 gift certificate to spend at 
the burlap & blue shop! <-----







1. visit the lovely burlap & blue shop. 
...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!
=   1 entry

2. heart/favourite the burlap & blue shop. 
...  & tell us about it.
=   1 entry

...  & tell us.
=   1 entry
4. become a fan of burlap & blue on facebook. 
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

5. follow BOTH linda { she's @burlapbluesays } AND the rikrak shop (that's me! @therikrakshopon twitter
... & tell us.
= 1 entry

6.  follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
... & tell us.
= 1 entry

7. tweet on twitter
... about this giveaway and come back here and tell us! be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! 
= 1 entry

8. blog about this giveaway
... come back and tell us.
= 1 entry

9. grab one of my NEW rikrak studio buttons,
like this one from the left hand sidebar, for YOUR BLOG!


the rikrak studio



the rikrak studio

and add it to your blog!
{ ... just copy & paste the text in the box above  onto your blog sidebar! thanks! }


10. :: PLEASE NOTE: 
each entry must be it's own comment.
thanks! ::


..........................................
:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 9 entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!

c) using random.org, 1 winner of the burlap & blue  giveaway will be chosen on saturday october 30th @ 11pm EST.
d) open to contestants worldwide. THIS GIVEAWAY does not include shipping. you can use the gift certificate toward shipping to your destination.
e) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.

 
................................................
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