Thursday, December 15, 2011

be well, nicies....

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


well lovelies ... it's here!

time to take a wee little break from rikrak-ing + let my hardworking little sewing machine have a much deserved rest.

+ time to take a wee little break from the daily fun of visiting with you lovelies. a little break to spend some extra-special full-time
time with the family rikrak in that funfun holiday fashion!

thanks so much for such a wonderful year here, and wishing you all a hope-full, peaceful, thoughtful, laughter-filled holiday season.


looking forward to lots of fun + great new handmade delightfulness in the new year here on the blog. i'll be back at the start of january with lots more! hope to see you here!

so happy holidays, lovelies.

i'm so thankful for all of you wonderful, creative nicies out there!
 
be well, 
-k.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

the december *i love my sponsors* giveaway!



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


yay!
aren't you the loveliest readers around!
thank YOU, sweet nicies.

thanks for your encouraging words & dear dear comments. it's a pleasure to read thru your comments each day.  i always love seeing what you have to say! and thanks for playing all the little games and activities on the blog, for your warm and wonderful emails too!

AND... thanks so much to all of you lovelies out there who have really made my day by supporting my little adventures, as dear sponsors. you nicies mean the world to me, and i really appreciate it! so with a thankful heart, and a happy focus  the wonderful *togetherness* that comes from the Holidaying season...  a little giveaway for all of you!



{ the prize } a fabulous $25.00 gift certificate 
from me to YOU to spend in
ANY ONE OF MY SPONSORS' shops or on their blogs!


that's right...
one lucky winner will get to spend the prize in any of my sponsors' e-shops or blogs!


1. visit my lovely sponsors' shops & blogs.
(as seen on the left hand column).

come back here and leave ONE COMMENT per SHOP on what your favourite item is from their works or your favourite post is from their blog! = 1 entry per comment. = 20 possible entries!

you can visit as many sponsor shops/blogs as you like
and comment once for each shop/blog.

---> in the case of a sponsor that is a BLOG: please visit the blog & tell us something you ADORE about it!

this months' sponsors are:


2. heart / fave each of the above shops on etsy OR follow/subscribe to each blog/site
= 1 entry PER shop or blog.

3. in the spirit of the Holidays, call or email or text or write or visit a loved one or friend and cheer their day!
= tell us a wee bit about it here! 
= 1 entry

  
4. come follow or subscribe to my little blog 
and join the fun everyday! 
you can become a google friend connect *follower* by clicking "follow" on the top left of the blog home page OR subscribe via email or *reader* on the left hand colomn. (please note:--->  to WIN this particular giveaway you must be a rikrak studio follower or subscriber! thanks nicies!)

please leave me a comment about it.
 = 1 entry

5. grab one of my rikrak studio buttons,
like this one 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! } 


6. tweet about this giveaway
= you can tweet about this giveaway ONCE PER DAY for the duration of the giveaway! (one  entry for each tweet!)
 and come back here and tell me about it. please include my twitter account in the update: i'm @therikrakshop on twitter!)

7. follow me on twitter
i'm @therikrakshop
= 1 entry

8. blog about the giveaway and tell me about it here.
= 1 entry

9. do a facebook update
about the giveaway with a link, and tell us here 
= 1 entry

10. please just make sure that each entry is its own comment!

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

RULES:


a) it is possible to have numerous entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!
c) as always, this giveaway is open to all contestants, worldwide.
d) for this particular giveaway, YOU MUST BE A RIKRAK studio follower or subscriber,
old or new! thanks!
e) the winner of this giveaway will be chosen from random.org on
friday, january 6th  2012 @ 11pm EST.
f) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account 
doesn't link to one. thanks.
g) thanks so much everyone! and thanks for visiting the blog!

...........................
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

the handmade community Holiday gift guide: week 6


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

yay it's holiday time!
and no better time for *sharing!*
welcome to the 6th of 6 handmade community co-operative gift guides: where YOU show the world your gorgeous creations + handmade works of others that you LOVE!

each tuesday leading up to the HOLIDAYS, i'll be inviting folks to be part of the fun!

today there are 3 different categories you can add your goodies in!
let's see what we can make!

show us your best!
+ the works of others you admire.

:: check out the first 15 gift guides here ::
gift guide { one } :: holiday decor
gift guide { two } :: for baby
gift guide { three } :: jewelry lovers
gift guide { four } :: a beautiful home
gift guide { five } :: well-dressed : men
gift guide { six } ::  well-dressed : women
gift guide { seven } :: calendars
gift guide { eight } :: gifts under $20
gift guide { nine } :: custom gifts
gift guide { ten } :: fun
gift guide { eleven } ::  eco forward
gift guide { twelve } ::  warm
gift guide { thirteen } :: nature lovers
gift guide { fourteen } :: animal lovers
gift guide { fifteen } :: paper lovers



HOW TO PLAY

1. please add one item of your own, and one of another's, in as many of the categories as you'd like!

2. invite your friends! 

3. please share the 2011 handmade community Holiday gift guide button on your sites.


the rikrak studio

4. COME BACK every tuesday for more communal Holiday fun!



yay to handmaking and co-operative community building!
{& hope it's great publicity for you too, nicies! } 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 holiday gift guide 16
{ good for the soul gifts }


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



 holiday gift guide 17
{gifts for dear friends }




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


 holiday gift guide 18
{  affordable art }

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Monday, December 12, 2011

handmaking with kids: best toys ever!



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

still looking for that perfect toy gift for the wee ones?
look no further than the neighbourhood park or front lawn.
love love LOVE this fabulous post over at geekDad where jonathan liu reminds me about the virtues of: 

the stick
a box
string
a cardboard tube
& dirt.

yes. good old dirt.

so true.
so true.

oh the endless possibilities all around us!
{thanks for the fun link, mr. rikrak!} 
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Friday, December 9, 2011

with thanks to etsy!



happy friday, cuties!
hope you'll come read my latest Etsy Storque Blog article here.
it's a gorgeous vintage eyeglasses collection with the beautiful magpie ethel!

if you have a chance, please leave a cheer for laurie & me over on the Etsy blog!
many thanks.
and have a beautiful weekend!
 
 

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

congrats!


...........

yay!
thanks so much to all of the many many nicies who entered our fun MEGA happy Holidays giveaway here on the blog!

thanks to the amazing sponsors who made the over $600 in handmade goodness prize packs sooooo fabulous!

here are the lucky random.org #s!


winner of prize pack A: 718: modern typography
 
winner of prize pack B: 388: vintage queen GF 

winner of prize pack C: 1092 : la alicia

winner of prize pack D:  1227  : hearting handmade 

winner of prize pack E: 96  : modern buttercup



hope you'll just LOVE your gorgeous prizes!
thanks for playing!

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

the handmade community Holiday gift guide: week 5

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

yay it's holiday time!
and no better time for *sharing!*
welcome to the 5th of 6 handmade community co-operative gift guides: where YOU show the world your gorgeous creations + handmade works of others that you LOVE!

each tuesday leading up to the HOLIDAYS, i'll be inviting folks to be part of the fun!

today there are 3 different categories you can add your goodies in!
let's see what we can make!

show us your best!
+ the works of others you admire.

:: check out the first 12 gift guides here ::
gift guide { one } :: holiday decor
gift guide { two } :: for baby
gift guide { three } :: jewelry lovers
gift guide { four } :: a beautiful home
gift guide { five } :: well-dressed : men
gift guide { six } ::  well-dressed : women
gift guide { seven } :: calendars
gift guide { eight } :: gifts under $20
gift guide { nine } :: custom gifts
gift guide { ten } :: fun
gift guide { eleven } ::  eco forward
gift guide { twelve } ::  warm





HOW TO PLAY

1. please add one item of your own, and one of another's, in as many of the categories as you'd like!

2. invite your friends! 

3. please share the 2011 handmade community Holiday gift guide button on your sites.


the rikrak studio

4. COME BACK every tuesday for more communal Holiday fun!



yay to handmaking and co-operative community building!
{& hope it's great publicity for you too, nicies! } 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
holiday gift guide 13
{ nature lovers }



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


holiday gift guide 14
{ animal lovers }






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



holiday gift guide 15
{ paper lovers }


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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

stay tuned


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

hi cuties.
i'm outta commission today.
but i'll be back tomorrow with our regularly-scheduled fun!

tune in then for our weekly installment of this.
(and thursday for all the fabulous winners of this! woohoo) 

sending you good wishes in the winds, nicies.
be well.
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Monday, December 5, 2011

with thanks!

lovely recent front page Etsy treasuries featuring my work: THANKS!
clockwise from top left

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


gosh. thanks so much, nicies!
want to send a big shout-out today to all of the wonderful nicies who feature my rikrak work in their beautiful etsy treasuries. what gorgeous curators you all are.

a special thanks to those nicies named above who have featured my stockings in treasuries that have gone to the front page of etsy in the past couple of weeks! i am so grateful!

i know i'm way behind in sending out individual thanks to all those that include my work, so many thanks to each of you for including me! i'm honoured to be part of such beautiful collections!

what are you feeling thankful for today, cuties?
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Friday, December 2, 2011

time to celebrate!


the celebrate disco ball card by spareroomworkshop

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

well happy friday, cuties!
let's celebrate the funfun weeekend ahead.

what are you up to?

a celebratory congrats to random.org's #224 ... shenny of *handmade by Shenny* - lovely blog & works, nicey! you've won a $25 shopping spree in the november sponsor shop-of-your-choice!

& don't forget: just a couple more days to enter and WIN one of the 5 amazing prize packs in my MEGA giveaway! it ends monday! ($600 worth of handmade prizes!) 

see you monday!
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Thursday, December 1, 2011

the collectors: vintage eyeglasses






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

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:  quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting, (apart from their art supplies! ) you can also check out my  *the collectors* series on Etsy, based on these posts! hope you'll just love magpie ethel's  charming vintage eyeglasses collection.

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


What does your collection say about your personal aesthetic?
Does it reflect your love of  kitsch or things mid-century modern ?
Do you adore rustic or favor Edwardian?
How about this wonderful collection that asks: why choose only one style when you can  reinvent yourself everyday?
…………

Who are you? I’m Laurie of Magpie Ethel.  I am a stay at home mom who has loves vintage, estate sales and crafting.  I call myself a vintage crafter as I craft primarily with vintage finds.  I live in Portland, Oregon in an old house filled with estate sale goodies and lots of charm and collections.

What are you collecting? Today I am showing off my collection of vintage eyewear. 

When did you start? I have gone to estate sales for years and have picked them up here and there if the price is right.

How many do you have? I have about 10 or 12 pairs. I also collect vintage sunglasses that I display with the other glasses.

Where do you find them? I find them at estate sales primarily.

Where do you keep them? i keep them in a metal bowl in my sitting room.  I have never figured out a great way to display them in my little house.

What‘s an interesting story behind one? I used to wear a pair of vintage tortoise shell nerdy frames in college.  I think I found them at a thrift store and liked the frames.  The lenses were a crazy prescription that made me dizzy if i wore them.  I popped out the lenses and just wore the frames. I wear contacts, so I would just wear the frames to give me that cool retro nerdy look.  This was in the 80s.

What piece would you like to add? I would love to add some that are crazy with rhinestones in a cat eye style

Why do you love them? I think they just are fun to wear.  They act like a bit of a disguise sometimes and make you look entirely different.

Which one is your favourite? I probably like the ones with the colored frames the best - especially the pink frames. 

What else do you collect? I collect a ton and  have many, many collections. I do a weekly post called "Collection Challenge" on my blog (magpieethel.typepad.com) where I feature a different collection each week.  I just passed my 80th post with collections. I think I may rename my posts "Hoarders Challenge".  Some of my past posts have included vintage drinking straws,  vintage squeaky rubber toys and old advertising spoons. I collect things that make me smile and many of them have a graphic appeal to them.

……………

Charming! Thanks so much!
Laurie’s wonderful shop showcases both her delightfully ecclectic  personal crafting style and her fabulous personality.  It’s a veritable wonderland of whimsical bygone eras. And her lovely blog is a happy place where styles brilliantly intersect (ps: you should see all of her collections! WOW!)  




What do you collect?
Please tell us in the notes below. Wed love to hear!
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