Tuesday, March 23, 2010

greatest hits & a giveaway: by bunny with a toolbelt!


what inspires you artistically & creatively? what would those inspirations look like visually? in this fun series, (please see the others here) ... i’ve invited some wonderful artists to share with us 4 images of inspiration in their artistic life, something of an interview in images! the guidelines were basically this: choose 4 visuals (something like your creative-stimuli *greatest hits!*) that you feel most inspires & expresses your art or craft today. for some, it might be a person, place or thing; a material; a pattern; a colour; a sound or song, etc. it might be a photograph, a drawing, a scan, etc. i’ve tried to leave it a bit open-ended so that we might better glimpse into these artists' motivations and their amazing, raw talent! today i’m delighted to present the next in the series : greatest hits with bunny with a toolbelt and a GIVEAWAY, too!
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need a little pick-me-up?
ready for spring?
in need of an instant party & lots of smiling?
ready to be inspired?

me too!


welcome to the wonderful, whimsical world of bunny with a toolbelt.

just a few moments spent gliding thru artist Hilary Pfeifer's magical worlds and i know you'll be transported ... to a delightful and wonderful place!
i've been a longtime fan of this handmaking genius, and as a gold medal winner in the handmade olympics, i was delighted to see the grand enthusiasm the world has for her innovative work, especially those fabulous *instant party* creations! { read on to see how YOU can WIN one, woohoo!}

her etsy boutique is filled with her upcycled wood masterpieces: delightful characters of all shapes and colours ready to cheer any day! custom wedding toppers, grinning sweeties for all occassions, something to light up your desk or windowsill or heck.. just life in general!

and in case you, like me, can't get enough of her delightful visions, take a little break and travel to her pretty worlds
here, her vivid worlds here, and her lovely words here




and now... let's see what's inspiring Hilary... her 4 images ....

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1. I have always been enamored with the diverse work of Alexander Calder. From his huge stabiles and mobiles to his mid-century modern jewelery to the circus he created for his grandchildren, he really was the best artist of the 20th century in my book.





2. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover


This album came out the year I was born and it fascinated me as a child. I know this image led to my love of collage. When I was a child, I emulated this image many times with magazines, now I think of my mixed media sculpture as a 3-d collage in many ways.


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3. I have had this image on my wall for over two decades--I got it from a National Geographic. The way I remember the story went was that the issue was about covered bridges or something like that. The photographer on that assignment had just spent a bunch of time taking pictures of something upriver, and then they turned around and saw this man who had been working on this project for hours. It makes me think of so many things: building work from multiple components, being contemplative in nature, and finding ways to be creative with what you have on hand.

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4. Making people smile or laugh when they see my work is part of my mission, so I spend a lot of time looking at Japanese Kawaii culture! When I was a little girl, I loved Hello Kitty, but now I'm leaning more toward the cool stylings of Afro Ken.



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wow. amazing!
thanks so much, hilary!
and now... you can own your very own CUSTOM bunny with a toolbelt original!
yipppee!! that's right, one lucky rikrak studio reader will win an *Oh Happy Day* bird and elephant ... and the winner can pick what colour bird they want on it's back! woohoo!

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here's how to enter the giveaway!
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1. go visit the wonderful bunny with a toolbelt shop!
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite fun goodie from her shop & why you love it!= 1 entry

2.
leave us a comment about what makes you smile!

... = 1 entry

3. visit Hilary's fine arts site here.
take a peek at her amazing art exhibitions and come back here to tell us your fave!

... = 1 entry.

4. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :) = 1 more possible entry.


5. blog about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here.= 1 more possible entry

6. follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
and leave me a comment here telling us that you do! = 1 more possible entry.

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

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:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 6 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 Bunny with a Toolbelt giveaway will be chosen on tuesday march 30th @ 9pm EST.
d) 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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have a fabulous day, nicies!






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253 comments:

  1. I love the Happy Hippo Sculpture from Bunny with a Toolbelt! It's darling and the colors match.

    vantran2311f03@hotmail.com

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  2. What makes me smile is good joke.

    vantran2311f03@hotmail.com

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  3. My fave of the art is the Liminal Space.

    vantran2311f03@hotmail.com

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  4. Subscribed via Google Reader

    vantran2311f03@hotmail.com

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  5. Dairy queen birthday cakes make me happy!

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  6. There is really something about the Alligator Wedding Cake topper couple from her shop that makes me so happy.

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  7. Cumulate is my favorite art installation by Hilary. I would LOVE to explore that room. In addition to the photos of the art on her site, the fan letters from adoring kids are awesome :)

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  8. If I ever get married again... Hope not, but... This http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42590649 is so cute

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  9. One thing that never fails to give me a smile is a baby's smile

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  10. OH my gosh...these are soooo great! I'm not sure I could choose a favorite, but here's one I absolutely love and feel I MUST have: the Double Happiness piece. It's so cute and silly and funny! I love his (her??) hair, and love the flowers. Very cool piece!

    Thanks...I LOVE this shop!
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

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  11. Great memories of and with people I love make me smile! :D

    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

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  12. I follow the rikrak studio via Blogger!
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

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  13. Points of View looks very interesting! I would love to fully experience it (with sound). (It's from the fine art site.)

    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

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  14. oops...forgot to leave my e-mail the other day coffeemonkey@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!

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  15. I love her shop for a looong time, and these (The Penguin Cake toppers):
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42186352
    Are my favorite, my bf and I are linux geeks and I think these would make our perfect cake toppers :D

    Things that make me smile:
    A very good joke, puppies, baby otters and SPRING!!!

    nanoukedesigns@yahoo.com

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  16. I really like the Splendor In The Grass! I have a wiener dog that loves to play in the grass
    kerriekg@yahoo.com

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  17. My 3 boys make me smile everyday!
    kerriekg@yahoo.com

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  18. I follow your blog!
    kerriekg@yahoo.com

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  19. I love "all that and brains too" because I love elephants and it's such a cute juxtaposition with his little mortar board hat. :P

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  20. I love "cumulate," it's kitchy, in a good way. :)

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  21. I tweeted! twitter.com/paper_cranes

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  22. I love everything in Bunny with a Toolbelt's shop but what makes me smile is the Instant Party - I just love it!
    missfrekkles@live.com

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  23. I've also just tweeted about your lovely giveaway.
    http://twitter.com/miss_frekkles

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  24. Good humored sarcasm makes me smile.
    earthdancedaph@yahoo.com

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  25. Those gators smiling are awesome!! I like the bride and groom monsters too:)
    earthdancedaph@yahoo.com

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  26. Bunny with a Toolbelt is one of my all time favourites!!! I've been eyeing this "smart pet tricks" for a loooong time:

    http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22394047

    Why I love this one so much.. I just love grey elephants, blue birds, and delicious red apples! Love this cute combo! :)

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  27. What makes me smile:
    - my darling little boy and silly hubby
    - the sound of an airplane or lawnmower on a sunny day
    - wind blowing in my face
    - ice cream

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  28. Favourite exhibit is 'S warm.. the swarm of love bugs!

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  29. Already following your wonderful blog! Thank you!!

    Marlene
    quotesandnotes@gmail.com

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  30. Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/_quotesandnotes

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  31. Little Red Bird Necklace is my fave!

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  32. Puppies, kittens, cats and dogs make me smile! :-)

    carinaguiname@gmail.com

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  33. little kids telling knock knock jokes and seeing people wearing red shoes make me smile :)

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  34. I tweeted this giveaway here: http://twitter.com/littlereddoor/status/11308543525

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  35. love love love the "cumulate" exhibition

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  36. My favorite is: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43119399 it automatically put a huge smile on my face!

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  37. from her fine art: cumulate very lovely

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  38. bright colors, fuzzy things, and little sparrows make me happy :)

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  39. Tweeted :) http://twitter.com/ArtTalesLEFTZ/status/11308798994

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  40. Following your blog :) Thanks!

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  41. Any of her Elephants are super cute! Especially this one - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36402296

    cry5tal985@hotmail.com

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  42. Buying something I need at a really low price makes me smile!

    cry5tal985@hotmail.com

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  43. I tweeted the contest: http://twitter.com/cry5tal/status/11310478917

    cry5tal985@hotmail.com

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  44. I love the squirrel with a tool belt. We call my baby a squirrel.

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  45. I love the works on cloth in Finland exhibit.

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  46. I love them all! but "oh happy day" is the one I probably love the most. Why? Love at first sight, i think :)

    stockroomdoko (at) gmail.com

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  47. dearest friends, cute animals and beautiful weather is what makes me smile :)

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  48. I loved Hilary's Vertical Garden Installation! Lovely and inspiring!

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thanks so much for your comments, nicies!
it's a joy to read what everyone writes here.
thank you!