handmaking with kids: best toys ever!

bakers twine @ katrinaalana

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

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!} 

Pin It

the *bought* halloween costume

urban photograph by jennifer squires

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

last week little rikrak sat us down.

we could tell by his serious demeanor that this was important stuff.

"mom...." (he nods knowingly toward me)

"dad...." (he gestures to mr. rikrak)

(i'm beginning to sense he may have practiced the speech in the mirror a few times..)

 he draws in a BIG, deep breath.

"this year i want a *bought* halloween costume."

and so goes the funny tale of being a handmaking-obsessed mom.

parents, aunts, uncles, friends of wee ones ... you know how it is...  since the time little rikrak was born we've tried to make him fun homemade halloween costumes. he's been an array of cute painstakingly-sewn together outfits, and a mix of practically-stapled-together-at-the-last-minute-as-we-fly-out-the-door DIYers. and now... he's wanting to show his own personality by choosing a store-bought outfit. love it.

life's funny that way, huh?

well after oodles of far-too-gory hunts at the shops last week, we finally all agreed on a fun costume. he had the great idea to add a few creative, personalized touches (that-a-boy!) and the finished look is a fabulous one!

how do you feel when your little handmade-raised cuties long for store-bought goodness?

i'll confess - i think we all yearn for a little something *bought* sometimes. 

i know i do, as much as i adore handmade.

& i'm wisely reminded today:  *all things in moderation.*

{ ps: the mommy in me thinks it so sweet & adorable he was concerned how we'd take it! }

happy parenting,  halloween cuties!

Pin It

a gorgeous giveaway with jack & tina fussell

inspired.

and inspiring. 

that's how i think of tina and jack fussell, and the amazing handmade life they've crafted for their family.

just a glimpse into their artistically-forward world on their popular and inspiring blog: traveling mama, and i was fast smitten with tales of this beautiful couple and their children traveling & adventuring abroad as a creative family. 

it's an inspiring pairing indeed: tina's love of handmade: { be sure to visit her gorgeous handmade paper goods shop, Handmade by traveling mama } & jack's love of photography { see his fabulous gallery-of-a-shop, flying house studios } 

and beyond my obvious appreciation for their talent, wit, and enthusiasm for creative family living, i am so tremendously inspired by jack & tina's excitement for life, for being active parts of their communities, wherever they live, and taking the paths less traveled in life and inspiring each of us to do the same.

{ oh ... and did i mention what a gosh-darn CUTE couple they are?! :) 

love this photo of tina & jack by Brittany Ayoub! }  

it's been a pleasure working with tina thru my *hire a cheerleader* consulting program, and i can fully attest to, and i just plain love, that what this wondercouple does is meaningful, thoughtful, genuine and personal: in life, work & play. i find their honest, open and helpful words & ways so refreshing.

inspired & inspiring indeed!

thanks for connecting to each of us in such beautiful, sincere ways, tina & jack. 

thanks for showing us the importance of real connections in our world.

i think we're all better folks for it.

so ... i hope you'll read on to see how YOU can win a shopping spree 

to their lovely lovely inspired shops!

jack + tina fussell

traveling mama shop | traveling mama blog | flying house studios shop |

   facebook | twitter

gorgeous!

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

----> a $30 gift certificate to spend at 

*flying house photography studios*

OR 
the *handmade by traveling mama* shop! <-----

1. visit the lovely traveling mama shop.

...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!

=   1 entry

2. visit the wonderful flying house studios shop.

...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!

=   1 entry

3. leave a comment on the traveling mama blog so tina can get to know you better!

...  & tell us.

=   1 entry

4.  join tina's email subscription located on the right hand column of her blog.

... & tell us. 

= 1 entry

5. become a fan of tina's on facebook

...  & tell us.

=   1 entry

6. follow BOTH tina { she's @tinafussell } AND the rikrak shop (that's me! @therikrakshop)  on twitter

... & tell us.

= 1 entry

7.  follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog

... & tell us.

= 1 entry

8. share something that's inspiring YOU lately!

= 1 entry

9. 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

10. blog about this giveaway

... come back and tell us.

= 1 entry

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

<center><a href="http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="the rikrak studio" src="http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/rikrakstudio/therikrakstudiorectangle.jpg" /></a></center>

<center><a href="http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="the rikrak studio" src="http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/rikrakstudio/therikrakstudiosquare.jpg" /></a></center>

and add it to your blog!

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

12. :: PLEASE NOTE: 

each entry must be it's own comment.

thanks! ::

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

:: RULES ::

a) it is possible to have a maximum of 11 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 tina & jack  giveaway will be chosen on wednesday october 27th @ 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.
 

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

have an inspiring day, nicies!

Pin It

greatest hits & a giveaway: with babongo home

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

yippee!
it's kids week here @ the rikrak studio: 6 days of celebrating children, and the wonderfolk who handcraft art for their curious, wonderful little hands!

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. WIN a beautiful eco mobile from Babongo Home, here.
6. coming soon!

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

imaginative. inspiring. wonderful. unique.
all things children are.
and all things i think we all strive to create for the the environment surrounding the wee ones in our lives.

today's KIDS WEEK handmaker can help!
Babongo Home's beautiful eco-friendly mobiles are so whimsical, fun and well... LOVELY!
handcut and made from upcycled, fused plastic bags, i just love how eco-forward, and inspiring Nicole's work is.

so read on to find out how you can WIN a mobile for your own home, and to see the images that inspire the artist, too!

you can catch up with Babongo Home in her lovely shops here & here.
read along with her adventures on her blog here. and follow her tweets on twitter here.

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

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 Babongo Home!

#1 Colour inspires me.
image by blancucha

It can be anything, from a vintage crafting magazine to a Moroccan mosaic table to a colourful illustration to other people's homes. Inspiration is everywhere, it drives me nuts sometimes and I love it. I find it hard to choose which idea to work out first and last. Which brings me to my second inspiration:

#2 Nature.
This won't surprise you. Nature can bring my head to rest, all this inspiration, all these incentives fall into place when I'm out hiking or biking or skating in nature. It makes me decide again and again to use materials that have been used before and materials that are earthfriendly. This is logic to me, if we want to keep enjoying the beauty and diversity of our planet, we have to take good care of it. For next generations to come too.

#3 Travelling.
I so love being in countries other than my own. I love how people can seemingly live so differently, only to discover we all have the same needs and desires in life. It's very inspirational, not only in crafting but in life in general.

#4 Books.
image by chocovision
Books are inspirational because they teach you things. Big things, small things, a different outlook. And books give me the feeling, just like in travelling, anything goes. There's not one way to do it. I love that.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
thanks so much for sharing your inspirations, nicole!
and now... a chance to win an inspiring something for the wee ones in your life!

about the prize: This upcycled butterfly mobile is made from fused plastic bags. The butterflies are handdrawn and handcut into this shape and they are attached to a branch with a clear thread, making it seem like they are floating in the air, they are in constant movement. The mobile looks great in a child's room or in front of a window, but is also great in a corner of the house that needs something extra.

1. go visit the lovely Babongo Home shop!

... come back and tell us about your favourite goodie from her shop & why you love it!
= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment telling us about an image something that inspires YOU!
... = 1 entry

3. follow the babongo handmade blog.
come back and tell us.
... = 1 entry.

4. follow nicole (she's http://twitter.com/babongohandmade) AND me (i'm http://twitter.com/therikrakshop) on twitter. come back here and tell us about it!
... 1 entry

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

6. leave a comment over in this etsy thread here sharing a link to something FUN in your shop/at home that you handmade for a child/ for kids OR something handmade by another that you LOVE for kids!
come back here and tell us about it.
= 1 possible entry

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

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

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

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

:: RULES ::

a) it is possible to have a maximum of 8 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 Babongo Home giveaway will be chosen on saturday, may 22nd @ 7pm 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.

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

see you monday for giveaway #6!
have a glorious weekend, nicies!

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. WIN a beautiful eco mobile from Babongo Home, here.
6. coming soon!

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

Pin It

collections & a giveaway: with my beautiful girl designs

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

yippee!
it's kids week here @ the rikrak studio: 6 days of celebrating children, and the wonderfolk who handcraft art for their curious, wonderful little hands!

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. coming soon!
6. coming soon!

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

each giveaway will be up for 8 days. be sure to come back each weekday thru next monday to enter all 6 giveaways - you're gonna LOVE them! - and be inspired about handmaking for our little ones!

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

fun & functional.
don't you just love a handmade shop that makes both of those things, and more?

enter *my beautiful girl designs*, a fabulous boutique that has something for every little one in your life!

sam, the lovely mommy-of-4 that is *my beautiful girl designs*, began her wonderful business when she *couldn't find a wet bag that had all of the features (she) wanted* .... love that ... and that rest is happy history!

take a jaunt thru her lovely store, filled with fabric lovelies like adorable underwear, hip wetbags, great clothing for boys and girls, and much much more! be sure to catch up with her on twitter and facebook, too! READ ON to see how you can WIN a prize pack from her, too! yay!

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

and now... let's see what sam collects!

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, based on these posts, on Etsy's blog, the storque! hope you'll just love: sweet trimmings with *my beautiful girl designs!*

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

who (are you) : A Mom, A Wife, A seamstress, A goofball...I wear alot of hats
what (are you collecting) : I collect alot of things, but vintage trims and buttons are one of my favorites.
when (did you start) : About 3 years ago.
how (many do you have?) Too many to count.
where (do you find them) : Flea markets, auctions, garage sales, gifts from my Mom
where (do you keep them) : In my studio
what (‘s a crazy/interesting story behind one) : I bought some at a flea market and then went home. I kicked myself about not buying out the rest of the vendors stock because the pricing was crazy good. I went back the next YEAR (seasonal market) and she had them! I bought them!
what (piece would you like to add): I would love to find some vintage bakelite buttons, however, they are pricey and I like to keep my collections pretty light and fun.
why (do you love them) : the character and individual style of each piece. things nowadays are too cookie cutter.
which (one is your favourite) & why : I love the bunny ribbons. Still haven't found the perfect project to use them though.
what (else do you collect) : vintage oil paintings, ironstone, brown transferware, vintage jewelry, pottery

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

thanks so much, sam!
and now ... one lucky reader can WIN a fabulous PRIZE PACK by *my beautiful girl designs.*

it includes:
a surprise set of 3 kids handmade underwear (in the SIZE of your choice!)
AND a gorgeous *fishy print* (as seen above) wetbag (for the beach, for baby diapers, for anything wet!) ... woohoo!

1. go visit the wonderful *my beautiful girl designs* shop!

... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite goodie from her shop & why you love it!= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment telling us about something you (or your kids!) collect!
... = 1 entry

3. become a fan of *my beautiful girl designs* on facebook then come back here and tell us!
... = 1 entry.

4. follow me (i'm http://twitter.com/therikrakshop ) AND *my beautiful girl* (she's http://twitter.com/mbgsam) on twitter. come back here and tell us about it!
... 1 entry

5. leave a comment over in this etsy thread here sharing a link to something FUN you handmade for a child/ for kids OR something handmade by another that you LOVE for kids!
come back here and tell us about it. = 1 possible entry

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

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

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

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

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

:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 8 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 *my beautiful girl designs* giveaway will be chosen on wednesday, may 19th @ 9pm 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.
................................................

yay kids!
hope to see you again tomorrow for the next fabulous kids week giveaway!

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. coming soon!
6. coming soon!

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

Pin It

proud mommy moments

lemon cloud original by stephanielevy

i've gotta say... i'm a proud mommy.
not that either one of us are always at our best...
but ...
i'm always so proud of my little sweetie.

that he's a kind little soul.
that he works hard and tries his best.
i'm so proud of the little sweetheart he is. thoughtful, loving, generous.

an especially great little proud mommying moment happened this past weekend.
i don't usually post about all of my proud little sweetie moments (there are so many when you're a parent, an auntie, a teacher, aren't there?!) but i thought i'd share this one with you.

there was a great big garage sale going on this past weekend in ottawa.
(more on that later - how i LOVE garage sales!)

weeks ago when little rikrak and i were talking about it, he mentioned that he'd love to sell some of his own toys, make & sell some cookies, and donate all of the money to the local food bank. we had been talking about food banks that week, and the wonderful things food banks do for our community.

i was so thrilled to hear him say that.
i was so touched to hear his thinkings on how he could help others. i was so proud of him for using his creativity to help problem solve.

so last week we prepared.
he gathered toys. we baked cookies. we made lemonade. we made fun signs.

on saturday morning it was a great sight.
neighbours and others generously gathering around. little rikrak busy pouring juice, taking it all in. little rikrak & i both seeing how one person, regardless of their age, can certainly make a difference!

i know there are mixed feelings in the parenting community about showing children that you're proud of them. but i have to say... i can't help it.
i'm so proud of our little sweetie.
if i ever dreamed what qualities i would hope my child to have, having a kind heart and sharing it with the world would be at the top of the list.

so that's me.
a very proud mommy with a grateful heart. Pin It