@ the fair!

little rikrak & other fun fair friends flying thru the skies on the giant swing. august 2009

it's that lovely time of year here in ontario... fall fair time.
i just love a fun fair. the lights, the organ-grindery sounds, the midway, the rides,
the award-winning crafts & baking, the fun!

i have such fond memories of visiting fairs from various counties as a young child with my family. leisurely walks thru the crafts building, admiring the craftsmanship of the blue ribbon handicrafts with my mom.

flying thru the skies, joyfully screaming on rikity-rackity rides with my brother.

tasting crazy concoctions on the midway &, let's face it, loving it!

you know.. my parents met at a fair many moons ago.
and then were engaged at a different fair after that. so i guess there's just something wonderfully familiar about the craziness of the fair for me. so festive!

how about you... what's your favourite part of the fair?

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i'm so lucky!

i'm so lucky!
i have such fabulous bloggy readers and cyberly pals! like you!
so happy friday, lovelies!
thanks for all of your bloggy love all week.
i was just reading thru some more of your wonderful rikrak studio survey answers, and just wanted to say a superthanks to everyone who has taken a few minutes to do the little survey.

i gotta tell ya... it's a treat treat treat to read your feedback and please know how very very much i respect and appreciate your comments, ideas and thoughts.
it is marvelous to hear your likes & loves about my little blogging adventure!
please know that it has been super helpful using your feedback in planning the daily bloggy events here... so superthanks!
so here's to you, lovelies!
and if you ever want to take it... you can find the survey here.
thanks lovelies.

and have a wonderful weekend!
tune in next week the launch of something extra fun!
be well, sweeties!

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congratulations!

thanks so much to everyone who entered the kristin friesen giveaway over the past week!

great to hear your fave summery songs to dance to! look for an upcoming post on some of your funfun answers!

random.org kindly chose 2 winners for us… and congratulations goes to #58 ... the fun Jen of JenTRC. & #146... the great whimsical creations.

take a gander at some of the lovely handmade work by our winners! seen @ right: artwork by winner #1, JenTRC.
check out her great art site! Jen, you've won a kristin friesen bobby pin trio set!

and congrats to winner #2, whimsical creations!

check out her fabulous & glorious blog here.

and her sweet little shop here. you're the lucky winner of a kristin friesen jolie necklace!

seen below: whimsical creation's cute little mushrooms!

thanks again for playing, nicies! & a special thanks to kristin for sponsoring!

check back again SOON on the rikrak blog for a great big rikrak giveaway! thanks!

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collections: with gulf coast cottage pdf

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: glass paperweights with the wonderful Jen G of GulfCoastCottagePDF.

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who (are you) : Jen G
what (are you collecting) : Glass Paperweights
when (did you start) : I was about 14
how (many do you have?): about 19
where (do you find them) : Thrift/ Antique Stores - or Gifts
where (do you keep them) : In a window between my kitchen & living room- to catch the light.
what ('s a crazy/interesting story behind one) : My first paperweight was given to me by a close family friend, who is no longer with us. It came from her personal collection.
what (piece would you like to add): Interesting or unique pieces.
why (do you love them) : The colors- they are eye candy
which (one is your favourite) & why : My hour glass shaped one- the one that started it all.
what (else do you collect) : Vintage Mermaids, Salt & Pepper Shakers & Vintage Elves.

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aren't they gorgeous?
oh how i'd love to have those paperweights beautifying the piles of papers on my workspace! wouldn't that be blissful?

and a perfect inspiration just in time for back to school!
what an addition to any workspace! i just love this collection. and the fabulous collector behind them, too. Jen G. is the mastermind behind the ever-popular GulfCoastCottagePDF shop, where her imaginative, delicious-looking and superdooper fun felt food, doll & toy patterns light up the screen! i just adore these fun felt sets to make yourself!:



so check out her shop, her lovely blog, and let your imagination run wild! thanks, Jen!

& check out the new Etsy Storque series i'm writing on what Etsyans are collecting!
the 1st one's here!

{ps: today is the LAST day to enter the kristin friesen jewelry giveaway, too! hurry here!}

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9 days & counting

felt corn on the cob by gobuggy
corn on the cob tote by Meatbagz
dollhouse miniature sweet corn by BebeToby

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i don't know about you, but here @ the rikrak home we're obsessive.
oh heavens... about so very many things, really!

like with our food... sometimes we just get on a kick.

and then we eat the same food, everyday, at least once a day, for a week!or more!

that's where we're at right now with corn on the cob.

there's delightfully corn-a-plenty from every farmer's vegetable stand on every corner these days here in southern ontario...

and now we've had corn on the cob everyday for 9 straight days.

anyone else crazy like us?

soon enough, fabulous fresh corn-on-the cob will be a distant memory.

so i'll obsess while i can.

food obsessive like me?
about what?

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advertise with the rikrak studio blog!

thanks so much to the nicies who have come on board to advertise in these 1st few months here on the rikrak studio blog! it's almost the end of the month - and so i thought i'd let folks know that for the new month of september, i have three spots available, if you're interested!

if you feel that your shop, group or blog would be a good fit with the rikrak studio blog feel & focus, and are interested in rates, please email me at rikrakmail@yahoo.com . i'm a handmaker & mommy and know it's a challenging economic time out there... so i try to keep the rates nice & low!

i'm also happy to design ads for folks that need them, too! the rikrak studio blog is young but will hopefully continue to grow & grow! thanks so much for helping to build it, wonderfolk! so come & be part of the fun!
thanks so much! k.

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the handmade campout!

polkadot owls art print by boygirlparty
mini compass charms by snapcrafty
green moonlight lantern via TwoCraftyChicks

caravan series giclee print by leahgiberson
in the little forest print by StephanieFizer
Neem oil bug repellant soap by SoapomokeRiver

handprinted letterpress jr rangers cards by YeeHaw
vintage thermojug via theprettynest
original map painting by rachelaustin
one last camping trip vintage pitcher via yellowdogvintage

travel trailer charm by charms4you
trailer park summer locket set by polarity
camp tea towel series by Leannegraeff
aceo rattlesnake mountain by pinkbathtub

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warm summer days.

cooler summer nights.

& my mind wanders to the joys of a lakeside campout.

so we're off!

happy outdoor living, lovelies!

& have a great weekend. thanks for such a great week!

{ps: don't forget to enter the kristin friesen jewelry giveaway
on now on the rikrak blog here!}

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with thanks: to Etsy, the storque & the lovely chakrapennywhistle!

some wonderful news, nicies!

many thanks goes out to Etsy's fabulous blog, the Storque,

and it's webwonderwoman, vanessa!

yesterday, the first in the new Etsy storque feature:

the collectors, with guest curator: ....ME, launched.

it's a fun new Etsy series based on my own rikrakstudio series: collections!

we started things off with the ever-wonderful chakrapennywhistle!
{thanks for sharing, lovely!}

please be sure to visit the post over on etsy, and cheer on (i.e. leave a funfun comment!) the new series! the first highlights the wonderful chakrapennywhislte's fabulous collection of vintage 8mm video cameras!

thanks so much, Etsy & Vanessa & chakrapennywhistle!

i'm thrilled to be part of the fun!

you can catch the rest of my collections series here,

featuring fabulous artists and what they collect, aside from art supplies!

have a fascinating collection you might like to share with us?

please be sure to let me know!

thanks nicies!

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roadside attractions: queen anne's lace

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row one
love struck fine art print by urbandesign
summer kiss by cathywalters
queen anne's lace towel by lottahelleberg

row two
last year's lace by buckscountyframes
queen anne's lace by BunkFossStudio
8 x8 queen anne's lace by naturespixel

row three
queen anne's lace 5 x 5 by WoodsEdge
queen anne's lace print by splendidpix
queen anne's lace michael miller fabric via SewingSupplies

row four
long grass series by JoannasPhotography
hand embroidered wrist cuff by Waterrose

row five
queen anne's lace necklace by artisticcreations
large clutch by KimberlyJonesDesigns
simplexity by irenesuchocki

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slow & lovely walks thru summertime fields
& warm, windy drives along many a country road this summer
have been filled with the glorious roadside attraction
of the beautiful beautiful queen anne's lace
here there & everywhere

oh how i love you, queen anne's lace.
so airy and delightful and full of summertime lore.

fields & fields of you growing wild and wonderful.
here's to you, lovely!
tell us: what do you love seeing on your walks & rides & drives?

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playlists & a giveaway: with kristin friesen

some of kristin's lovely lovely work!

i just love a great playlist. i think it stems back to those glorious mixed tapes days where i'd either make, sometimes receive and always always covet a fabulous collection of tunes by various great artists! for me, a personal playlist is a magical grouping of songs. *bliss!* ... so i've asked some wonderful artists if they'd make up a little playlist on a theme for this new rikrak studio series. i thought we might get a glimpse into what musically inspires these fabulous folks... i'm thrilled to present the next: playlists with kristin friesen: songs to listen to while i play outside this summer! and check out the other great playlists here.

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oh a summery day! there's nothing sweeter.

and imagine a summer day listening to great music, and wearing great jewelry!

kristin friesen can help you out with both.

{don't forget to read on to see how you can WIN WIN WIN one of her amazing creations!}

a fabulous handmade artist, loving mommy and amazing entrepreneur, kristin's wonderful & most popular shop, sweeter than me, is an Etsy favourite. i just love her fun & colourful designs and her great personality to go with it!

there likely aren't too many folks "sweeter then {her!}"

you can read a little bit more about her fabulous success story in her Etsy quit your day job article here. and be sure to visit her beautiful, fun & fabulous blog here.

and now... kristin's very own summery playlist!

dj: kristin of {sweeter than me} designs

playlist: songs to listen to while i play outside this summer!

1. Rock'n Roll - The Sounds

2. Help I'm Alive - Metric

3. I'm Not Over - Carolina Liar

4. Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups

5. Houses - Great Northern

6. Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon

7. Rhthm and Soul - Spoon

8. Believe - The Bravery

9. No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand

10. Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeah's

11. Electric Feel - MGMT

12. Saturdays - Cut Copy

kristin writes: "I would love to say something deep and meaningful about how music influences me as an artist, but I really don't know how it influences me. I do know, however, that my artistic tendencies and my music taste are very similar. I tend to like a little bit of everything, and I change my mind a lot. In my life so far, I have gone through a phase of nearly every music genre, short of just a few - country, jazz/blues/swing, classical. I did the classic rock, regular rock, underground punk, metal, pop, hip-hop and rap, alternative, grunge, reggae, and everything in between. I've finally landed (more or less) on alternative/indie. My history as an artist is very similar. I've done photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, mosaics, mixed media, and more. I took every art class offered at my high school and nothing seemed to fit until I picked up jewelry.

My list reflects only a small portion of my current interests, but does not reflect my past interests... and who knows what the future will hold! I look forward to trying lots of new things in my life, both musically and artistically."

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and now.. for a kristin friesen giveaway!!

she's kindly offering the following fabulous prizes!

lucky winner #1 ..... will get their choice of a fabulous bobby pin set,

and lucky winner #2 will win one of her lovely new jolie rose necklaces!

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

here's how to enter the giveaway!

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

1. go visit the lovely kristin friesen shop.
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite goodie from her shop & why.= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment on YOUR FAVE song you love to play outdoors to this summer!
... = 1 entry

3. visit the {Sweeter than me } blog (it's a beauty!) and follow it!
... then come back here and tell us about it. = 1 entry.

4. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. = 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, 2 winners of the kristin friesen giveaway will be chosen via random.org on
wednesday august 26th @ 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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slumber party {part 4}: who should play YOU in the movie-version of your life?

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don't you just love a slumber party? comfy pjs, silly movies, telling your friends, old & new, your thoughts & crushes & dreams.... such fun! you can catchup with some of our other slumber party fun here: and for today's party question: who would you choose to play you in the movie version of your life?

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well well well.
if there was going to be a movie-version of my life (imagine!)
i would certainly hope it would be
fun & dancey & kid-friendly!

so for today's question, i'm going to go with casting the young julie andrews
(aka the spirited maria von trapp in the 1965 technicolor movie the Sound of Music
& the crafty mary poppins in the delightful 1964 film Mary Poppins. )


i'm choosing young julie andrews for a couple of reasons.

1. as mary poppins & maria von trapp she seems fun & friendly & spiritied & and, let's be honest, a little feisty in a kid-friendly sorta way!

2. this way the movie version of my life would assuredly be a musical in the
style of the glorious 1960's!
(so that pivotal parts of the rikrak life would be sung and danced too! perfect!)

and
3. this way, i could cast YOUNG christopher plummer (aka captain von trapp!) or young dick van dyke (aka Bert the chimney sweep) as my swoon-worthy love interest, mr. rikrak! sigh!
(i do love those two actors in their 1960's prime!)

dick van dyke in mary poppins


christopher plummer in sound of music

although young julie andrews & i look nothing alike,
i think she would aptly pull it off!
(and she did craft outfits out of curtains in the sound of music! what great repurposing!)

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okay! so i've confessed!

so there's my choice for who i'd choose to play me in the movie-version of my life!
now... let's snuggle into our cozy sleeping bags, open another bag of sour cream & onion chips,
turn on some cyndi lauper, giggle & whisper and hear yours!

who should play YOU?

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congratulations!

thanks so much to everyone who entered the PomLove paper poms giveaway over the past week!

so nice to see what lovely colours folks adored from her beautiful shop! (how could i ever choose just one!) and great to hear what you could envision decorating with the poms!

random.org kindly chose a winner for us… and congratulations goes to #5 ... the lovely carol of stringmealong! i just love stringmealong's pretty pretty boutique...filled with beautiful handmade jewelry, accessories and more. carol is such a wonderful soul, too, and handmakes with a gorgeous flair for romance, whimsy and colour!

so be sure to visit stringmealong's lovely shop, and tune into the rikrakstudio blog later this week for another fabulous giveaway you won't want to miss!


at right: adorable sunshiney bobby pins by winner stringmealong!
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patterns & shapes: @ the beach

mr. rikrak & little rikrak
playing in the waves @ the beach,
august 2009. photo my me.
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oh gosh!
what a great day it was.
the sun
the sand
& a family rikrak day @ the beach.
little rikrak soaring in the watery blue sky.
all of us building magnificent castles.
mr. rikrak & i playing & splashing & frolicking in the waves.
sandy picnics and the warm glow
of a beautiful beautiful day with the family,
relaxing.

in honour, patterns & shapes @ the beach.
be sure to visit the other patterns & shapes vignettes here.
& have a glorious relaxing summer weekend, lovelies.

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ocean of colours photo by alles-schlumpf


shells photo by steeljam


changing pattern photo by mortimer?'s photostream

patterns in the sand photo by henriette_von_ratzeberg

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handmaking with kids: building sandcastles

welcome to my kingdom sandcastle photo via williamcho's photostream

i don't know about you... but i just love sand sculpture building. playing in the sand at the park, at the beach, in the sandbox with soothing, therapeutic sand and water. there's just something so festive and inspiring about it to me. i could do it all day!

so for kids of all ages,
here's a round up of some fun sandcastles (and more!) sandbuilding ideas!

• some great tips & tricks on wikihow & ehow & buzzle on master sandcastle building!

• kids turn central that includes fun sand dinos instructions!

• martha's great quick list for easy tools to take with you to the beach!

• creative mold ideas from happy living

and last but not least... check out these inspiring images from the
sand sculpture photo group on flickr! wow!

we're off to the beach today to make our own!
tell me about your fave sand sculpture you've crafted or seen!
happy playing in the sand.

{ ps: don't forget to enter and win my PomLove 7-piece paper poms giveaway on now here on the rikrak studio blog! just 2 days left to enter! }

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my favourite things: summer peaches

peaches photo by m.a.x's photostream

oh how i adore peaches.

what a delight!

yesterday we bought our first basket of fresh, gooey, juicy
ontario peaches from a roadside farmer's stand.
and we had eaten almost all of them by the time we were home!

so we're off to find another basket or two this afternoon
for the making of my grandma's peach upside down cakes recipe later today!
and check out foodland ontario's fabulous inseason fruit recipe guide here.

what's your fave summer fruit?
i'd love to hear!

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