Tuesday, November 30, 2010

the handmade community HOLIDAY gift-guide: week FIVE!



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!
you can find {& keep adding your own goodies to} 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 } :: book lovers
gift guide { six } ::  well dressed
gift guide { seven } :: for the guys
gift guide { eight } :: gifts under $15
gift guide { nine } :: calendars
gift guide { ten } :: animal lovers 
gift guide { eleven } :: fun for kids!
gift guide { twelve } :: paper lovers  
 
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.

please add one item of your own, and one of another's, in any category you'd like!

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

................... 


gift guide { thirteen } 
:: eco forward ::



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


gift guide { fourteen } 
:: mmm... warm ::








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


gift guide { fourteen } 
:: fun & under $25 ::





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


come back next tuesday for more fabulous gift guides!
and grab the image at the top & feel free to add it to your blog &  link it to: 
http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/search?q=gift+guide
{home of the rikrak studio gift guides!}
so everyone can see your amazing handmade ideas for HOLIDAY gifts!

yay handmaking!
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Monday, November 29, 2010

a YUMMY giveaway with nicole's handmade treats!




yum!
no better way to start the week, nicies, then a chocolatey, ooey, gooey, goodnessy kind of a giveaway!

it's my scrumptious delight to present nicole's handmade treats: a fabulous friend of the rikrak studio and home to delectable chocolate sensations:  clusters, drops, truffles, sweet and salty dream combinations... yummy, mouth-watering chocolate chocolate chocolate ... she's got it all!

and now .... one lucky rikrak studio winner will WIN a $25 gift certificate to the
NICOLE'S HANDMADE TREATS shop!

and you can do all of your Holiday shopping in one spot! 
who wouldn't LOVE artisanal chocolate this season?
YUM!






what perfect indulgence will you choose?
dark chocolate dipped organic apricots?
banana cream pie candy?
why wait for the giveaway! let's just buy one of each!





::: PLEASE NOTE: because of the perishable nature of the giveaway item(s), this giveaway is open to US and Canadian entrants only. sorry about that nicies! {but i've got lots of other international giveaways on the blog if you're keen!}

...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!
=   1 entry

2. heart/fave the lovely nicole's handmade treats shop!
...  & tell us
=   1 entry
3. become a fan of nicole on facebook.
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry
4.  follow/ subscribe to nicole's blog. 
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

5. follow BOTH nicole { she's @nikid70 } 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 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 its 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 ika bags giveaway will be chosen on tuesday december 7th @ 11pm EST.
d) open to contestants in the USA and Canada ONLY.
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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Friday, November 26, 2010

with thanks to etsy + lisa congdon!




happy friday, nicies!

fun news:  my latest etsy blog article is up!

check out lisa congdon's gorgeous collection-a-day collection!

so i'd be superdooper thankful if you had a sec to head on over to etsy and leave lisa & i a cheer if you can in the comments!

thanks so much, nicies!



what do you collect? i'd love to hear!
have a gorgeous weekend, sweetiepies! 
 



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Thursday, November 25, 2010

thankfulness & many congrats!

thankful subway art print by iloveitall

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

happy thanksgiving to our lovely neighbours to the south!
hope you're all enjoying wonderful time of lotsa love, joy & togetherness, nicies!

and ...
a few fun congrats to dole out here today, too! 

random.org found us some lovely winners!

{1st} congrats to the winner of the ika bags giveaway :: # 522 - kim @ yellow songbird: such a sweet blog & shop! check them out!

{2nd} congrats to the winner of the *i love my sponsors* november giveaway :: #382 :: lubasa - a longtime fan & nicey of the blog!

and feeling lucky?
still time to enter these fab giveaway here on the rikrak studio blog, nicies!

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

---> WIN one of 5 amazing handmade prize packs, totaling a value of over $800!

---> WIN a set of 3 recycled cashmere pins by the june bride

---> WIN a personalized alphabet sack by helen rawlinson!


what are you feeling thankful for today, sweeties?
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

a giveaway with helen rawlinson!



i'll admit it.
i love beautiful fabric. 
love love love it.
so i'm swooning-away everytime i visit the online studio of artist & designer extraordinaire, helen rawlinson.

join me in a love-fest thru her shop, filled with gorgeous screenprint fabrics,  handmade lampshades, bags and more! it's really really gorgeous! just look!

and now.. you can WIN a helen rawlinson original alphabet sack, personalized with a letter of your choice! woohoo!






that's right!
one lucky rikrak studio reader will WIN
--> an Alphabet Sack <--
personalized in the letter of your choice on the reverse.
in your choice of pink, green or blue!

woohoo!



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

2. heart/fave the lovely helen rawlinson shop. 
...  & tell us
=   1 entry
3. become a fan of helen on facebook.
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry
4.  follow/ subscribe to helen's blog. 
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

5. follow BOTH helen { she's @helenrawlison } 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. share with us about your favourite piece of fabric!
= 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 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 its 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 ika bags giveaway will be chosen on december 2nd @ 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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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

the handmade community HOLIDAY gift-guide: week FOUR!



yay it's holiday time!
and no better time for *sharing!*
welcome to the 4th 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!
you can find {& keep adding your own goodies to} the first 9 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 } :: book lovers
gift guide { six } ::  well dressed
gift guide { seven } :: for the guys
gift guide { eight } :: gifts under $15
gift guide { nine } :: calendars
 
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.

please add one item of your own, and one of another's, in any category you'd like!

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

................... 
gift guide { ten }::  animal lovers ::







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


gift guide { eleven } ::  fun for kids ::

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

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

come back next tuesday for more fabulous gift guides!
and grab the image at the top & feel free to add it to your blog &  link it to: 
http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/search?q=gift+guide
{home of the rikrak studio gift guides!}
so everyone can see your amazing handmade ideas for HOLIDAY gifts!

yay handmaking!
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come advertise with the rikrak studio blog!



i just love my sponsors! i'm so thankful for their kind and artistic support each month! and i'm just delighted with how things are going, growing here on the blog with you lovelies. thank you!

so i'm very happy to be offering a few new ad spots as of today for DECEMBER & JANUARY if you're interested!

with december comes  the BIG holiday season, & in january a great time to continue building your wonderful indie business! and i hope it might be a perfect time to showcase your beautiful shops & blogs for all of those handmade shoppers & bloggers & media out there!

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 <---.

there's lots of continued fun coming up on the blog: funfun guests, little inspirations, more fabulous giveaways you're not going to want to miss, great games, fantastic features and, as always, a few extra fun surprises, too. being part of the fun is a great way to boost sales, increase exposure and build your little business in the handmade community, too!

i'm a handmaker & mommy and know it's a challenging economic time out there... so i try to keep the rates nice & reasonable.

i also love designing ads for folks that need them, too.
so just let me know if i can help!

so come & be part of the fun!
thanks so much, lovelies!
k.
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Monday, November 22, 2010

2 fabulous things to do today!


happy monday, nicies!
hope you had a super weekend.

2 wonderful things for you to kick off your fabulous week!

one ending today.
and one just starting! 
yay!

first up, lovely lovely anna @ the fabulous blog *in honor of design* is
hosting a giveaway of 2 of my rikrak eco stockings.
thought you might like to pop on over there and enter.
---> it ENDS TONIGHT! so hurry hurry hurry!

thanks so much, anna!


and launching today, the fabulous TCET (Trans Canada Etsy Team) 12 days of Christmas promotion!

there are amazing sales, discounts & coupon codes from team members (perfect for Holiday shopping) AND there's a fabulous prize pack up for grabs, too! 

yay great ways to start a winning week!

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Friday, November 19, 2010

a giveaway & a recipe: with the june bride




mmmm...
'tis the season for sharing!
sharing joy.
sharing gifts.
sharing a batch of homemade cookies.
sharing kindness.

and here to help us out with all of those today is the amazing karen of *the june bride*.
the kindest of souls, i'm a longtime fan of *the june bride's* warmth and community-building in the handmade world. karen is a master textile artist and an encouraging advocate for good things in life. add master baker { look at this  cookie recipe she's sharing with us today!} and gosh... isn't she amazing?

so let's make a batch of these delightfully artisan sugar cookies for family or friends this weekend, AND... read on to see how you can WIN some of *the june bride's* beautiful brooches, too!



{ps: karen's so generous... she's doing a November charity event (which will likely continue into December)... $1 USD from every single item sold in her shop this month will be donated to local charities that benefit families in need (full details and updates are in hershop announcement). If any RIKRAK STUDIO readers write "i heart rikrak" at checkout, she'll donate $3 USD for each item you  buy! so wonderful! so let's do it!}







RECIPE for Sugar Cookies
{ by The June Bride }



This is the sugar cookie recipe of my childhood Christmases, and every time I make them, the aroma takes me back to baking with my mom on a day filled with carols and sugary messes. The cookies were ostensibly for parties and neighbors, but we always looked forward to gobbling up the ones that turned out a little less than perfect. It makes me so happy that now my own little ones look forward to the same things!

Traditional Sugar Cookies 
(we usually quadruple this, at least!)

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture. Cover dough and chill for at least one hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets, if necessary. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4” thickness. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2” apart onto cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (I like these soft, so I only bake them for 6 minutes). Remove cookies from baking sheets to cool on wire racks. Cool completely before icing.

Sometimes I use a simple mix of milk and powdered sugar for an easy icing to top with sprinkles but, for the cookies shown here, I used Martha Stewart’s recipe for royal icing . Ice and decorate if desired. Place on waxed paper until icing is fully set. Enjoy!

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

oh YUM!
and so beautifully decorated, nicey!
thanks so much for sharing!

you'll just love the june bride's beautiful shop of creations, too.  it's an oasis of eco-forward style and creativity. beautiful, luxurious handcrafted brooches; wonderful tutorials and more!

and NOW... 3 pins can be yours!

--> ONE lucky rikrak studio reader will WIN <---
  3 reclaimed cashmere flower pins
           :: Large cashmere crimson camellia, 4.75”
           :: Cashmere vanilla cream dahlia, 3.75”
         :: Cashmere moss green aster, 3.25”
 
Value :: $49.50 USD










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

2. heart/fave the lovely *the june bride* shop. 
...  & tell us
=   1 entry
3. become a fan of *the june bride*  on facebook.
...  & tell us.
=   1 entry
4.  follow/ subscribe to the june bride blog.

...  & tell us.
=   1 entry

5. follow BOTH the June Bride { she's @theJuneBride } 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. share  your favourite thing to cook or bake for the Holidays!
= 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 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 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 ika bags giveaway will be chosen on saturday november 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 a great weekend, nicies!
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