party time & a giveaway!

all images via anders ruff

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

let's party!

excited to be part of this fabulously fun north pole celebration over at the beautiful anders ruff this season! check out all of their gorgeous partying ideas on their beautiful blog & in the anders ruff printable party invites & decor shop! it's filled with gorgeous & effortless customizable ideas for every occasion!

and...

enter to WIN 2 of my stockings here from the photo shoot!

woohoo!

happy celebrating!

are you hosting/attending any fun Holiday parties soon?

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the handmade community Holiday gift guide : week 4

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

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!

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 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 } :: well-dressed : men

gift guide { six } ::  well-dressed : women

gift guide { seven } :: calendars

gift guide { eight } :: gifts under $20

gift guide { nine } :: custom gifts

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.

<center><a href="http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/search?q=2011gg" target="_blank"><img alt="the rikrak studio" src="http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/rikrakstudio/holidaygg160x160.jpg" /></a></center>

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 guide10

{ fun }

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

holiday gift guide 11

{ eco forward }

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

holiday gift guide 12

{ warm }

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

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proud mommying moments: the ukulele

:: darling handmade ukulele-ness ::

clockwise from the top-left corner

nicholasfrith

skylaar

rozenn bothuon

celentanowoodworks

sterainstruments

cherijame

birdandbloke

sometimes crafter

bRainbowshop

cabin no7

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

well nicies. i have a new love.

the ukulele, and my little one strumming it!

my smitten-ness has been growing & growing over the past few years. 

but as little rikrak readies for his 1st ukulele concert this week, i can happily confess that it's my new favourite sound: hearing him so cutely strum & sing fabulous folksy hit after fabulous folksy hit!

it's absolutely adorable.

what sound are YOU loving these days?

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one month to go!

my little rikrak advent calendars

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

wow.

it's here.

it's one month til Christmas.

and i'm getting pretty excited!

tonight we celebrate with a special little family tradition of putting up the tree, fun & festive decorating, and exchanging tiny little handmade gifts to mark the *only one month left* occasion.

it's a fave of mine.

so the countdown's on.

how are you feeling about the Holidays starting?

happy? stressed? anxious? excited?

all of the above?

have a gorgeous weekend, cuties!

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november brown

:: beautiful november browns ::

amy jane photography

ruff house art

risk love freedom

lynda naranjo

the gingham owl

tricia mckellar photo

amy jane photography

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

everywhere here is brown.

autumny, foliage dying grass-is-brown, tall-weeds-in-the-park  brown, leaf-less-trees brown.  
brown.

and i suspect most folks don't like it much.

with its hidden raison d'etre meaning: *winter is coming.*

the acknowledgement that the beautiful technicolour autumn of gold & red & orange has long-since had its heyday here.

but i think it's just gorgeous.

absolutely goldeny-brown gorgeous.

cause hey - sometimes the beauty's in the in between parts of life, right?

do you love november brown?

{ps: happy thanksgiving to our dear friends in the US today - 

feeling grateful for all you nicies! }

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come advertise with the rikrak studio blog in december or january!

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!

with the Holiday season comes  the busiest shopping time of the year!  i hope it might be the perfect opportunity to showcase your beautiful shops & blogs for all of those handmade shoppers & bloggers & media out there! & in January, comes a fresh new start to things = a fabulous time to promote your wonderful business to get the year off to a great start!

if you feel that your shop, group, Etsy Team,  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 blog is a great way to boost sales, increase exposure and build your business in the handmade indie 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!

come & be part of the fun!

thanks so much, lovelies!

k.

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the handmade community Holiday gift guide : week 3

yay it's holiday time!
and no better time for *sharing!*

welcome to the 3rd 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 3 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

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.

<center><a href="http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/search?q=2011gg" target="_blank"><img alt="the rikrak studio" src="http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/rikrakstudio/holidaygg160x160.jpg" /></a></center>

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 7

{ calendars }

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

 holiday gift guide 8

{ gifts under $20 }

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

 holiday gift guide 9

{ customized gifts }

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thank my lucky stars!

my lucky stars

clockwise from the top left

paper star | kissa design

little star house | the little red door

origami stars birthday topper | the unbirthday party

sweet origami stars | all wee need is origami

twinkling stars stamp | norajane

18k ring | ilithe

constellation greeting cards | natures cubby hole

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

we have this saying in these parts *thank my lucky stars!*

i'm feeling grateful like that these days... for oh-so-very many things.

so in honour - some beautiful handmade lucky stars.

and congrats to our latest lucky lucky winner: random.org's #57 ... alex kam of the beautiful jewelry shop skyejuice!  (& visit her gorgeous blog, too!) you've won the kanelstrand organic blog ad pack giveaway!

and fear not - still lots of other goodness to be won here on the blog! 

enter to win the november *i love my sponsors* $25 giveaway

& 

enter to win the fabulous MEGA happy Holidays $600 worth of prize packs giveaway, too!

what are you feeling thankful for this week, nicies? 

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the rikrak studio MEGA happy holidays GIVEAWAY!

welcome welcome to the Holiday season!
one of my faves.

wanna know a little secret?
it's time to celebrate!

so let's have a party!as a thanks to all of you fabulous readers out there, i've asked some wonderful handmakers to join me in a MEGA happy-Holidays-of-a-giveaway! {thanks so much for your kind kind generosity, nicies!}

there are FIVE (that's right, 5!)
amazing prize packs up for grabs! each prize pack will have a different funfun winner!

here we go: 

:: prize pack A ::

valued at over $125!

:: a gorgeous glowing white vintage button necklace | itsastitch

:: a beautiful 2012 weekly planner, with a silver leather cover | myhandboundbooks

:: your CHOICE of one rikrak original style stocking. | rikrak

:: a lovely modern grey quilted play mat with yellow backing | peppermint pinwheels

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

:: prize pack B ::

valued at over $125!

:: fabulous swarovski crystal rivoli bead earrings | sparrow grey
:: an adorable little house ceramic ornament in greys | the little red door
:: a charming bow pendant necklace in white & black | blockpartypress
:: lovely recycled glass pearls & sterling silver chain necklace | alex keller

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

:: prize pack C ::

valued at over $125!

 

:: a lovely classic grey chrysanthemum flower necklace with bow & beads | prairie blossoms

:: a gorgeous skein of thread-plied, textural handspun art yarn in *ice ice baby* colours | storied yarns
:: charming cotton handkerchief embroidered with "we are held together by invisible threads" | stitchasaurus rex

:: beautiful Swirl silver earrings with white pearls on a grey background | freshieandzero

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

:: prize pack D ::

valued at over $125!

:: a delightful premium giclee print, patterned & textured with a heart illustration | papersquid

:: lovely white gold toned snowflake post earrings with a cubic zirconia center | michabella

 :: a gorgeous white pearl cluster necklace | skyejuice

:: 2 fabulous tutorial-style how-to patterns (princess party banner & fabric headband) | the sewing loft 

 

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

 

:: prize pack E ::

valued at over $125!

 

::  Victorian-inspired, fun & fabulous vintage optician's lens pendant necklace | remaker

:: one free month of January blog advertising | the rikrak studio

:: wonderful restored bass string earrings | eye on the sparrow designs 

:: a gorgeous 2012 calendar tea towel with a bright & bold mix of brushstrokes! | avril loreti

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

  

1. visit the HAPPY HOLIDAYS MEGA giveaway sponsors' shops.
... come back here and leave ONE COMMENT per shop on what your favourite item is from each one!
= 1 entry per shop.

you can visit as many shops as you like and comment once for each shop.

this giveaway's sponsors are:

the little red door

myhandboundbooks

avril loreti

 remaker

 eye on the sparrow designs

papersquid

 michabella

  skyejuice

 the sewing loft 

 prairie blossoms

storied yarns
 stitchasaurus rex

 freshieandzero

 sparrow grey

 blockpartypress

 alex keller

itsastitch

peppermint pinwheels

  the rikrak studio (that's my blog!)

rikrak  (that's my shop!)
   

2. heart / fave each of the above shops on etsy OR follow/subscribe to each blog / shop site

= 1 entry PER shop or blog.

.

3. in the spirit of Handmade Holidays, tell us something YOU'RE handmaking this season (cookies, gifts, cards... can't wait to hear!) 

= 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 column. (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. 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!)

6. follow me on twitter

i'm @therikrakshop

= 1 entry

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

8. do a facebook update
about the giveaway with a link, and tell us here 

= 1 entry

9. grab one of my rikrak studio buttons,

like these ones

<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! } 

= 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 its 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 blog follower or subscriber,
old or new, to WIN! thanks!
e) there will be 5 winners of this giveaway chosen from random.org on
monday, december 5th @ 11pm EST. the first # drawn will win prize A. the 2nd # drawn will win prize B. the 3rd # drawn will win prize C. the 4th # drawn will win prize D. the 5th # drawn will win prize E.
f) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one so i can contact all the winners! thanks.
g) thanks so much everyone!

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

happy handmade holidays, 

from all of us to all of you, nicies!

 

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what i'm working on: custom stocking orders

it's almost impossible to believe that we're at that point in the year when i set my cut-off ordering dates for custom stockings! how can it be mid-november?!

wow.
i'm here sewing sewing sewing up lots of superfun custom stocking orders. i LOVE seeing the fabulous colour-combos folks come up with for their fabulous Holidaying decor!

and just in case you're interested in a custom colour-palette designed set of stockings made just for you for your lovely home, i'm just taking custom orders for a few more days: just until monday, november 21st! {after that i'll be selling only the rest of my in-stock stockings)

so please contact me if you're interested ... i'm sorry to have to turn custom requests away after that point!

and it's super easy! just

1. take a look at my style charts and choose the stocking style(s) you'd like.

2. choose your custom colour palette

3. contact me on etsy and i'll do you up a custom listing!

4. sit back and relax and i'll handcraft just them for you!

and how about you... 

what are you working on these days, cuties?

happy making!

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the november * i love my sponsors * giveaway!

row one

prairie blossoms

buster and boo

angel face botanicals

 simple joys paperie

row two

 the little red door

valerie tyler designs

 avril loreti

piping hot papers

row three
 theme fragrance

claire & me
bialaKura
phul effect

 
row four

lax to yvr

lucinda's nice things

the vintageholic frog
tickled pink paper + ink

 

row five
flutterbye notes
freshie & zero
studio jewel

 ella belle boutique

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

woohoo!
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 upcoming 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. = 21 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:

studio jewel

 ella belle boutique

prairie blossoms

buster and boo

angel face botanicals

 simple joys paperie

 the little red door

valerie tyler designs

 avril loreti

piping hot papers

 theme fragrance

claire & me
bialaKura
phul effect

lax to yvr

lucinda's nice things

the vintageholic frog
tickled pink paper + ink

flutterbye notes

freshie & zero

yoga thoughts

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 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!

<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! } 


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

wednesday november 30th,  2011 @ 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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