2 things to say

speech bubbles silk screened book :: by one up designs

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just 2 things to say today, sweeties.

:: 1 ::

dear mr. rikrak:

you're the good-golliest - best hubby, friend, daddy, writer, professor, thinker, creative-nicey, listener, cutie, helper and all-around superstar goodguy i know and i just love ya for it!

and 

:: 2 ::

happy birthday, sweetie.

{ ps: march is birthday month here at the rikrak homestead! seems like everyday there's candles and cakes! have a month like that in your life sweeties? }

party hats all around, nicies! Pin It

my favourite things: my brother

best friends by my wire empire

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today's a very special day on the rikrak calendar!
it's my dear brother's birthday!

i'm a lucky sister.

i have this wonderful, fun, generous, kind, most hilarious, creative power-house (six-string sweetheart is the perfect wednesday pick-me- up!), brilliant, super-gregarious, thoughtful brother who i just love & adore.

he inspires me to think great things, be a more loving person, and to embrace hard times with grace and understanding. he would be just the kind of brother i would craft for myself if i could. he's fabulous. he really really is.

too many times to count he has helped me see the other sides of things i thought were most certainly *this way* or *that way*, turned my day around with a cheery call or note, and brought me to happy tears laughing deep and healing belly laughs with his adorable antics.

he's also the gosh-darn best uncle ever to our little rikrak. and that's just a whole new level of praise for him. thanks, sweetie.

i confess:
i haven't always been the best sister to that little brother of mine {insert younger years recollections here: me as mrs. bossypants. him as poor victim to my dictatorship.} but i'm delighted beyond words we've become the best of friends as adults.

so happy birthday, dearest brother!
you're the best.

have a great brother?
what do you especially love about him?!

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happy handmade birthday, sesame street!

happy november, lovelies!
well november 10th will mark the birthday of one of my favourite classic kiddie things: the wonderful sesame street's amazing 40th season on tv.

i'm a grand sesame street fan from back when i was a little kidlet. and while i haven't seen a new episode in many moons (we share our classic sesame streets with little rikrak!) ... all those colours + characters + songs! wow! they most certainly influenced the person & designer i became in wonderful, colourful ways!

i dare say there's never been a better handmade show on tv! so cheers to sesame street, and all of the wonderful things i learned from it!

---> like counting to 12 on a pinball machine.
---> and that C is for cookie.
---> and that, truth be told, i don't want to live on the moon. (gosh i love ernie!)

those are a couple of my faves. happy birthday, sesame street!
& yay to teaching our children how brilliant handmade edu-tainment can be!

tell us: what are your fave sesame street songs & moments & characters, please share!

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a bittersweet day

today is one of those bittersweet kinda days for me.
do you have those in your calendar? a dose of sad mixed with a bunch of glad?

april 15th is a special day.
it's my wonderful dad's birthday.
he was so gregarious, funny, friendly, charming, brilliant & talented.
so we celebrate him today.

but we miss him so much. that's the bittersweet part.

i thought i'd share a little photo with you today.
it's of me & my daddy. when i was 5.
i love this fun photo.
everything 70's.
my dad in his classic ways: entertaining, fun-loving, always such a great friend.
us riding on my auntie's bike, on one of our many fun trips to florida to see my grandparents.
wonderful poncho by my grandma (i loved that poncho!)

my dad was such a great person.
he was the friendliest, liveliest person. he was a true entertainer. he could make anyone feel welcome. anyone feel part of things. and had such an impeccable, amazing memory.

it's such a grievious thing when we lose someone, isn't it?
and for me, there are many phases of it.
this year on this day, on my dad's birthday, now that many many years have come & gone since he passed away, i feel full of thanks & so very very lucky for having had such great, wonderful parents.

he taught me so many things.
to be always generous. to be kind & friendly to every person. to believe in ourselves. to add humour to everyday, in any way. to be a creative problem-solver in all things.

and i miss him so much. our whole family does. and i especially miss that our little sweetie never got to meet him.

but it's true what is said about passing things on.
i see his charm, wit & charisma in my wonderful brother & in my little sweetie. i feel so thankful for that.

it's true. good things do live on.
may your day be more sweet than bitter, lovelies.
i think that's the way my dad would want to craft it.
happy birthday, dad. Pin It

my favourite things: my wonderful mom!

photo of our piano by little rikrak, from a few years ago. age 3

we're back! hope everyone had a wonderful week! little friend & i had a great time march break-ing @ my wonderful mom's. today's post is in honour of her... happy birthday to my amazing mom!

gosh - i just love my mom so much.
she inspires me everyday to be a kinder, more loving, more generous, more thoughtful, more creative soul. i'm so lucky to have her as one of my dearest friends in the world. i'm so honoured that friends & aquaintences alike will often say that she's one of the kindest people they have ever known. and it's true! and she has inspired 1000's of children with the love of music, and with the joy of kindness thru her teaching. she is a brilliant musician, teacher, & is so wholly dedicated to her family that she just shines! she & my wonderful dad always encouraged me in everything i did. at every age. i'm so fortunate! and i gotta say.. whenever i see my mom & little rikrak together, and their immense &, tremendous love for one another, and hilarious antics together... wow. it's one of the best things in the world to me!

i thought i'd share a little moment from our visit together last week to sort of glimpse at what my mom is always like... it's the middle of the night. little rikrak is sleepless with terribly hurty growing pains. he's somewhat inconsolable, poor little thing. many lullabies, rubs, cuddles & warm beanbags later... nothing seems to help. my wonderful mommy is just a fountain of loving wisdom. she has always been the most patient of souls. she quietly goes to the piano, and plays little rikrak's favourite songs, in a lulling and soothing way. instantly.... he calmed down... relaxed, slept. half an hour later, cuddling little rikrak, listening to my amazing mom playing so many of my own favourites in her beautiful beautiful way @ 3 in the morning... i just felt so very very lucky. i really am.

it's that kind of selfless, modest, brilliant problem-solving demeanor that is always brimming over from my mom. folks say i have her smile, and i'm so honoured. what a room-brightening, sad-times-lifting, beautiful smile it is, mom! i love you so much. thanks for everything. always!

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

and it's so nice to see you all again. stay tuned for lots of fun here @ the rikrak studio this week. happy monday!

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happy birthday, mr. rikrak!

typewriter birthday card by OnPaper

march is a very special month in the rikrak home. it marks birthdays for two of my best friends in the world... the charming mr. rikrak , & mommy rikrak (my wonderful mom!)

today is my fun-loving, poem-writing, super-creative, superdaddy, brilliantly-minded, prof-extraordinaire, cute hubby's birthday.

i'm so lucky to have my best friend as my partner, and for so many adventurous years now!

so happy birthday, sweetie.
you inspire me to be a more thoughtful soul, a more dedicated listener & to challenge my ideas in wonderful ways.
you're wonderful.

happy birthday, love!

(you should see how very cutely little rikrak decorated the house for the occasion! adorable little daddy drawings, handmade *streamers* & fun little signs! love it!)

(ps: here's a blatant plug: here's his 1st book: it's great! go buy it! hint hint!)

muybridge's horse: a poem in three phases by rob winger

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