giveaway & a playlist: with nesting emily

what is an artist?

a creator? a visionary? a creative powerhouse that can effectively articulate emotion + ideas into inspiring expressive form?

for me, the  mutli-media superstar emily jull of nesting emily embodies all of these truly admirable attributes (and more!)  ... i love emily's art!

as a longtime admirer of her work, i'm constantly amazed & inspired by the fantastical ways emily creates beautiful & functional new works in ceramics & textiles. 

it is delightfully mesmerizing for me to see her art so brilliantly marry kntting or fibres or felting,  & porcelain forms in such invigorating, organic ways. a trip to her amazing gallery of a shop is a breath of inspiring fresh air ... just like a gorgeous autumny walk!

so i hope you'll read on to find out how you can WIN one of emily's gorgeous works from her fabulous new knit obi vase collection!

but first, a delightful autumny playlist from our artist!

nesting emily

shop | flickr

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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 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 nesting emily! and check out the other great playlists here.

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theme: Songs for an Autumn walk

dj: emily jull of nesting emily

September- by Pomplamoose 

(Maybe the best, happiest cover of all time!) 

The Shape of My Heart- by Noah and the Whale 

(Oh so sweet, these boys are)

 

Echo Beach- by Martha and the Muffins 
(I am a child of the 80's and this in a fav)

 

My Moon My Man- by Feist

(Simply too good not to include)

You're a Wolf- by Sea Wolf 

(My favourite walking song) 

St. Francis- by Ohbijou  

(My favourite Canadian band- they are amazing live!) 

Mykonos- by Fleet Foxes 

(Not since Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have a group of men sung so beautifully) 

Devil Spoke- by Laura Marling  

(I love her voice so much!!!) 

Heartbeats- by Jose Gonzalez  

(Maybe the other best cover of all time- so pretty.) 

Undertow- by Warpaint 

(these gals are my newest musical find & I am so smitten!) 

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thanks so much, emily! what a fabulous playlist!

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

---> this amazing emily jull original knit obi vase <----

valued at $40.

emily writes about the giveaway item:  I am premiering this line on the rikrak blog. This is a knit obi bottle/vase. It is my ode to the great knitters and spinners of our craft community. It comes with a removeable obi (scarf, sweater) of hand spun yarn (this one is by funky caroline) that way it can be enjoyed with it's obi, bare or someone can add their own (knit, sewn, etc). This one is about 7 inches tall by about 4 inched across. It is lined with moss green glaze and can hold water or other liquids (could add cork to have it hold oil etc).

 

1. visit the lovely nesting emily shop.

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

=   1 entry

2. heart/fave the  nesting emily shop on etsy.

...  & tell us.

=   1 entry

3. follow emily on flickr.

...  & tell us.

=   1 entry

4. share a favourite song that fits emily's fun *songs for an autumn walk* playlist!

= 1 entry

5. share a link to a fabric/yarn that you would use to create your own beautiful obi

= 1 entry

6.  follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog

... & tell us.

= 1 entry

7. follow  the rikrak shop (that's me! twitter.com/therikrakshop)  on twitter

... & tell us.

= 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 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! }

11. :: PLEASE NOTE: 

each entry must be it's 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 nesting emily giveaway will be chosen on monday october 11th @ 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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playlists & a giveaway: with LaLa! Shoes

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 lalashoes! and check out the other great playlists here.

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i'm smitten.
i'm just enamoured with the beautiful, colourful, whimsical, etheral world that talented footwear artist Daria of LaLa! Shoes creates with her amazing linen & felt home shoes.

a visit to her boutique and i'm whisked away to a home that is vivid and filled with all the right kinds of energy for the kiddies in our lives: wool felt baby shoes in the most luscious colour-combos! and beside them in the shop, women's home shoes in delightful linens that evoke that well-balanced, blissfully content, healthy & happy woman inside each of us.

*swoon!*

wouldn't these be fabulous mother's day gifts? or birthday gifts for a dear friend? or a pair for yourself? how about a baby pair for the wee ones! so sweet!

as a medallist in the handmade olympics, i was thrilled to see world sharing my complete adoration for the style and panache of LaLaShoes! her unique shoes and slippers are, for me, simply perfect. read on for your amazing chance to WIN a pair! woohoo!

and i thought you all might like a little glimpse into the music behind the artistic footworks that are *designed with passion & sewn with care!*

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

dj: la la shoes
playlist theme: a mix of the songs I love.

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1. Esbjörn Svensson Trio - From Gagarin's Point of View
One of my favourite pieces by EST - I really feel like floating in space. It's wistful & very calming.

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2. The Pixies - Where is my mind? & Hey
Ha! The whole Band! It was so difficult to choose! Sorry, must be at least 2 songs!
Energizing! They scream when I'm not allowed to!

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3. Radiohead - 2+2=5 & Knives out & Paranoid Android
Again - I could just write - Radiohead "All & Everything". I could listen to them any time!

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4. Miles Davis - Generique / from L'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
So good, so sad.

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5. Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
This makes me remember Sundays of my childhood - my father used to wake us up with Armstrong on Sundays. Makes me feel sunny and optimistic. Found a funny performance!


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6. Cannonball Adderley feat. Miles Davis - Autumn Leaves
I could listen to jazz all the time - good for everything. Working, reading, cooking, just listening. The genre I enjoy the most.

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7. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five

Excellent to start the day!

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8. Massive Attack - Karmacoma
Haha, the sexy song :) I found this interesting performance.
Makes me feel powerful. And very focused.

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9. The Shins - Sleeping Lessons

Incredibly cheerful - it's like a huge vitamins shot! Fantastic to match colours for the shoes!

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10. Cinematic Orchestra - The Man With The Movie Camera
Keeps me focused.

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11. Etta James - At Last
I always stop when I hear this song. I can't think or work. Absolutely mesmerizing.

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12. Gershwin plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Makes me smile. I used to listen it from an old gramophone we had,
head down in the armchair.

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13. Bonobo - Days to Come

Excellent for long working hours! Keeps me focused.
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14. Paris Combo - Fibre de verre
Just hyper! Like me, sometimes.
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15. Dionysos - La Mécanique du Coeur
Our first band together- the funniest thing is that we discover a new French word each time we listen to them, and then feel so proud :) (still learning French!)
.......................

In Daria's words: So hard to make such a short playlist :)

My husband and I both work from home - so we listen to music all the time. He's our DJ! We rarely mix different artists when listening, we almost always play full albums. It gives me rhythm when working, knowing which song is next and staying in one mood for at least 45 minutes.

Sometimes we listen to calm music the whole day, but sometimes we put an "energizing" album on to wake us up! Most of the time music just keeps in tune with the ongoing mood - up, down, calm, screaming, cheerful. It has a great impact on me - one of the most important things in my life, I remember periods of my life by some albums or songs. Well, who doesn't? I enjoy silence, but can't imagine a day without music (especially if it's a working day).

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wonderful stuff! thanks so much for such a fabulous playlist, nicey!
love it!
and now... the moment you've been waiting for...
an amazing giveaway from LaLaShoes!

that's right! one lucky rikrak studio reader
will win a pair of
Pop! Stars shoes
in green, size 18-24 months / EU size 22.
a $52.00 value!

{ the details: They're made of thicker pure wool felt (Oeko-Tex Standard 100% certified) and have 3mm thick soles and eco-leather (leather substitute) no-skid undersoles.}

eep! they're so fantastically sweet! yay!
perfect for spring indoors! yay!

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

here's how to enter the giveaway!

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

1. go visit the wonderful LaLa! Shoes 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 about a song you love to listen to all the time!
... = 1 entry

3. visit Daria's vibrant flickr photosteam & add her as a contact.
come back here & tell us.
... = 1 entry.

4. follow LaLa! Shoes on twitter @lalamonde . Come back here and tell us about it!
... 1 entry

5. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :) = 1 more possible entry.

6. blog about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here.
= 1 more 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. :: PLEASE NOTE:
each entry must be it's own comment.
thanks! ::

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

:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 7 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 LaLa!Shoes giveaway will be chosen on wednesday april 7th @ 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.
................................................

have a fabulously vivid day, nicies!

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playlists: with inklore

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 inklore:songs to print fabric to and check out the other great playlists here.

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as cyber monday swirls all around us and folks are traveling home, artists hopefully brimming over with orders (fingers crossed that the sales*fairy has come to visit you all, lovelies!) and everyone looking looking looking for those perfect holidaying gifts for everyone on their list, i thought a wonderful playlist, with songs to create to, would be a perfect background for the day!


the lovely and talented inklore, whose gorgeous eco-friendly, handprinted housewares & accessories seem perfect for so many folks on those holiday gift lists, is a wonderful eco-artist. i just love her design palette and her lovely minimalist designs.

so check out her beautiful shop, her wonderful eco-forward blog, and tune in for all kinds of gorgeous songs from her very own playlist below. (psst: she's also having a long weekend sale that ends today! check it out!)

---> ps: still a few more days to enter the AMAZING MEGA handmade giveaway here on the blog, with a prize pack valued at over $450 US! woohoo!

dj: inklore
theme: songs to print fabric to
................

Beginning to See the Light - The Velvet Underground

Strange Overtones - David Byrne and Brian Eno

That'll Be the Plan - Daniel Martin Moore

Seule - Keren Ann

Writer's Minor Holiday - Calexico

Autumn in New York - Billie Holiday

Fitz and the Dizzyspells - Andrew Bird

Your Reverie - Kelley Stoltz

Talk to You - Tracy Chapman

Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie

Love Minus Zero - Bob Dylan

It Never Entered My Mind - Miles Davis

..........

in her own words: "I love music, but never pay enough attention to the names of songs/artists to make my own playlists. Luckily I'm married to a man who has excellent taste in music; he has a collection of many different genres and makes playlists for me so that if I'm making dinner, there's a mix for that and if we go on a roadtrip, there's another mix. I must admit I made this mix myself, from some of my current favorites of his, and I think this would be the perfect music to work in my studio by. There's just enough pep to keep me going with the occasional jazz piece to keep my mind at ease.

..........

lovely, inklore. thanks so much! here's to *keeping our minds at ease* today, lovelies!
??? what are you listening to as you create???

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playlist & a giveaway! with avril loreti

i just adore the gorgeous and fresh and colour-perfect world of avril loreti.

i love the ways in which avril is inspired by beautiful everyday objects and then creates goodies with an uncanny flair for creative design sensibility.

her adorable cocktail napkins, coasters, hankerchiefs & pillows would be a sensational addition to any stylin' home or ensemble. and with the Holidays coming up, there is no end to the folks i know who would ADORE her creations as gifts: hostesses, friends, co-workers, kissing friends, family, etc, etc! and now you can WIN one of her amazing handkerchief sets for yourself! i know - AMAZING! read on, lovelies!

and you can catch avril LIVE this week in Toronto between Nov 12-15 at the Craft Off the Lot show! (it's at 1030 King Street West (at Shaw) .. looks like a fabulous group of artists - so be sure to check it out!

now for a fabulous avril loreti playlist!

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dj: avril loreti
playlist theme: the road trip mix tape playlist

Helen of Troy – Telefon Tel Aviv
Moonlight Desires – Gowan
Fences – Phoenix
Seventeen – Ladytron
Violet – Hole
Kissability – Sonic Youth
Faces – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Deserter – Matthew Dear
TMNT Mask – Chad VanGaalen
Hold Me – Fleetwood Mac
Gamma Ray – Beck
Legal Man – Belle and Sebastian

in her own words: "My ever-evolving Road Trip Mix is my favourite playlist to work on. It’s always changing depending on season, destination, and reason for getting out of town. It has to start off chill for when you coast out of your driveway, then it has to pick up the pace to something exciting once you hit the highway. It has to cover plenty of genres and ages so that your ‘Trip Co-pilot’ will be like “hun? I would have never thought those ditties could mix so well together”. You also have to throw in some songs that you know really well, along with some not-so-well-known-gems to keep things interesting. It’s a definite must to have a guilty pleasure tucked in there (Yes, Gowan!). Oh and if it’s a really good mix, then it’ll end on the perfect song that you just want to blare out of the car speakers once you’ve hit your destination. That’s my idea of a great Road Trip Mix."

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woohoo! love it, avril! you're my kind of road-tripper! while you're checking out these great tunes, see what avril is offering one lucky rikrak studio reader....

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one lucky reader will win

a set of 4 mustache hankies!
super woohoo! aren't those are the funnest!?
thanks so much, avril!

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here's how to enter the giveaway!

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

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

2. leave us a comment on YOUR FAVE road trip song to travel to!
... = 1 entry

3. visit the avril loreti blog and leave her a comment on one of the fun posts.
... 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. please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :) = 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! ::

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

:: 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, 1 winner of the avril loreti giveaway will be chosen on
monday november 16th @ 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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i should also note that avril is one of my sponsors, and i'm thrilled to have her!
happy road trips, cuties!
{ps: last day to enter the tomate depingles necklace giveaway today, too! yay free delights!}

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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!

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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! ::

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

:: 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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