handmade sister cities {part 4} : halifax + norfolk

row one
piprobins: halifax
snaaz: halifax
enthral: halifax

row two
bbbennyandthejet: halifax
ShibaNGDesigns: halifax
MyHandboundBooks: halifax

row three
Toomanytreasures: norfolk
SillyGooseEmporium: norfolk
welchva: norfolk

row four
the widow's walk: norfolk
JuJoPrimitives: norfolk
MantaWave: norfolk


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oh how i've always loved the idea of sister cities.
two great places, joined over sea & sky by the idea of common cultural & commercial ties.

this new rikrak studio series explores 2 sister cities @ a time,
and some of the handmaking lovelies that they share! so i've done a bit of research to find official sister cities, and love seeing what handmakers are up to there!

be sure to visit the other handmade sister cities posts here.

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handmade sister cities {part 4 }
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halifax, nova scotia, canada & norfolk, virginia, usa
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oceanviews, among other traitis, tie these two lovely places together.
oh water. how great + grand you are.

i've been lucky to have spent lots & lots of little spurts of time in beautiful halifax over the years - so many wonderful artists + so much great creativity alive there!

and i've yet to visit norfolk, so i'd love to hear any tales, lovelies!

i love that both have great museums, fabulous architechture & obviously, wonderful artists!! yay!

so here's to sister cities.
and exploring new handmade places.
have a great weekend, lovelies!

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ps: tune in monday for something big BIG big, lovelies!
til then... happy handmaking!

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on turning one {+ a giveaway!}

hokey dinah!
it's been a year.

one year ago today i nervously wrote my very first little blog post ... ever.
it was one of my 2009 new year's resolutions... to write a few public posts to garner up some confidence with sharing my writing.

i was so nervous.
i was so nervous that i actually worked on the first post for 5 days, mulling it over, changing and editing it.
i was so nervous i didn't even tell anyone (except mr. rikrak!) in non-cyber world about my blog for 2 months! :)

the first post, january 7th, 2009

but thanks to you, thanks to all of you lovelies and nicies and encouragers out there, i was slowly able to gain some writerly confidence, and now here we are... one year later!

(superthanks to that sweetie, chakrapennywhistle for leaving my first bloggy comment! hugs, nicey!) now i just adore sharing + learning from + visiting with you nicies every weekday.

i really do!
so thanks to all of you sweeties with your kind words and comments and enthusiasm! and even though the blog was little and young, you nicies came on board as sponsors and friends and folks to be featured and i can't thank you enough for it! so thanks.

thanks for helping me build this little blog bigger then i ever ever thought possible. woowee. superthanks!

in honour of my one-year blog birthday, a little rikrak giveaway for you, with a nostalgic feel (i always love a little nostalgia on birthdays!)

come win a bundle of 20 lovely vintage print, cotton fat-quarters from my own
fabricy collection!

just think of all of the fun you could have: start your own vintage fabric collection, add to stash, make something fun + repurposed. these are lovely fabrics that were from vintage fabric meters or vintage bedsheets or vintage curtains, etc, and all are perfect for your next eco-friendly craft or art project! yay!

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

here's how to enter the giveaway!

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

1. i'd love to hear something you enjoy here on my little blog! i'd love to hear about one little thing that you're liking, or a post you especially loved, or a series you enjoy here, so i can keep it in mind and do it some more! :) thanks!

= 1 entry

2. leave me a comment on what you'd create with the fun bunch of vintage fabric fat quarters if you won! yay repurposing + handmaking!
... = 1 entry

3. leave me a comment about something YOU feel thankful for feeling more confident about! we'd all love to cheer you on!
= 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 this giveaway will be chosen on
wednesday january 13th @ 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.

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

and thanks again, lovelies!
here's to another wonderful year playing with all you nicies out there!

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slumber party {part 8}: your craziest new year's resolutions over the years

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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! join us! you can catchup with some of our other slumber party fun here: and for today's party question: what are your silliest, craziest new year's resolutions over the years?

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new year's resolution print by bluebicicletta

i love a new year!
the newness and starting fresh.
and i love making plans for trying new things + setting new goals.

but i must admit... often times the same sorts of ones appear. and sometimes i make some crazy resolutions.

so i thought today we'd share our silliest (in retrospect) resolutions! (don't be shy... we've all made them!)

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lay's potato chips screenprint by brittanypowell


in my early 20's i decided one new year's to give up potato chips as a resolution. now ... it was a toughie for me(as i totally loved (or perhaps better said, *was obsessed with* potato chips!).. now we all know that as obsessions go, that's not a great one. right?

so i did pretty well for a little while. i willfully bypassed the chip aisle at the grocery store. said a firm *no* to chips calling me from the vending machines at work! until one day in mid-february when at a little party i took just one. well, let's just say that was the end of it. but in optimistic news, i've come to have slightly more potato-chippy control now! *sigh*
i think i can.
i think i can.

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vintage looking chair & damask boxed set of stationery by dawn correspondence

now i adore a hand-written letter. so another year i decided, whole-heartedly, to write a real-mail letter every day to someone. i love writing real-mail letters. so this was a fun one. but by mid-march i began frantically writing ever-so-brief post-cards in bulk just to meet my quota
{i'm recalling

"love you,
-k."

as a real low-point in that project!}

i became SUPER stressed about meeting my goal. and let's be honest.. it wasn't fun anymore. so soon i reverted back to trying to write a letter when i could, perhaps not always as frequently as i'd like. and i resolved never to resolve like that again! :) and to this day sitting in a sunny window writing a little handmade note or letter is one of my fave things!

so perhaps what i've learned from these silly examples is that for me, all things in moderation might be a better resolution!
how 'bout you?

i still make resolutions every new year's day, and to be honest, resolutions throughout the year whenever i feel like it! i'm all for resolving newness whenever we need it in our lives, regardless of the calendar! just this morning i resolved to keep my fabric shelves in better order. eek! i'll let you know how that one goes. at least they'll look good today!

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okay! so i've confessed!

so there are my choices for my craziest new year's resolutions! now... let's snuggle into our cozy sleeping bags, open another bag of sour cream & onion chips, crank up the cyndi lauper cassette, giggle & whisper and hear yours!

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call for PRIZES!

vintage pinewood derby trophies via RobertaGrove

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hot-diggity-dog!

something funFUNfun + new is snowballing @ the rikrak studio + i'm looking for a few fun folks who might like to join in on the excitement!

i've got a big project in the works, i'm putting together some FABULOUS prize packs. i'm looking for a few more folks who are willing to:

---> offer ONE $50.00 gift certificate to their handmade OR vintage OR supply shop as a prize. <---

i already have a few lined up and would love to have a couple more.

:: THE DETAILS! ::

:: if you're interested :: please apply via email as soon as possible at rikrakmail@yahoo.com so i can finalize the prize packs and launch the FUN FUN event in the next few days. the application deadline is tomorrow night
(wed. jan.6th)

---> *PLEASE NOTE* : event sponsors, once chosen, will receive:
:: a 150 x 150 promo spot FREE with all event-related promotion.
:: mention in all event-related sponsorship
:: this prize-sponsorship IS NOT an ad-spot on the rikrak studio blog sponsors column. this is a separate entity!
:: PLUS: becoming a sponsor for this SPECIAL event + donating your prize of a $50.00 shopping spree in your shop WILL NOT COST YOU any other monies. you must just be willing to let the winner redeem the prize in your shop once won! + i'm happily including you in all of the promotion, for FREE as a thanks!
:: the event will run for approx. 6 weeks! yay!

so hey - it's a winwin situation! great promotion for your lovely handmade shop + then just let a happy winner have a little shopping spree in your lovely shop!

fan-tastic!
applications to offer a prize close wed.jan. 6th @ 8pm EST.
i will notify all successful applicants on thurs. jan. 7th (or sooner!)
thanks so much!
and get ready for something funFUNfun, lovelies!

woowee!

vintage medal of friendship via spacejam

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sharing handmade happiness!

shine mixed media collage print by OiseauxNoir

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gosh! i always love reading your wonderful comments & words. and i thought i'd share a few of the lovely entries handmaking folks shared in the recent rikrak studio *sharing happiness* giveaway! i love it!

i asked what was something you'll be doing to spread kindness. here's a sampling of the wonderful answers!
(you nicies sure are inspiring!)

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SewnNatural called a longtime friend to tell her she loved her & her family was also going to be working at the local food bank!

tazimd was putting together care packages at her local shelter, and Joe-Hanna was donating food to her food bank.

amber was going to bake cookies for the local shelter.and kym was donating to the local animal shelter.

biddy's family had decided to exchange only handmade gifts this year! yay! and meganmay and theoneredhead were both making handmade gifts for their families, too!

t.mullinex called her mom to thank her for all of the extra help she's been giving (as t.mullinex was about to have baby #2! thinking of you, lovely! and congrats!)

and eternal voyageur was looking forward to sharing happiness by teaching friends to hoopdance!

abby was donating items to the orphanage.

M was posting a gratitude playlist on her blog to show folks how much she appreciates them!

daerOn was cooking a feast for her family to show her love. and heidi was baking apple crisp for her co-workers! yum!

herbivortex was inspired to write to a friend she hadn't talked with in a while! yay reconnections!

and funly, i_am_amazed called a boy she likes, and they went on a fun date! yay love!

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thanks for sharing happiness, loves!
here's to much more in the year ahead!

have a little story of someone sharing happiness or kindness with you of late? please share! :) Pin It

congrats

woohoo! welcome back, nicies!
hope everyone had a wonderful Holidaying season.
first things first.... thought we'd better finish up one last 2009 giveaway!
thanks so much to the over 700 entries in the most recent rikrak sponsor's giveaway! yay - it was so great to read how you were all spreading happiness in your own homes and communities! what a wonderful bunch of lovelies you all are!

thanks to random.org, lucky # 262... zertuchina! i just took a glance at her funfun shop, and although she's in holiday mode, take a look at these superfun printable desktop calendars she has! so lovely! and perfectly timely for lovely lovely calendary january! what a great way to start the year!

so congrats to zertuchina, who now gets to have a little shopping spree in the rikrak sponsor shop of her choice!

and thanks to everyone who entered, too!

tune in later today for more rikrak fun, and til then, happy new week!
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the cedar sprig

red cedar photograph by bluebirdsky

happy new year, dearest lovelies!

what a wonderful time of year: reknewal & rebooting & reinventing and all the wonderful re-words that accompany this glorious time when we can each start things anew in our lives! i love that.

here's to a glorious new year ahead for each of you, sweeties.
may it be a fabulous year filled with wellness, peace, laughter, joy, love, kindness and wonderful ideas!

i'd love to hear about any fun new year's traditions you lovelies celebrate annually at this time. special get-togethers? special meals? making your new year's resolutions (or intentionally not) ... please tell us!

one of my favourite new year's traditions belonged to my wonderful grandpa, who sadly passed away on boxing day last week.... each year, first thing on new year's day he'd cut a fresh spring of cedar, place it in water and care for it for the year in their home. he told us of how it brought good luck, happiness and longevity to the family, and that his parents did this every year before him! we do the same now, too!

and quite wonderfully, he lived a fulfilling, wonderful, family-centred, musical, community-serving, gentle, peace-loving & faithful life to the age of 92! perhaps that little cedar bough played a small part in that!

so happy new year, nicies! may it be all things wonderful!

and please tell us your fave new year's traditions!
cheers! Pin It