Friday, August 20, 2010

5 a.m.

molly briggs' amazing acrylic + ink works.
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5 am today.
this is how my morning rested silent. 

all souls sleeping.

me: in + out of sleep.
sound + colour sort of dancing in slow slow motion through foggy closed eyes
light floating gently into the room.

oh how i love those mornings: seeing hearing feeling things i usually miss because of routine, schedules, busy-busi-ness, life. living in what's right now instead of what's ahead...  you know what i mean.

have a beautiful beautiful weekend, nicies.

{& thanks to design for mankind for introducing me to the fabulous molly briggs}


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Thursday, August 19, 2010

giveaway & a collection: with buster & boo + woolies



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i just love seeing what folks are collecting. i guess i kind of feel it tells us just a little bit about what inspires them, what they love, and what they choose to surround themselves with in their home. today, i'm delighted to present the next in the rikrak studio's collections series: 11 & a 1/2 quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting, (apart from their art supplies! ) you can also check out my new *the collectors* series on Etsy, based on these posts! hope you'll just love:handcarved wooden animals with Sara!
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isn't it grand when wise artists incorporate repurposing into their brilliant designs!? 
i say cheers to that indeed!

sara,  of the two well-loved etsy shops woolies { home of adorable artisan stuffed animals, toys & dolls} & buster and boo { filled with fab typewriter key jewelry, necklaces, rings & cufflinks } is a pro!

her eco-forward designs are gorgeous, functional , inspiring & unique.
i love her use of all natural materials, or repurposing genuine vintage typewriter parts, and her adorable artistic interpretations of our beautiful natural world!

bravo to artists like sara!
and read on to find out how YOU can WIN an amazing prize pack of her work for of your very own!
woohoo!

find sara @

but first... let's see what sara's collecting!




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who (are you) : Sara
what (are you collecting) : I collect handcarved wooden animals
when (did you start) : I was about 10
how (many do you have?) : About 50
where (do you find them) : Etsy (of course), but the first place I ever found them was the New hampshire League of Arts and Crafts
where (do you keep them) : I have curio cabinets and shelves all over the place
what (‘s a crazy/interesting story behind one) : Recently, my hubby knocked a gnome onto the floor. Not realizing it, he didn't see the puppy get it. and the puppy ate it. :( LUCKILY the Etsy shop owner made me a new one!
what (piece would you like to add): omigosh I have so many in my favs....
why (do you love them) : They each have their own personality. They're fun to hold and play with. They fit in your pocket
which (one is your favourite) & why : My favorites change....but one of my favs is a goat done by woodmouse.etsy.com (I love goaties)
what (else do you collect) : I love miniatures of all kinds, but most of my miniature collection is wooden animals

 
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---and now ...  one lucky rikrak studio reader will win <--- 
BOTH a Knitted Sheep & 
a typewriter key pendant 
 in the letter of YOUR choice!
valued at over $50!
WOW!
1. visit the lovely Buster & Boo shop!
...  tell us about your favourite goodie & why you love it!
=   1 entry

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

3.  heart both the Buster & Boo AND the WOOLIES etsy shops!
... on etsy and tell us.
=   1 entry

4.  follow/subscribe to the woolies BLOG.
... & tell us.
=   1 entry


5.  follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
... & tell us.
= 1 entry

6. 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

7. tell us about something YOU collect!
= 1 entry

8. blog about this giveaway
... come back and tell us.
= 1 entry

9. :: PLEASE NOTE: 
each entry must be it's own comment.
thanks! ::


..........................................
:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 8 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 woolies & buster + boo giveaway will be chosen on friday august 27th @ 9pm 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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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

the ekphrastic challenge { part five } : signac


paul signac's pointillist superstar: Sandy Seashore, 1890
via the Pushkin Museum, Russia.
.......


bravo, superstars!
the 4th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #5!

today we're lounging at the beach  with a painting full of late summer lure: Paul Signac's pointillist superstar Sandy Seashore.

 oh how it reminds me of one of my favourite summer beaches: sandbanks provincial park here in southern ontario! just love those gorgeous sandy grey tones, the textured dots, and those dunes-o-delight!

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so, here's the challenge for you:
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using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 5th collective *ekphrastic response.* 
---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks.

so show me your late summer signac, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

congrats!


a happy congrats to #51, Melissa... winner of the empty nest hostess apron giveaway!

what a gorgeous blog melissa has! 
be sure to check out * oh, my darling *, a delightful, thoughtful & informative site i know you'll just love!

thanks so much to the empty nest for the great prize, and to everyone who entered. 

there's STILL TIME to enter the * i LOVE my sponsors * gift certificate giveaway, too!

have a great night!
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my favourite things: cute tofu


xanadu!
when two of my favourite things happily meet it's pure bliss!

take my love of all things cute (are you with me?) 
add one of my favourite staple foods: tofu
and you've got the gosh-darn-cutest tofu around, the kawaii sensation: hannari tofu.

a few years ago when mr. rikrak & i lived in south korea my deep deep adoration of  things *cute* & delicious tofu was solidified. 

the CUTE: animated everything was pretty much everywhere! it was as though the inanimate-objects-personified-world which i had always day-dreamed of in my head had finally come alive! CUTE was dancing all around me! of COURSE all food had a cute face on it and of COURSE trees made winking eyes at me and clouds made sleepy faces! it was so refreshing to find such a cute-loving community! )

and then there's the TOFU love.
we're addicted to tofu here at the rikrak home.
tofu any-which-way.

so in case you're new to the Japanese tofu mascot hannari tofu, (a series of adorable & cuddly tofu characters with different cutiepie faces) now is the time to embrace your inner cute tofu self and squeeze a plushie.

have any favourite plushie characters? 
love tofu? 

*squeal* 


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images: 
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Monday, August 16, 2010

photo essay: pioneer day


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welcome to a fresh new week, nicies!
a great day to try something new, start again, reflect and move forwar!

hope you had a delightful weekend.
ours was happily full visiting a dear friend, 
feasting on yummy local farm produce, and loving pioneer day on a day-trip to a nearby museum village

isn't handmaking from another era so inspiring!

oh natural light.
oh hands-on learning.
oh handmade crewel embroidery
i LOVE you!

{all images by me: kristal davis / rikrak, 2010}

have a favourite traditional handicraft?
i'd love to hear!
.....................

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Friday, August 13, 2010

with thanks!



happy friday, nicies!

fun news:  my latest etsy blog article is up!

check out one of designer & artist aimee ray's retro-fabulous vintage sticker collection!

i promise... it's a blast from the past, back-to-school supercollection!


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

thanks so much, nicies!

and yay to back-to-school glittery, glow-in-the-dark, puffy sticker fun!

did you ever collect stickers? 
what about another kind of collection? 


ps: for extra fun: don't forget to ENTER the 2 fun giveaways happening this week here on the rikrak studio: 


::: the MEGA-giveaway with a $25 shopping spree from the shop of your choice.




and 


::: the amazing empty nest hostess apron giveaway, too!


AND... have a glorious weekend, nicies!
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