with thanks

part of a custom commission i worked on
(and am now making more of for them!) for the facebook company!

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

wow. i have the most wonderful customers!

i've been thinking lots this week on how lucky i am.
to do my handmaking on such a daily basis.

(let's be honest... i feel so thankful for this all the time!)

and how it wouldn't be possible without the support of all you handmaking nicies and the amazing folks that buy handmade. those that thoughtfully, intentionally purchase handmade as another handmaker, an at-home buyer, a craft show visitor, a wholesale order, commissioning a custom order, etc!

and here on *black friday* - that's busy busy shopping day on the calendar, i'm so thankful for all of those folks who buy from my little handmade shop, in big and small ways. each purchase is a little joy, isn't it?

a funfun custom order for a superfun place (can't say where yet! :) - yay little seacreatures!

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

i've been lucky to have been creating LOTS of custom order stockings these days, and i always love the challenge of a custom order. the idea that a person, or group, have seen my work, have a fun idea they'd like me to craft and design and then put their faith in my little designs and work! isn't that a crazy fun thought?

i'm so thankful for that!
for those comments like *you're the artist - i trust what you decide!* - good heavens!
how marvelous folks are to support handmade like that!.

sometimes, i get a little nervous with a custom order. i brew and stew about it making it perfect to please the client and ponder things a million ways... anyone else like me? :)

but i hope it's one of those situations where the thought (the many thoughts! :) behind the action become a great investment in a great payoff for the customer in the end!

so thanks! thanks to all of you out there who have purchased handmade goodies. those ready to ship, that we've already put our creative energies into, and those *custom orders* where we craft anew .... it sure is a wonderful feeling seeing others buying your handmade goodies, isn't it!

custom order advent calendar for a fun customer on etsy!

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

and thanks to those bigger groups of folks: businesses on larger scales, who support the handmade world. i feel thankful that the idea of the wonderment of handmaking has reached the tall tall echelons of corporations, who see that the there is great value in handmade.

i've been really lucky to have had a numerous great big custom commissions this year, for individuals, families, and companies: small and very large. thought you might like a little peek!

.........

a little part of a custom commission for that fun company *burt's bees*

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

(by the way ----> i'll be taking stocking custom orders JUST til monday... just til monday! :)

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

have a great custom order you've worked on this season you'd like to share a link to?

ever feel nervous excitement creating a custom order?

have a great company supporting handmade tale you'd like to tell?
i'd love to hear! have a great handmade weekend, nicies!

the 12 days of Christmas & another amazing GIVEAWAY!

as the holidaying season gathers near, festive spirits are all around us, and our neighbours to the south celebrate thanksgiving (happy thanksgiving, nicies!) .... here in canada we're starting some celebrations of our own!

on now... the trans canada etsy team (one of the fun handmaking teams i just LOVE being part of!) presents the team canada 12 days of Christmas promotion. on now thru december 6th, you receive a ballot for each $10.00 (excluding shipping) you spend in participating shops (including my own shop - rikrak! ) ...
there's even a coupon code over there to use in my little shop! woohoo!

the DRAW for this fabulous package full of handmade Canadian goodies pictured above will take place on December 7th. the goodie bag is worth over $350.00!

wow! there are a whole lot of fabulous giveaways going on for you, nicies! woowee! so shimmy on over to the team canada blog, ----> here.... follow the participants each day when you'll get to hear us share some of our favourite holiday traditions, recipes, and more, AND visit the wonderful handmade shops for chances to WIN that amazing prize pack! let's start celebrating!

what are some of your favourite holiday traditions?
i'd love to hear!

with thanks to etsy, the storque + my favourite dress!

oh the festive festive season of entertaining and celebrating is upon us!
yay!

need some inspiration in the kitchen?
another fun installment of the new Etsy storque series :: the collectors:: launched today... yay!

with guest curator, ME!

and this one features the fabulous myfavouritedress who shares with us her GORGEOUS vintage kitchenware collection - one i'd adore having myself!
(i heart vintage pyrex indeed!)

as you might remember, the etsy series is based on my own :: collections series:: from here on my little rikrak studio blog! be sure to visit today's post on Etsy, and if you can, leave cheers for the wonderful claire & her fantastic collection . yay kitschy kitchenware!

and many thanks to etsy, & vanessa @ the wonderful storque, too!

have a fascinating collection you might like to share with us?
please be sure to let me know! thanks!

advertise with the rikrak studio blog!

thanks so much to the nicies who have come on board to advertise in these 1st few months here on the rikrak studio blog! the busy Holiday season is upon us, and i'm happy to be offering a few new ad spots as of today, for both December, and the fun new year month of January, if you're interested!

if you feel that your shop, group 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 . the wonderfully busy handmade Holiday season is upon us & i have lots of continued fun planned for the blog: funfun guests, fabulous giveaways you're not going to want to miss, great games, fantastic features and a few extra fun surprises, too, for both the December holiday rush + the wonderful new start to our year in January! it's a great way to boost sales now, and build your little business in the new year, too!

please note: i will only be publishing on the blog until mid-december, and the ad pricing reflects this half-month schedule. so you can maximize your advertising dollars when it counts! however, all ads will remain on the blog for the entire month! yay! more exposure!

i'm also 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! just let me know if you need that, too!

so come & be part of the fun!
thanks so much!
k.

the rikrak studio *let's celebrate* MEGA handmade giveaway!

some of the goodies in the mega giveaway prize pack!

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

yay!
it's that festive time of year when we all love to celebrate with our dear family + friends and the festive seasons that surround us!

i'm so fortunate to have such a wonderful community of readers, handmakers, & encouragers here on the rikrak studio blog, and with my little rikrak shop, too.

thank you.
thank you so very much. it's a JOY to handmake and share in this community with you!

so in honour... i asked over 30 different handmaking favourites + rikrak studio friends if they'd join me in celebrating all of the wonders of the season... and look what you can WIN!

hot-diggity-dog!
that's right.

one lucky rikrak studio reader will be celebrating the Holidays early with a GIANT + rockin' giveaway pack, brimming over with amazing handmade + vintage loving goodies from the most wonderful handmade artists around!

:::::: the prize pack is valued at OVER $450.00 USD :::::
:::: hokey dinah! ::::

what a prize pack!

i'd like to SUPER thank the over 30 artists who joyfully came on board to make this giveaway happen. what wonderful + generous souls they are!

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

----> here's how to enter! <----

1. tell us SOMETHING you're *celebrating* this season.
it could be an event, a milestone, a holiday, etc. we'd love to hear about it! leave us a comment here. = 1 entry

2. tell us SOMEONE you're *celebrating* this season.
a family member, a colleague, a remembered friend. i know we all have folks that cheer us on. tell us who you're celebrating and why! = 1 entry

3. visit the GENEROUS handmade shops of the folks who made this giveaway possible.
come back here LEAVE ONE COMMENT on what you'd love this celebratory season from their lovely shop. = 1 entry per comment

you can visit as many of the participating shops as you'd like, and comment once for each shop. = 33 possible entries

the fabulous handmade shops participating are:

minouette -
prize: a spectacular block printed moon ornament

pinkfire-
prize: beautiful + dainty white earrings

puncezilla -
prize: festive fabric bunny zipper pull

enthral -
prize: a set of fun button hair elastics

suziescards-
prize: festive retro card set

nancywallis -
prize: romantic + whimsical drop earrings

laurabucci -
prize: eco friendly cup cozy

littlebitofpretty -
prize: stunning stitched seed bracelet

stuffbysteph -
prize: a set of beautiful handfolded cards

tanisalexis -
prize: lovely organic sage eco sachet

offthehooks -
prize: warm and wonderful handknit wrist cuff

loopy4ewe -
prize: sweet handknit lip balm cozy

julie ellyn -
prize: fun gift certificate for 20% off your $50 or more purchase

ivaart -
prize: gorgeous + festive dangly earrings

prairieblossoms -
prize: beautiful earrings & necklace set in wrapped wire

myhandboundbooks -
prize: the loveliest mini-sized leather notebook

chelsea vantol -
prize: the most fantastic adorned tin of fun!

getreadysetGO -
prize: a $10 gift certificate to spend in her amazing shop

the little red door -
prize: a $15 gift certificate to spend in her fabulous shop

stringmealong-
prize: a wonderful $10 gift certificate for her shop

bovinebubbles :
prize: a fabulous $20 gift certificate for her shop

black lotus design -
prize: the most beautiful garnet red earrings

alexkeller -
prize: fabulous recycled + vintage chain necklace

milemarker -
prize: beautiful art print leaf photograph

the empty nest
prize: gorgeous recycled sweater gloves

kristin friesen
prize: beautiful garnet red glam drop earrings

rikrak -
prize: eco friendly recycled felt ruffle stocking

random pretties -
prize: a gorgeous appliqued zipper pouch

tomatedepingles-
prize: a fabulous recycled jewelry set

2revert -
prize: gorgeous + sporty recycled skateboard necklace

kritterknitter -
prize: the loveliest crocheted coasters set

bornagain purses -
prize: warm & fabulous recycled mittens

arly-
prize: an adorable handknit sweater card

4. come follow or subscribe to my little blog
FOR THIS PARTICULAR GIVEAWAY, you MUST be a rikrak subscriber or follower to WIN!
and join in the fun everyday! = 1 entry
please leave me a comment about it.

5. you can also enter by twittering about the giveaway!
= 1 entry per twitter, up to 3 entries/ total tweets! ;)
and come back here and tell us about each sweet separately
(please try to include @therikrakshop so i can see it, too! :)

6. you can also enter by blogging about the giveaway!
and telling us about it here
= 1 entry

7. you can also enter by doing a facebook update
about the giveaway with a link and telling us here.
= 1 entry

8. you can also enter by posting on this thread i've started in the etsy forums!
here:
and coming back here to leave a comment.
= 1 entry

..........................................
---> 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) for this particular giveaway, YOU MUST BE A RIKRAK studio follower or subscriber,
old or new! thanks!
d) ONE winner of this MEGA giveaway will be chosen from random.org on dec.3rd @ 9pm.
e) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.
f) thanks so much everyone! and happy celebrating!

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

superthanks, lovelies!
you're the best!

congratulations!

woowee!

what fun it was to read all of your lovely responses to the latest giveaway: the sponsor's contest! so wonderful to hear things you are all feeling thankful for. i think a thankful heart is a wonderful thing!

and thanks to the 100s of entries! even with a little hiccup today, things got back up and running with the contest, and thanks to random.org .... we have a winner! congrats to early bird entry #9.... laura of laurART & her sweet blog: the forgotten brush! lovely artworks and ideas abound! congratulations, nicey! i can't wait to see what you'll choose as your prize! there are so many wonderful shops to select from!

AND... as a little reminder... tune in tomorrow (tuesday) for what promises to be the gosh-darn biggest rikrak studio giveaway in the history of my giveaways! this is one you won't want to miss!!

til tomorrow... sweet dreams, nicies!

oh dear!

emoticon magnets set of 6 by pillowhead

oh dear.
well i guess we all need a little r & r time from now and then.

looks like today my little blog is taking some time off. after 2 different weirdo incidents on the blog this morning (one: a glitchy document problem, one: a nutty sponsor's giveaway post playing hide and seek - thanks to everyone who has written me to let me know!) i've decided to remove this morning's collections post (sorry claire!) and try again later.

also - i'm going to try and draw the winner of the sponsors' giveaway this afternoon, while i can still see the entries, just incase something even crazier happens! i know it's a few hours early - but i fear it might get lost in lala land if not! (there are 326 entries i can see right now - up to this morning's entries before 9:22 a.m.) ..sorry no one else seems to be able to see the contest post right now!

so here's to a little bloggy time off!
sorry you're having a rough day, dear blog! :)
feel better soon, nicey!