Category: Product

Shop News!

1/26/2012

New Stuff Coming Soon!

So, it may have been a little while since I have invigorated my Etsy shop with new, fresh, and interesting lovelies, but...
they're coming!
This is but a taste of the new arrivals on the way. We've got hand-printed and designer scrap coasters, fabric necklaces, all kinds of new fused plastic goodies!

More wallets than you can shake a fist at, plus pouches big and small, and billfolds too!

There are some throw pillow darlings looking for a good home as well. Like this one...

And this Marimekko-paired one too. Check the shop in the next few days for so many new pretties!

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Stinko Holiday Baby!

12/7/2011

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We have had SUCH an eventful week! There are of course the boring grown-up things like finishing and sending off my Swedish commission, as well as the craft sale last weekend, but then there are the more important things like 5 perfecting his stinko-face, walking, talking, and general miracle-of-nature type things.
This picture above is an example of all the hard work 5 has been putting into getting that wicked stinko baby face just right.

The rest of his increasing awake time is spent:
a) walking
b) saying his 4 words- dad, hat, hot, dog
c) putting on and taking of his hat
d) gnawing on things (like the rock in the picture on the right)
e) doing the above things in endless combinations

I thought I'd share a little snapshot of my booth at the Poor Artist's Sale in Calumet from last weekend. Not that it is so amazing or anything (I've seen the pictures from the quilt market, I know what can be done...), but it was awfully fun and I finally had my product kind of organized.
The table on the left held all of my baby products. All that stuff in the middle is accessories, and on the right are my home decor items. The pillows looked so lovely I had to show a close up-

So pretty! Yes, the pics are terribly overexposed and I am sincerely apologetic for inflicting them upon you, but, well, have you ever been in a high school gym? Have you ever taken a decent picture in one? Yeah, I didn't think so....
The show itself was wonderful. Such a great event put on by the Copper Country Art Center- it's one day, 6 hours, no distractions. Everyone is there to shop, there's no milling about to various jam bands or fried-something-on-a-stick eating, just bring your holiday shopping list and do it up. Also, nearly everyone I know is there so I can take care of all my socializing for the year at one time!
Now I can focus on holiday cooking! Yay! I'll be sharing some of my favorite seasonal recipes over the next few weeks.

What are your favorite holiday recipes?

3 Comments

Crochet Tutorial and Sneak Peek!

11/23/2011

2 Comments

Crochet Ornament/ Mobile Tutorial

I'm sure so many of you are sitting around this week, totally bored, wishing you had a little project to keep your hand busy....

Okay, so that's ridiculous, but I will say that these are fun to do on a car ride, and I'm thinking probably a lot of us will be taking car rides of varying lengths over the next several weeks.

I was inspired by a much more complicated and beautiful version of these on Etsy a few weeks ago and thought that it would be just the thing for my colorful scrap yarn and some 2 1/2" metal bracelets I bought MANY years ago and have yet to wear.

To make these, you will need:
1. small amounts of different colors of yarn (I used worsted weight, but finer would be fine too)
2. some kind of metal rings (2 1/2' worked well, but bigger would probably look nice too)
3. about 15 min to make each one
4. the ability to chain, slip stitch, single crochet, and double crochet- pretty simple!

The Nitty-Gritty Details

Row 1- chain 6, connect with slip stitch so you have a loop.

Row 2- chain 3(counts as one double crochet), double crochet into loop, chain 2,( 2 double crochet into loop, chain 2)repeat this 4 more times so you have a total of 6 groups of 2 double crochet, join to first chain 3 with slip stitch, break off yarn 1.

Row 3-Join yarn 2 with slip stitch in any chain 2 from row 2, chain 3(counts as one double crochet), 2 more double crochet into same chain 2 space, chain 2, (3 double crochet into next chain 2 space, chain 2) repeat 4 more times, join with slip stitch, break off yarn 2

Row 4 (or, if you're using different size metal ring and/or yarn, whenever your circle is approx the same size as your ring)- holding crochet and ring together, join yarn 3 with slip stitch in any chain 2 space AROUND metal ring as well, chain 1, 3 single crochet in same chain 2 space around metal ring as well, single crochet in each double crochet and 3 single crochet in each chain 2 space all the way around, making each stitch around the metal ring too, join chain 1 with slip stitch and bind off, leaving long tail to work with later.

Repeat for as many as you feel like making. Join them to a branch or colander or whatever to make a mobile, or tie them to each other to make a beautiful garland, or tie hooks onto the tails to make ornaments!

New Product Sneak Peek!

I will be debuting a new product at the Poor Artist's Sale Dec 3 in Calumet- coasters! Some are screen printed, some are designer fabrics (you may notice some Marimekko in the background there). They will be selling for $20 for a set of 4 and any that survive the show in Calumet will be posted on my Etsy shop with plenty of time to ship for the holidays!

I'll be taking the rest of the week off to celebrate all the many many things I have to be grateful for and to celebrate my husband's birthday! In the meantime, here is a list of a few of the things I'm giving thanks for right now. What are you grateful for today?
5's teething fever has broken
snow
the really nice folks at our local post office
hand-me-downs
sweet potato pecan pie (cooling on the counter!)
all of you! who read my stories and share yours with me and help me remember that I'm not alone!
Thank You!

2 Comments

Clean Hair, Warm Head

10/24/2011

4 Comments

Dude, Sweet Hat!

5 and I had a rather leisurely day at home today- I am recovering from a little cold and 5 is growing little teeth. I did, however, manage to make a new product prototype- a recycled sweater baby hat! It turned out quite adorable if I do say so myself. We also got to take a much needed shower once Dad got home from work (who knew teething was such SWEATY work?)

On the product side, I have a tiny bit of pattern adjustment to do, but they should be ready for the Poor Artist's Sale in Calumet, MI on Dec 3! Rispok will be there in full effect, ready to fulfill all your holiday shopping needs! I'm even making the hats in two sizes! Baby (under 1 yr) and toddler (1-3 yrs). Hooray for head sizing!

What do you think? Do babies and toddlers need recycled sweater hats?

Is that Blue Steel?

While I got to wash my hair without a babe in arms, the boys did a clean baby photo shoot. I think we all came out winners.

Finally, a clean Mama and a clean baby get to snuggle and point at the (now) dirtiest (but still well-loved) member of the family- Dad.

4 Comments

Happy Rispok News

10/21/2011

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Perhaps to be Seen on HGTV?

I got a thrilling order on my Etsy site today- a producer for "Room Crashers" ordered this pillow for the show!
Even though there's plenty of chances it will be edited out and never even seen and also I have never heard of this show (we don't even get network channels on our TV...)
still
I am SO EXCITED that a designer for a TV show-
1. SAW my product
2. LIKED it enough to get the producer to buy it

A little about this here fantastic pillow-
The brown fabric is from an old pair of pants, hand printed by yours truly with the ever popular ziggety zaggity.
The mustard/purple combo is a precious Marimekko remnant (if you have never heard of Marimekko, look it up. Now. For real.).
There is a hidden zipper and a bit of lovely top-stitching.

My boys are napping together on the couch and I am bouncing off the walls.

Happy Happy Friday to Everyone!

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Sewing, Shopping, and Sighting

8/26/2011

2 Comments

More Helping

I've been working a fair amount on the quilt the last two days. It's going quite well, perhaps in spite of all the "help" I've been getting. 5 likes to pull on anything he can get his hands on that comes from higher than he can see, so it's kind of like playing some demented sewing video game- get the fabric ready, turn your sewing machine on, and SEW the seam before the TROLLS rip the pedal out from under your foot! And make sure none of your fabric hangs over the table or the TROLLS will eat that too!

But really, the top is about half done. Pictures Monday, or perhaps Wednesday. There is no white.

A Slightly Embarrassing Confession

You're going to thing I'm completely insane, or one of those freaky Christmas-obsessed folks, but....

I made my xmas list today. Not for presents I want, but who I need to shop/make for and what my plans are.

Seriously, it's purely out of practicality.

I try to make as many of my gifts as humanly possible, and we do some family exchanges where you don't even know who you're giving to until November, so if I want to make nice things for gifts WHILE making nice rispok product to sell....
I have to start early.

I've been getting ready for the holidays early for years, but last year I was almost entirely done by November 1, thanks to nesting instinct, an October 27 due date, and a little bit of craziness, and it was AWESOME.
While everyone else is out shopping, and considering mass murder while being herded through consumer-dom and barraged with insipid canned holiday music, I can be home, enjoying time with my family, making truffles, explaining to relatives why I don't want a Christmas tree. So much better.

I will also admit that while I made my list today, I thought of the things on that list over the past few months. My husband thinks I'm completely nuts, but he doesn't get to complain because I do all of his shopping for him. Early.

Rispok Product Sighting!

This is Arrow. He lives in Korea. He's wearing a bib I made. I also made the teething necklace. There are lots more pictures of him, his hip Mama and Papa, and their sweet life in Korea on his Mama's blog Seoul Connection. You can find cool bibs I made for all the hip babies in your life at my etsy shop Rispok.

Enjoy your last weekend in August! Join me Monday for birthday fun!

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Keep Up Mama!

8/3/2011

3 Comments

I am a fast-growing, ever-changing stinker!

playing one of the many games he loves to play with his dad and the coffee table

This has been a week full of surprises!
My no-longer-tiny baby decided that this was a good week to:

climb up the stairs
discover the concept of games (and play them constantly!)
wake me up at 4 in the morning by staring sweetly at me

The games part is super cool, the stairs part was only scary because I didn't notice until he was on the second stair. The 4 in the morning part was less less cool.
I am not a morning person. In fact, my brain functions all wrong so so early in the morning. I awoke to my sweet babe watching me with his big eyes from about 5 inches away, he could have been doing that for an hour already for all I know. He was perfectly calm and cuddly, happy to roll over or nurse, but would NOT close his eyes. I started wondering if he knew something I didn't, like our house was about to catch fire, and he just wanted to watch his Mama for a few more minutes.... not productive.

Still Mama's Little Guy

Even though he can get himself just about anywhere now, mostly he just wants to get to me, or to whatever I have. This is a groggy, bed-headed 5 climbing the Mom as she tries to finish her new blog header. So sweet (and a little inconvenient). As you can see, I did eventually finish it- what do you think? I've been meaning to redo it since I put the very first one up as a kind of place holder...

New Goodies in the Shop!

I've been busy photographing all the good stuff I brought home with me after Craftacular and now I'm putting them all on my etsy shop! Check it out- there will be something new every day, starting with the delightful throw pillow cases!

This is Not a Skirt

I was trying so very hard to finish my new skirt in time to share with you today. I picked out the Tshirt to use, I cut out the pieces, I made a stencil and painted it on, I sewed the hem and the side seams... when I got to the casing for the waistband, my machine decided to start skipping stitches. Zounds! While this is not technically the end of the world, it did signal the end of my sewing for the day. I stomped downstairs and made myself a root beer float. Much better.

Friday will find me with a finished sewing project, come Hell or high water!

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Craftacular Report

7/27/2011

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Whew!

Well, I'm a few days behind, but I'm back, or rather, home. A big thank you to everyone who came out to support Rispok and all the other fine vendors at this year's Summer Craftacular in Madison, WI.
Here is my little lovely booth. I learned my lesson, next time I will have a back wall on the tent. Otherwise, I was very pleased with it.
We had beautiful weather- cooler than it had been in what seems like 100 years, and partly cloudy with a sweet sweet breeze.

Here you can see quite a few of my products as well as the adorable signage I made. I'm quite proud of it.

I was in the row of booths closest to the lake. I am a lucky, special girl. That's my mom off to the left, bouncing the baby to sleep. Again, lucky, special girl.

My sort-of cousin Maite, who was visiting from Berlin, was AMAZING and helped keep 5 happy and safe all day. It wasn't always a simple task...

Who wouldn't want to go to a craft fair where you could sit here a take a break from all those nutty crafters?

Join me Friday when things will be back to normal!

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Today I Am

7/13/2011

3 Comments

Eating local strawberries like they have their own food group.

Planning a fantastic aloha-shirted family photo since I thrifted a lovely blue and yellow baby aloha shirt the other day.

Watching my boys laugh hysterically over alphabet block nonsense words together. They are the sweetest.

Loving that my 8 month old is suddenly such a big boy that he would prefer to nurse sitting up, or even better, standing.

Feeling a bit sad that I can't give my baby everything he wants because mostly he wants power cords, scissors, and the pincushion.

just a sample of the new lovelies

Enjoying the sense of accomplishment that arrived when I finished sewing throw pillows for Craftacular today. Whew!

Secretly wishing that 5 would take a little bit longer to fall asleep so I could read a little more of my latest book,
The Informationist. It's really too good to put down...

Trying to find the VERY fine line between working too hard (and making mistakes), and being as productive as possible.

you can't see it, but there's broccoli in that little fist

Delighting in 5's desire to try any kind of food we give him, be it broccoli, cucumber, raw onion, or basil leaves.

Soaking up a beautiful UP sunset, made even more beautiful by a house full of laughter!

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Screenprinting, Owie-Kissing, Mommy Elves

7/11/2011

2 Comments

Working on the Weekend

The Rispok elves were hard at work over the weekend. Summer Craftacular is close at hand and the to-do list is not finished... In between weekend family time, shopping, cooking, and visiting with friends from out of town, I managed to get all the printing done for my placemats and throw pillows- hooray!
There are a few new designs in there, what do you think? I did a very trendy chevron, and a rather geometric berry-type thing and I'm pretty pleased with the results.
Now, I just need those elves to sew like the wind ALL WEEK!

5's first head lump

While I was grocery shopping on Saturday, the boys were busy injuring themselves. Mr. 5 crawled around and pulled things down, including a nice long piece of wood that knocked a frame off the wall which hit the floor and bounced up to hit him in the eyebrow. Dad was taking pictures. Of him. So it's well-documented.
With the double ice method (one on the wound, one in the mouth) the swelling went down quickly. He just has a red mark on his eyebrow that looks like he used to have an eyebrow ring, but it got all infected after some three-day rave in the desert, and now he has to take it out for a while...

Mama Makes It Better

'Nuff said.

Where are all the delicious food pictures?

That is an excellent question. The food pics are lacking for two reasons.

1. The last few weeks I've been cooking almost exclusively from my new cookbook Super Natural Every Day (go get it, it's awesome) so I don't have any recipes to share.

2. Strawberry season has finally hit the Keweenaw and all I'm eating is strawberries and ice cream. Yes, I know, awesome, but how many pictures can you see of strawberries and ice cream? Lots, you say? Well, it's hot and I can't wait to take a picture, I have to eat it NOW!

I promise, they'll return soon, and with them some fabulous recipes!

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<<Previous

Shop News!

New Stuff Coming Soon!

Stinko Holiday Baby!

What are your favorite holiday recipes?

Crochet Tutorial and Sneak Peek!

Crochet Ornament/ Mobile Tutorial

The Nitty-Gritty Details

New Product Sneak Peek!

Clean Hair, Warm Head

Dude, Sweet Hat!

Is that Blue Steel?

Happy Rispok News

Perhaps to be Seen on HGTV?

Happy Happy Friday to Everyone!

Sewing, Shopping, and Sighting

More Helping

A Slightly Embarrassing Confession

Rispok Product Sighting!

Enjoy your last weekend in August! Join me Monday for birthday fun!

Keep Up Mama!

I am a fast-growing, ever-changing stinker!

Still Mama's Little Guy

New Goodies in the Shop!

This is Not a Skirt

Friday will find me with a finished sewing project, come Hell or high water!

Craftacular Report

Whew!

Join me Friday when things will be back to normal!

Today I Am

Screenprinting, Owie-Kissing, Mommy Elves

Working on the Weekend

5's first head lump

Mama Makes It Better

Where are all the delicious food pictures?

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