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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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."

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

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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playlists & a giveaway: with Off the Hooks

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 Off the Hooks: rad folk music for rad crafters! and check out the other great playlists here.

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

brrrrr... it's 0 degrees celcius here this morning, and as the brilliant autumn leaves shimmy to the ground thoughts turn toward warming up our hands and heads and homes. so what a perfect time to welcome the lovely OfftheHooks to the rikrak studio! it's Ashley to the rescue!

warmth just exudes from Ashley's gorgeous eco-aware shop, that's filled with lovely handspun & hand-dyed yarns, & beautiful crochet and knit works. she handcrafts delights to warm everything from our hands & hearts & homes. so lovely! be sure to check out her gorgeous legwarmers, fingerless gloves & scarves to start!

AND offthehooks also offers handspun or hand-dyed yarns for the Do-It-Yourself-er in your home... i just can't stop oogling at those gorgeous, colorful yarns... so READ ON to see how you can win one! woohoo!

and her playlist is just as wonderful & warm! so without further ado, let's take a listen {love the theme!}:

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

theme:"rad folk music for rad crafters!"
dj: Ashley of Off the Hooks

1.) Corb Lund- This is my prairie
Corb is from southern Alberta where I'm from too! A great song about what's happening in Alberta these days with all our oil.

2.) Pete Seeger- Little Boxes.
Pete is such a great musician and spokesperson for working people around the world. That, and he always has great, handmade knit clothing! I think his wife must be a knitter, he's got on a cuddly sweater on in this video:

3.) Buck 65- Blood of a young wolf.
Buck 65 is currently one of my favorite Canadian artists; great poetry, great imagery, I like to call it "Hobo hop". He also hosts the Drive radio show on CBC radio 2 every weekday- love it!

4.) Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings- This Land is Your Land.
If you ever have a chance to see these guys live, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! Sharon can sure groove- I don't know how the band keeps up with her!

5.) Bruce Cockburn- Laughter.
What can I say- One of the greats. This is early, early stuff.

6.) Neil Young - After the Garden is Gone.
Another great, and another artist you must see in concert.

7.) Little Miss Higgins- Dirty Old Tractor Song.
What could be better than a song about planting a garden? Love her guitar and country style, from my neighbour province, Saskatchewan!

8.) Old Man Luedecke- I quit my job.
I always think of Etsy's "quit your day job" when I hear this song! A great celebratory song about everyone's dream come true!

9.) Harry Manx- Take This Hammer.
Harry Manx makes great music here he is live- pretty amazing!

10.) Johnny Cash- Man in Black.
I can't make any playlist without including Johnny Cash.

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

in Ashley's own words: "I LOVE listening to great tunes while I'm spinning yarn, crocheting or knitting up a storm, or kettle dyeing fleece in the kitchen. I really love music that conveys an important message or tells a story; whether it be about peace, equality, treading lightly on the earth, or music that makes a statement or educates the listener about something important happening now or in history. What's even better is when this is combined with great musical talent. I find when I am crafting, my mind opens up and I really get into the music. Just like the handmade movement, I think it's so important to support local artists who are musicians. I've been so lucky to see some great artists perform over the last couple of years, and a few are included below."

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

woowee! i LOVE this playlist, Ashley!
so many of my very own faves on here, too! i'd love to have a rockin' craft party with you! :)

now... while you're checking out all of these funfun tunes, wait til you see what OffTheHooks is offering to one lucky rikrak studio reader!

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

the Off The Hooks giveaway!
one lucky reader will win

YOUR CHOICE of ONE handspun or hand-dyed yarn
from the Off the Hooks shop, up to a $25.00 value!




woowee! if only i could knit or crochet! i LOVE those gorgeous yarns!
so snuggly & gorgeous!
just think of the wonderful things you could make with them!

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

here's how to enter the giveaway!

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

1. go visit the lovely Off the Hooks shop.
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite warm-you-up goodie from her shop & why.= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment on YOUR FAVE folksy song you love to craft to!
... = 1 entry

3. visit the Off the Hooks blog (it's a beauty!) and leave her a comment on a post
... 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 Off the Hooks giveaway will be chosen on
tuesday october 20th @ 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.
................................................

stay warm, cuties!

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playlists & a giveaway: with Shiny Happy World

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yippee!
it's kids week here @ the rikrak studio: 6 days of celebrating children, and the wonderfolk who handcraft art for their curious, wonderful little hands!

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. WIN a beautiful eco mobile from Babongo Home, here.
6. WIN a fabulous eco-softie by Shiny Happy World, here.

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

superdooper, nicies!
here we are... at day 6 of 6 amazing giveaways.
welcome to our final fabulous kids week giveaway!

now, i love happy stuff.
i especially love happy kids stuff.
so the Shiny Happy World of artist wendi gratz is one i just adore!

aren't her whimsical, vivid creations just gorgeous? AND they're eco-friendly! yay!

with such an eye for colourplay & design, the Shiny Happy World shop and site are a virtual trip into a joyous, child-friendly forest... filled with adorable recycled and thrifted fabric plush bunnies, wonderful happy robot-y artworks, beautiful, crafty dolls and more.

i asked wendi if she would share a child-inpsired playlist with us today, too: great songs filled with the wonderful kind of energy we feel in her handmade shop.

so sit back and listen to her fab playlist, visit her beautiful shop, blog and more, and read on to WIN an adorable softie of your own!

::::::::::::::::::::
dj: Shiny Happy World
theme: children's songs that adults will love too
:::::::::::::::::::

1. Mahna Mahna by Cake

2. What a Wonderful World - Stacey Kent

3. La La La La Lemons - Barenaked Ladies

4. Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might be Giants

5. Mr. Heatmiser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

6. YMCA - Village People

7. One Was Johnny - Carole King

8. Bicycle Race - Queen -

9. Rainbow Connection by Sarah McLachlan

10. Yellow Submarine - The Beatles

wendi writes: I LOVE listening to music while I work. My studio is right in the middle of our very open house - no walls and right in the center of everything going on. Sometimes I listen to music for everyone to hear - often showtunes - but more often I put on my headphones and create a little cocoon for myself in the middle of the chaos. I have different playlists for different needs - high energy to get me going, quieter music for more focused work, and a few general playlists for everything else.

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

woohoo!
love those, wendi - great choices for fun folks of all ages!

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

wendi writes about this giveaway prize! : This Shiny Happy Bunny is cute as a button and full of awesome. What's so great about him? Well. . .

* He's dang cute! Just look at that crooked smile.
* He's very squishy and huggable.
* He's made out of recycled fabrics.
* He's machine-washable.
* His ears are lined with satin. Satin!
* He's safe for babies - no buttons or tiny bits.
* He's one of a kind – just like your kid.

Size
My daughter says he's the perfect size for snuggling. What, exactly, does that mean? Well, he's 9 inches (23 cm) tall if you don't count his long, floppy ears. If you count them - and I think you should 'cause they're pretty awesome - he's a whopping 16 inches (40 cm) tall! And he doesn't like me to tell people, but you'll probably want to know that he's 6 1/2 inches (16 cm) wide across his bottom.

Materials
I make all of my dolls and softies from recycled and thrifted fabrics. I find great fabrics (mostly old clothes, but sometimes I find embroidered tablecloths or other wonderful treasures), take them home, wash them, inspect them for damage and stains, make sure they pass the sniff test, then cut them up and turn them into pure cuteness. This particular Shiny Happy Bunny is made from:

* red and white checked cotton
* red satin from a coat lining
* scraps of red felt
* new poly stuffing
* love

Care
Machine wash in cold water. Tumble dry. Easy peasy.


1. go visit the lovely Shiny Happy World

... come back and tell us about your favourite goodie from her shop & why you love it!
= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment telling us about a *kid-friendly song* that YOU love!
... = 1 entry

3. follow Shiny Happy World on twitter. (she's http://twitter.com/wendigratz)
come back and tell us.
... = 1 entry.

4. sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter
and come back and tell us.
... 1 entry

5. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and come back here and tell us! please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :)
= 1 entry.

6. leave a comment over in this etsy thread here sharing a link to something FUN in your shop/at home that you handmade for a child/ for kids OR something handmade by another that you LOVE for kids!
come back here and tell us about it.
= 1 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. do a facebook update about this giveaway (& follow wendi! )
come back and tell us.
= 1 more possible 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 Shiny Happy World giveaway will be chosen on tuesday, may 25th @ 7pm 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.

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

::::::::::::::::::::> UPDATE! <:::::::::::::::::::::

be sure to enter all of the KIDS WEEK giveaways!

1. WIN a moozle home stuffie, here.
2. WIN a *my beautiful girl designs* prize pack, here.
3. WIN 6 REusable snack baggies by BananaSaurusRex, here.
4. WIN a kids prize pack from Claire & Me, here.
5. WIN a beautiful eco mobile from Babongo Home, here.
6. 6. WIN a fabulous eco-softie by Shiny Happy World, here.

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

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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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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!


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

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.

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

7. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five

Excellent to start the day!

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

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

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

9. The Shins - Sleeping Lessons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

13. Bonobo - Days to Come

Excellent for long working hours! Keeps me focused.
.......................

14. Paris Combo - Fibre de verre
Just hyper! Like me, sometimes.
.......................

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).

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

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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