Car-Free Week starts this coming Sunday – are you ready to rock and roll on your bike?!
With the temperatures cooling down and a crisp breeze in the air, it’s the perfect time of year to ride your bike to work. I know I tend to defer to public transit on hotter days, by these beautiful fall mornings mean I have no excuse! So consider ditching your car from September 22nd-28th and opt for a fossil-fuel free commute! Continue reading
Lately I’ve been pining for an over-sized statement necklace that has a rustic touch. After scouring Etsy and local fairs, I submitted to the urge to make my very own. I had something so specific in mind that I knew the only way to satiate the urge would to be create it myself!
Using wooden beads, a unique color palette , and embroidery floss, I was able to create a one-of-a-kind color-blocked neck adornment that was both fun and just the right chunky size.
And the best part? It’s easy to make one yourself! Follow these easy steps to make your own using your favorite colors of the season.
1) Pick up a set of large wooden beads from your local craft store.
2) Tape off a portion of each bead – this part will retain the natural wood.
3) Choose your paint colors – make sure they work on porous surfaces. My favorites are the multi-purpose collection by Ms. Martha.
4) Paint your bead. You may need two coats depending on the color you’ve chosen.
5) Set you painted beads aside to dry.
6) Peal off the tape and touch up as needed.
7) Thread a large needle with your chosen color of embroidery floss and string through your beads.
8) Last but not least, knot a complimentary colored floss to your base piece. Cut off the ends and you’re done!
Have you found a fun way to bring together a popular trend with your favorite colors and textures? If so – tell us about it!
It was the first time in over 4 years that Pierogi Picnic did not participate in Chicago’s September Renegade Craft Fair. We took the summer off from custom orders and sewing – and took that time to enjoy the season – which means getting to shop the event instead!
By far, one of the best fair line-ups I’ve seen in many years, this Renegade had a little bit of something for everyone. Whether finely crafted jewelry and elegant housewares or kitschy screenprinted posters and fun stuffies, this was the craft collection to end all craft collections.
Bouncing from booth to booth, David and I scooped up some fun items for ourselves and friends, while documenting the many talented artisans whose items inspired, delighted or enthused. Here’s what we brought home:
To scope out all of our favorite finds at this year’s fair, take a peek at our Facebook event album here. To see a full list of who exhibited, click here.
Did you know that Taylor Swift is on the list of performing artists who have had the largest quantity of Billboard chart topping hits?! I was surprised too!
I recently made this discovery while competing in a trivia night contest in Lincoln Park. Apparently Taylor Swift is rocking things more than I realized (I’m an eighties and nineties enthusiast – so how would I know?). Swift shares this magical status right alongside legendary performers like the Beatles, Prince and Michael Jackson. So imagine my duel surprise when I found that sustainable blogger Lisa Heinze featured Pierogi Picnic in an article on how to get Taylor Swift’s look using eco-friendly fashions. Talk about serendipitous!
Lisa compiled her collection using brands committed to earth-friendly fabrics and practices, creating a smorgasbord of sweet outfit options for Taylor Swift fans. What a great way to show young women how to look trendy while remaining socially conscious!
Read Lisa’s full list of Swift-stylizing tips here. To order a custom “Stripes & Sun” bathing suit, like the one featured, click here.
After taking a 30 day hiatus from making custom orders – the Pierogi Picnic one-woman sweatshop is back in action!
In late July I decided that I would make August the month for taking some time away from my machine. Not only did I want to make some room for enjoying all the sights and sounds of summer, I also needed to give my skin a break. So after several weeks of hanging back, I’m all healed up and ready to rock and roll again!
So if you’ve been pining for a made to order eco friendly hoodie for the fall or a handmade swimsuit for summer (thinking of you Australians!) now is the time! Take a peek at what designs are currently available here or in my Etsy shop. And here’s to bringing back tailor-made pieces!
We’re concluding our month-long anniversary celebration with a mega deal! Starting today through Saturday night – buy any 2 ready-made or vintage items in the Pierogi Picnic Etsy shop – and you’ll receive 1 item free! We‘ve never done anything like this before!
When shopping, add all three of your favorite items to your cart and checkout as usual. We’ll then go back and reimburse you the price for the third piece prior to shipping things out.
So if you’ve been eyeballing a new cardigan, dress and layering tank, now is the best time to scoop up your favorites! Help us finish out our 5 year bonanza with a bang and shop today!
Working full-time at the humane society during the day, I can tell you one thing: I have cats on the brain. Cats cats cats. It being the end of summer we’re overwhelmed with kittens, senior kitties and everything in between.
So imagine my delight when I found myself coming across item after item of kitty emblazoned products, both on and offline. I absolute love this kind of fun, furry and fuzzy trend! Plus – it’s a great way to remind people of how awesome cats are – and hopefully inspire adoption.
In ode to my furry friends, both at the animal shelter and at home, here’s a collection of feline-finds from my favorite Etsy shops. Go ahead and call me a crazy cat lady – I won’t mind!
Shiny Happy*People 