Events: Renegade – Creation Station

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I have started a tradition at my in-person events to always have some kind of earth-friendly craft ready and waiting for fans to make.  And this September’s Renegade will be no different!

Since I’m not sharing a booth this year I’ll have a bit more space to stretch out – so I’m planning to insert what I’m calling the “creation station.” This little nook of my tent will feature supplies and instructions on how to make your very own green-it-yourself bracelets. Created from the remnants of my cotton-based designs, these accessories will be a fun way to get fair-goers to try their own hand at crafting. I’ll be hand-dying each strip in advance too – so that the finished bracelets have a lovely ombre effect.

So if you’re planning on coming by the fair on September 8th or 9th, be sure to set some time aside to make your very own fabric bracelets. There’s nothing better than a free, green and trendy souvenir!

Events: Renegade Sneak Peek – Easy Breezy

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This is one of my all-time favorite creations – the new Easy Breezy top! Handmade using pre-loved t-shirt cotton and a vintage slip, this lightweight piece has all the elements I’m looking for in a shirt. A flirty cut, scalloped edge, light as air fabric and handmade aesthetic – I predict that it will be a quick fan favorite.

Swing by Renegade to check out these new shirts in person or swing by my Etsy shop after September 9th for their internet debut.

An Indie Biz: Small Batches

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“The year of our Ford.” Doesn’t that bring back memories of reading Brave New World in high school? There was an ongoing reference to Ford, as in Ford Motors, throughout the book that told of a disturbing future dystopia where the auto giant was worshiped as a God. Why? It was Ford who invented the assembly line that would create the ability to create goods on a massive scale. “Fordism,” as it was known in the early 1900s, would become the basis for the creation of all kinds of products, from cars and clothes, to food and livestock processing. Thanks to the pervasive influence of this highly efficient means of creation we have sweatshops and planned obsolescence goods (can you hear my sarcasm?).

So how do we go back? How can we resurrect the quality and longevity of items? Continue reading →

Events: Renegade Sneak Peeks – Shopping Tote

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Renegade is less than a month away! For all you Chicagoans who will be braving the crowds this year – I’ll be bringing you looks at merchandise I’m debuting for the fair. So prepare for your appetites to be thoroughly whetted!

This first “Sneak Peek” is of my new handmade shopping totes. Made out of second-hand linens – these adorable folksy bags will be free gifts to anyone who spends $60 or more in my booth! They’ll also be up for sale individually, for those of you looking to stay frugal at the fair. They were machine sewn and then stencil printed all by moi. Continue reading →

An Indie Biz: Catching Up

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There’s nothing quite like living each summer day to the fullest. The trouble comes when sunshine, lazy days and the heat interrupt our daily disciplines. Between weekend events, visiting with friends and cuddling with cute bugs like Peanut (photographed above) it seems that July slipped away without warning. So now  Renegade is less than 30 days away and I have lots and lots of work to be done!

So this coming week I am setting aside the pleasures of the season to dedicate my time to sewing and planning and some more sewing! I hope to keep you updated on my progress via the Pierogi Picnic Facebook page. My goal is to make 15-20 pieces a day while finishing up my new sign, clothing racks and maybe sneaking in a couple fabric experiments.

Here’s to drowning myself in fabric for the next five days! Wish me luck!!!

DIY: Slashed Sleeve Tee

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All of my DIY posts up to this point have been projects that I have concocted myself. But after stumbling across this super-easy and ultra chic top tutorial from Recycled Lovelies – I knew I had to share a style tip from someone else!

This easy how-to will show you how to take a simple tee to new heights. Great for transforming a top you’ve grown tired of or for making as a gift for someone else! The possibilities are endless!

Trends: Feeling Dreamy

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Stars, cosmos and space seem to be all the rage in both the art and design world these days. The trend has been cropping up here, there and seemingly everywhere. From leggings sprinkled with crescent moons, to canvasses adorned with solar systems, it seems that all of us are star-gazing.

And though the itch to throw a milky way print onto new Pierogi Picnic creations hasn’t struck yet, I have been digging for Etsy items that have taken to space. Sneak a peek at my recent favorites in this dreamy treasury.