Re-Decorating

Bedroom Makeover
The weather is officially dreary in Chi-town and the post-holiday slump is coming. The decorations have come down and the new budget is in full-effect, which means one thing: It’s time to re-decorate!

Now, when I use the term I’m not talking about going out, buying lots of new accessories and paint, and cluttering my home with more ‘stuff.’ To me, re-decorate (see the clever use of the hyphen?!) means to take what you already have in your home and re-arrange it for a new look. Continue reading

Sale: BOGO

Pierogi Picnic BOGO Sale

It’s the beginning of the year which means it’s time for me to do some purging and organizing within the Pierogi Picnic studio! And boy is that a good thing for you! I’m looking to move older merchandise to make way for new designs, which means it’s sale time!

All ready-made clothing in my Etsy shop will be BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF from January 4th-18th! This includes your favorite frocks, vintage finds and accessories. As long as it’s not a made-to-order item, it’s included! Shoppers will need to check-out with their goodies and following my receipt of the order I will reimburse 50% of the total price of the least expensive item in true BOGO style.

So head on over to the Pierogi Picnic Etsy shop and start rummaging through my listings now while the gettin’s good!

Item of the Week: Season’s Greetings

Handmade holiday dress: Pierogi Picnic indie urban fashion

A month or so ago I was thinking to myself, “Hmmmm – the holidays are at hand and I want to make a fun festive dress that’s practical and affordable.” Like all of you, I knew my budget would be stretched with holiday shopping, tree dressing and other expenses. So my goal was to create a simple design that would result in a lower price tag and the “Season’s Greetings” dress is just that!

Making it’s debut at the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair – this fun and flattering frock is made using vintage linens and pre-loved women’s shirts and carries a reasonable price tag of only $36. The long-sleeved tops keep the wearer nice and toasty without compromising on style. Plus – the elastic high waist gives each dress a fancy shmancy finish that creates a beautiful bell-like shape when worn. I only have a handful of these cute pieces left, ranging from green and black to gold and grey. Great for wearing to your upcoming holiday parties, check out the remaining pieces here.

Events: RCF Holiday Photos

pierogi picnic rcf holiday 2012

As promised – here’s a peek at the abundant and delightful chaos that was the 2012 Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in Chicago!

The crowds were bigger than ever this season, which made for a busy day! Caitlin and I were on our toes the entire weekend, greeting shoppers, answering questions and selling lots!

It was a fruitful endeavor that always leaves me feeling inspired and invigorated. I loved seeing many repeat clients come shopping through – as well as the friendly faces of fellow vendors. Whether selling, shopping or mingling, I had an absolute blast! Am I exhausted after the fact? You bet! But every ounce of energy poured into preparing and executing this fair was well worth it!!!

Meet the Models: Diane Maxine

PIerogi Picnic: Handmade vintage sweater and upcycled hi low t-shirt top

When looking to recruit models for my Pierogi Picnic shoots there’s one thing that always gets my attention: enthusiasm. Whether a passion for their work, life or just a general glee-fulness of spirit, the people you’ll find showing off my designs have a charisma that’s unique and all their own.

Diane Maxine is one such vivacious spirit.  A talented musician, she plays the bass in our church’s worship team, which is how the two of us initially met. When she’s not bopping away and plucking her bass strings, Maxine loves to bake and watch the noshers faces light up after tasting her yummy creations.

What I enjoyed most about taking Maxine’s pictures was her easy-going attitude and big beautiful smile. Her last name actually means ‘happy’ – which is why you’ll see her always flashing her bright whites. With this kind of charm both inside and out – it’s no wonder she turned out so stunning in each shot.

An Indie Biz: Enjoying Event Prep

Pierogi Picnic & Wanderlustings: Upcycled Event Signage photo and frame

One of the most exciting things about planning for events is merchandising! Concocting fun, engaging and bold displays is truly the icing on the cake. Designing the signs, choosing a layout and developing a theme – it’s my favorite part of prep.

Pierogi Picnic: Gold Glitter SignHaving someone with which to share the experience makes planning even more of a blast! Collaborating with Caitlin Peters of Wanderlustings again has allowed us to dream up a whole new look for our conjoined event booth. Not only does her beautiful brain power inspire the look of our nook, it also propels the ‘fun factor’ of prep to a whole new level! Continue reading

Events: Holiday Renegade Craft Fair

It’s that time again – time to start making my shopping list for the annual holiday edition of the Renegade Craft Fair!

I’m not just shopping the event, I will also be selling my wares! Once more I am collaborating with Caitlin Peters of Wanderlustings to create an invitingly boutique-like booth that will be filled to the brim with clothing, jewelry and festive accessories.

Stop by to visit and you’ll find my popular Sir Cycle men’s hoodies, the forever adorable Cosby skirts, my Peek A Boo Chevron cardigans and more! Plus – wear a Pierogi Picnic design to the event and you’ll receive a 30% discount on your purchase with me that day!!!

Be sure to swing by the event this weekend in Wicker Park to stock up on all your gift needs!