Pumpkin Frenzy!

Pumpkins pumpkins pumpkins everywhere! Whether they’re green heirlooms or the traditional bright orange globes we’re most familiar with, this glorious gourd is the icon of the season.

Whether you were raised in a first generation home like myself, or have deep American roots that go back to your great great grandmama, everyone gets on the pumpkin train this time of year!

But how can you take your squash-loving obsession to the next level? So glad you asked!

Whether for decor or dinner – there’s endless ways to make the most of this lovely gourd. I recently wrote up an article for Eco Etsy touting its many creative uses. And I’d love to gather more!

If you have a fun and unique way to use pumpkins – share them below!

Press: My Daily Find

Pierogi Picnic had quite a buzz going right before the Renegade Craft Fair a week back – and it looks like lots of the credit is due to our friends over at My Daily Find. 

My biz was featured in their Style Forecast, “Five Artists to Watch at Renegade Craft Fair Chicago.” We’re so thankful to have been counted as one of their up-and-coming Chicago artisans.!

Press: Chicago Sun Times

Guess who made a surprise pit stop by the Pierogi Picnic booth at the Renegade Craft Fair this past weekend? Apparently a photographer from the Chicago Sun-Times!

Imagine my surprise when a friend emailed me a link to their coverage of the event! My new “Point of Light” upcycled ruffle dress takes center stage in the featured picture. I’m stoked, and I hope you are too! Who could ask for better press?!

Take a look at the full photo spread here.

Events: Renegade Sneak Peek – Easy Breezy

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

“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

An Indie Biz: Clothing Racks by Dad

My dad is not only “the most interesting pastor at Harvest,” he’s also an incredible man with an even more incredible life story. Whether it was beating the odds as an orphan growing up in communist Poland, gracing hundreds of stages across Europe as a seventies musical icon, becoming an ex-patriot after moving to the U.S. or surviving his many brushes with death (we’re talking stepping on a bear, navigating a sailboat through a storm in the Bermuda triangle, sleeping through a twister, etc., etc. ), my ‘tata’ has amassed quite the encyclopedia of adventures through his sixty-six years on Earth. Continue reading

An Indie Biz: Exciting News

It’s been an incredible week! I’ve got lots of positive things happening at my day job at the humane society, a potential trip to Eastern Europe in the works, a vocal audition next Friday and a family filled weekend just ahead. Pierogi Picnic has also been bustling with custom orders waiting to be made, shipments to be mailed and new designs to be created. As you can imagine – I’m beaming with joy with all the great things that are going on.

But then there’s another piece of news that has me bursting at the seams. I wanted to blurt it out when I found out yesterday – but thought a blog post would be more appropriate. So without further ado, here it is: Continue reading