Featured Designs: Freshly Picked

spring

Just like you, I’m aching for the start of spring. Fresh air, blooming flowers, sunny and rainy days, it’s the season of renewal and re-birth after all. When choosing a design to feature that embodies the season I easily gravitated towards this bright yellow tank top.

The “Freshly Picked” design utilizes upcycled t-shirt cotton and reshapes it to create a flirty yet comfy top that’s great for dressing up or down. And with the adorable ruffles along the collar and button details, it’s easy to see why this piece makes me think of April showers and May flowers. Scoop it up on my Etsy page here.

Advertisement

Featured Design: Layers Away

Pierogi Picnic: Layers Away peter pan collar printed tank top

Tis the season for wearing lots of layers as each hour of the day brings a new temperature. That’s where the new “Layers Away” design comes to the rescue!

Created using a home-made silkscreen and pre-loved tees, these uber soft, comfy and chic tanks are great for wearing on their own or under cardigans, chunky sweaters or dresses. With the cutesy peter pan collar print and neutral colors – they’re a great basic to add to your wardrobe!

Trends: Unexpected Electric Florals

You know spring is really here when you see the tulips and other cool weather bulbs pushing out their leaves and bursting into color. It’s no wonder then that designers find it hard to resist the allure of bright colors and floral motifs in their own work. Every which way you turn you’ll be confronted with electric hues in flowery blooms. 

From home goods to fashion pieces – the trend is truly contagious. And for good reason! Who doesn’t want some color in their life after a long and grey winter?! To help inspire you in how to harness the brilliant and happy power of neon florals – I’ve curated the following items from some of my favorite Etsy vendors. Enjoy!

Unexpected Electric Florals: Design Trends

1. Chickens Love Tattoos art print by  Corella Design

2. Fantasy Floral vintage textile art by April Awakening

3. Cushion Covers in Floral A. Fluro pink by Aqua Door Designs

4. Floral Bird Spring illustration by Laurel Howells

5. Floral Print Heeled Shoes with Socks printable art by Didi Fox

6. Vintage Flower Power T-shirt from Pierogi Picnic

7. Neon Floral Backpack by Shaun Design

8. Sunset Cat art print by Teva Gallery

9. Spring Geometric Statement Necklace by Boo and Boo Factory

10. Vintage Tribal Embroidered Textile from Woman Shops World

11. Floral Printed Watercolor Leggings by Mess Queen New York

12. Neon Triangle Statement Necklace by Fable and Lore

13. Chrysanthemum Serious original art by Jess Hartridge

Item of the Week: Valentine in Blue

blue valentine one of a kind vintage printed blouse

When thinking about what I should feature this week the choice was easy: my hand-stenciled Polish-folk blouse.

Created using a vintage women’s top, the style of the design is reminiscent of the Polish tradition of “wycinanki” which literally translates to “cut-outs”. Looking to bring the unique aesthetic to a Pierogi Picnic design, I hand carved a stencil with which to create the print. Including the silhouettes of hearts and leaves, I made a whimsical scene that I could then transfer with fabric paint onto the front of the blouse.

The captivating back-story to this particular piece is that my first print also became my last, as my plastic template morphed beyond recognition after the first stenciling. I even wrote an article on how we as indie biz owners can accept defeats gracefully – and guess what inspired the post? This design!

So in ode to Valentine’s Day I bring you a bittersweet design that’s truly one-of-a-kind.

Designs: Dress or Tunic?

Someone at a recent event grabbed hold of my new Point of Light design and asked, “Is it a dress or a tunic?”And it wasn’t the first time I’d had the question.

“Both” I exclaimed!

Known as either super-short dresses or extra-long tops, dress tunics are great for their versatility. The edgy length means they can be worn layered with a slip and leggings for a flirty look or jeans for something more casual.

So next time you’re shopping for something that can change along with the season’s, consider this unique category of clothing. You’ll find yourself smitten in no time!

Events: Renegade Sneak Peak

I always promise myself to stick to what I know in the weeks leading up to big events like Renegade – but then inspiration hits – and I can’t stop myself from making something brand spanking new! This past week alone I’ve made at least four new creations that I’ll be debuting this Saturday.

One is the “Bow Peep” belt which I hand-crafted using fabric scraps, unbleached elastic and a hook clasp. I made something similar a month back using t-shirt remnants, but this morning I gave the design a twist by making the bow out of a different cotton fabric. The result is better than I anticipated! I love how the solid color of the belt brings out the geometric chevron print of the bow. A job well done (if I’m allowed to say so!).

I’ll be making a bunch more of these for this round of Renegade. If you’re in Chicago – be sure to swing by my booth (#48) to see them in person!