An Indie Biz: Just Dreaming


Lately I’ve been dreaming, musing. Maybe it’s moving into a new apartment, neighborhood. I feel like the sky’s the limit and everything’s fresh and ripe for the picking!

Pierogi Picnic is flourishing more than I anticipated this season. With my recent moving distraction I feared that the very worst would happen – that sales would slide and that I’d spend months recovering. To my delight and surprise it’s been just the opposite. I’ve been working on custom orders every spare moment while trying to organize merchandise and my new studio.

The recent couple of months have been incredibly encouraging and have led to me thinking about the future of my lil’ biz. My thoughts are still too new and vulnerable to document – but they’re stirring and really taking root in my mind. More details to come!

Item of the Week: Gradients of Grey

This adorable blazer was handmade using an upcycled grey sweatshirt. I slimmed down the seams, shortened and reshaped the sleeves and transformed the front to have an adjustable collar.

The reason why I love it is two fold: The fabric is incredibly soft and feels great against the skin. I also love it’s versatility! Leave it buttoned for a classic blazer shape, or undue both of the top ones for more of a cardigan feel.

This unique piece is currently discounted as part of this week’s “Moving Sale.” Take an additional 30% off at checkout with the coupon code “movingsale2012.”

DIY: Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap

As we are all busy running about trying to find the perfect handmade gifts for the season – many of us forget an essential – gift wrapping!

To keep you from procrastinating, and purchasing that gaudy roll of wrap that’s strategically placed at the register end cap, create your action plan now with these great easy-to-make alternatives.

Newspaper – If you’re looking for something cheap and chic, newspaper is the best way to go. The high contrast black and white will give your gifts an elegant look with a rustic edge. For some great suggestions on how to best use this upcycled material check out Design Apothecary’s article here.

Paper Bags  – If you ever take a spontaneous trip to the grocer and are (gasp!) caught without your reusable shopping bags – never fear! Those old-fashioned paper bags can be put to use! The stock of paper that’s used for your average grocery sack lends itself perfectly for wrapping gifts. Check out this awesome post from My Home Ideas for some great tips on using this everyday item. Continue reading

DIY: Bibliophile Wreath

Tis the season for cozying up your place for the holidays – and what better way to do it then with a little elbow grease and upcycled materials?!

One of my recent favorite DIY projects is making ultra modern wreaths using the pages of tattered books. These easy to make decor items add some cheer to your pad but are super easy to make! You can experiment with different colors and textures of book paper as well as shapes and designs for the wreath pattern. To see how I made my set of three take a peek at the Eco Etsy tutorial I created here.

Once you’ve tried your hand at them snap a pic and send me the link! I’d love to see how yours turn out.

Comfy, Chic & Customized: Swim Wear Revolution


If you’re anything like me you have a love/hate relationship with the beach. The soothing sound of lapping waves, the warmth of the sun, and the smells of sun tan lotion are sharply jarred by feelings of vulnerability and discomfort as your swim wear moves, shifts, and bulges in every nook and cranny of your body.

No matter how in or out of shape, all women fight this losing battle. And with the traditional swim suit materials only adding insult to injury the time has come to start a swim wear revolution!

By creating a new line of eco-friendly, custom fitted, vintage inspired swim suits – Pierogi Picnic is empowering you to hit the beach in comfort and style.

Each piece in the new line will be custom made to the wearer’s measurements out of soft and breathable upcycled cotton. The suits will be lined for fit and modesty and will include tailoring designed to flatter any figure. And the best part? The designs will be bright, colorful and affordable!!!

Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the new line this June.