Finds: Herbivore Botanicals Skincare

June 13, 2013June 12, 2013Leave a comment

I’m somewhat of a natural cosmetics junkie – always ready to try the latest DIY tonic or small-batch soaps. Whether makeup or bath bombs, as long as they’re natural and cruelty-free, I’m always willing to give them a try. So when I stumbled upon the vegan Etsy-based skincare Herbivore Botanicals, I knew I was sold.

Featured in an Etsy shopping guide for Father’s Day, I scooped up a men’s gift set for my hubby. “It’s an early Father’s Day present!” I told him. “But we don’t have kids” he protested. Four-legged babes count – don’t they?! Besides, I thought it would be more apt for him to try the line as it’s meant for toning the skin of those with facial hair, something I’m thankful I don’t qualify for.

So what did he think? Continue reading →

An Indie Biz: Making a Look Book

May 30, 2013June 10, 2013Leave a comment

This past Saturday I embarked on my first look book adventure!

Gathering together a group of talented creatives and the Pierogi Picnic modeling gang, we orchestrated a fun-filled shoot in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. With loads of brightly colored designs and props in hand – we snapped and shot hundreds of photos to show off the latest Pierogi Picnic creations – orchestrating an urban picnic in one of the most vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods in Chicago.

Now that the actual shoot date is behind us, all that’s left to do is sift through the shots and do some fine tuning! We’ll keep you posted on when the final product is ready for it’s debut to the world. But in the meantime – here’s a peek into the planning that went into making the shoot a success. Continue reading →

An Indie Biz: Your Path

May 16, 2013June 10, 2013Leave a comment

I absolutely love this graphic that I stumbled upon on Pinterest. It reminds me to keep my eyes set upon my own path.

It’s easy to get caught up in the success of others and compare them to your own progress. Not only is this a practice that leads to discouragement, it can also blind sight ones true potential. Instead of developing a new design, or experimenting with your product photos, you’ll find yourself in a slump trying to keep up with the crafty Jones’s. And what fun is that?! Continue reading →

Featured Design: Layers Away

April 18, 2013April 17, 2013Leave a comment

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!

Sale: Spring Cleaning Bonanza!

March 24, 2013March 25, 2013Leave a comment

It doesn’t feel like spring in Chicago quite yet – but despite what my weather app may say – the season is officially here! So to celebrate the beginning of longer days and soon-to-be warmer temps, I’m having a one-day-only Spring Cleaning Bonanza sale!

From now until midnight you can take 40% off any ready-made or vintage items in my Etsy shop by using the following coupon code during checkout: springbonanza03

Sound crazy? It is!

Whether you’ve had your heart set on a new design or a vintage find – now’s the perfect time to scoop things up! There won’t be another sale like this one for months and months to come – so go ahead – and take advantage of this great deal.

An Indie Biz: Photo Magic

March 19, 2013March 18, 20132 Comments

As I sit at my computer late on a Monday night I realize that I am way way way overdue. Not for returning my library books – but for writing a post on running an indie biz! So here’s my much belated installment – and it’s all about photo editing.

Let’s say you’ve developed a beautiful new line of products and are ready to introduce your creations to the world. You’ve painstakingly planned the shoot, took the time to set up quality lighting and have captured a great set of photos to show the masses.

Now what?

Don’t even think for a second that once your photos are logged and stored on your SD drive that you’re free to frolic about. Your next task as a handmade business owner is to make those pics magical. And I’m not talking pseudo-well-done they get a passing grade magical. I mean stop-em-in-their-tracks, make-heads-turn, kind of attention. Sure – paying a pro to do the dirty digital work can seem promising – but there’s nothing more fulfilling than empowering yourself to take that DIY step to enhance pictures on your own.

So before I sit back to tackle the 300+ photos I snapped of new Pierogi Picnic gear recently, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite tricks and short cuts for photo editing on the fly. Continue reading →

Finds: Monochromes + Mint

March 7, 2013March 6, 20131 Comment

Perhaps it’s the recent snow dump that’s rubbing off on me – but I have been so drawn to monochromatic color schemes of late. I’ve found myself pinning and hearting things that are black, white and grey for weeks! Thank goodness spring is on the horizon – and as it nears – I’m hoping more pops of color will creep into my creative landscape.