I was perusing some older press items when I fell upon this gem – my Featured Member interview for the EcoEtsy team.
It’s fascinating going back more than a year later and reading my responses. I was surprised to find that I would still answer the majority of the questions the same way today. Read the original interview which talks about my journey to owning an eco indie busy and ongoing inspirations.
How would you answer the questions if you were asked? Share your thoughts below.
Woo hoo! Pierogi Picnic was featured in today’s “Etsy Finds” e-mail blast with the Urban Folk tunic dress. Great way to make my day.
Last Monday my family and I took a day trip to Michigan to do what Polish people do best – forage for mushrooms. An autumn tradition, I hadn’t gone with my parents in over a decade, so the time had finally come. Continue reading
By far the funniest name for a fashion trend – “mullet hems” are one of my favorite designs to be popping up this season. What is a mullet hem? A top or tunic that is business up front and a party in the back. Or to put it plainly, short on one side and long in the rear. This style lends itself wonderfully for layering with long tanks and leggins in the fall or even a mini and heels in the spring. So keep your eyes peeled as you’ll be seeing this shape for many months to come! 
1. Chic Moss 2. Trop Rouge 3. Mikkat Market 4. Pierogi Picnic 5. Urban Outfitters 6. Fade to Grey
With autumn’s arrival there’s nothing better than a soft cotton cardigan to warm up your summer frocks. I designed this piece with exactly this in mind! Sculpted from an over-sized men’s t-shirt, this new design has tons of layering potential while remaining comfortable against the skin. The soft cotton belt is included for cinching, but it’s really the pleats in the back that give it a unique edge.
One of my favorite design challenges is finding frumpy vintage clothing and re-imagining them into modern user-friendly pieces. What’s so satisfying about the process is that it’s completely spontaneous. I don’t pre-plan and go out to find fabric. The fabric finds me.
As I’m hunting down t-shirts, sweaters, lace, and other materials for my classic Pierogi Picnic designs I sometimes happen upon a 60s dress or 70s skirt that has an interesting shape or print. I immediately size it up, looking at the quality of the garment, and envision it in a new form.
Friends who have come along for my fabric hunting adventures always smirk in disbelief when I grab a pleated, floor length, shoulder pad-filled frock and pop it in my cart. Weeks later when they see the outcome they are amazed!
“How did you know?” – they ask
“It’s just me following my intuition” – I reply
Any indie handmade business owner knows that there’s only so many reproductions we can pump out before we become fatigued by our craft. That’s why having an outlet to let spontaneous creativity shine is so important! All of us need to take a step back, experiment, and enjoy the stream-of-consciousness process of just letting go and having fun with a creation.
So next time you’re in a creative rut and looking for a way out – grab some raw materials and start to enjoy your craft once more. Who knows – maybe you’ll find your own token eighties frock.
Shiny Happy*People 