DIY: Festive Fall Garland

November 17, 2014November 15, 2014Leave a comment

Pumpkins deep jewel tones and warm hues, spicy candles and cozy fabrics all of these things are what make autumn my favorite season. So when dreaming up a new look for our fireplace mantle, I knew I wanted to combine all my favorite elements of fall into the spread. Pumpkins. Check. Wine colored mums. Check. Now for the finishing touch: a fun upcycled garland.

Pom poms, those delightfully little fluffy balls of yarn, are one of my secret obsessions. I will use any excuse to make a fresh batch – affixing them to gifts, headbands, art prints and more. So when choosing the texture of my festive fall garland the choice was easy.

Now when choosing the colors and textures – that’s where a bit of experimentation came into play. Digging through my drawer of varying fabric scraps, I settled on a warm cream linen, rich pumpkin velvet, and grey and lilac t-shirt cottons. I then grabbed a ball of white yarn that had been sitting untouched after a summer project. Cutting, wrapping and slicing I found that the linen frayed too much and didn’t have the fluffy outcome I wanted. The velvet and cottons, however, worked out perfectly!

So without further adieu, I now bring you an tutorial on how you too can make one of these festive pieces for the season. Play with a variety of colors, textures and pom pom sizes to give your garland a twist of your very own.

Lay out your chosen fabric
Cut the fabric into 1/2″ strips
You’ll need 4 strips of fabric per pom pom
Tug both ends of each strip to stretch and fluff them out
Wrap the first strip around four fingers
Wrap each of the remaining strips around the first
Using a shorter excess strip, place the string between the center of your fingers and tie a knot
Pull the pom off your fingers and cut the looped ends
Fluff and trim your pom so all the ends are similar in length
Cut a long piece of yarn onto which you’ll tie your poms
Center each pom along the yarn mapping out the spacing
Tie the yarn across the center of each pom and pull into place

And there you have it! In fifteen minutes or less you can be on your way toward making a festive fall garland of your very own! Should you give the project a try – be sure to share pictures of your final creation with us on Facebook or Instagram!

Featured Design: The Dodger

November 10, 2014November 6, 2014Leave a comment

There’s a chill in the air and the month of November is well underway – which can mean only one thing. It’s bundling season! And for that reason we’ve chosen The Dodger cowl as our featured item.

Whether it’s for keeping yourself or an eco-savvy giftee warm, this elegant and utilitarian accessory is the perfect piece for the chilling season. Available in several color combos, the grey on grey is my personal favorite as it has unisex appeal and a slightly military vibe.

Handmade using recycled sweatshirt fabrics, these uber soft and snuggly cowls are great for day-to-day wear, biking, or spicing up a weekend outfit. And with the holidays just around the bend, they’d make a great stocking stuff too! To check out which color combos are currently available visit my Etsy shop here.

Giving Thanks

November 6, 2014January 19, 2016Leave a comment

Fall is, hands down, my favorite time of year. The changing foliage, chillier temps, and pumpkin-laced – well, everything – makes it a time to indulge in all the little wonders of life. Autumn also offers the promise of Thanksgiving, the best holiday of them all! Gathering with loved ones to share and reflect on all the good things the year has offered makes it my favorite celebration.

To get my “attitude of gratitude” warmed up for the season I’ve decided to post a daily thanks to my Instagram each day of November. Whether it’s for specific people, things or circumstances, I’m thinking about all the blessings in my life, big and small, and sharing them with others through the site.

Consider joining me in this season of giving thanks – and start sharing something you’re grateful for every day on your own instagram account! Be sure to tag your posts #givingthanks so that we can all share in your thanksgiving reflections!

Events & Sales: Making Room for Baby!

October 22, 2014October 20, 2014Leave a comment

We are officially past the six month mark or our pregnancy and our nesting instincts are now in overdrive! We’ll be crafting together the babe’s nursery in November – but we’ve got quite the de-cluttering to do first. And for that reason I’m hosting a mega sale this week!

Starting on Thursday, October 23rd through Monday, October 27th I’m cutting and slashing prices on many Pierogi Picnic designs throughout my Etsy shop. We’re calling it the “Making Room for Baby” sale! Catchy, isn’t it?!

I’ll be putting many classic items on deep discount, as well as creating grab bags for retired designs. I’m also knocking dollars off newer creations and vintage – so if you’re starting your holiday shopping early – you won’t want to miss this!

PLUS, help get the word out about the sale and I’ll send you a coupon for free shipping that you can use anytime between now and the end of the year. International buyers included! Simply share our status off the Pierogi Picnic Facebook page and I’ll private message you the code.

Here’s to finding new forever homes for lots of my designs this weekend!

Featured Designs: Cycle Sweatshirts Are Back!

October 20, 2014October 20, 2014Leave a comment

They’re here – they’re here! The classic Pierogi Picnic sweatshirt is back!

Variations of the Ms Cycle and Sir Cycle design are now back in stock in my Etsy shop for a limited time only. Featuring soft upcycled fleece, a slim cut, a versatile cowl/hoodie combo and elegant detailing, this is one of my all-time favorite creations, and also a best-seller. It makes for a perfect gift for the holidays or even a treat for yourself.

But don’t delay! This design is only available in limited quantities – so if you see one in a size and color you like – snatch it up before the holiday rush makes them all disappear.

DIY: Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub

September 11, 2014September 8, 2014Leave a comment

It’s the time of year when we turn off the air, bust open the windows, and let the cool breeze of autumn whip through our homes. Forget spring cleaning – fall is when I want things to be light and fresh – which is exactly what has inspired my classic homemade Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub.

Made with ingredients from the kitchen, the exfoliating texture and delicious smell of this DIY treatment will transform your bathroom into a foodie spa extravaganza. Unlike the fattening espresso drink of the same name at Starbucks – this luxurious scrub is actually good for you! Made with olive oil, coffee grounds and effervescent peppermint, it will awaken your senses while sloughing off dry dull skin.

Follow the recipe to see how easy it is to indulge!

Ingredients:1 cup used coffee grounds, 1/2 cup raw sugar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 10 drops peppermint oil, 1 teaspoon cocoa

To make, combine the coffee grounds and sugar in a small bowl and stir together. Next, add the two oils to the coffee sugar brew. Once you have thoroughly mixed the oils in, add the teaspoon of cocoa to give it an extra kick of scent. Pour your concoction into a cleaned out jam jar. For gifting purposes, wrap a string of ribbon or raffia around the base and tie in a bow. Will stay good in open air for two weeks – or you can refrigerate it to extend the shelf life.

Enjoy!

We’re Expecting!

August 8, 2014January 19, 20161 Comment

We have some big, exciting, huge news here at the Pierogi Picnic family. We’re expecting! A little human to be exact! David and I broke the official news to friends and family last week – and we couldn’t be more enthused at the prospect of growing and grooming a little person.

With the coming of the little man/gal we’ll experience a dramatic shift in lifestyle as we add baby to our daily activities and endeavors. So what does that mean for Pierogi Picnic?

Pierogi Picnic has blossomed and evolved in incredible ways since I launched my handmade business in the fall of 2008. Since then I have grown as a person, creator and business owner in ways I could have never imagined. And that will continue as we anticipate the arrival of our bundle of joy.

The little human will make their debut in February of 2015 and we’ve already begun planning. For Pierogi Picnic that will mean some ebbs and flows in product creation between now and the winter. Instead of pushing my already limited energy reserves on custom orders, I’ll be focusing on hawking items that I’ve already created, as well as vintage pieces. There will definitely be some sewing going on here and there – but much of my productivity will depend on how my body is feeling. David and I have chosen to take as easy-going an approach to the pregnancy as possible, so keeping deadlines and mad-crunches at the machine at bay will be key.

So starting this weekend, you’ll find that the “Custom Made” category of the Pierogi Picnic Etsy shop offline. Is this a permanent shift? Absolutely not! Being able to create tailored clothing for people of all shapes and sizes is key to what I do! So come Spring 2015 expect lots of new design choices within the made to order category. But for now, as my body settles into baby growing and all the fun adventures that go with it, I’ll be sticking to ready-made orders only.

So excited as we enter this new chapter of our lives! And who knows – maybe a Mini Pierogi Picnic line is in the not-so-distant future!