A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made it out to this past weekend’s 10th annual Renegade Craft Fair!
We saw tons of friendly faces, from family and friends to visits from online fans and regular Renegaders. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me! Thank you for your smiles and for inspiring me in my work.
For a peek at more photos from the event, visit my Flickr set here.
Guess who made a surprise pit stop by the Pierogi Picnic booth at the Renegade Craft Fair this past weekend? Apparently a photographer from the Chicago Sun-Times!
Imagine my surprise when a friend emailed me a link to their coverage of the event! My new “Point of Light” upcycled ruffle dress takes center stage in the featured picture. I’m stoked, and I hope you are too! Who could ask for better press?!
Take a look at the full photo spread here.
This is it! The 10th annual Renegade Craft Fair kicks off tomorrow – and if you haven’t set aside time to go – you better clear your schedule now!
Hundreds of handmade artisans will be flooding Division Street to hawk their wares. It’s the biggest and best juried craft fair in the the region. So pack a snack, bring a friend, and get ready for a beautifully cool and inspiring weekend. Be sure to visit us in booth #48 if you make it out.
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!
This ombre trend is contagious! I have been wanting to experiment with fabric dye for a long time and the melted color look has given me the perfect excuse to do just that!
Using a technique that calls for a slow dip and release process, I created the new “All About Ombre” dress that gives each frock a deep gradient toward the lower hem. An elegant way to revive pre-loved cotton fabric, this design forced me to keep the remainder of the piece simple so as to not distract from the color flow. Continue reading
Renegade is less than a month away! For all you Chicagoans who will be braving the crowds this year – I’ll be bringing you looks at merchandise I’m debuting for the fair. So prepare for your appetites to be thoroughly whetted!
This first “Sneak Peek” is of my new handmade shopping totes. Made out of second-hand linens – these adorable folksy bags will be free gifts to anyone who spends $60 or more in my booth! They’ll also be up for sale individually, for those of you looking to stay frugal at the fair. They were machine sewn and then stencil printed all by moi. Continue reading
There’s nothing quite like living each summer day to the fullest. The trouble comes when sunshine, lazy days and the heat interrupt our daily disciplines. Between weekend events, visiting with friends and cuddling with cute bugs like Peanut (photographed above) it seems that July slipped away without warning. So now Renegade is less than 30 days away and I have lots and lots of work to be done!
So this coming week I am setting aside the pleasures of the season to dedicate my time to sewing and planning and some more sewing! I hope to keep you updated on my progress via the Pierogi Picnic Facebook page. My goal is to make 15-20 pieces a day while finishing up my new sign, clothing racks and maybe sneaking in a couple fabric experiments.
Here’s to drowning myself in fabric for the next five days! Wish me luck!!!
Shiny Happy*People 