Press: A Sustainable take on Swift

September 5, 2013September 2, 2013Leave a comment

Did you know that Taylor Swift is on the list of performing artists who have had the largest quantity of Billboard chart topping hits?! I was surprised too!

I recently made this discovery while competing in a trivia night contest in Lincoln Park. Apparently Taylor Swift is rocking things more than I realized (I’m an eighties and nineties enthusiast – so how would I know?). Swift shares this magical status right alongside legendary performers like the Beatles, Prince and Michael Jackson. So imagine my duel surprise when I found that sustainable blogger Lisa Heinze featured Pierogi Picnic in an article on how to get Taylor Swift’s look using eco-friendly fashions. Talk about serendipitous!

Lisa compiled her collection using brands committed to earth-friendly fabrics and practices, creating a smorgasbord of sweet outfit options for Taylor Swift fans. What a great way to show young women how to look trendy while remaining socially conscious!

Read Lisa’s full list of Swift-stylizing tips here. To order a custom “Stripes & Sun” bathing suit, like the one featured, click here.

A DIY Wedding

July 23, 2013January 19, 20161 Comment

When it was announced that my baby brother was getting hitched – I could barely contain my excitement! Not only was I a mega-fan of the bride to-be, I also knew that this wedding would be different. Between the creativity imparted on Phil by our family, and the uber-crafty cunning of Katie, I had no doubt that this would be a DIY wedding to remember!

The Plan:

First things first, the bride made her own handy-dandy wedding planner in which she would list all the elements that would need to come together for this rustic, meets shabby chic, affair. Delegating out tasks across the familial pool, we each had an important part to play. The Krupinski side of the family was in charge of flowers, bridal party accessories, favors, and a portion of the food and centerpieces.

By inviting family and friends to take the lead in the preparations for their special day, Katie and Philip ensured that their wedding would hold sentiment for them, and all the guests who attended.

Wedding Favors: With a little elbow grease and some heavy duty diamond tip blades, my father made over eighty drinking glasses for the guests using old soda bottles. Talk about being green! Each one was then scripted with the event date and initials of the bride and groom making them an elegant and functional wedding favor.

Centerpiece Stands: My brother and dad also gathered used wooden candlesticks and wood from a recently fallen tree trunk, and assembled the most ingenious centerpiece bases (which I plan to steal for use in my own home – shhhhh). White washing each candlestick and gluing the top to a cross-cut of the tree trunk, these homemade cake stands were used for elevating the light and whimsical baby’s breath table bouquets.

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Featured Design: Frills & Thrills

June 6, 2013June 5, 2013Leave a comment

It’s truly starting to feel like summer – which has me thinking about stylish ways to look cute while keeping cool. So when choosing a featured design the choice was easy: the Frills & Thrills tanks. Created from pre-loved racerbacks, these adorable tops are embellished with a splash of vintage lace and an over-sized button. Great for layering with a high-waisted skirt or cut-off shorts – it makes the heat-filled days that much more fun! And with a limited time sale price of only $18 – these tanks are as easy on your wallet as they are on the environment!

Bicycle Lovin’

May 23, 2013January 19, 2016Leave a comment

I’m smitten! Is it a new pet, pair of jeans, flavor of ice cream? Why no! It’s my new vintage bicycle!

Penny Lane, as she’s been dubbed, is my ticket to riding throughout the city this summer. With her curvacious frame, light weight and lemon meringue hue – she’ll be my constant companion to the season’s fairs, fests and lake-side lolly gagging.

Now that I have a new “steed” I’m apt to fancy it up with some accessories to make the ride that much sweeter. Here’s a smattering of some of my favorite handmade and earth friendly finds for jazzing up a bike for the summer! Continue reading →

Greening Martha: Eco-Chic Mother’s Day Gift Wrap

May 2, 2013April 29, 20131 Comment

No matter what you’ll be gifting to your mum this Mother’s Day, there’s one thing that’s certain: you’ll need gift wrap. Whether it’s a unique one-of-a-kind creation or a store bought token of affection, we’ll all be scurrying to package up our presents before handing them off to our moms. So rather than purchase yet another roll of paper from the store – why not make your very own!

That’s exactly what Martha Stewart’s team did in a recent tutorial they featured on her website. But as is true to the name of our series, Greening Martha, we wanted to take this fun how-to one eco step further. The easiest way to do that was give the supplies a sustainable spin.

Rather than purchase virgin paper for the shabby chic printing, we reached for some recently read newspaper. Not only is it a more earth-friendly way to DIY, it’s also a great way to save a few bucks! Beyond the papery base, there was also the question of buying stencils for the project. Rather than purchase an item for the one time craft, we decided to get creative by digging through the fridge to find some just-past-fresh produce to use for stamping. We grabbed a shady looking celery stalk and decided to give that a go for the print-making. And boy were we pleasantly surprised! The simple geometric shape of the stalk, combined with a vivid set of hues, made for the sweetest set of wrapping papers that we’ll use to get our presents ready for mom.

And you can give it a try too! Below are our step-by-step pictorial instructions on how to make a simple and eco-chic set of wrapping papers using everyday items. Give it a whirl and be sure to experiment with different shapes, sizes and colors to add even more personal touch to your presents.

Artful Appalachia

April 11, 2013January 19, 2016Leave a comment

Needing a breath of fresh air and a temporary escape from city living – my hub and I embarked on a one week adventure to Appalachia.

Spending several days in the Pisgah National Forest in a beautifully renovated antique cabin at Brown Mountain Beach Resort, we enjoyed leisurely hikes, canoeing and fresh locally made foods. The couple who recently acquired the stretch of historical cabins imparted their enthusiasm for all things green and homegrown. Not only is this treasure of a resort striving for true sustainability, both financially and ecologically, they’re also pet-friendly. Talk about hitting up the right demographic! David and I will be sure to swing through again in the future with our mini goblins in tow.

After a few days of R&R in the park, we embarked on a visit to Asheville, the self-proclaimed “foodtopia” of the East. With a penchant for the arts and slow processes, both with foods and products, this tiny city nestled in the smoky mountains was refreshingly low key. With live folk music pouring from the bars, an abundance of local handmade crafts, direct-from-farmer restaurants and a thriving arts scene, this town of 50,000 was a pleasant surprise. We enjoyed gallery hopping in the River Arts District and leisurely strolls between the many boutiques. A true gem with much more to be discovered – I foresee us swinging through Asheville again in the near future – to do some more in depth exploring.

Is there a close vacation destination near your home that offers sustainable and local foods? If so – share your suggestions for regional trips in the comments! We’d love to know where you go to escape!

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Designs: Take A Bow

March 5, 2013March 27, 2013Leave a comment

I know I know – the end of winter is at hand so what business do I have making more cold weather gear? Well, I don’t know about you, but as far as I’m concerned the layering will continue for at least another couple of months as the current season wanes and spring takes hold. So as I was laying out my design plans for the coming days, I decided to throw caution to the wind and make more cozy layerables that can be stacked over sweaters and raincoats. And so “Take a Bow” was born.

Handcrafted from knitted, itch-free, vintage sweaters, these adorable chunky cowls are both utilitarian and fashion-forward. Creating a warm loop around the neck, these fun accessories have a pinched front to create an over-sized bow shape when worn. Great for wearing indoors or out – I predict that this new design will be a fan favorite in no time!