Events: Summer Bazaar Fun!

June 20, 2013June 19, 2013Leave a comment

This past Sunday I had the privilege to showcase my Pierogi Picnic creations alongside a collection of amazingly talented local Chicago artisans!

Setting up shop in the store and sidewalk of the new Lincoln Park salon, Smith & David, we took this tiny neighborhood nook by storm with our handmade creations, homemade soaps, hand-forged jewelry and incredible vintage finds. The weather was perfect, the clientele was chipper and the entire event had an easy breezy heir.

summer 2

Thank you to everyone who swung by to shop local!

For a complete list of all the talented participants, click here.

Events: RCF Holiday Photos

December 10, 2012December 10, 2012Leave a comment

As promised – here’s a peek at the abundant and delightful chaos that was the 2012 Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in Chicago!

The crowds were bigger than ever this season, which made for a busy day! Caitlin and I were on our toes the entire weekend, greeting shoppers, answering questions and selling lots!

It was a fruitful endeavor that always leaves me feeling inspired and invigorated. I loved seeing many repeat clients come shopping through – as well as the friendly faces of fellow vendors. Whether selling, shopping or mingling, I had an absolute blast! Am I exhausted after the fact? You bet! But every ounce of energy poured into preparing and executing this fair was well worth it!!!

An Indie Biz: Enjoying Event Prep

November 30, 2012November 30, 2012Leave a comment

One of the most exciting things about planning for events is merchandising! Concocting fun, engaging and bold displays is truly the icing on the cake. Designing the signs, choosing a layout and developing a theme – it’s my favorite part of prep.

Having someone with which to share the experience makes planning even more of a blast! Collaborating with Caitlin Peters of Wanderlustings again has allowed us to dream up a whole new look for our conjoined event booth. Not only does her beautiful brain power inspire the look of our nook, it also propels the ‘fun factor’ of prep to a whole new level! Continue reading →

Meet the Models: Caitlin

July 16, 2012July 12, 2012Leave a comment

Whether it’s posting incredible finds on her blog, Wanderlustings, or creating effortlessly elegant and retro-inspired jewelry for her Etsy shop, Caitlin’s a force to be reckoned with! So how could I not invite her to pose for me in a Pierogi Picnic photo shoot?!

To get into her lovely brain further, I asked her what inspired her. Here’s Caitlin’s response:

“Possibly anything. But constants seem to be: being different, creative and driven people, cinematography, music designed to tell a story, architecture, anything experimental, Paul Pope, comic books in general, decades past, Klaus Nomi, playing pretend, Ray and Charles Eames, self-awareness and letting your imagination run wild.”

Beautiful inside and out – isn’t she?!

Styling: Wanderlustings Lust

January 30, 2012January 28, 20123 Comments

I absolutely adore Caitlin Peters of Wanderlustings! Not only is she my craft fair collaborator extraordinaire – she’s also the brains behind the exceptionally beautiful line of jewelry and the blog that goes with it. Imagine my delight when one of her recent posts featured my “No Sweat” upcycled sweater! I love the way Caitlin layers the piece with a delicate white lace undershirt and pencil skirt. The cowboy boots are a nice touch too! It makes the top perfect for lounging and wearing to the office.

Events: Shopping Mission Accomplished!

September 15, 2011September 18, 2011Leave a comment

I’m still basking in the joy of this past weekend’s Renegade Craft Fair. Being among such driven and talented vendors is inspiring and encouraging. It gives one a sense of camaraderie and shows that the craft revolution is still going strong despite the failing economy.

The wares of the crafters were incredible this year. Each way I turned I found yet another unique handmade creation that I could barely contain myself from snatching up. The following is a peek at the damage I did do. I anticipate that more will follow once I start my holiday shopping two months forth. Continue reading →

An Indie Biz: Renegade Prep Party

August 29, 2011August 29, 20111 Comment

It’s the end of summer and there’s so much to celebrate!

The farmer’s markets are in full bounty, the temperatures still sweet, and Renegade is just a couple of weeks away – so why not throw a party?!

It has become famed Pierogi Picnic tradition to throw a casual crafting event in preparation for the fall fair. And with the added joy of this year’s collaboration with Caitlin Peters of Wanderlustings – I could barely contain my excitement for this year’s soiree.

Caitlin had the fantastic suggestion of making the meetup a brunch affair. This meant cooking a variety of yummy vegetarian breakfast foods while still indulging in the focus of the mid-day brain. We served up delish bagels and shmear from Beans and Bagels, yummy dishes with ingredients from the market and garden like asparagus goat cheese mini quiches and watermelon mint salad, and organic oj and iced coffee. Continue reading →