FEATURED ETSY SHOP - LYDIA KRUPINSKI OF PIEROGI PICNIC

Strawberry Siesta ReVamped Eco Dress

by Lydia

of

PIEROGI PICNIC
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...all while being fashionable in this one-of-a-kind ReVamped Dress!

(CLICK on photo to learn more about this dress)

WELCOME, Lydia and her delightful "revamped" clothing creations which she sells in her Etsy shop, PIEROGI PICNIC. I just spent some time browsing through Lydia's shop, and you can just feel the "energy and fun" that comes through in each of her designs. Her use of upcycled goods is quite amazing and innovative. Be sure to pay PIEROGI PICNIC a visit after reading Lydia's interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

From an early age I was dreaming up little projects. My mother has a Polaroid somewhere of some dolls I had outfitted with toilet paper dresses...that seems to be the earliest indication of my love for whimsical crafting. When I was in elementary school I was called into the principal's office for selling handmade jewelry on the playground...entrepreneurship was not something that was encouraged at the time. I continued to collect, sew, design, draw, and create as an adolescent. The years passed, I went to college, got married, developed a career, and then, was suddenly laid off. In my new-found free time I became reacquainted with my love of design and with the insistence of my hubby...Pierogi Picnic was born!

Popsicle Falls Darling Eco Shirt Dress M

This adorable frock is the perfect piece with which to celebrate the warmer weather! Pieced together from a reclaimed top and men's dress shirt, this dress has a modern edge and vintage charm.

(CLICK on photo above to learn more about this dress)

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

Decided? I have yet to decide! This is perhaps the most difficult thing for me. I am a media maker by trade, artist by night, singer by earshot, and crafter by day. I have a terrible time streamlining my creative energy. Pierogi Picnic focuses on recycled textiles because I have an obsession with color, texture, and sustainability. I love the way fabrics feel, and the way they flow when you walk, but I also love knowing that what I make is created from materials that someone else has used in the past. I'm not purchasing new fabrics, but re-using those that are abandoned by other consumers.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

Discovery! Be it finding the perfect cotton men's shirt with which to make a dress, or concocting a new design...the flow from find to idea is one of the most rewarding aspects of my biz. It's also exciting when others discover my creations.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

That's a hard one. My cat's name is Tomato so I feel inclined to choose that...but I will have to say Basil. I know it's an herb and all, but it's green, easy to grow, fresh and invigorating...all the things I want Pierogi Picnic to be!

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?

The moving image. Before craft came into my life I was making videos. From childhood I would write scripts, make puppets, and with the help of my father's camcorder, make films with special effects and the like. I went to art school and focused on film and video but found that abstract media production doesn't pay the bills. So I've set my creativity to the side and worked commercially in the field.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

Choosing to live a conscious lifestyle doesn't mean you have to eat flavorless granola and wear post-consumer mules. You can be stylish, sustainable, sassy and make a difference in the world around you!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Creativity is the spice of life! Don't allow the mundaneness of daily life to prevent you from harnessing your creative abilities and sharing them with the world!

THANKS, Lydia for taking the time to share your fun, one-of-a-kind clothing. Great interview!

If you'd like to see more of Lydia's creations, learn more about Lydia, be sure to visit her links below.

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - KABOOGIE SHOES

Baby Boots Custom Made Go-Go

Audrey, of KABOOGIE SHOES, on Etsy has the most delightful footwear for all the little people in your lives. Mom's and grandma's if you are looking for some really soft, fun style footware to put on those little one's feet, be sure to pay a visit to KABOOGIE SHOES. There you will find soft moccasins, baby boots, like the ones shown above, fleece shoes and more. They really are adorable!

Audrey designs footwear for ages 0-6 mos up to 18 - 24 mos. She also makes custom designed adult shoes, so if any of you adults out there are looking for hand-made, "comfy" shoes...be sure to contact Audrey.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I've always crafted, always repurposed. It was bred into me. Mom was so creative with the very little we had, and dad is a sign painter, designer, builder, stained glass artist. I was taught there was nothing you couldn't make, with the materials and tools. And anything could be a material.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

I settled on recycled suedes & leathers because fabric is not as durable, and, well, leather is cool. Hubby had an old bomber jacket, and being the cheapo that I am, I recycled it into a suede & corderoy baby quilt, and shoes for my 6th child. They were so stinkin' cute! Then I realized ALL those pieces people toss into the thrift shop bins get thrown into landfills or sent off in bulk to third world countries. An Ann Taylor skirt is a terrible thing to waste.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

The end! LOL! I'm so impatient, I need to be able to finish it asap so I can do my little boogie shoe dance over how cute they are. I also love selling in person at shows, so I can watch people "ohhh" and "ahhh" over them. I also love the late nights, when all are sleeping, and I can work at a good clip with no interruptions!

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your creativity, what would that be and why?

It would be wood. I've always loved to build, and my husband and I have designed and built many pieces in our home. I've built toddler furniture, frames, chairs, all kinds of things, as well as refinishing old furniture, in keeping with my "repurposing" roots. There is not ONE newly bought dresser in my home! All are refinished castoffs.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

An ear of corn. Not very exciting, but corn is turned into so many products, from foodstuff to makeup, paperboard, chalk...it's the ultimate in versatility! Well, I turn so many products into shoes!

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

I want people to see that just because it's a baby, doesn't mean they have to dress like a cartoon character. I love to see people dress their babies like they dress themselves. Cool, funky, no Sponge Bobs!! People tell me all the time how they wish I'd make shoes for them. Well, I will!! Just ask!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Shake it up. Think outside the box. Just because you make something 100,000 other people are making, doesn't mean it has to look the same. Don't limit your product to only that which YOU like. There's so many customers who may like your product but not it's style. Keep your eye on trends, but don't get stuck in them. Look at the design world around you for inspiration. I've gotten shoe and wristlet ideas from wallpaper. Keep a folder of tear sheets of colors, patterns and designs you love. It's an old designer trick from my days as an art director.

Audrey, thanks for a wonderful interview, and for sharing your delightful Kaboogie Shoes with everyone! It is also really great that you are creating your products using recyled materials.

To see more of Audrey's creations, be sure to visit her links below.

KABOOGIE ARTFIRE SHOP

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