This past Friday night our sneak peek turned into a full blown 3rd in the Burg happening!
So many friends and fans stopped it, it was an awesome welcome back to Midtown! It was pretty darn cold out, too! Serving mulled cider and yummy nibbles helped fight the chill! Happily, some of our tweeps got pics, because we were busy schmoozin’ and ringing up sales. Life is good.
We are now open our regular hours Thursdays and Fridays 11-7 and Saturdays 10-5. Speaking of Saturdays, after the snow we got lots of visitors, old friends and customers. The excitement is catching, that’s for certain! Everyone’s enthusiasm makes us so happy to be back!
We had our first impromptu clinic when Jess gathered a few girls for a Crochet class. It was cozy with our rockin’ 70′s sofas. I promise a pic soon. The sofas and a 1960′s dinette and buffet make up the charm of my Travel and business office, where we will have small seminars and roundtables as well as some of the make n takes and classes.
Our FIRST Make n Takes are the first two Saturdays in February 10a-2p Julie will be
back to offer Valentines. There are 5 types to choose to make at $5 each.
Well, folks, make it a point to stop in and buy local! The new HoPo is feeling fine and ready to put the renewed energy to good use! SEE YOU SOON!
Peace, Love, HoPo Karma!
~~~Dawn
We are rolling right along with the new shop. Friends and family are helping us get ready to open the doors.
We’re looking for new artists of all types. Please send them our way! The new building has plenty of opportunity for everyone! The basic way it works for the selling artist and crafter is $50 per month and 10% of sales. Simple, fair, well worth being part of growing and extraordinary community of local creatives!
January 20th 6-9pm OPEN HOUSE we’re inviting you, our wonderful friends, fans and family to an open house to see what’s happening. Feel free to bring along your own friends, family & fellow creators to get the feel of what we are developing at 1320 N 3rd St in Harrisburg! There will be light refreshments and hopefully a tour of the whole building in progress.
The new HodgePodgery location also affords us to expand into other realms. We currently occupy the first floor, with the main shop being in the front room on 3rd St. That room is handicap accessible. In the second room moving back, The HoPo shares space for my office in my roles as Queen of the HoPo and Cruise Consultant with Expedia CruiseShipCenters. In that same space we will hold small classes, seminars and talks, as well as knitting and sewing circles. Next, we have our semi-private workshop area for messy projects. Finally, in the rear, is our kitchen we are planning to set up our for commercial use. Look for completion by spring as funds allow.
In the rear former apartment on the 2nd floor of our building, and by the grace of our benevolent landlords, plans are being hatched to create a funky little co-working space for creatives of all types. The rooms aren’t huge, but they’ll be a great place to hang out, and work with other people. At the moment, there is still an occupant in the front apartment.
The 3rd floor of the building is pure art space available to be rented on a monthly, weekly or daily basis, depending on demand. FYI, One of the rooms is already spoken for.
Take not of all the blank wall space….the gallery awaits! CALLING ALL CREATIVES HoPo_Artist_App_2012!
We hope you will join us soon!
Peace, Love, Karma
~~~Dawn
The HodgePodgery is currently seeking community minded artists to join in our local functional art and craft collective. The new space will open mid to late January at 1320 N 3rd St Harrisburg, PA and will be operated by The HodgePodgery, LLC.
As a collective space, artists will contribute $50 per month plus 10% of sales which goes toward operating costs, marketing and growth. They will also be required to contribute 5 hours “time”per calendar month. “Time” can be in hours helping on site, teaching classes, offering seminars or make & takes, promoting, contributing blog posts, marketing, shows and so forth.
As a member of the collective, you are welcome to sell your wares, cross promote your business, use co-working space, attend round-tables, teach and attend workshops, share and in some cases, co-brand with The HodgePodgery.
We strive to create an atmosphere of creativity, support, education and economical growth for local artists and crafters as well as enriching our surrounding communities.
Artist’s wares must meet specifications determined by the ownership and managing partners in order to ensure quality products and service with consistency as well as ensure a proper mix of offerings i.e. 20% jewelry, 15% accessories,15% clothing and so on.
Individual artists must act as independent business owners, provide displays, merchandise and inventory their own wares in accordance to The HodgePodgery’s guidelines.
There is limited membership in the collective and once that is met, applicants will be placed on a waiting list. Physical space allotment will vary according to product and display type and is considered movable on the sales floor as we see fit.
Also available early 2012 is semi-private studio space for rent on a daily and/or monthly basis. Pricing varies.
If you are an artist or crafter in the Harrisburg area, willing and committed to investing in growing your business we welcome you to apply to our collective. Our goal is to create a retail outlet and cooperative work space, and to support creators of local arts and handmade wares in building their independent business to continue to enrich our community.
Please contact dawn@thehodgepodgery.com for your application.
2012 at The HoPo will be bringing a whole lotta change! Currently, most everything (including our computer systems) are in storage waiting for our new home to be ready. I have been away, training for my new additional income generating career, as well as visiting my sons.
Yesterday, I signed our new lease and we are hoping to begin HodgePodge-ifying the new digs Dec 15th. Of course, that is HOPING TO. One never knows what will come up in a building rehab.
Artists and crafters interested in working with us should get in touch by email dawn@thehodgepodgery.com with the subject “Info Please” so I can find it easily. PLEASE, we have lot going on so give me some time to respond. We are restructuring our business plan and updating software. We have inventory and inputting, along with a bazillion other physical moving things to get done over the next few weeks. We would like to be open by the beginning of 2012.
Lessons learned: Just because we WANT to do something and TRY to do it, does not always make it happen. For example: We really wanted to do the online shop thing. It seems simple enough, right? WRONG. Didn’t happen, and no longer on our list of priorities.
You all know that we are pretty transparent. Probably to a fault, but that’s just the way it is. My life is an open book, and I reflect that in writing for the HoPo.
I’ve missed being in Midtown daily and I am looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. I personally have some life organizing to do in order to make a living as well as get the shop back up and rolling. Anyone know the best way to juggle cats??
Peace, Love, HoPo Karma!
~~~Dawn
It’s not.
Seems we will be back sooner than we thought! Watch for us to open a new retail space in Midtown for the New Year (and if all goes according to plan a sneak peek before Christmas!)
Yes. A new space. Thanks to our friend and neighbor, Eric Papenfuse of Midtown Scholar we will have a new, more affordable building on the 1300 block of 3rd St. It’s a long story…but that my friends, is a post for another day!
How do we feel?? Loved, and absolutely thankful for everyone’s support! We don’t have a solid date, much depends on how the renovations go. The building needs a good deal of work, and when our new digs are ready to move into, we’ll be giving The HoPo a fresh look and feel. I’m also excited that there is space for Dawn’s Escapades and the gals will have studio room.
Well, we just wanted to give you a head’s up so you don’t become TOO distraught over missing us! In the mean time find us:
Oct 8th: Willow Valley Resort Fall Fest, Lancaster
Nov 12 and 13: Midtown Scholar Book and Craft Fair. 3rd and Verbeke Sts, Harrisburg
Nov 30 through Dec 4: PA Christmas Show, booth 1014 Farm Show Building, Harrisburg
…and who knows where else!!
Peace, Love,and above all, KARMA!
~~~Dawn and the HoPo Gals
First, as we head into our last month on the corner of 3rd and Herr, we will be adjusting our hours of operation.
We will be open:
Thursdays 11-7 (closed Thursday Sept 8th)
Fridays 11-7
Saturdays 11-5
We will also be open SUNDAY SEPT 11TH for GALLERY WALK
Be sure to get in ASAP for your Holiday shopping and to use your gift certificates. Come September consignors will be picking up their wares as we reduce our offerings to accommodate our mobile shop.
Finally, my friends, the day for gainful employment has come and I have moved full-swing (and full-time) into my new gig as a travel agent. Dawn’s Escapades specializes in group tours and travel for family, friends, businesses and other associations. Be sure to check it out and follow me on twitter and facebook as well. BTW, I’m on the look out for people to “host” a group and earn some deeply discounted travel from helping out! Watch for great travel opportunities and fun trips developing along the way via your HodgePodgery email.
See you soon!
Peace, Love, and above all, KARMA!
~~~Dawn
METAMORPHOSIS
mĕt’ə-môr’fə-sĭs)
n., pl., -ses (-sēz’).
A transformation, as by magic or sorcery.
A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.
Dear Friends of the HoPo:
I started this post with the word “metamorphosis” as it is fitting to what is going on at The HodgePodgery. This year has brought big changes to the company. We started this year out a bit puzzled that holiday sales were not anywhere near our prediction according to the year and months before. We continued to watch in dismay as sales decreased, while the foot traffic and fans continue to increase. Regardless we moved forward with our growth plans and kept trying to change the tide. Then came Artsfest 2011. High hopes turned into crushing disappointment when our sales this year were HALF of what we we had in 2010. In commiserating with other retailers and handmade shop owners, we realize we are not alone in this situation. We watch helplessly as small independent businesses, unable to make ends meet, close their doors. The economy is such that people have not been spending like they had and it has affected us all in many ways.
Believe it or not, last year at this time we were already holding our own as a business and could make our overhead and progressed accordingly. Always the optimist, we increased advertising and business memberships. As a company we have been continually looking at how to keep on keeping on. We are working on a kick-butt online shop, and are now turning our focus to classes, shows and markets where we go TO the people. We are preparing for a true HoPo RoadShow.
Now for the sad part. As of October 1st, we will be closing the storefront here in Midtown Harrisburg. Yes, I know. It breaks our hearts, also. We’ve made so many friends and love our neighborhood, but in order for The HodgePodgery as a business to go on we have to tighten our belts and the biggest expense we have is the overhead to keep the shop running. As awesome as it is, a brick and mortar shop can’t survive on love and fans. It needs cold hard cash to pay the bills.
Remember that word, metamorphosis? Even tho we are closing the physical location, like a butterfly, we are breaking out of our cocoon and GOING MOBILE! We will set up at fairs, markets, and shows. We are available for classes. We will do private sales and fundraisers. You will finally be able to shop ONLINE! Please, don’t despair…we aren’t dead, we’re just evolving as something new!
Keep an eye on the website as we add dates and places to our calendar. We plan to frequent area farmers’ markets and special events as well as craft shows. Our craft show schedule at the moment involves New Cumberland’s Apple Festival Sept 24th, Willow Valley’s Fall Fest Oct 8th and the PA Gift Show at the Farm Show Building Nov 30-Dec4th.
Get in touch for classes, private shows and special events….and get to the shop NOW before everything is packed up and/or gone!
As a very important side note: I do hope that you understand the importance of supporting small business. It is a struggle everyday to keep the bills paid. When you walk through your neighborhood, regularly spend money in the mom and pop shops. Become a true customer. If you don’t spend money in your neighborhood shops, you won’t have neighborhood shops. It is just that simple.
Peace, Love and above all Karma.
~~~Dawn, Jessica, Tara and the HoPo gang
Ok, so I lied. The living in a craft/art/retail world is NEVER easy. Constant ideas, constant marketing, constant tinkering…the brain never seems to want to stop (unlike the cash funds that seem to NEVER want to keep going)
AAAAnnyyhooos…as we move full tilt boogie into the summer we have scads of new goodies coming into the shop. A new look is developing. A new feel is settling in. We are groovin’ to a new vibe, my friends! We are also pulling back and refocusing on our initial focus of recycled and upcycled. What do you think about the new logo?
Feel like a little road trip? This Saturday, July 2nd, look for our stand at Carlisle’s Summerfest on the Dickinson campus 8-3pm. Say hi to Tara and our HoPo volunteers! Of course the shop will also be open 11-5 right here in Midtown for your shopping pleasure! We know you will have a bunch of guests, so we FULLY expect you to show them YOUR favorite place for uniquely functional art, y’hear?
SPEAKING of Midtown, I just got word today that Friends of Midtown is doing a Fire Hydrant painting contest “Paint the Plug” Check out the goodies so you can submit your design for consideration! Looks like some nice CASH prizes are up for grabs! The submissions must be in by July 15th and after selection, the artists will have a month to “Paint the Plug” Submit to Susquehanna Art Museum PO Box 11818, Harrisburg PA, 17108 and more info is available by emailing beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Ok, kids!
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
~~~Dawn
THIS FRIDAY June 17th we will be doing some fun Dad stuff.
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Happy Happy Joy Joy, it is the merry, merry month of MAY!! Yippee! May brings us May Day, fairies, Derby Hats, Mother’s Day and ARTSFEST! (Incidentally it also brings a much needed quick vacation for yours truly and we’ll have reduced hours next week) Have you checked out our May and June Class Calendar? We’ve added some new things! Personally, I am really looking forward to the Mixed Media Journal on Thursday May 19th. There are some techniques in that I am looking forward to learning! 
On Saturday May 21st we’re Repurposing Windows with Rachel Campbell! I’m pretty sure I’ll be doing that one too! 
Remember…Call 717-236-0150 to reserve your space, classes hold 4-6 people so space is limited. It’s best to get ahold of your besties and call as soon as you see the class is open! By the way, you DO realize that we offer most of our classes “on demand” right? You pull at least 4 friends together, pick a few nights that would work, and we’ll coerce the teach into doing a private class! Heck, we may even be able to get them to come to YOU!
DID YOU REALIZE that ARTSFEST is right around the corner? We’ll be there again thanks to the wonderful Greater Harrisburg Arts Council. Come one out Saturday, Sunday and Monday May 28th-30th and see what we’re up to! Volunteers are needed and you get a cool t-shirt and some other perks. Get in touch thru their website and help out. The HoPo will have a bunch of cool make n takes going on. For the kidlings, we’re thinking fairy wands, tiaras, wizard hats. For the teens and young adults, we’re planning on ripping up some tees in creative ways to revamp a wardrobe. A few more things are brewing as well.
Come June, we are hoping to have a few more surprises in store for you…here’s a hint:
fabric by Tara DeLutis, Tea Wallet and Cell Phone case by Avocado
Betcha can’t wait!
