April begins next week and with it the final three weeks of events to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Many thanks to all who have donated on line, come out for Kegs ‘n’ Eggs and the Mantis Gallery’s FivebySeven show!
This weekend, my amazing boyfriend Michael and I will be busy making chocolate covered Easter Eggs! Get your order in NOW by hopping over to this form! We’re planning on making 250 this weekend, and by the end of the campaign we hope to have sold 500! We’ll be stirring and forming and dipping away all day Sunday..the foils are due today! I know you didn’t know it, but MDG makes some KILLER Easter Eggs! Ask his co-workers! He supplies them with dozens every year. This year tho, they’re gonna PAY! What sweeter way to donate to a worthy cause, right?
Have you made your appointment yet for The Ink-a-thon? Check out the events page for details on the participating studios both at the Maennerchor 2-10pm April 3rd and some at their locations on both Saturday and Sunday! Show some tattoo love, yo! DJ Chris Vroman of Cashmere entertainment will be spinning some mad tunes, Lisa will be laying out some Tarot, and Jan will be sketching your pets (from photos, please) There will be food available and a cash bar as well as some nifty neat art and stuff for sale.
Of course, don’t forget about your chance to BUY YOUR WAY to FAME at our Cabaret and Talent Show Sunday night Apr 3 from 7-10 at Stage on Herr! Get registered so we can get you on the ticket! Juggle, dance, sing or tell a few jokes. Any magicians out there?? CABARET IS CANCELLED!!!
Sign your Junior Photographers up for Kid.Art.Love. Photo Collage for two Saturdays April 9th and 16th at the HodgePodgery 1100 N 3rd St in Harrisburg. Two age groups for the parent and me class. Call the HoPo to register! 717-236-0150
There’s another FULL day on April 10th beginning at noon on city island with the Paws for a Cure Pet Walk by Abrams and Weakley General Store for pets. Then at 3 register for the Poetry Slam at ABC on Cameron from 3:30 t0 6:30. During the SLAM items will be out for the Silent Auction leading into BLUEGRASS with Ragtime Willi from 7-9pm. Event door is $5.
April 17th is the FIRST EVER Bacon ‘n’ Brew Ha-Ha at ABC up in the Abbey Bar and The Gallery. Sign up now to enter your favorite bacon dish or home brewed beer, cider or rootbeer! Seriously! EVERYTHING is better with bacon! Greenbelt Events and The HodgePodgery are sponsoring this yummy delicious fundraiser! Live music and a Beer Belly contest…what more could you ask for of an afternoon of fun? Tickets available NOW at the HoPo! $10 includes 3 tasting tickets. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO LLS!!
AGAIN…MANY, MANY THANKS for everyone’s help and to all the businesses who have donated time, prizes and supplies for our events as well as for the artists who have donated their work! You all have been wonderful!
Of course if you can’t make it to any of the events, PLEASE DONATE online at http://cpa.mwoy.llsevent.org/dawnrettinger
Now thru MARCH 31st Choose from select winter wear by BooPatch, JAE, Bright Eyed Dyer, Trina and Second Season Mittens!
Hats, Scarves & Mittens…get in before they are all gone!
Come on aboard with GoTeam HoPo!!
Join us for some crazy cool fundraisers to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Dawn is up for Woman of the Year and every penny we raise counts as a vote! The heck with settling for Central PA’s Woman of the Year…The HodgePodgery is shooting for NATIONAL!!
Our very first event is for you graphically inclined souls. Chatterbox Marketing is doing a t-shirt contest entries should be in by Friday March 4th, the top 5 designs chosen March 7th which will be available to order. Grand Prize winner is determined by sales totals as of Thurs MARCH 31st. Proceeds from t-shirt sales/votes benefit LLS.
ENTRIES are now being accepted for The Mantis Gallery’s FIVEbySEVEN event to benefit LLS. Entries must be received by SatMarch 12th. The exhibit begins with an Opening Reception 8-10 pm Fri MARCH 18th (3rd in the Burg) and closes Sun March 27th.
Thursday MARCH 17 – St Patty’s Day “Kegs ‘n Eggs” at Shady McGrady‘s! 7-10 am $5 a plate eat in or take out. Food donated by John Gross & Co and Delivery Service by Harrisburg Bike Taxi. Call Tuesday or Wednesday for large order delivery! 717-236-0150
SundayAPRIL 3rd 2pm – 10pm Central PA INK-A-THON. With the help of Ryan Spahr from Black Thorn Gallery we’ve put together a TATTOO event at The Maennerchor . Music provided all day by Cashmere Entertainment. $5 at the door. Tattoo prices vary. Shops participating at the event and/OR their own studios: 717 tattoos, Redbeard Ink, Brass Monkey, and Dyers Eve CALL INDIVIDUAL SHOPS FOR APPOINTMENTS Please specify “Ink-a-thon” so your donation can be recorded.
SundayAPRIL 3rd 8-10pm CABARET of Talent! MC’d 
by our friend Bailey and graciously hosted by Stage on Herr you’ll have your chance to BUY FAME! A minimum $20 donation gets you 5-10 minutes on stage. Of course, if you simply want to watch while others have all the fun it’s $5 at the door! Register by calling The HoPo 717-236-0150 Doors open at 7pm.
Saturday APRIL 9th and 16th. Parent & Kid Class! Kid.Art.Love This two part class is an intro to Photo Collage. Ages 3-7 11apm-1pm and ages 8-12 2pm to 4pm. The price is $40 bring your own camera. SPACES LIMITED to 6 kid/parent couples per age group. Presented by Riverside PD and Fusion Photography. Call 717-236-0150 to reserve your spots!
Sunday April 10th noon til 4 pm on City Island is the 2nd annual Paws for a Cure Petwalk hosted by Abrams and Weakley Thanks to last year’s winner Kristen Zellner for continuing this puppy filled fundraising extravaganza!!
Sunday April 10th 3-6:30 Wordsmiths from all around register NOW at goteamhopo@gmail.com for our Poetry SLAM in The Gallery at ABC . $10 registration and $5 door fee benefits LLC. Registration starts at 3. Verbosity limited to 3 min. Silent Auction for Recycled Art during event. goteamhopo@gmail.com for registration
Last but never least on SUNDAY APRIL 17th, 3-9pm the culmination of our fundraising events is the First Everrrr Bacon & Brew Ha Ha at the Abbey Bar !! “Jersey” Mike of Greenbelt Events is busy plotting our “Everything’s Better with Bacon” recipe and Home Brew contest. Area chefs will be doing the judging. Not only will we honor bacon and all it’s glory, but we will also be honoring BEER! Yessireeee! Home brewers are invited to enter a Sixtel or six pack of HOME BREWED Beer, hard cider or rootbeer. Jersey promises to have brew masters from several area microbrews here to judge the contest. $10 registration fee for contestants for each event. $10 door fee to benefit LLS. Register at GoTeamHoPo@gmail.com or call 717-236-0150
I have to admit, the HoPoCo are some of the most giving and creative people I know. They are simply good people. I know for a fact that the things here in the shop are made with a lot of love and caring. It always makes me smile when new things come in, and makes me sad when things leave.
No matter what, when asked, our people always step up to help out and with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year fundraising campaign it’s no different. There are so many things too choose from on the Donation table and more to come! (more pics and info on Flickr )
3/5/2010 THIS JUST IN!!! BUY ANY ROSIE’S WHIMSY SKIRT, TUNIC or HANDBAG and the ENTIRE PURCHASE PRICE IS DONATED TO LLS!!! Get in NOW! THIS IS ON HER ENTIRE INVENTORY! Thank you Rosie & John Nevius for your generosity!!!
3/8/2011 Oh My!! Weezawear has donated her entire line of WEEZIEBANDS head bands! $10 a piece.
3/8/2011 Cynsible Creations has donated her line of fun fabric lanyards…only $5 a piece!
b.b. bibs
Can’t make it in to the shop? Please donate online. It’s simple.
I have also commissioned a special necklace series with a new consignor, Gretchen Enrietti of Just Beachy Jewelry. It’s inspired by my friend David Pringle’s suggestion that our GoTeam HoPo theme should be “The Art of Determination” Gretchen has bottled some determination for you or even for you to give to someone else who may need some added OOOoomphh in what they are trying to achieve. Stop in, call or email us for your own message of determination! You choose between the leather cord or silver chain for only $20, $10 of which goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Determination on Leather
Be sure to slide on over to The GoTeam HoPo website to get details of events, or better yet, step up to the Social Media Challenge. We have a LOT going on in the next 7 weeks and welcome your support!
Again, thank you to all our volunteers, our friends and our wonderfully tallented HoPoCo!
Giving is good Karma!
So it begins! Last night was the KickOff to the 8 week event. I was so very excited and surrounded by friends, and had to go up to give a short little UNEXPECTED speech…and froze. I think I got our words like “The HodgePodgery” “Bacon” ”Brew” and “Tattoos” and of course “Thank You” but the rest was ahhh…rather embarrassing. We are all convinced that I have them fooled into thinking that I am a blithering idiot and incapable of raising ANYTHING. (Haha we have them fooled!)
So friends, it is time. Donations are being accepted NOW!
ALL DETAILS FOR GOTEAM HOPO’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR CAMPAIGN IS AT: www.goteamhopo.wordpress.com
Fan us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/GoTeam-HoPo/186085748095967
Follow us on twitter @goteamhopo
Second Fridays are PSYCHIC Fridays!! What’s your Valentine future hold?
DID YOU SEE US??
Today we were featured on Fox 43 News. Starting tonight, Second Fridays are Psychic Fridays. ALX and Lisa will be with us the 2nd Friday of each month reading for you. The Psychic Healing sessions are booked ahead for 25 minute appointments and the Tarot readings are walk-ins. This is the 2nd time we’re totally booked for ALX, and last month’s 3rd in the Burg, Lisa was reading continually from 5 til 10, so get here early to get on the list!
DON’T FORGET YOUR VALENTINE!! Make a GORGEOUS Iris Folded card for your sweetie on Saturday Feb 12th with our very own Julie Snyder. This Make n Take starts around 1 and goes until 4 pm. Stop by and get creative! While you’re here, pick up other special handmade, indie art gifts!
Friends of the HoPo, lend me your ear, a tale of love and pain, I need you to hear.
Okay, instead of waxing all poetic, I’ll just say it. We are closing the brand spanking new Lancaster shop. I know, I know…we’ve barely been open 2 months (and I have been paying the bills for 3),but I just can’t find the money to pay all the bills when there are so few customers coming through the doors. Don’t get me wrong, the STAHR center is establishing a fabulous Artist community, but alas, it is not so much a retail space. The people coming in do love what we have to offer. We have gotten some way cool stuff from some new consignors. The people admire the wares, and we’ve gotten fantastic feedback, however they aren’t buying. We are a mere 1/2 block away from the other retail shops, but we are not convenient enough to shoppers.
It is with great distress I must admit defeat in my newest adventure. Some days, the best intentions, the best laid plans, just aren’t enough to make a project successful. I didn’t follow my well thought out business plan, but instead, got swayed by a possibility and a well-meaning friend’s hopeful thinking and enthusiasm. As I am wont to do, I threw myself into the idea whole heartedly and as is my nature, leaped in and got all kinds of wet! In hind sight, I should have pulled back at the first glitch, when my friend had to back out right after I signed the lease. However, another friend seemed to magically appear and so I moved forward. She put countless hours into creating an awesome space! Sadly, none of us is independently wealthy, so the need for a “real” job (read that “paying”) took her away. Other friends, old and new did the best they could to help cover some hours, juggle keys and keep us going. Alas, after much worrying, panic attacks and sleepless nights, I had to make a huge decision and do what is right for The HodgePodgery as a business. LESSON LEARNED
Next issue? Jessica, my daughter/business partner is a new mom and just started back to work (her paying job) full time. She is burning the candle at both ends and recognizes that she needs to reduce her stress. That being said, we are looking for business partners willing to invest the money and time needed to grow The HodgePodgery. It is too much for two people too run, let alone just me as one person. Our vision for the shop has not stopped, we just realize that we need to ask for help. We are looking for artists and business people that understand the vision, the financial commitment and the dedication needed to build a business. There is a “buy in” because we recognize that no matter how valuable time is, you must also financially commit to being a partner. We have already laid the ground work and built a good reputation for The HodgePodgery, but we need assistance to maintain and grow. I have finally learned to let go of some of the control. We’ve already learned from some hard lessons typical in the first few years of a business…now it’s time to once again move forward with renewed energy. If you think you’d like to know more, give me a shout.
All in all, this post was about knowing when it’s time… to close one door and open another.
Many thanks to all our friends, and a Blessed and Gratifying New Year to all!
~~~Dawn
December 3rd’s First Friday will be the official Grand Opening of The HodgePodgery in Lancaster! Join us for some nibbles and check out all the wares from our core artists as well as new! The space Hollie has created for us in our humble basement abode is coming along quite nicely! The cages have been put to great use and soon she will start on a mural to coordinate with the fabulous floor she painted! 
First Friday always brings cool funky things to the STAHR center! Located at 438 N Queen St in Lancaster PA, join us downstairs in the “basement”and check out the newly cleared out Garage performance space where Loretta Bilieax will have her CD Release party. Check THIS out to get a taste of Loretta and Chad’s gig. I’m sure you’ll be digging on this indie performer’s sound!
Also that night on the main floor Theater of the Seventh Sister/Artistic Village hosts The Season Through the Ages by The Susquehanna Trio. Lest we forget, Dec 9th thru the 30th TSS performs A Christmas Carol…pay what you will for a truly divine Christmas gift.
As you stroll through the STAHR center, realize that what’s really needed to keep this space moving into the realm of awesomeness that it promises is VOLUNTEERS! Donations of time, supplies and cash money needs contributed to beautify and green the building! A call to arms, dear friends, to donate some time to paint floors, walls and ceilings, build storage, fix windows, clean drains, seal walls, and all sorts of cool stuff. Artists, in exchange for your help, there is gallery space available for you to hang a show.
Get in touch. Let’s show them how much we appreciate being given this unique opportunity! All kinds of help to fit all kinds of free time is needed.
Have a great Thanksgiving and know that we love and are thankful for you all! Without our HoPoCo, our faithful friends and supporters, we would be nowhere!
Peace, Love, and HoPo Karma,
~~~Dawn
Some of the cages are dismantled and the painting has begun! We’ll be working during First Friday and may even have a small selection of wares for sale if all goes smoothly tomorrow! At the VERY least we should be ready to give Lancaster a taste of what we’ll have to offer.
Phone and internet are to be installed next week so Look for us to be up and running in some capacity next weekend! Tell your friends and loved ones, to stop by and say hello, ok?
Hollie is going to soon establish a facebook page and sooner or later we’ll have a HoPoLanCo blog and more. What fun it is! New consignors are on board and my steadfast awesome ones are beginning to bring in wares. We have a rough idea of our hours, but will have more for you at a later date.
Thanks all!
~~~Dawn
The HodgePodgery is opening a NEW SHOP in Lancaster, PA! We will be in suite B-7 (B meaning basement) of the Stahr Center at 438 N Queen St. The building is the former Armory for the National Guard and for the past few years has housed Theater of the Seventh Sister. The theater purchased the building and the goal is to convert it from a cold institutional building to a way cool green building! We will also share the basement with Lancaster Creative Reuse and The Artist Studio as well as a recording studio and a ballet studio.
This coming weekend we are looking for volunteers to help move some things over, help us tear down some cages (yes…I said cages) and paint floors!! The artists next door have turned the halls and bathroom into really beautiful, funky space.
We hope to have at the very least, a PRESENCE for Lancaster’s First Friday: Nov 5th.
We are looking for HoPoCo to be part of the co-op atmosphere in both the Lancaster and the existing Harrisburg shops. If you want to learn how we do things, get out of the house and workshop and truly hear what customers are saying when they walk through the door, we encourage you to contact us with your availability. We would love to have you! We will have current consignors as well as some new ones.
If all goes well, the Lancaster HoPo will be full tilt boogie by Mid-November for the main shopping season!
~~~Dawn
