Hey, guys! How’s life treatin’ ya? Wow!  It has been forever since I posted a blog. THANKFULLY, some of you keep up with us on twitter (close to 600) and on FaceBook (260ish) and others drop by on a regular basis. We also have nearly 400 locals receiving our newsletter!  So many people have heard about us in the oddest ways!  We have new consignors that have been told by 2 or 3 people to check us out!  It is mind-boggling and we love you for it! There I go with all those exclamation points again.

So.  Jessica and I are constantly brainstorming on how to make things better and run smoothly and make people happy. We have more and more regular customers. We know many of you by name or at the very least on sight. The HoPo is a community and we intend to keep it that way. Suggestions are always welcome. If you haven’t yet joined the HoPoComrades group on yahoo on our home page. What you do with it is connect with other consignors to trade info, exchange the bits and pieces you make your wares with, one man’s trash…you know the drill.

CLASSES      WOW!  We have some great classes and fabulous teachers. If you haven’t signed up for one yet, grab a buddy and get your seat reserved! Generally, we need to know two days before hand so the teachers are prepared.  The Popular classes this month have been Knitting 101, BYOB Jewelry class, Dumpster Dive Initial Button Charm class (aka soldering class) the Sewing series and Iris folding Cards. The BEST way to do a class is to gather yourself a group of friends and fill the whole class!  Did you realize that we can book a class for you?  If the one you want isn’t on a night that suits, if you have at least 4 people, we can possibly make some arrangements.  New classes to try? Tie Dye: You will get a colorful and unique experience! Gretchen is serious about her work. Her etsy shop cozmicwheelstiedye.etsy.com/shows the extent of her talent! You will NOT be disappointed with this 3 hour class!  Another unique addition is Scrap-Cycle withTara Trovitch of Cottage Funk. Tara is so much fun! You’ll use coffee filters and paper bags to make some absolutely adorable scrap books with your own family and vacation pics. Tara offers both a night and a day class each month and is a KID FRIENDLY class!  Speaking of Kid Friendly Classes Check out Junk Jean Rejuvenation Tweens and Teens especially will have fun with this!  They can turn their old jeans into something amazing.  Water bottle carriers, purses and whatever they can come up with. Fabulous for scout troops! Also starting in November is a Kid friendly Snowman Coaster and trivet stamping class, a Resin Class and draft dodgers.  For gift tags and invitations hone your Calligraphy skills! and for those fun family get togethers your new found Caricature talent will be the envy of the in-laws!

Tell me.  How many of you spotted the Ribbon Cutting on Harrisburg’s Channel 20? We’re becoming tv stars.  Just a few minutes ago, I received an email from Center City Film and Video for Comcast on Demand.  They want to feature us on “Best of the City” is that crazy cool, or what?  LOVIN’ IT!  Looking to tape Saturday the 24th, which incidentally is also the Tie Dye class. hmmmmm wanna be a star? Get your spot for the class! (actually in all honesty, I’m not sure what time the taping will be yet, but I’m reasonably sure i’ll be wearing Rosie’s Whimsy!)

It’s cold wet and rainy out so it may not be a big shopping day.  If it’s slower than norm, well, that gives me more time to catch up on the website.  I have so many links to add. Jessica and I go back and forth on the benefit to adding other links.  Personally, I like the idea of all being interconnected. I also see her point on the clutter of it all and not wanting to deter from our brick and mortar status.  What are your thoughts on having links to consignor websites? I think if we limit it to blogs, and not …say… etsy sites, that keeps everyone linked together more personally without stepping on sales toes.

Ok.  I have other work to do and I want to get some more pics up.

Love, peace and pumpkin pie!

~~~Dawn