For this month’s 3rd in the Burg we are having a HoPo t-shirt coloring contest.

Here’s the rules:

Pick up a HoPo T-shirt at the shop anytime starting this friday April 7th for just $10. Decorate your shirt in any way you wish,  using markers, paint, pigment, embroidery, beading etc. Then, upload a picture of your shirt to Facebook and tag us in it! OR, come to the HodgePodgery on April 16th for 3rd in the Burg, pick up and decorate your shirt in the shop, and have your picture taken and uploaded by us. The T-shirt with the most likes and comments will win a GREAT PRIZE! The winner will receive admission for 2 to a Craft & Cruise Night with the HodgePodgery on the Pride of the Susquehanna!

Shirts are $10 as stated above. They are available in a range of colors, and in children & adult sizes.

And remember to keep in mind our ongoing summer HoPo-on-the-Go Vacation Contest . Bring your HoPo t-shirt on vacation with you this summer, and tag us on Facebook in a picture of you in it! There will be a range of prizes from, furthest away, and most creative. More details to come early this summer!

We can’t wait to see what all of you come up with!

Hope everyone had a safe and lucky St. Paddy’s weekend! Irish or not, always celebrate with the best of them! Let’s not forget March Madness has begun and most importantly- I saved the best for last- March has been Craft Month since day 1. Yippee! No matter what you do as a creator, I’ve been learning the most important aspect is the ‘why.’ Why do you create the way you do or produce the items you do? What makes you wildly passionate about your artistic j-o-b? Sheesh, can I even call what I do work, I suppose at times. When I’m crunching numbers or so backed up and have no one but me to sew… I say, damn, this is hard. And I go on because I love what I do. But why do I do it?

TO CREATE IS TO LOVE.

When I wasn’t drawing, glueing, or sewing I loved being outside in the mud and climbing trees wearing a fancy dress just as much as I enjoyed watching movies, reading, and building Legos. But alas, my love always stems back to the fabric.

Nothing motivates me more than thinking about my first bag “design/creation” by cutting up a denim skirt and some scrap fabric laying around the house- my parents weren’t crafty, but I was an only child and utilized absolutely anything to occupy myself. I whipped that puppy up, inside out mind you, with a pocket and matching strap of scrap. It was fugly and I loved it, and used it until it fell apart.

I was in middle school when I graduated from the glue to sewing, and with a machine! I didn’t love Home Ec. class, but I learned early that glue didn’t cut it without a whip stitch or back tack. However, I completely zoned out during the cooking part.

I knew, leaving middle school, I wanted to be in fashion forever.

As an adult, this is what truly motivates me: fitness, fashion, yoga, butterflies, and tattoos. I am a Pisces, with no regrets, only more mistakes to live and learn from.

I opted to go to a small art school for fashion design rather than a large university with the option of playing sports. I studied under designers that traveled from NYC(one was on Project Runway!!!) once a week to teach me and my peers true draping skills, pattern making, and so many other skills for the industry. I was fortunate to get into this program due to my dedication during high school when I elected to take college design classes as part of my electives. I was offered to be a first year graduate of this fashion design program. I took away more than I ever imagined and continue to grow my passion with every passing season.

So in those couple of paragraphs I have summed up a part of my beginning love for sewing and fashion. I can tell you that money is not the ‘Why’ for me, not right now it isn’t. If it were then I wouldn’t be worrying about working other jobs to help support my business haha. My why will come at a later date because frankly I am not 100% sure of the answer. I can say that the feeling I get when sending new pieces to a boutique so unique like The Hodge Podgery, the smile stays plastered for days There is a rush not being able to know what the excited buyer will do with a new piece that thy are proud to own.

Watch for some super ‘hip and trendy’ posts coming each week! And hey, give me some feedback and share the love We are supporting The HoPo Heartisans Community!

Thanks and much love.

Em

E Chic Bags Fashion Accessories

The neighborhood will be buzzing with 3rd in the Burg activity, so come out and make an evening of it!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14th: You DO know that next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, right? Your Valentine is an original and very special to you, why not celebrate your love with something ELSE original!  Handmade gifts (even if they aren’t made by your own hand) are a brilliant way to show someone you truly care. When you take the time to shop handmade, you’re not falling into the “automatic flowers” routine.  Taking a piece out of your busy day to search through a handmade or local art shop, or even one online, means you wanted to find something very special and not  take the easy way out.

This week at the HoPo we have handmade items for your sweetie that you can personalize with your very own little love note, mushy or romantic, or raunchy, it’s up to you!

Want Bonus points? Stop by Saturday February 11th from 10-1 to make n take your own card for $5!

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’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!

Fairies and Monsters
Costume Face Painting Extravaganza and
Magic Sparkles Pixie Hair Strands

October 15th from 5-10pm

Face painting $3.00 and Up
10 pixie strands for $5
20 pixie strands for $10.

Halloween is quickly approaching and ‘tis the time of year to adorn ourselves in festive makeup and attire. Grab your friends and join us at The HoPo for an evening of face painting fun.

This event is kid friendly as well as adults! What better way to head out on the town, but with some sparkles or gore?! You could surprise a Friday night date with a festive look or bring the kiddos down for some face paiting before a sleepover party! Whatever your heart desires, come to The HoPo for our Fairies and Monsters Face Painting Extravaganza!

Walk on in to have your face painted or call ahead for groups of 5 or more!

Make your Pixie Strand Appointment by calling

717 236-0150

**Magic Sparkles are gifts from the pixies of timelessness. For every sparkle delicately tied to a strand of hair, a wish is made. When your wish is granted, the sparkle will fall free though some may take weeks or months to come true. An array of color, plentiful as rainbows is at your fingertips.**

20% of all Pixie Strand purchases will be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania

Each month we will be offering a new event for 3rd In The Burg. This month we will have Michelle Harvey from Michabella Creations making jewelry. She will also have a make and take earring workshop. You can make a basic beaded dangle earring for 5 dollars with your choice of beads or a chandelier earring for 10 dollars with your choice of beads. This workshop will continue while supplies last so come check out the beautiful work that Michelle will be offering. In addition to the workshop she will also have a vast display of her items for sale. We look forward to you coming to check out our shop and your chance to meet Michelle. Michelle is also our jewelry instructor so bring your jewelry questions along and she will be helpful in answering them for you.

Beaded Earring

Chandelier Earring

ALSO on hand for our February offering will be AVA BERG.  Ava has been an activist since the 1960′s strong in the civil rights movement and a revolutionary for Peace. Ava’s line of jewelry “Expressions of Ava” feature beads she had purchased in the 60′s and 70′s in NYC. She will be hanging out and schmoozing with everyone starting at 4 pm. She is a lot of fun to talk to and will truly bring “Retro” to life. You’ll love her creations!