The HodgePodgery

Definition of a Geek

EClaypoole — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:51:21 +0000

When people ask me what exactly geekery is I often find myself hard pressed to provide an actual answer.

According to The American Heritage Dictionary ‘Geek’ has some pretty interesting definitions…

geek (gk)

1. a. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.

b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

2. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen anyone bite the head off a chicken, lately.

Then there is The Collins American Dictionary view…

geek[giːk]

n Slang

1. a boring and unattractive social misfit

2. a person who is preoccupied with or very knowledgeable about computing

3.a degenerate

[probably variant of Scottish geck fool, from Middle Low German geck]

Well degenerate and unattractive are a little harsh, but hey everyone is entitled to their own view.

So, in search of ultimately what geek or geekery means I asked my friends, and recevieved some varied results. I got anwers from “freaks without a leash” to “just being aweome”, but I think my friend Rebecca from R. Resilient Designs put it best, “If you think about it our generation can almost be summed up with ‘I could have cured cancer, but my parents gave me a GameBoy and now I can save the world from 8-bit aliens’!”.

But after many hours of soul-searching, conversations with friends, and what felt like a trillion cups of coffee, I finally found my own answer.

Geekery to me, being mid-twenties, is a throw back to my childhood. Playing games on the orgional Nintendo: Zelda, Tetris, Mario! Sitting on the couch until I fell asleep paying a game on my brick of a GameBoy watching some awful Sci-fi film. It’s about the past, present, and future of gaming/sci-fi/fantasy coming togetherin all possible forms of expression, for the benefit of ALL generations. It’s about being you, being awesome, and being a nerd… even if it makes you a foolish, clumsy, unattractive misfit.

Geekery is a Hodgepodge of the universe, everything cobbled together. It is defined by the fact that it is undefineable.

Stay awesome and stay Geek, if only for the geekery clause.

Forever,
Emily Claypoole
Pooleittogether

Come get your FREE First Edition 3rd in the Burg-er Poster!!!

Tara — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Be one of the first to get this AWESOME poster!

Tomorrow is 3rd in the Burg! Tomorrow only, stop by to get a FREE First Edition 3rd in the Burger Poster with a purchase of $30 or more. Prints will also be available for purchase. Check it out!!!

Mother’s Day is Sunday!

Tara — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:16:42 +0000

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13th. Give your mom the gift of handmade! You’re mom has always been the Queen, and now you can make it official with a handmade crown by The Bee In My Bonnet!

The HoPo Celebrates YOU and your Birthday!

Tara — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:51:16 +0000

Because we love you, here's a gift for your birthday!

Have you had a birthday since we opened at our new shop this year? Show us your ID with your next purchase and receive $5 OFF a purchase of $30 or more!!! Those with upcoming birthday’s- Join our e-mail list and we will send you a coupon during your birthday month.

Taste of Summer

ELazo — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:20:19 +0000

Coconut water. Lululemon skirts. Bright colored denim shorts. Going out bags. Beach glow. Listening to waves crash. Wine spritzers with fresh fruit. Baby Lips lip gloss. Flowers in my hair. We are certainly going to be springing into summer attire before we are probably ready to. Here are a couple quick tips on getting beach ready while enjoying the flowers May brings us

Hydrate. Period. Do it. You will feel fuller longer not to mention the wonders water does for your skin and cleaning bad toxins from the body. If you are thirsty you are already dehydrated, so drink up. Coconut water has been recommended for extra hydration and no added bull. I was told to try a flavored coconut water, and Zico is a highly suggested brand. I have tried the Mango and drank it throughout a cardio blast session. It was refreshing and I didn’t skip a beat. Not sure if I am willing to try the natural flavor of coconut water, but if I do I will be sure to update And same goes for you- try it and share!

Speaking of ridding the body of toxins, get out and enjoy the weather. Commit yourself to 3 30 minute sessions per week of activity. Put it on our calendar and tell your friends so you stay committed and you will begin to feel a new spring in your step. With all of these deal sights like Living Social and Groupon out there how can you pass up trying a Cross Fit or aerial yoga class for dirt cheap. Once you find your fave workout style go at it. Go at it tough.

Oh hey- have you been using the Pinterest tools we shared a few posts back, to find lovely things that inspire you?

Lastly, a really quick sneak peek for next post~ Neon! In moderation neon will be a smashing hit for summer! I am not a personal fan of neon skinnys, although a lover of jeggings, I am loving the short neon denim. This way I can accessorize with a neon clutch- see the hot Prada ones out this Spring- and maybe even a sassy Mermaid Tears by Opi on my tootsies.

~More on the new wonders of NEON, MINT and PASTEL, oh my! Coming to you in our next fashion and fitness blog post. Later in the month we will be doing a How To sell on Etsy!

Do you have your Derby hat yet?!

Tara — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:56:24 +0000

Get your fancy on!

Crochet Wire Bracelet Demo’s for Mother’s Day!

Tara — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:01:20 +0000

Buy your mother something a bit different this year or even bring her to the store to pick out her own gift. Jessica from The Contrary Canary will be hosting a demo making and selling her crocheted wire bracelets. These hand crafted bracelets are adorned with either pearls for $25 or glass beads and/or gemstones for $20. The wire is silver coated copper wire that will not tarnish and it attaches with a toggle clasp. The bracelets look as if you are wearing metal lace and are adjustable to fit by scrunching or stretching to size.

See Our Facebook page for photos and more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/408944755782539/

Mother’s Day is May 13th!

Tara — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:09:46 +0000

Don't forget about Mom! She'll love our handmade goods and so will you!

Psst… over here, someone super chic is about to get interviewed

ELazo — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:06 +0000

This Friday April 27, 2012 I will be having a ‘de-briefing’ interview with owner/designer of Coffee Stains Apparel, Maria McDevitt. This lovely young woman is a graduate of Philadelphia University for fashion design. Check out the event Maria hosted this passed weekend showcasing her latest clothing collection along side a handbag designer (moi’), beaded jewelry, and high fashion belt accessories. The show took place in the University Barge Club on Boathouse Row located just down the street from the Philadelphia Art Museum.

This Friday is when we find out a little behind the scenes of this talented clothing designer. Where Maria gets her inspirations, how she prepared for this event, and what she will take away.

Stay tuned.

~Emily

Artist Interview with Courtnye Koivisto

Joseph — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:53:19 +0000


J:	Where are you originally from and where do you currently live?

CK:	Originally-originally, I’m from New Jersey, but I grew up mostly in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I currently live in Harrisburg, in the Midtown. I’ve lived here only a few months, since October 2011.

J:	What is it that you make and sell at the HodgePodgery?

CK:	I make necklaces with pendants of different images. The images are all my own artwork, be it a photograph or a painting. All of my pendants are small-scale reproductions of my work. I add the images to necklaces and add thematic elements. A lot of my paintings deal with very natural things. I paint a lot of birds in particular. So, for those, I’ll add a charm of a leaf or a feather. Something that goes with the imagery in the photo or painting.

J:	When you create the original paintings, what mediums and materials do you prefer using?

CK:	My paintings are mostly on birch panels. I use oil and acrylic paints when I use the panels. I also recently did a series of small water colors.

J:	Can you identify any one point in your life in which you became interested in art and photography?

CK:	I’ve always been drawn to art, I guess. It’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I’ve always enjoyed it. I suppose, when I was in high school, I realized all the different applications of art beyond simply sketching. I figured then that I could make a career out of it and went to college for art. I learned more about everything you could do with art.

J:	Where did you go to school?

CK:	Shippensburg University.

J:	What was it that got you interested in joining of art and jewelry?

CK:	I’d been spottily, not seriously, making jewelry for a few years. I have no idea what got me interested in jewelry making. I think in college one year, I just thought hey, this might be fun. Or maybe it was when my mom took me to a bead store called Infinity Beads. I can’t remember if that was before or after I’d started. But at the store, you could make your own necklace or bracelet or whatever. You could pick all different kinds of beads. I remember really enjoying that, and that may have been around the same time I started getting interested in jewelry. But as far as blending the two, I found out that it wasn’t really that hard to procure all the materials that you would need to make your own pendants. It’s a way to make my art accessible to people. I make all the pendants, so it’s an original. But someone doesn’t have to buy the original original painting to have a handmade work of art. It’s also something they can bring out and have with them instead of, you know, a piece just hanging in their living room. It’s a different application of fine art.

J:	What first got you interested in the HodgePodgery?

CK:	I’d heard about the store and went to check it out. It was such an awesome store. At that point in time, I’d started dabbling in necklace making and I thought, once I had enough of a selection, I’d be able to sell some there. I remember bringing them in. It was a month before they closed their first location. Didn’t get much exposure there. But when Dawn said they were going to reopen, I decided that I really wanted to get involved because I was still interested in selling my work. I’d also improved my jewelry making abilities in that time.

J:	If there was one thing that you’d like for the people that come to the store or see your work to take away, what would that be?

CK:	I want them to enjoy my work and the store, but – on a grander scale – I want them to appreciate jewelry and a lot of the stuff at the HoPo as more than just a craft. I want them to see it as an actual art form. A lot of what I do I try to make each individual piece stand out on its own as a painting would.

	Be sure to check out Courtnye’s website at www.courtnyekoi.tumblr.com.