Paige has a revelation!

So, this is what we've been doing . . .

I think that makes four--all four seals have been broken . . . is June over yet?

Thanks for your indulgence.

Enewsletter--Summer Series I

Now, mind you, Kendall makes this look much prettier for my enewsletter. I give her the words and some pictures; in return, she gives me a beautiful creation we send out as an enewsletter. You can sign-up to receive future enewsletters here.

Summer I
96 degrees?!? Are you kidding me? Okay—like all things temporal, this too shall pass, but the question is will we be able to make it without going crazy? I say, let’s throw a party. You’ll find everything you’ll need for a summer soiree at Hodgepodge—including the free decorating/entertaining ideas!
You can host a farmer’s market free-for-all or a more sophisticated, but easy wine and cheese event. Here are some ideas to bring it together:
If you’re going for the farmer’s market menu, I say start at the Downtown Market—every Saturday, 8 – 1 PM thru October! Go see what the farmers are bringing in and let that dictate your menu. You can also ask Jane at Lovin’ Spoonful Cafe, to prepare some of her lentils and couscous salad or other specialties—just to give you a slight break. Tell your guest to dress in their favorite comfy and cool Woodstock attire. Load some Janice Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix on your MP3 player and hook-up the speakers. Fill a couple kiddie pools with water and add ice! Place them in the seating areas so your guests can keep their tootsies refreshed—it’ll help everyone keep their cool. Hodgepodge can help with some cool Bohemian linens and matching paper lanterns, handmade bubble glass bar ware, appetizer picks, and more.
If you prefer a more sophisticated approach, go with a Provencal theme. Use your good linens (lots of choices at Hodgepodge) from tablecloths to napkins—don’t skimp. Get out your stemware, china and best flatware. Prepare an offering of cheeses, fruits, breads and select some wines to compliment your food. (Pal’s Package Store has a great selection of wines.) Dig into the Christmas decorations box and pull out those white lights—drape them in your trees. Set candles all around the garden—not just a couple—I mean at least 10. Place them in all of those terra cotta pots you’re not using. (Hint: this is a great time to use all of those almost-smell-good candles you receive as a thoughtful gift from someone, but would never burn in the house.) If you’ve got some mood music from the South of France, pop those into the CD player, but if not some of the old standards are great for a lazy afternoon with friends—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Billie Holiday are wonderful.

Our family friend, Sherry, made this fabulous fruit salad which would work nicely with either event:
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
2 1/3 cups cantaloupe cubes (about 1/2 melon)
2 1/3 cups honeydew cubes (about 1/2 small melon)
2 1/3 cups watermelon cubes (about 1/4 small melon)
3 cups fresh blueberries (about 1/12 half-pint baskets)
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
· Combine 1/2 cup wine and sugar in small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves and syrup is hot, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep 30 minutes. Remove vanilla bean from syrup.
· Combine all fruit in large bowl. Add mint and remaining 1 cup wine to sugar syrup. Pour over fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
· Spoon fruit and some syrup into large stemmed goblets.
(One more hint: Don’t toss that used vanilla bean—put it in a container of granulated sugar to use for baking or sweetening you sun tea.)

Join us June 30th for our “How Do They Do That?” Americana Banner event. (I think we said the 24th, but we need to push it to the 30th—still plenty of time to get it hung for the Fourth of July!) We’ll meet in our studio space above Hodgepodge. Light refreshments will be provided. Cost for the class (including materials) is $20. Email Paige or call for your reservation.

Don’t forget to add The Andrews Brothers to your summer schedule. This musical not only aptly demonstrates the vocal talents of three amazing actors, it is hilarious! We laughed until we cried. Visit http://www.roxyregionaltheatre.org/ for more information and to book your tickets!

Also--beware, shameless plug ahead--Disney's Mulan, Jr. is playing at The Roxy as well. I hear the kid that plays Mushu is hilarious! You can catch Mulan, Jr.--starring our son, Haedyn--through Jul 3rd, but don't wait until the end.

One last note to this VERY long enewsletter: Hodgepodge and ARTifacts will be changing our Saturday hours to work better with the Downtown Market. We will open at 9 AM and close at 5 PM. New hours are effective June 20th.

Thanks for the indulgence.

all better

Just dropped my sister, Nikki, my niece and our long-time family friend, Sherry, at the airport. We had a wonderful visit. I can't believe how much time they gave me--they were here nearly a week! We did very little and loved it. Just enjoyed each other's company.

Mix in a surprise birthday party with my dear friends--the passing of another year was barely felt.
In addition, I've been trying to run a shop. I thought of a few entertaining ideas to send out in an enewsletter (it gets sent to my customer email list--i share ideas, as well as information about the shop and downtown). I'll post it here tomorrow.

For now, here's a few of the new things you'll find at the shop:

Some new belts with beautiful artwork buckles

mini footed shells--perfect for rings or appetizers

Paper-thin capiz shells--we show them as placecards,

but you might wish to use them for tapas.

Ball clock--isn't Father's Day in less than 48 hours?

Beautiful cascade necklace with a nature theme.

I've got a new vendor for these wonderfully expresive pendants.

For those of my readers who live local (here in Clarksville)--remember we have the Downtown Market this Saturday (8 am - 1 pm). If you haven't been yet--you need to try it. It's amazing. It's so much more than just a farmer's market, but you really need to see it to understand. For those of you who might include a trip to Hodgepodge or ARTifacts, I wanted to let you know that you can start shopping early! We're adjusting our hours as an experiment. We're opening at 9 am and closing at 5 pm.

I hope to see you on Saturday!

Thanks for your indulgence.

don't ask . . .

You know when people ask you how you're doing and, instead of telling them about everything going on in your life (good or bad), you almost always say, "Doin' well, thanks. And you?" At least, that's my usual response, but lately it's not been in me.

Lately, I've found myself unloading--my Grandmother died, a dear family lost their husband/dad/brother/son, the A/C at the shop needs to be replaced and the kids' hamster died. Oh by the way, it appears I've double booked appointments almost every day this week! . . . and you?"

There are some silver linings. I just need to refocus. Filling my glass past the half-full mark!

With regard to my Grandmother's passing--she was 88 years old and had lived very comfortably, especially for the past 10 years with my parents. She was loved. Silver lining, perhaps now my Mother and Father will be able to enjoy a little more freedom in their retirement years. (I hope that doesn't sound callus, but I feel my Mom has really missed out on being a Grandmother herself.)

The hamster that died had cannibalistic tendencies. 'nough said.

A/C has died. Silver lining, perhaps a more efficient system will result in lower electricity bills AND I may be able to figure out how to provide some climate control to ARTifacts on our second floor. Either way, it's a building improvement and a tax deduction for 2009!

Can't find a silver lining in the death of a 40 year old husband/dad/brother/son, so I'll be satisfied with three out of four and say some extra prayers for peace and comfort.

Okay, so now, it's safe to ask.

"Doin' well, thanks. And you?"

Thanks for your indulgence!

An "Extravaganza!" it was

An After Action Report.

We put together a great How Do They Do That? Extravaganza! The turn-out was about what we expected, but not what we had hoped. Everyone who participated was pleased with the new skills they learned.

So, here's your first notice--you can't say we didn't give you ample time to plan--the bigger, better event will take place this October on the 23rd and 24th. Mark your calendars! We'll have classes, but we'll also have vendors. Oh, and THE PARTY! There will be a special preview party on the 23rd. Trust me--you'll want to be there. On the 24th, you can learn to make your own creations or buy them from the talented vendors we're assembling. It will be

Spectacular! Spectacular!

Here are some pictures of our participants and instructors enjoying their time together:

This is Lee Ireland getting ready for her Mosaic flower pot class (our most popular class!)

On to the mosaic votive holders!

And Use What You've Got Art Cards with Gabriele.

Then Taylor taught the ladies how to make art pendants using cool little brass frames.The beginning of a window cabinet. We decoupaged pages from and old music book onto the back and shelves of our cabinets.

Jennifer mastering the power drill.

Disclaimer: Hodgepodge does not endorse the use of power tools as a means of defending oneself--at least, not without safety goggles.

The almost finished product--needs shelves.

So don't you wish you had come?!?

Mark your calendars for

Spectacular! Spectacular!

October 23 & 24!!!

Do it. Now!

Thanks for your indulgence!

The 3/50 Project

I added the link for this project to my blog--with the promise of an explanation--quite a while ago. So, here we go . . .


I found out about this project through one of my vendor newsletters.





Really, I can't explain it any better. I am pretty huge on shopping local, but there it is, explained in quite simple terms.


I want you to know that your support of independent business owners is truly appreciated. I encourage you to find your "three."


Thanks for your indulgence.



Not sure why the banner is not displaying as a whole--you can click on it to take you to the home page of the project.