Autumn Garland

Last night we hosted the first in our "How Do They Do That?" series at Hodgepodge. I was so pleased and flattered by the reception. I hope the participants were pleased with their time spent.

We made Autumn garlands using mini Indian corn, shipping tags and a variety of small items for the lettering.

Using the shipping tags, we each spelled-out an Autumn word with special significance. Pencil the letter onto the tag, then trace a light bead of craft glue on the letter. Add your bead, bean, seed or grass of choice to give the letter a 3-D appearance. Complete this process with all tags. After the tags have dried, you may choose to remove the string on the tag and replace it with raffia or twine--it's a matter of preference. Cut a six foot length of twine. You'll need a number of mini Indian corn ears to compliment the number of letters in the word you choose. For instance if you choose "gather," which has 6 letters you should use either 7 or five ears of corn. If you choose to use seven, your garland will start with a corn followed by a letter and so on. Starting about 9 inches in from the end of the length of twine, tie an ear of corn (around the husk) with a simple knot; leave about 6 - 8 inches and tie another--continue with remainder of corn. Then go back an tie on the tags in between each ear of corn. You may wish to lay the "pattern" out prior to tying to ensure the proper spacing. And Viola:

I had such a wonderful time sharing this project with these ladies. Thanks to Kate, Taylor, Martha, Karen, Erinne and Kendall for their enthusiastic participation.

Congratulations to Taylor--the winner of the Hodgepodge charm necklace!

And thanks to you all for your indulgence.

~Paige

intentions and servitude

I intended to come home and start work entering the new inventory we’ve been receiving this week. It needs to be entered so we can tag it and back-stock it for the holidays. My eldest, Hunter, will be going to work with me in the morning to open about 16 boxes. She has become quite a pro and I’m happy to officially add her to my payroll!

It’s almost surreal. I was forced into indentured servitude for my father and I’m continuing the tradition with my own children. It brings a tear to my eye to think of how I’m causing the same misery once put upon me.

Haedyn and I just returned from The Roxy where we were privileged to enjoy the opening of The Picture of Dorian Gray. With every performance I see at The Roxy, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have such amazing talent in our city.

This isn’t getting my inventory entered.

How Do They Do That?

Have you ever looked through your favorite magazine or home decorating book and thought, "I'd love to make that" or "I'd love to do that" or "How do they do that?" Well, I hope that we'll be able to help with some of those thoughts.

Frankly, most of it isn't that difficult, it's just a matter of carving out the time and resources. That's where we come in. We're setting the dates, finding the resources--including materials and instructors--and inviting you to attend.

The first in our series will be held October 15th at 6 p.m. We'll make an autumn garland. Then you can look forward to making a journal with a personalized cover. Later, just in time for the holidays, we'll host an event with a party planning theme.

If you haven't been into the shop lately, let me extend this invitation. We've been busy adding more autumn decorations and more ideas for gathering your home.

Our Halloween decorations are being picked-over quickly. If you have plans for decorating for this fun holiday I encourage you to take a look at what Hodgepodge has to offer.

I know I've mentioned this--every other breath or so--but this is my favorite time of year. I love the look, feel and smell of Autumn. It's for this reason I am especially excited about the new pendants I received from Cathy Penton. Cathy is a wonderfully talented artist--who expresses herself in a variety of media. My personal favorite being her beautiful pendants--my beehive/"H" pendant is my all-time favorite jewelry accessory. They're created from vintage pictures and/or ephemera framed in silver.

I've recently unwrapped some pendants with an autumn theme and, ta da da da, the Hodgepodge exclusive pendants.

I'll be giving away a one of the Hodgepodge pendants at our first "How Do They Do That?" program. Everyone registered to attend has an equal chance of winning. I encourage you to sign-up early--space is limited! Please call (931.647.0444) or email to sign-up.

Thanks for your indulgence!

Please visit my web site.

inspiration

Well, lack of sleep aside, I'd consider our Annual Autumn Gathering a success. I really expected incredible changes and my visions were a little more spectacular than reality, but not by much. One revelation of the day (I mean today--Sunday--the day after the event) was the fact that I didn't serve "Harvest Moon Dip" with the gingersnaps--as I thought. In the frenzy of packing the ice chest at 6 a.m. and the subsequent sleep walking through the day, I served up the left over Mocha Cream icing and misrepresented it as "Harvest Moon Dip!" No wonder I didn't hear the mmmm's and yummm's I expected. I couldn't quite taste the pumpkin--and for good reason! Well, I've got plenty of it here. Maybe I'll offer it this week. You can find the tasty recipe in the original Linen Napkins to Paper Plates, Junior Auxiliary of Clarksville cookbook. As for my Pumpkin Cookies recipe--I'll post it soon.

I must publicly thank my diligent, talented and tireless decorating entourage: Jennifer, Kendall and Taylor. Without them--Saturday would not have happened. I'm so fortunate to have them.


A bit about the pictures included here (I haven't figured-out a caption option for photographs in Blogger.) The top left pic shows the front dining table set for an Autumn Garden Party. Classic tabletop stoneware from TAG and reproduction transferware. The picture on the right, above, shows a stack of Halloween cake plates, topped with a "BOO" pumpkin and crow from Midwest, Seasons of Cannon Falls. This table setting has many wonderful ideas for your All Hallow's Eve celebrations. In the center, above, you'll see my favorite new item in the shop--a french-style vase with candles. This piece is so versatile, I can't begin to list all of it's potential uses! You can buy it as it appears above, flowers, candles and all (a Hodgepodge exclusive--created by Jennifer) or buy it empty and get creative! To left, you'll find the consummate harbinger of Autumn--cornstalks and mums! The cornstalks are courtesy of Anne Head (a friend at my favorite clothing shop in TN, Rogate's Boutique, 115 Franklin Street). The mums were a great deal at Betsy's Barn & Garden Center.


I hope those of you who were able to make it downtown enjoyed what we had to offer. I plan to continue to add to our inventory, as well as our inspirations. Provided I don't dry-up. Thank goodness for the creativity of others! I truly believe there are very few "new" ideas--just "new" ways to reinvent the old ones.





I've found a great deal of inspiration and information in Romantic Home magazine. This magazine has done a great job of filling the void. They have regular "department" articles entitled: Browsing; Shop Keeping (I dream of being featured); Entertaining; Field Trip; Aesthetics; Collectibles; and so much more. I enjoy the way the editors of this magazine make a point of supporting and encouraging women entrepreneurs. Needless to say, that appeals to me. I find their decorating, remodeling, do-it-yourself and garden features especially inspirational. I'm so glad to have them as a resource when I'm feeling dry.


I actually sell Romantic Home at the shop now. I offer it 20% off of the cover price all of the time. This month (September) however, I've been giving it away with a purchase of $25 or more. It won't happen next month!

Thanks for reading and thanks for your indulgence!

Annual Autumn Gathering

I guess it could become one . . . "Annual," I mean. I think I had one in 2005, but in 2006 we were moving into our new location, so we're going to give it a go this year--only I can't call it my "Second Annual." I'm actually pretty excited about it.

We're receiving new items every day. Some of which we've already put on the floor--other items will wait until Friday (Sep 14th), when we'll close early and decorate Hodgepodge for my favorite time of the year. I've been formulating sketchy plans, but no one will be more surprised at the outcome than I!

Rest assured that we'll have some of the old favorites--like the pinecone lanterns from TAG and the most recent offerings from Nicol Sayre--but the new stuff, OH the new stuff!

On a decorating note, I had a minor sucess today--at the time of achievement, however it felt HUGE. Now that I've had time and distace from this momentous occasion I realize that it's less than earth shattering. I've been looking for a particular type of pine garland (boy, this sounds silly), with a long needle and, perhaps, a couple of pine cones. Okay--so it's not world peace or a cure for cancer, but in my world it was something. (I'm almost too embarassed to leave that!)

Yet, there it remains . . .

Just so you know, I started this blog last week. I spent my "day off" shopping for ingredients for the treats we will offer on Saturday, foraging in the woods for branches and other inspiration and perusing my notes and idea books which I hope to translate into decor for the shop.

I hope you can join us on Saturday!

Thanks for your indulgence.

~Paige

I'm full of it

You already knew that. I've often thought I have too many ideas. To the extent that they sometimes prevent me from paying attention to the immediate needs which surround me. I'd like to hire myself out as an idea guy--if only there were a market!


I'll tell you where I dry-up, though, is my display windows. There's so much pressure--especially since so many of you have commented on how much you enjoy peaking at them during evening strolls.



When we started making plans for the renovation of the building, our architect, Pam Powell, told us we'd have to lose at least one of our windows (in order to meet code requirements for a staircase to the second floor from Franklin Street) I was not-so-secretly gleeful! One down--one to go! I know, I know--I need windows. The plan is to have a smaller version of a display window, which will allow for more floor space and less pressure, maybe.



I have been planning one special display to showcase the new items from Moda Home, as well as some other new and vintage items. Don't you know that the old adage is true--you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Of course, it's not gone yet, but knowing that it may go away my creative juices suddenly decide to flow!

Well, I need to attempt some sleep. Let me know if you need any ideas . . . I've got some to spare.

Take care and thanks for your indulgence.

Please visit my web site http://www.hodgepodge-home.com

An Introduction to Debbee Thibault

It seems a little late in the game to be making introductions--especially since I've had the wonderful creations of this talented artist since shorlty after opening Hodgepodge. So, I guess this blog entry is for those of you whom have not heard me wax poetic about Debbee Thibault American Collectibles.

Debbee Thibault started her American Collectibles figurines in 1985 when she made her first Santa . She says that each creation first starts with a story. As she creates the "character" she works the story into it. She temporarily tried having her creations "mass produced" but quickly saw this as a mistake and reigned in her projects and reclaimed sole production control.

The collectibles are made of a paper composite, which is poured into the mold created from the paper mache originals. Each of the characters is hand-painted, numbered and signed at her studio in southern California.

I encourage you to visit Hodgepodge and take a close look at her wonderfully unique creations. We will be adding our current selection of collectibles to the web site shortly and anticipate adding the new items as they arrive.

I'll also try to add special items from other artists--Nicol Sayre and Wendy Addison to name a couple. But don't hold your breath. I'm much more interested in the boutique business than the internet business.

Thanks for your indulgence.