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10-05-09

‘THE HODGEPODGERY’ ARTISAN SHOP AND STUDIO OPENS FOR BUSINESS ON NORTH THIRD STREET

Mayor Stephen R. Reed today cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the new HodgePodgery artisan shop and studio located at 1100 North 3rd Street in the heart of Midtown.

Reed said The HodgePodgery, which is owned and operated by the mother and daughter team of Dawn Rettinger and Jessica Phillips-Canzoneri, is a community-based artisan shop which sells wares that are handmade by Harrisburg-area artisans located within 100 miles of the state’s capital and focuses on introducing recycled and repurposed elements into their handmade goods. The HodgePodgery is a unique boutique for gift shopping.

Reed said that in addition to what is offered for sale at the shop, The HodgePodgery offers a plethora of classes and workshops available to anyone at a reasonable cost. Currently being offered are sewing classes, tie-dyeing classes, calligraphy, junk jean rejuvenation workshops, sock puppet-making and sock monkey classes, caricature drawing classes, jewelry soldering, jewelry design classes and knitting 101, among many others. Each of the classes and workshops are offered at specific dates and times throughout each month and many are also offered in the evenings and after normal store hours. The HodgePodgery website offers a printed calendar of all the classes offered as well as descriptions of each class to be held. The workshops are interactive, fun and a worthwhile investment.

Reed said the studio’s opening is but the latest arts and culturally-related businesses and facilities in Harrisburg, which "further adds to achieving our goal of evolving Harrisburg as a cultural center of this region." The shop’s location also further bolster’s Midtown’s emergence as an arts district, he added.

Reed said the opening of The HodgePodgery shop and studio is the result of months of renovation at its current historic location, representing $20,000 in new economic development. The opening of this woman-owned, community-based business has created additional income for over 100 local artisans including stay-at-home mothers, young striving artists and retired Harrisburg-area citizens.

Reed said The HodgePodgery’s normal store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday and Monday. The HodgePodgery offers free wi-fi internet connections from within the store, allowing visitors and artists to maximize their creativity and share artistic ideas. The HodgePodgery strives to be a one stop shop for handmade and local gifts, and Reed encouraged residents and visitors alike to support local arts by visiting the shop.

For more information on The HodgePodgery, call (717) 236-0150, email hodgepodgestudio@gmail.com, or visit www.thehodgepodgery.com.

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