2011 Happenings in Downtown Mebane

This post is a list of upcoming events in downtown Mebane this year. The ones with an asterisk are sponsered by the Destination Downtown group of which Hollyhocks is a member. Mark your calenders so you don't miss out!!

February 24 ~ Shop for A Cause *

This is a great opportunity to visit and shop in Downtown Mebane and also help a worthy local cause. (5-8 pm)



MARCH 26 ~ Spring Shoppers Stroll *

Downtown Mebane will be blooming at the 4th annual Spring Shoppers Stroll. Bring your family and friends and explore Downtown Mebane! Rain or shine. (10 am - 6 pm).



APRIL 29-30 ~ Dogwood Festival

The Festival starts Friday, April 29rd with a golf tournament & then continues Downtown from 6-10 pm with carnival rides & live entertainment. On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 am - 5 pm, enjoy a 5K run, car show, arts & crafts, rides, food, entertainment, and an evening street dance (7-10 pm). Plenty of free parking. Rain Date Sunday, May 1. For more info, visit www.mbamebane.com. The Festival is sponsored by The Mebane Business Association.



MAY - September ~ Clay Street After Work

3rd Friday Night ~ 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of music at Clay Street After Work. Each month features a different band playing on Clay Street, starting at 7 p.m. Clay Street (from Third to Fourth Street) is closed to traffic after 6 p.m. Lots of extra parking on Ruffin Street and side streets. Come early and enjoy a little shopping or dinner at one of our unique restaurants! Clay Street After Work is sponsored by The Alamance County Arts Council, City of Mebane and The Mebane Business Association. Partial funding provided by a Grassroots Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.



June 10-11 ~ 27th Annual Occaneechi Pow-Wow

Experience traditional Native music, dance, food and more! The Pow-Wow is held at the Occaneechi Tribal Cener, 4902 Daily Store Road -- about 8.5 miles from Downtown Mebane via Hwy. 119 North. No alcohol, drugs or pets allowed. If you haven't attended a pow-wow, you are in for a real treat! For more info, call the Tribal Office at (919) 304-3723 or visit www.occaneechi-saponi.org.



June - August ~ Farmers' Market

Located at the corner of Clay and Third Streets every Saturday from 7-11 a.m. Enjoy fresh produce and other goodies from local farmers! Coordinated by Destination Downtown Mebane.



Aug. 6 ~ Sunfest "Hometown Family Fun Day" *

An old-fashioned family fun day on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with traditional games and activities for kids of all ages! Rain or Shine.



August 25 ~ Ladies Shop Hop *

A special shopping event in downtown Mebane from 5-9 pm.



October 1 ~ Autumn Fest *

Celebrate Fall with family & friends at Downtown's Autumn Fest! Listen to a little bluegrass music, take a hayride through the historic district, visit with local crafters, browse antique and specialty shops, and shop at the pumpkin & mums market. Saturday (10 am - 6 pm). Rain or Shine.



November 3 ~ Holiday Extravaganza *

A kick-off event for holiday shopping! Downtown shops will be brimming with all kinds of treasures. Thursday evening from 5-9 pm.



Nov. 18-19 ~ 6th Annual Hometown Holiday Celebration *

A two-day holiday open house with festive decorations, carriage rides, tree lighting ceremony, strolling carolers, Santa, holiday treats & door prizes, music & art events, marshmallow roast, Kids Zone activities, and shopping and dining specials. Come home to Downtown Mebane and enjoy some old-fashioned holiday spirit with family and friends! Friday (10 am - 9 pm) and Saturday (10 am - 6 pm).



December 2 ~ Mebane Christmas Parade

Bundle up and enjoy the area's only nighttime Christmas Parade in Downtown Mebane, complete with a visit from Santa! Festivities begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Sponsored by The City of Mebane.

Shuffling the store around

Now that the holidays are over, it was time to shuffle the merchandise in the store. It's funny how people notice things that have been in the store for a while because you moved it to a new location. The store looks refreshing and uncluttered now that all the Christmas decorations and displays are gone. The above picture is the back of the store where we have moved all the Christmas stuff that's on sale. Up to 75% off -time to stock up for next year!

This center island in the front part of the store has all the baby/kid stuff on it. Some of it is also on sale.

 These 2 sections have items that are more masculine. My husbands pen are here, some beautiful artwork, cards, and fabulous NEW soaps that smell divine! Any guy would love this stuff!

This side of the store has had a bit of a shuffle too. Bonnie, from HelloCrafty brought in some new products, so I expanded her space a bit. She has some awesome new products and is planning on bringing some more. I also redid the display of Megan's jewelry from Spotted Fish. Her jewelry is beautiful and very well made.

This is my section of the store. Since I took these pictures, I have removed some of the more wintery pieces and are replacing them with more springy things.

This is our start for Valentine's Day. It sure isn't much and I'm hopeful that more vendors will get their stuff in soon. After all, Valentine's Day is little more than a month away already. The top shelf is sewn items like pot holders and the cutest little baskets. They are done by a nice, older lady named Beverly. So far, I'm the only one with Valentine jewelry, so all this is mine on the second and third shelves. The red bowl that is there is heart shaped and has holes for drainage. It's a great piece by Misun of MSR Pottery . She makes some really cute and practical things. 

So as things move around and new vendors come, I will be taking more pictures to share with you. I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into Hollyhocks,LLC . If you happen to be in Mebane or the surrounding area, please stop in for a visit. It's always a pleasure to meet new people. And remember, anything you buy here is handmade by a real person and is likely a one of a kind item. See you soon!

T.Rusk4u: Help Please!!

T.Rusk4u: Help Please!!: "Hey friends, I or actually this school needs your help in a big way! They are in the running for a Pepsi refresh project and they sure could..."

Ramblings from a store owner

As we start this new year, I've been thinking about all that has happened to me this past year. Last year at this time, I never even imagined I would become a store owner!  We have been open since August and so far, so good. It's not easy! In fact it is an incredible amount of work! The hardest part is finding new vendors to sell in our store. I have talked to close to a hundred people now that had inquired about selling and then I never heard a word from them again. Fortunately, we have a great group of people who did come to sell and most do pretty well. I really wish that they could all sell tons each month, but sadly that is not the case. The higher priced items we have just don't seem to fit our customers. I'm not entirely sure if it's all about price or a mix of that and style. I guess you have to take the good with the bad. I am currently looking for some new sellers. That is the one constant that never, ever changes.

I do worry about the future. Will the store survive despite the odds and the economy? I do work at trying to keep a positive attitude. I've literally thrown myself almost completely into this store. Pretty much anything that I make from selling my jewelry, goes back into the store. I am thinking about purchasing another ad, but we'll have to see how the money situation is. Fortunately, the monthly events in town start again in February and those always draw people into the downtown area and into the store. So, I will continue to plug along, work very hard, and with a little luck I'll be able to blog about this again next year! Thanks to all who suppport our little store and getting people to buy handmade!