I have been a fan of Julie Wall, 31, for years now. She was born and raised in Fort Wayne and is the embodiment of a strong individual that is kind, direct, and a true believer in the entrepreneurial spirit. She started her own business, The HEDGE, in 2013. This place is where she has created a solid reputation with locals while feeding her creative spirit. I stopped by her new location at 1016 Broadway in downtown Fort Wayne (open from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday) to chat and see how the new location is treating her. She spent a great deal of time rehabbing the building, and I was eager to see the new space.
I asked her why she selected downtown, and she told me that "If I was ever going to do it, the time was now." She went on to talk about the new energy happening in our urban core. "The timing is right. It's so great being downtown. I love seeing people out and about for leisurely purposes. Being open on Saturdays for the hustle and bustle is fun. People are on the streets with their Shop Small bags as compared to five years ago when it was a ghost town down here."
She offers a wide range of services including custom printing, design, foiling, letterpress, debossing, edge painting, invitations, calligraphy, event signage, engraving, sublimation, fine art, murals, curation, workshops, printing demos, creative consulting, and more. She is heavily involved in the process from beginning to end with her clients and customers. She has been active in everything from weddings and parties to funerals and fundraisers. "People come in with an idea and we figure it out together," Julie told me with enthusiasm.
When I asked her why she does this, she didn't hesitate with her answer. "I've grown up in a small family business, so I knew I would own my own business someday, too. It's in my blood. It allows me to be creative every single day. It gives me the chance to disconnect from my own art in a good way, too. Owning your own business is empowering, but being self-employed really never ends. There is only so much time in a day."
Check out the spring workshops at The HEDGE on the website. Join them on March 25 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. for an open house printing workshop, and an art opening with new work by Daniel Dienelt and Julie. There will be PBR on the house, and delicious cupcakes from Zinnia's Bakehouse. Make sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don't miss any updates!
