Uncommon Threads
The episode of the television show Uncommon Threads that I am on aired this morning on DIY. I was going to try to post a reminder but I have to admit I forgot until just after I posted last night’s post and by then I was tired of writing. I’d love to hear if anyone saw it, but only if you have nice things to say!
Welcome to anyone that found my website from the network.
That show was taped in July 2005.
In the final segment of the show the host Allison Whitlock, my friends, Carol and Christine, and I were sitting around a low table chatting. On the first take Alison asked me about having my work on the cover of the Quilt National book and I made a comment about other members of the group also being in the show and then I tried to name them and my mind went blank (okay there are only 5 of us in the group so that was rather lame). Take 1.
So we decided I don’t have to remember Deidre and Sandy’s names and we start over again. This time Allison is talking about the browns I used in the quilt that was hanging behind us. The cameraman did realize he was supposed to pan to the quilt. Take 2.
Now we’re on round three saying the same things - except everything we said in previous takes Allison is now saying and we have to think up new answers to the questions. It felt very contrived and I’m dreading watching it. But we made it to the end (I think it was only 2 minutes but it seemed forever). But oh no - right at the end Allison says “thank you” and all 3 of us just stare at her and make no comment.
Of course that is not acceptable, how rude of us. But no one is up for take 4 so they tell us not to move and find the exact right spot on the tape (it took forever) and then they queued us and we all said “thank you” in return. Well we paused too long and that didn’t work. So they rewind again - again - don’t move - (and it takes a long time - maybe 10 minutes - to get the tape to just the right place). This time just Carol is supposed to say “thank you” and it’s been at least 15 minutes so of course we moved. So we reposition, sit as still as statues and Carol says thanks as nice as can be and they let us leave.
In the first part of the show, titled Dyeing to Quilt, I’m demonstrating fabric dyeing with procion MX fiber reactive dyes. This portion was taped first and they were completely freaked out by my dyes. And the possibility of me spilling them all over the set. This studio was a dumpy warehouse in Burbank so I’m not sure what I could have ruined had it spilled but everyone was told “we are doing this in one take don’t screw up”. No pressure….
But we did it. I had to stand a wooden box behind the demonstration counter because Allison is amazingly tall. I was sure I would fall off mid sentence. I really didn’t demonstrate much because they were so worried about spillage. So I’ll be posting a few more details about how I dye fabric over the next few days.
You can read some of the basics over on the DIY website. It is basically low water immersion dyeing - except I don’t measure anything.
It was an interesting experience. After the taping we went out for a nice dinner (on us) at our very nice hotel (on them). They don’t do any post show editing on these low budget productions so it will be interesting to see what the show looks like. I’ve heard the show is kind of corny.
As long time readers know, I don’t have a TV, so it’ll be a while before I get a copy of the show on DVD to play on my work computer as my home equipment is a bit dated, much to the disgust of my children.
Posted by Lisa in: Art Exhibits
Martha Marshall said,
November 14, 2006 @ 6:02 am
Lisa, I watched yesterday because I had it on my calendar from one of your previous posts. It was a really fun and informative segment, and I certainly didn’t see anything amiss about the way it was done. You seemed very much at ease, and even the dyeing demo was just great. Now that I’ve heard the behind-the-scenes description of the production, I’m going to watch it again on my DVR!
Good show!
Martha
PaMdora said,
November 14, 2006 @ 7:26 am
“Dump and pour method” — I guess that’s the DIY term for low-water immersion dyeing :) Sorry I missed your show - I don’t watch those DIY shows either.
Laura Tyler said,
November 14, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Lisa,
How did you feel about the experience of being on TV? Did you have fun? Do you feel like the show represented you accurately? Would you do it again?
Karoda said,
November 14, 2006 @ 11:36 am
Lisa, I like Uncommon Threads because it moves at a very comfortable pace. My only irritation is that Allison’s interest in the projects being presented seem fake. I missed your show too.
Lisa Call said,
November 14, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
Wow - thanks for watching Martha. I’m glad we looked okay. Thanks.
Pam - Dump and Pour means “I don’t measure” but that didn’t sound quite so good.
Laura - I haven’t seen the show so I don’t know if represented me accurately (and I’m not sure what that means - but if I looked smart, cute and talented I’d be all for it). It was fun but I doubt I would have had as much fun without my friends - a solo deal would have just been stressful. The friends were the good part. I’m certainly not going to go look for another opportunity to be on TV but I probably wouldn’t turn it down either (if the show seemed reasonable).
Karoda I didn’t get any feel at all that Allison cared one bit about what we were doing. She was just doing a job. Too bad it comes across like that. But I’ve never watched any of these types of shows so I’m not sure how they go.
Rex Crockett said,
November 14, 2006 @ 11:34 pm
Lisa,
I’m sorry I missed this. Your description of the filming was hilarious. It’s a wonder they get anything done.
Lisa Call said,
November 15, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
Rex - glad you got the humor in it!
The entire scene was a bit unbelievable. Each of the cameras seemed to have 2 or 3 crew people to work it. The top camera guy (and they were all men) would park his rear end in the seat and not get up for anything - his assistants ran around and did any fetching or moving or any such menial task.
Although they called us “the talent” as in - okay have the talent stand in now, which is what I believe that is what they call porn stars also. So that was special.
Sue Schoch said,
November 20, 2006 @ 9:33 am
Lisa, I loved your show. The first episode the material evolution girls did was the first time I saw this show. I said to myself, what a fantastic new show! and told all my friends about it. Then the next time I watched, it was silly crocheting. Not that crocheting is silly but the content was totally silly. I look forward to the dye segments as well as the School of Fusers with Frieda Anderson, et al. You two groups are the only reason I continue to dvr that show!
Sue Schoch said,
November 20, 2006 @ 9:35 am
By the way, I forgot to mention that I saw the show before finding this blog today and had fun reading the behind the scenes stuff. The show turned out well.