CraftSanity with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

Jeff has been working this weekend to move CraftSanity to a new blog tool. There's still plenty of organizing to do, but please point your browser and bookmarks to craftsanity.com or www.craftsanity.com/index.php. The old version of the page will remain (but will not be updated) at craftsanity.com/index.html.

For those using RSS, please switch your RSS reader to craftsanity.com/?feed=rss2 to read daily CraftSanity updates and musings. It's going to take us a bit to get everything set up the way we'd like, but please head over and check out the new digs.

I took this picture in my kitchen on Nov 27, 2004. I was on my second maternity leave from my job as a newspaper reporter and feeling totally conflicted about the big return to work. My husband had recently clued me into the high tech world of podcasting and I almost immediately decided that I, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, was destined to become a podcaster.

It was probably one of the quickest, most ill-informed decisions of my life. I knew I wanted to interview artists and crafters from all over the world and post free project tutorials every week, but that was it. I didn't know anything about the technology involved, how much time it would take to produce or how exactly I was going to convince people to agree to be interviewed for a podcast that didn't exist yet.

Somehow I thought it would really help if I had a cute logo. (This logic seems ridiculous to me now.) I'm a lousy sketch artist so, I decided I would assemble my logo in 3-D. I took several pictures including this one of a bespectacled cone of purple wool balancing a ball of cotton on it's head. After shooting a few frames it was clear this was not "it." This was not the symbol I wanted to represent my podcast which was at that point only a figment of my imagination.

I grabbed a skien of hot pink cotton, some pipe cleaner, buttons and googly eyes and tried to create a fun character to represent "CraftSanity." Within minutes I felt like I had it. It was strange actually because I remember how happy I was when I looked at the pictures of that pink skein with googly eyes and pipe cleaner hair. Looking back, I believe the act of creating that crazy looking yarn face was the first sign that I was headed in the right direction. I was having fun creating the symbol of this podcast and let myself get caught up in all the potential of what this podcast could be.

I sent the photo to my brother-in-law, Andrew, who turned it into the cool logo I use today and still completely love.

The day I stood in my kitchen shooting photos of a yarn ball with pipe cleaners sticking out of it, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I had no idea whether or not I would actually ever have an audience, or if any of craft superstars would ever agree to be guests on my show. The only thing I knew then was that the prospect of those things possibly happening made me very happy. And for that reason, I knew I had to give this podcasting thing a try.

I posted my first show Jan. 23. 2005, the day I returned to work after a three-month maternity leave. Then I posted another show about a week later, an then another and I got hooked. Even though my earliest shows were pretty rough, I started getting kind feedback from people who identified themselves as listeners. They thanked me and encouraged me to stick with it. And so I did.

I never imagined that I would get such a wonderful opportunity to have a regular dialog with people who share my love of art and craft, so the events of the last two years have been amazing fun for me. I've learned a lot during the last two years and I'm very exited about the possibilities on the horizon.

I've enjoyed interviewing dozens of artists and crafters from around the globe who have been very generous with their stories, projects and time. And, I've so enjoyed exchanging e-mails with several of you who tune in. The connections I've made within the creative community online and in person have enriched my life and helped me realize the tremendous joy that comes with following your bliss. And I wish that same joy for all of you.

Thanks for two great years!

CraftSanity my friends! It works for me!

I won't believe it until I see it, but today is the big day when my first newspaper craft column appears in print. Since most who read this blog and listen to the CraftSanity podcast don't live in West Michigan and won't be able to look for the column in the Home & Garden section of The Grand Rapids Press, I'm going to direct you over to my newspaper blog "Running with Needles," so you can read the column and download a fun pattern for a fabric headband designed by MaryBeth Raible, owner of Island Girl Limited. Check out Raible's story to learn about her passion for embellishing jeans and making handbags, headbands, key fobs and other fabulous goods.

After nearly a decade as a print journalist, the major craft window I've been waiting for has finally opened to me. I'm writing craft blog called "Running with Needles" for my newspaper, The Grand Rapids Press, and a weekly column that will appear in print on Sundays.



The good news for curious CraftSanity listeners is that all my craft related articles will be available online for you to check out.

It's taken me a very long time to convince my editors that adding a craft column and blog is a good idea, so I'd really appreciate your support. Please visit my newspaper blog and help me stir up a little traffic so I can prove to my editors that there really is a demand for craft-related content. Leave a comment and make my day.

Monday you'll be able to download the instructions I wrote for five simple children's Halloween costumes including a bat, mummy, butterfly, flower and lady bug. The instructions were written as part of a holiday feature about homemade costumes. My column is expected to launch Sunday. Every week I plan to feature a West Michigan artist or crafter and give readers a free project related to what that person does to try at home. Every now and then I do plan to profile artists from outside our circulation area because I want to introduce local readers to some of the great people I've "met" through my podcast.

So, if you listen to CraftSanity from a craft room or art studio in Michigan, or anywhere else for that matter, feel free to contact me and tell me what you do. Feel free to send your comments, suggestions and story ideas to me at jennifer@craftsanity.com or write me at Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, The Grand Rapids Press, 155 Michigan St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. I can't wait to hear from you.

Spend an hour or so chatting with me as a guest on my podcast and the next thing you know I'm twisting your arm into a lunch date. That's exactly what I did to Carol Duvall, the former Grand Rapids television personality and host of “The Carol Duvall Show" on Home & Garden Television.

Shortly after I recorded an interview with Carol (episode 57), she let me know she was going to be in town for a book signing. So, I invited her out before today's appearance at a Grand Rapids Michaels store. She kindly accepted and we had a great time.

Growing up in suburban Detroit with a mom who thinks the world of Carol, I understood her creative influence and never imagined there would come a day when I would be swapping stories over salad and sandwiches with the "Queen of Crafts." (Mom, I wish you could have been there. Carol truly is the real deal.) It was an absolute privilege to continue the discussion we started when we recorded the podcast and hear more about her impressive TV career that spanned more than 50 years. I brazenly encouraged her to write another book and she rather politely encouraged me to write one, too.

When we returned to Michaels for the signing, her fans were lined up and waiting. They clapped as she approached the signing table, and I took my place in line. I passed the time listening to the men and women around me swap stories about how they used to watch Carol craft on TV and try to make the projects at home, or how their wife, sister, friend or mother was a "huge fan."

Carol took her time with people, kindly posed for pictures and appeared to really enjoy meeting her fans. People love her because she's genuine. Many of her craft ideas came from viewers and fans over the years, and Carol always made a point to credit her sources, a move that endeared her to her massive craft following.

When it was my turn to get my copy of "Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall" signed, I felt like I was posing for a photo with a dear friend. Yep, I just love life's little surprises.

The “Queen of Crafts” Returns to Grand Rapids

Hey, Craft lovers, don’t miss your chance to meet Carol Duvall, the former Grand Rapids, Michigan television personality and host of “The Carol Duvall Show" on the Home & Garden Television. She will be signing copies of her book, “Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall,” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Michaels craft store at 2741 28th St. SE.

If you missed her recent CraftSanity interview be sure to check out episode 57. She's a wonderful storyteller. And click here for a free download of a 1978 issue of the craft newsletter Carol used to distribute monthly.

I'm planning to go meet Carol and have her sign my book, so maybe I'll see you there! (I'll probably be sporting a new apron.)
 

My local Hancock Fabrics store closed for good today. I was among the final customers to buy fabric for 25 cents a yard. That's right 25 cents a yard. I brought my digital recorder along to record some audio just before the final close. I'm really going to miss this place and all the cool ladies who have cut fabric for me and kindly entertained my sometimes ridiculous sewing questions over the years. Watching strangers pick through the store's final fabric bolts was difficult. It's too bad it had to end this way. Listen to the audio story at the end of CraftSanity episode 55.