Carol Duvall 6/19/2002

HGTV: Welcome to HGTV's hosted chat room. Carol Duvall is here today to answer your crafting questions. Hello, Carol.

Carol Duvall: Hi there! Caught me just working on the show!

Question: Carol, Who is your favorite guest you have had? What are your future plans for the Carol Duvall Show? And do you like having chats like these on HGTV chat boards?
CD: First of all, I wouldn't dare name my favorite guest. One reason is that I couldn't! I have too many favorites. Future plans? Hmmm.... Just to continue trying our best to find new and talented guests, projects that will be of interest, and to continue to have fun and to make it fun! As for the chats, yes and no... I really enjoy and appreciate being in direct contact with our viewers, but it's a very frustrating way of communication, because questions can't go back and forth... I have to speak slowly, which is not my style, so the technical part of it, while wonderful, is also frustrating.

Q: Carol, LUV your show! I need help! Michele Gerbrandt 2:49 PM 6/19/2002dt demo'd how to punch paper. The tool had a SHARP metal point that gradually tapered to its rounded plastic(?) handle. The deeper you press, the larger the hole. I CAN'T find it on web!
CD: My show doesn't air at 2:49, so I'm not sure really where it was or when it was that you saw her using that tool. I know the tool to which you refer. It's used for paper piercing. Since we don't know the show number, the girls at HGTV are going to give you Michelle's website. I think you should be able to contact her there. Here is the website for Memory Makers magazine and Michele Gerbrandt: www.memorymakersmagazine.com. Good luck!

Q: Carol, how much of the year do you have to spend working on the show and what do you like to do when you finally get a break? Do you ever get "fed up" with crafts? LOL!
CD: What do you mean, get a break? Give me a break! As a crafter, I'm sure you know that your mind is never turned off regarding crafts, craft ideas, craft projects, craft products, etc. Total in studio time is 3 months, plus any specials, Christmas shows, etc. However, I can say that I actively work on the show at least 50 weeks a year. Some by choice, some by necessity. Right now, my craft helper/assistant Cherryl Green is here with me having just flown in from California. We are going through the mail that has just been sent to me from HGTV, and we are working on our own projects for the next series of shows, which we will start taping in August. And at the same time, I'm still typing up the directions for the projects and the Shoeboxes that we did on our last series of shows, which we taped in April and May. So you see, there's not a lot of time for me to get into too much trouble, I'm sorry to say.

Q: Carol, an hour is not long enough for a live chat, and a half-hour is not long enough for your show. I was wondering if you got the new pictures of my 3D red riding hood project? I am going to try and send you a 3D project because pictures just don't do it justice. I finished the 3D project with the wedding photos, and it came out even better. Any picture that has a background, foreground, and middle ground can be used.
CD: We opened your package not an hour ago! And if you can send us a sample picture, that would be great! We--that is, Cherryl and I--have made a note to call you. So do nothing until you hear from us. Thank you so much! I'm glad we connected on this chat room.

Q: How is polymer clay cleaned from the pasta machine?
CD: It depends on who you ask! Some recommend WD-40. Cherryl uses rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip. I think you could even use vegetable oil in a pinch, but water won't do it.

Q: Will there be less clay on your show from now on? I enjoy your show but am getting tired of so much clay!
CD: I can't promise that there will be less clay, because more people seem to be doing more creative things with it. I understand how it must seem to someone who is not interested in clay, at least polymer clay, but when you count the total number of shows and the total number of segments, and then the total number of polymer clay segments, it's not really as bad as it may seem to you. We really do try to keep as much of a balance as we can, and still meet the desires and wishes of our viewers.

Q: Carol, when is your Christmas show this year?
CD: I'm not quite sure if you mean Christmas show, singular, or Christmas shows, plural. The Christmas show taped in Michigan that has aired annually will probably air in mid to late December. If you mean our live Christmas shows, plural, I'm sorry to tell you that we will be doing two shows on the weekend of November 16 and 17 rather than a week's worth the first of November as we have in the past.

Q: Carol, how do you make sure you cut the fabric so it is straight?
CD: A seamstress could probably give you a more professional answer than I can. I pull a thread, which works easily with a loosely woven fabric but is a little trickier with a tightly woven one. As for the actual cutting, a heavy hand on a good long ruler and a rotary cutter work perhaps best.

Q: What is the definition used to define the difference between crafts and fine art?
CD: I think you'll find the number of different answers you get to that question will be determined by the number of people you ask. In other words, it's not an easy one, and you may even get into some stirring discussions, if not arguments, in searching for an answer.

Q: Several weeks ago, while doing beadwork, you put some kind of magnification sort of a harness on, and you still had your glasses on. What is it called, and where can I get it, please?
CD: It's called Mag-Eye. It should be available in craft stores. The actual piece of magnifying glass slips in and out of the front panel and there are a number of different magnifications available. I'm sure they have a website, but I'd have to experiment to find it--I'm sorry I don't have it. However, almost every craft magazine has one of their ads somewhere. Our HGTV magnificent moderator just found it... www.mageyes.com.

Q: Do you have directions for the tatted angel done on a Christmas show that had numerous ornaments designed by viewers? Can't remember when it aired. Thank you.
CD: If it was one of the ornaments sent in by a viewer, we do not have the directions.

Q: When do your new shows come out?
CD: I think they are supposed to start airing in late September or early October. HGTV will probably have the information listed on the website when it gets closer to the date. Our new seasons usually correspond with the broadcast networks' fall seasons.

Q: Hello, Carol. I watch your program every day, twice a day. I've seen some of your guests working with polymer clay. Every time there is a mention of conditioning the clay. What do they mean with that? How do I condition it?
CD: It sometimes depends to some extent on the kind of polymer clay you are using. Some you practically have to sit on to warm it up enough to be able to manipulate it with your hands. As soon as you have it soft enough, (and by the way, some of the newer clays are soft enough to begin with) then you start rolling it through your pasta machine. You usually have to put it through at least 20 times before it is ready for you to work with it satisfactorily. If you do not have a pasta machine, then get busy with the rolling pin. Just remember--that once you use an item for working with the clay, you do not ever use it in food preparation.

Q: Carol, what a delight to chat. Thanks for all the features on your show. I have met some of the artist at craft shows that your have featured on your show. I especially enjoy when you do demos. What is new to you that you have tried at home?
CD: Something that I just taped a segment on that will appear in our fall schedule...it's new to me, but very old. I got it from knitting and felting that I did. It was great fun, but wonderfully satisfactory results. Old as it is, I'm getting the word that knitting and felting is a new hot item. Rather, that should read "from knitting and felting what I knit." I have also been doing some crocheting using some of the new yarns that are out there now. And I'll be knitting some old, old patterns just for fun. Now that knitting is being accepted as the 'in' thing again, I hope to be doing a bit more of it on the show.

Q: I know you have discussed many times the topic of making money with your crafts but this question has a slightly different spin: How do you get jobs with craft companies themselves? What kind of background/education do you need? Experience?
CD: Because I have never worked for a company as a designer, I honestly can't give you any truly helpful information. I suggest that you contact the companies themselves, or even write or contact some of the designers. Every craft magazine that has projects in it usually has the name of the designer at the beginning or the end of the article. Many times, in fact most times, they are individuals who work either for a specific company on a freelance basis or for several companies on a freelance basis, the idea being they come up with the projects that uses a certain product. The company that makes the product pays for the project. The one piece of advice that every designer that was on our series "Making Money With Your Crafts" gave was to join the Society of Craft Designers. They are usually all very helpful, cooperative, nice people.

Q: Do you and any of the demonstrators get together out of the studio and spend time together? You, Patricia Houser and Mary O'Neil seem to get along so well. Also, my friend works for Hero Arts and we've been trying to convince her to send some of her work ideas in. How would she go about doing so?
CD: While we are in production, you should contact the Carol Duvall Show at Weller Grossman Productions. This, however, is ONLY when we are in production and preproduction. These dates for the next series will be from June 24 to August 19. The 19th we go into the studio and nobody can reach any of us then. As far as spending time together, yes. We have formed some wonderful friendships. As a matter of fact, Mary O'Neill, Donna Kato, Karen Thomas and our supervising producer Kelly and I are having our annual girls' weekend coming up soon.

Q: Hi, Carol! Been a big fan since waaaay back when! I'd like to tell you how much I appreciate the high quality crafts you show. The level of professionalism is what keeps my interest. Are there any future plans to do remotes from Craft Shows or features on Professional Crafters?
CD: I don't know if there are any plans for the immediate future to attend a craft show, but we always schedule at least 30-35 field pieces with professional crafters.

Q: On several of your shows you have mentioned that one can purchase design books to which no copyright is attached. Can you tell me where I can purchase these and some examples of titles?
CD: Any bookstore should carry a number of them... Also, art supply stores frequently carry them. One I can see in my bookcase right now is called Classic Clipart, which contains, according to the cover, 1000s of copyright-free images. It's published by Portland House. There are many such books on the market.

Q: Are you planning any episodes on paper clay? I'd like to see more ideas on that new item.
CD: We have not yet gone into preproduction for our next series, so I can't tell you whether any of the producers will be lining up paper clay segments, but I do know we have one in our Shoebox! I'm guessing that there will be some more such projects.

Q: Carol, I'm starting to do a scrapbook, and I was wondering if you have any ideas or tips?
CD: Yes indeed! Watch the Carol Duvall Show! You might also check out our website for the many scrapbooking segments we have done in the past. I would certainly suggest that you check out some of the scrapbooking magazines, and you might even consider looking in your book store for one of the books that will take you back to day one on getting started.

Q: Do you have any craft projects that you are intimidated to attempt?
CD: Well... yes, as a matter of fact. Back in the beginning of our show, I did a few polymer clay segments. However, since we've had so many wonderfully talented polymer clay guests on the show, I'm a bit intimidated to do anything myself. This has happened in several categories. I'm more comfortable when I stick to folding and cutting, knitting and crocheting, and cutting up bleach bottles! LOL!

HGTV: Well, everyone, our chat hour has ended. Thanks for joining us today. And thank you, Carol, for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.

Carol Duvall: Thank you so much! I, as always, enjoyed it. But I just want to remind you that if I'm a segment short on our next series, it was because I was busy chatting instead of creating! See you next month!