Crafting Chat—9/25/2002
HGTV: Welcome to HGTV's hosted chat room. Today, Carol Duvall is here to answer your questions. Hello, Carol!
Carol Duvall: Hi there! Good to be back!
Question: What is the process for appearing on the show?
Carol: When we are in production, one of our producers or our supervising producer at Weller Grossman should be contacted. We just closed down production last Friday and will start up again in early January.
Q: I'm trying to find the show that Carol did with a polymer clay figure on a polymer clay tree trunk
Carol: That sounds like something Maureen Carlson did. I would have no idea what the show number is, but perhaps if you look up Maureen's name on the HGTV website, under the category Crafts, you might find her. Our chat producer at HGTV just suggested show number CDS-1038.
Q: Hi, Carol. Just wanted to know where you get all your ideas for your shows?
Carol: From any place we can possibly think of! Many ideas come from the guests themselves. I find mine often by searching through catalogs, my imagination, my memory, and just by talking with other crafters.
Q: I was wondering if you could do a segment on something dealing with pine needles, and what we can create from them?
Carol: I suppose, yes, we could investigate that. Most of the items that I've seen created with pine needles were from areas in Florida, or in a few cases, farther north in Michigan. I'll see if I can get some help from a couple of women whom I know in this area... In the mean time, if there are any ladies on the chat line right now, I'd love to hear their suggestions.
Q: Hi, Carol. I just saw a demo of making enamel beads on copper. I would like to see a demonstration segment on lampworking in the futures. Lampworking is making the little glass animals, etc. Many people call it glassblowing although it's not the correct term. Thanks.
Carol: You're welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Q: Carol, I'm really into rubber-stamping, and am constantly looking for new techniques. I saw an article in a stamp magazine about Encaustic Wax Art on greeting cards by Michael Bossum. This was TERRIFIC, and I'm dying to try it, but need some instruction...any possibility of getting him or someone else familiar with this art on your show?
Carol: We'd be happy to try. It sounds interesting, but I wish you'd told me what magazine, what issue... it would help. But I will put my producers on it and say that you sent them!
Q: Carol, We have a stamping guild in Michigan and we all love your show. Every meeting I hear "Did you see....... on Carol Duvall?" If you are in the mid Michigan area on the second Friday evening of the month, we would love to have you as our honored guest.
Carol: Thank you for the invitation! If I go to the middle of the state and hold up a sign saying, "I'm looking for the stamping guild" will somebody help me find you? I'm teasing, of course, but you didn't give me any information! LOL
Q: Hi, Carol. I've been searching the internet to try and find a craft club local to my area to share crafts and finding friends with something in common. Haven't had any luck. Any suggestions on how to find a group other than the internet? I'm from southern Florida.
Carol: The only think I can possibly think of, other than the internet, would be to ask around at your local craft stores. Sometimes they even have bulletin boards where you could put up a little notice or a question.
Q: Carol, I am also curious how you got started hosting a craft show on television?
Carol: I got started many, many, many years ago at a local station in Grand Rapids, Mich. I started hosting a children's show, and through the years, have made my living working on many different television shows as host and/or producer. After hosting my own craft show in Detroit for many years, I guested on different shows around the country. Then ABC contacted me to be on the Home show doing crafts. From there, I went to Lifetime, and eventually to HGTV. So I wasn't suddenly 'discovered' in a drug store!
Q: Hi, Carol. Can you do some paper mache projects for the garden? How could we keep them out all summer without damage? Do you do craft conferences in Canada and if so do you have an agent? Thanks.
Carol: Whew! That's a lot to answer.. let's see... Yes, I suppose we could try some papier-mache for the garden, but there would have to be a lot of polyurethane involved, I'm sure. Even then, while it might protect from moisture, sunshine also might do damage. I guess I would have to experiment to see what works before I could present it on television, but I love papier-mache. So it might be fun to try. No, I have not done any craft conferences in Canada, and no, I do not have an agent. Never have, probably never will. Thanks for asking.
Q: Will you be showing the German Star instructions again this Holiday season?
Carol: I doubt I'd be allowed to do it again, much as I would enjoy it. The reason it is preferred that I do not repeat segments is because the shows continue to be replayed. In fact, the show on which I did the German star, I'm quite certain, will be repeated again this holiday season. I'm sorry I can't tell you any definite date.
Q: Is there going to be more polymer clay segments this next season?
Carol: Oh my goodness yes! And... the season after that as well! In fact, I just finished last week taping another 65 shows, and said to my producers, "Oh my goodness, we're probably going to get some letters of complaint because we did sooo many polymer clay segments." So I'm very happy when someone like you inquires. There are so many crafters who are crossing over... rubber stampers are getting involved with polymer clay... people who like to transfer photographs are getting into polymer clay...etc. So yes, there will be more polymer clay segments.
Q: Thanks for all your polymer clay segments. They inspire my creativity. My 8-year-old niece and I both won blue ribbons at the L.A. County Fair this month for our polymer clay entries. Thanks for inspiring us!
Carol: And thanks for telling me! Also, congratulations! I'm thrilled for you and delighted to learn of your interest as well as your success.
Q: Can I use paper mache over bottles to make snowmen? Will it stick?
Carol: Sure!
Q: My husband and I recently opened an online rubber stamp store. We have contests, and project ideas, techniques, etc, on our website. What is something you would recommend to bring crafters back to our site?
Carol: Oh gosh, Diana, I'm so sorry to say that's something I know so little about—the internet and how it works, and how to get your name and website information out there. Perhaps on one of the crafting bulletin boards, you might ask if anybody else out there has a website, and if they could give you some suggestions on getting your location known. Somebody who has done it would be more knowledgeable than I. I wish you luck!
Q: A comment more than a question: To Carol Duvall, I redesigned the White House bird feeder and I'm going to enter it in a woodworking contest also my first and best internet friend was on one of your Christmas shows.
Carol: Good for you! And I wish you well.
Q: Some cleaning questions: just got a brand new pasta machine for polymer but it's leaving streaks on the clay and it give it texture. We've tried formula 409, alcohol, goo gone, nothing works. What should I do?
Carol: Again, I must beg off and suggest that you contact some of the polymer clay people. Alcohol is what I've always suggested, but obviously your problem is more severe. I'm sure that one of the experts, Donna Kato, Barbara McGuire, or some of the women who belong to one of the polymer clay guilds—there are a number on the internet—would be able to help you. I'm so sorry I can't do it directly.
Q: Will the lady who did ornaments made (paper clay ) that was on your Christmas show 2001, be on you show?
Carol: I'm afraid not. This year our live Christmas shows are being cut from 5 to 2, so we have, of necessity, had to cut back on the number of guests. The ones I know of who will be there are Priscilla Hauser, Dee Gruenig, Donna Kato, Mary O'Neil, Lisa Pavelka...and that's all that I think we have scheduled at this time.
Q: Carol, Have you ever thought about filming in Michigan??!!!
Carol: Other than the four Michigan specials that we've done, I guess I'd have to say no. There are 36 people involved behind the scenes on our daily shows, plus of course our guests. I don't think we could find enough accommodations up here for such a crowd! Besides, of course, it would be incredibly expensive.
Q: Do you ever consider showing crafts that can be done one handed? I ask this because I've had a broken arm since 3/6/2002 and it appears I'm going to have a 3rd surgery on it and I'm tried of watching everyone else.
Carol: Oh dear! You bring up a subject that I've brought up perhaps for the past five years, and it always seems to fall through the cracks. I definitely want to do some crafts for people who are limited, whether temporarily such as you are, we hope, or permanently, in the use of faculties needed for crafting, for folks who have the use of only one limb, or whose eyesight is limited, or who have severe arthritis in their hands. But somehow we've never quite been able to get it going. Your question inspires me to give it another and perhaps more serious try. In the mean time, I'm very sorry that I can't help you at the moment, and I'm sorry that you're having such a long drawn-out recovery. My best to you.
Q: Question/comment/ok complaint here, yesterday's show on scrapbooking, hexagon illusion pages, shows the directions here on the web sight, however, you have to "order" the pattern. Dumb question why if they show it on TV why can't you get the guide on the web sight? I'm a stay at home mom with 2 kids, husband in the army so keeping the finances in order is important to me.
Carol: My webmaster informs me that the pattern is there. Please look for the PDF file at the bottom of the page underneath Figure G. If is in Adobe PDF file—you might have to download Adobe, but you can download it for free. Then you can just print the page right from your computer.
Q: Hi Carol. I love your show, especially the holiday special. Is there going to be a new show this year?
Carol: If you are talking about the Northern Michigan Christmas special, which has been running for a number of years, I think it has now reached the point of having become a "tradition" at least that's how I refer to it! In any case, no there will not be another Northern Michigan (or anywhere) Christmas special that I will be doing, but thank you for asking.
Q: Hi Carol, Glad you are back to chat here. I want to say that I've been watching your show forever and have made most of the craft items shown on your show over the years. Kudos to the best craft show on television!!!
Carol: Thank you very much! I am, of course, delighted that you watch and have been watching the show for a long time, but even more pleased to hear that you have been making so many of the projects. Good for you!
Q: I would like to know how to send in items for the shoe box segments.
Carol: Just send them to me, Carol Duvall, The Carol Duvall Show, at HGTV, PO Box 50970, Knoxville, TN 37950. It will take awhile, but I will get them. The young woman who is in charge of seeing that things are sent off to me is very good about it, but considering the great volume of mail that HGTV gets, everything does take time. But I love to hear from you viewers, and the viewers seem to looove the Shoebox segment, so whatever you might have to share, everybody is interested.
Q: I make Christmas globes from plastic cups and filled with mini lights Have you had any of them on your Christmas show? It takes 50 cups and 2 strands of 25 mini lights. They are about the size of a basketball.
Carol: Yes, I know the project to which you are referring, and I think it's one that is surprisingly pretty. I say surprisingly because when you realize what it's made with, you can't imagine it looking so nice. I don't think we've actually made one on the show, but we have had viewers send in their pictures of ones that they have made.
Q: What are you doing for Halloween?
Carol: I guess I'll be answering the doorbell!
Q: Where can I find directions for CDS-145, the crochet necklace done by Suzanne O'Neil? The website lists it, but does not give directions for making. Thanks.
Carol: Way back then, there was no website, so we did not have all the directions from our guests. In fact, I think it was three seasons before we had any directions printed. In this case, you might contact Suzanne at Design Originals in Dallas, TX, because I do not think that Suzanne has ever done a project on the show that was not printed in one of her booklets. So if the booklet is still in print, the directions should be available. You can email her at info@d-originals.com.
Q: Luv your show! You've totally inspired me! Where can I find a pattern for the fabric apples?
Carol: Thank you, I'm so pleased that you enjoy the show, and better yet that we have inspired you, but oh my goodness! We have done almost a thousand shows and approximately 3000 projects, so I need more of a clue when you ask for a pattern for fabric apples, my memory being perhaps not as sharp as it could be, or should be.
Q: Is it possible to have the show on TV in Holland? Since my parents left the US, I am not able to see you on video anymore. a shame
Carol: I suggest that you write to Viewer Services at HGTV, at comments@hgtv.com, and they will forward your email to the International department. We do know that HGTV programs are available overseas—I guess it's just a matter of bugging the local cable companies to get them. Good luck!
Q: Hi Carol! I love your show and all the scrapbooking segments. I love to see Suzanne McNeill when she visits too. She's my publisher! I wrote Punchin'2 and Punchin'7. Are you going to have more segments with punches?
Carol: First of all, good for you! Congratulations! I probably have your book, then. I'll go take a look as soon as the chat's over. More segments with punches? As long as Vivian Perritts is around, we will most certainly have more segments with punches. As a matter of fact, we just finished taping several more. Keep up the good work!
HGTV: Well, everyone, our chat hour has ended. Thanks for joining us today. And thank you, Carol, for spending time with us.
Carol Duvall: Always my pleasure!
