Sew It All TV...The Inside Scoop

Welcome to the set of Sew It All TV with your host Ellen March and her fabulous crew.

As soon as I walked into the studio I felt at home.  Can you see why?  Orange, orange and more orange. Orange everywhere and touches of lime green. Ellen even has the same orange totes I have in my studio. After a few seconds of gawking, it was right to work unpacking, prepping step outs.

I was looking forward to this magic chair, hoping it would transport me to the place where there are no bags under eyes, long sexy eyelashes, and flawless complexions, but alas there were no disappearing wrinkle creams or magic potions, so I had to appear as myself.

Angela was great and with a light touch she coiffed my hair and fixed my face (as much as this face can be fixed) and sent me on my way.

Kim, who is the go to gal for everything on set, helped me prep.  She threaded the machine and changed the needle (which I BROKE!) and showed me the ropes.  I spent a bit of time at the machine practicing.  You wouldn't think I would have to practice, but I am a creature of habit...sewing on my machine...no problem...someone else's...it's like I'm a teenage boy who took home ec just to meet girls and has never sewn a stitch.

The set was dressed with some inspiration from me.  Amazing that the sewing machine cover worked perfectly on the set!

Behind this table is where all the action happens.  Did you know that on TV you have to work upside down?  All the practicing I did at home, the step outs were facing me like I was watching TV...well, on set it was just the opposite.  Of course, makes total sense when you're there...at home, not so much.  Ellen was a terrific host, so at ease and supportive.  It's all a blur to me.  I think I did fine.  I guess we'll all be able to judge when the show airs.  Want to come over and have a watch party?  I think wine and salt and vinegar chips will be served! Or maybe I'll let you all watch it and you can tell me about it.

This is what you see as a guest on the show.  The crew, the camera guy, sound guy, etc.  The guys were terrific and turns out everyone of them had a Kansas connection.  They were either from Kansas, went to school in Kansas, or worked in TV stations in Kansas.  I couldn't have been more at home.  I got to know the sound guy the best.  You get to know someone fast when they have to put wires down your shirt and battery packs on your pants. Turns out that well endowed women are a sound guy's worst nightmare. Cords tend to shift more and don't lay flat like they should.  Double stick tape however, is a sound guy's best friend.

What you don't see is the director.  She is the voice behind the curtain, sort of like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz.  Most of the time when you hear from her, you've messed up in some way.  I heard from her.  Thank goodness I met her earlier so I could picture her smiling face as I heard the words in the headset tell me where to start over.

In a flash it was over and I was grabbing my suitcase and running for the Super Shuttle to take me to the airport and back to my everyday workaday world and out of the stunningly orange world of Sew It All TV.
The show is currently airing season two. My episode will be in season 3. Stay tuned and be sure to contact your local PBS station and ask them to carry the show!