Uncommon Threads: Episode One

Sorry for the time lapse between posts, but I was busy playing low budget crafty cable teevee star dahlings!

From the final minute preparations which began last Friday evening upon my arrival home from yet another grueling day at the Cube Farm, lots and lots of shopping fer new duds, a mani-pedi of course, cataloging, compiling and packaging up all of our step-outs for the show, to yesterday's 15 hour waiting, rehearsing, waiting, taping, waiting, photographing extravaganza (including early morning beauty substructure and travel to and from studio), I'm literally and figuratively, exhausted. However, can I tell you how freakin' cool it is to have the name of your blog/website carefully crafted on some happy and helpful production assistant's pc, printed out on another happy and helpful production assistant's laser, then pinned onto your dressing room door by yet another happy and helpful production assistant? That alone was worth all the effort put forth to get there.

Did I say happy and helpful enough above? I just want to reiterate how damn nice and sweet and complimentary and helpful and just well, wow, everyone was to Bri and me. If fact, the two of us were so drunk with love for our producers, director, crew and of course the genuinely good-natured and talented host of Uncommon Threads that the hideously 80's southwest-y dressing room decor replete with only THE best motel art available didn't bother us one bit!



It wasn't all glamorous though, believe you me. We worked our boo-tays off. Our day at the studio was both physically and mentally demanding. In fact, I believe that I may have a permanent case of Barbie feet. Not to mention the fact that my cheeks are sore from the incessant smiling. Then there is the fact that my right hand has metastasized into a size F crochet hook. Hell, at least that's useful, unlike THE BARBIE FEET. Oh, and I still believe I have a layer of foundation and powder on my face. I guess the stucco sponge I used last evening wasn't as effective as I would have liked.

With all that said, I'm pretty sure that I can speak for Bri as well myself when I tell you that despite the fact that we crafty chicas will be washing the base build-up from our faces for weeks to come, Bri and I gained a huge wealth of wisdom and experience by allowing ourselves to be a part of this process. The road to tube crochet was fraught with fear and anxiety. At times we found ourselves standing wearily atop the precipice of tears waving about our digits crippled from too much crochet. However, none of it proved insurmountable. We soldiered on, hands cramped, surviving and I venture, even thriving out there on the highly lit, energy infused set of Uncommon Threads, which was truly surreal.

Each and every time the Director spoke the word go we amplified our smiles and seemingly effortlessly led the cast and crew through our process of making. It was as if a puppet master was controlling the strings attached to my fingers and a witty and intelligent voiceover artist was detailing the thaumaturgy of the Monster Crochet process as I made my way through the step-outs of Miss Kendra's Cabaret Chapeau and the magical process that we've all come to know as blocking, all the time engaged in chatty conversation with Allison and Bri. I too watched in awe as Bri taught us to filet crochet, the puppet master guiding her skillfully about the hopscotch of mesh and blocks without a glitch. It was wondrous, a little bizarre and dare I say it, amazingly fun! Two hours of taping and we completed all that was needed for editing down to a 22 minute exhibition of cable crochetdom. Rounds of hugs, kisses on the cheeks and many a thank you were uttered upon completion.

Bri and I left the studio for the evening feeling utterly exhausted, yet oddly energized. We didn't speak much as we traversed the freeways home, but were in monosyllabic agreement that yes, we should feed our faces and imbibe margaritas. Holding our frosty cocktails in the air, still suffering from gratuitous grinning and feet ala Barbie, we toasted our crafty accomplishments and settled into hot steaming plates of tacos, rice and beans all the while knowing that we've still one show left to prepare for, but nonetheless content in the day's accomplishments. And I'll tell ya, it just doesn't get much better than that.