Just her voice and laughter makes me miss her. And, from reading several of the message boards on HGTV, DIY and several blogs, a lot of you miss her too.
If you're at all crafty or have kids who enjoy making things, you've heard her voice and laughter. And, you've no doubt been inspired by this amazing woman. CAROL DUVALL has been on television for 57 years (and her re-runs will hopefully continue for many years!). In our recent podcast interview Carol shared how she got started and how her career proceeded to find her as THE craft show on television, "The Carol Duvall Show."
I had the honor of being on her show a dozen times (and taping with her on the Shop At Home network) so I am especially fond of her voice and laughter - it not only reminds me of her show but also of some of the best memories of my life, taping this show with wonderful, welcoming crew and guests.
With 57 years of experiences, you would expect to learn a few things from this smart, fun, kind and creative woman. Here's a few LESSONS FROM A GIRLFRIEND, from our conversation with Carol Duvall:
* BE NICE - Carol is genuinely a nice person. She always made her guests feel welcomed and comfortable even when we were newbies and might mess up and have to retape. In the podcast, she shared how her father told her to always be nice to everyone you work with - and she did. Listen to her tell how she got her first network gig, on "The Home Show."
* SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GIRLFRIENDS - Kelly, Cherryl, Cam, Linda ... and so many other great women were on Carol's production crew. Each of them worked hard and were dedicated to their girlfriend, Carol. I love how Carol enjoyed these women as much as they loved working with her. She still gets together with her friends from the show like Donna Kato, Mary O'Neil and Karen Thomas. She also wrote her latest book, Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall, with her former producer and dear friend, Cherryl Greene. She gets the need for and blessing of girlfriends!
* HAVE FUN ALONG THE WAY - As Carol shares in the podcast, she would tape multiple shows in one day. This involved a lot of preparation and planning by her staff. At the end of often very long days, there often was time for fun. And who better to have fun with than girlfriends?! Carol and her crew and guests would sometimes go to dinner after a full day of taping. I was with her and several from the crew one night in Nashville when we were taping at Shop At Home. You know the beautiful women who host shopping network shows? They were with us (including Kim from Oprah's recent "Big Give" show!) - all of them could be covergirl models. But it wasn't the beautiful blonds that drew the attention of one man at the bar. He sent a drink over to Carol. He didn't know her from TV at all. He just thought she was beautiful and special. And she will forever be.
Carol, thank you so much for taking time to talk with me on the Girlfriendology podcast but most of all, my personal and heart-felt thanks for the treasured memories I have of being on your show and working with you and your great crew. Thanks for the creative inspiration that you've been for millions of us who find so much happiness, stress release and fulfillment from our crafty creations that we learned from you and your show. Thanks for your book, for your perseverance in the wild world of television and, most of all, thank you for your laughter. What a wonderful legacy you've lived - 57 years on television, countless craft segments and projects, and a world of creative inspiration. We're all so blessed to have you as our creative girlfriend!
COMMENTS FROM A FAN:
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Lessons from a Girlfriend - Podcast with CAROL DUVALL, the 'queen of crafts'!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Interview with CAROL DUVALL, our creative girlfriend and 'queen of crafts'!
Hey Girlfriends - I just posted the CAROL DUVALL podcast and wanted to let you know. I'll add more updates and 'Lessons from a Girlfriend' later today. (Including stories of fun times with Carol from taping the show with her!)
If you don't know Carol, you should listen in and get to know her. She's a living legend having been on television for 57 years! (That has to be a record!!) And she has a new book, Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall.
Listen in for this fun visit with a dear creative girlfriend who has inspired so many of us. And thanks Mari and Rebecca for your call-in questions!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
TIP TUESDAY #24: Hey girlfriends - what's your favorite hobby/passion?
I've heard that if you look back to your childhood, before boys had an impact or peer pressure was in it's teen madness, you'll find the things that you genuinely love to do. Maybe it was acting, drawing, talking, cooking or even dressing up. When we were eight to ten years old, we did whatever we loved - and why not?!
My mother is an artist so it is no surprise that I grew up doing crafts, drawing people in church, making sand art (a long-lost talent!) or other creative exercises. I designed the cover of my Jr. High school year book and won an award for a paper mache dragon that I made with a girlfriend. Is it any wonder that several decades later, I ended up in the craft/hobby industry?!
Last week I interviewed CAROL DUVALL for the Girlfriendology podcast. On TV for 56 years, this 'Queen of Crafts' is an amazing woman. She is a living legacy of TV history as well as the inspiration and teacher to millions of us as we learned new crafts and laughed along with her and her guests. I had the honor of being on her show a dozen times so I really enjoyed just catching up with her and having a conversation about our girlfriends on the show. And, Carol just wrote a book with the help of one of the girlfriends from her show, Cherryl Greene - Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall.
Recently I was asked what my favorite craft/hobby is so I thought I put it to you. This week's TIP TUESDAY question is:
What is your favorite hobby? AND who inspires you?
Carol Duvall inspires me. (And she will you, when you hear her podcast that will be posted on Wednesday evening.) My creative girlfriends Katie Hacker, Jill MacKay, Vicki Schreiner and Linda Peterson inspire me, along with dozen of other wonderful, super-creative women I've met in the craft industry.How about you? Think back to your childhood and what hobbies you could spend hours doing. Remember the pure joy of playing music, baking, playing with clay - whatever made you happy! What hobby do you love with a passion and who inspired you? Share with us. You might just inspire someone else to find a new hobby/passion in their life!
p.s. And Carol's book as well as several others are in the monthly contest so send in your girlfriend story!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Girlfriend questions or comments for NYT #1 author DEBBIE MACOMBER?
I'm humbled by the experience to talk with such fabulous, inspiring, busy and creative women on the Girlfriendology Podcast. I'm interviewing CAROL DUVALL in 20 minutes (and thanks to Mari and Rebecca for your PERFECT questions/comments - listen in to hear!). I just interviewed KATE JACOBS (author of "Friday Night Knitting Club" and new book "Comfort Food") - she is great! And, this Friday I'm talking with NYT #1 Best-selling author DEBBIE MACOMBER. (Yes, totally humbled!)
DEBBIE is the author of BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET, SUSANNAH’S GARDEN, A GOOD YARN, THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET, BETWEEN FRIENDS and the Cedar Cove series. She is one of today’s leading voices in women’s fiction. A regular on every major bestseller list with more than 100 million copies of her books in print, the award-winning author celebrated a new career milestone in September 2007, when the latest in her Cedar Cove series, 74 SEASIDE AVENUE, scored #1 on the NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and Bookscan bestseller lists. Her popularity is worldwide with her books translated into 23 languages! She is current on a national book tour for her new book TWENTY WISHES. (Which you can WIN in our June Girlfriendology Contest!)
WOW! I KNOW Debbie has millions of fans so I'd love to share your comments/questions with her when we talk on the Girlfriendology podcast interview on Friday. Please call 206-202-9005 with your question or comment for Debbie (before 8am EST on Friday, May 16). And come back in the coming week to hear our interview with this amazing, inspiring woman! Thanks Girlfriends!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Are you or a girlfriend a CAROL DUVALL fan?
Carol Duvall is the official "Queen of Crafts." Her show, the aptly named "Carol Duvall Show" aired on HGTV and DIY for years - and has continued in re-runs for even more years. (We just can't get enough of Carol!) I had the thrill of taping with Carol a dozen or so times - she's a wonderful and inspiring girlfriend!
On Wednesday I once again am thrilled to work with Carol! She graciously has agreed to talk with Girlfriendology on our (new semi-weekly!) podcast. AND I NEED YOUR HELP!
Do you (or a girlfriend or daughter) have a question for Carol? Please call 206-202-9005 (by Tuesday 8pm EST 5/13) and leave a comment or question for Carol. I'll play it for Carol when we tape the podcast on Wednesday.
One of the greatest benefits of girlfriends is what we learn from each other. What would you like to learn from Carol? Thanks Girlfriends! (Remember - call 206-202-9005 for questions for Carol or comments/girlfriend stories for future podcasts! Thanks!!)
P.S. And Carol's new book, Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall, will be one of our prizes next month in the Girlfriendology monthly contest. (We have too many books to give away this month so send us a girlfriend story in May and June and possibly win two prizes!)
Friday, May 09, 2008
Win a Girlfriend Birthday Gift in May Girlfriendology Contest!
This month is a BIG month here at Girlfriendology! We have more PRIZES than ever before to give out! Enter our May Girlfriendology Contest and just by telling a girlfriend story (about a Birthday - could be an event or gift you received/gave) you can win one of these great books:
REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. Kaira spoke with us on a recent podcast about how YOU are the secret to a successful career and life.
THE ANGEL by Carla Neggers - a romantic suspense novel. We had the opportunity to interview Carla for our latest Girlfriendology video!
NOVEL DESTINATIONS: Literary Landmarks From Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Joni Rendon and Shannon McKenna Schmidt who were our first two girlfriends AND guests from the U.S. and 'across the pond' to join us for a podcast interview this past week.
AND ... watch next month for free copies of:
COMFORT FOOD by Kate Jacobs (author of The Friday Night Knitting Club) - what a nice, sweet, caring girlfriend Kate is! She talked with us for an upcoming podcast about how much her girlfriends mean to her and how her girlfriends have supported and inspired her. (Plus "Comfort Food" bags!)
PAPER CRAFTING WITH CAROL DUVALL - We'll interview Carol for our podcast and hear the wit and wisdom from 'the queen of crafting!'
So, leave a comment with a girlfriend story (preferably this month on a 'birthday' theme), email us at ideas@girlfriendology.com or leave us a message at 206-202-9005 (make sure to leave your email address in your message). Thanks Girlfriends! We'd love to send you one of these PRIZES!
