a couple of years ago i was out of town for a long weekend and came back to an inbox full of emails. of course there was lots of spam to weed through. there was one from someone at martha stewart dot com. i had never received email solicitations from them before and thought how did i get on that list? i was about to erase it but something compelled to go ahead and open it up. the message was "(a friend) of yours suggested i call you about your work. i checked out your website..it's beautiful! i'd love to talk to you about our show". i thought it was a joke. it wasn't.
the next day while i was shopping at my crappy but favorite target in eagle rock i got a call from one of her producers. i wheeled my shopping cart over to a quiet corner of the store and we had a very nice conversation. there i was trying to act cool with a cart full of toilet paper while talking to someone from martha.
i then sent some samples of my work and a little audition tape of myself. i kept trying not to get too excited or hopeful about the whole thing. appearing on martha was never a goal or anything that i even daydreamed about. i thought that it was an accomplishment to be contacted by them in the first place - an achievement even it it went no further than that.
finally my work was pitched to martha herself. i'm told she really liked my work. but she thought my projects weren't quite right for the show at that time. i'd be lying if i told you i wasn't crushed. but like i said just to get as far as i did was pretty darn cool. the producer encouraged me to send more samples for the following season and to stay in touch.
i sent some more samples last fall. about a month ago not having heard anything i emailed to ask for my samples back. the response i got was that they would prefer that i pick them up in person when i was there for the show - nothing for sure yet but it was looking very good. eek!
then last monday i got word that it was probably on. on wednesday i was working with a client and doing some running around and had just a few minutes to check my email in between stops and there it was - i was confirmed! i would be lying to you if i said that i didn't sit there completely speechless for a few moments. there you have it. who knew that the stuff i make and the vintage crafts i blog about might be of interest to daytime television viewers?
i know the day that the show tapes but not when it airs. will keep you posted. i have so much to do between now and then.
one bittersweet note to all of this is that i will be taping the show just one day short of the first anniversary of my mother's passing. fran was not much of a fan of martha (and by that i mean she was not into reading craft magazines or watching how-to shows) - she preferred to do her own thing and come up with her own craft projects. so i'm not too sure what she would have thought of this whole thing (other than telling me not to wear all black and to hold my stomach in) but i think deep down inside she would have been proud that her kid was going to appear on television and make some crafts.
it's about time! :)
Posted by: kelly | February 20, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Wow, that's so exciting! Congrats :-D
Posted by: Christina @ Pardon my Vintage | February 20, 2009 at 04:16 PM
right on. what a great story. i love the last bit about your mother.
you're gonna be great!
Posted by: bethany | February 20, 2009 at 04:33 PM
How exciting. Congratulations. I can't wait to see the episode!
Posted by: Natalie | February 20, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Wow, Cathy - I can't wait!!
Posted by: jennifer w. | February 20, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Cathy-- That is SO exciting-- You don't know this, but I've been a closeted fan of your blog for a couple of years now....(Keith Wagner led me...) You turned me on to Lucia Pierce and Sister Corita among MANY others-- not to mention how many of your images that end up in my "Dream Book"! (and I'm tough) I've met Martha once -- we chatted in line at an Antique store in East Hampton-- Got along so well we walked to our cars together--- helped her load some iron garden chairs into her truck! I just acted like I didn't know that she was Martha -- it worked! At any rate-- am so happy for you!!
Take Care-- With Fondness, Tom (Early)
Posted by: Tom Early | February 20, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Yay!! How fun! Congratulations and good luck on your upcoming appearance. Another blogger I regularly read (http://www.fogandthistle.com/) is going to be on Martha soon. It's fun to see you guys in the flesh!
Posted by: Elise C | February 20, 2009 at 07:30 PM
Way to go, Cathy!
Posted by: Anna R | February 20, 2009 at 08:05 PM
OMG! That. Is. So. Awesome!
Posted by: Maitreya | February 20, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Congrats! (and isn't it funny how cell phones now lead us to have important conversations in very *odd* places.....I have gotten a lot of work phone calls while in that same Eagle Rock Target.
Posted by: Alison Marie | February 20, 2009 at 11:19 PM
SWEEEET! congratulations, and have fun with the taping!
Posted by: shawnee | February 21, 2009 at 07:36 AM
How wonderful! Now that's what I would call a "good thing." LOL!
Posted by: Mary | February 21, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Yay, Cathy! I'm so happy for you. Can't wait to see your episode!!
Posted by: susan | February 21, 2009 at 08:06 AM
What a thrill! I'll be watching for sure. By the way - I'm a friend of Tracy Hood's and she keeps telling me to say hi, so, hi! Love your blog!
Posted by: Alissa | February 21, 2009 at 08:41 AM
I'm so excited for you! Congrats. Chloe and I can't wait to watch you on Martha!
Posted by: Natalie | February 21, 2009 at 06:04 PM
You go, girl! This is awesome.
Posted by: lorrwill | February 22, 2009 at 08:02 PM
I am delurking in honor of this special occastion.
CONGRATULATIONS! Can't wait to watch you!
Posted by: ModernGearTVTamara | February 24, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Congratulations, Cathy! What an accomplishment!
Posted by: Holly | February 25, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Victoria | February 26, 2009 at 07:29 PM