Media Mentions
The Studio on HGTV's Rate My Space - My Studio as Inspiration Space
Filming Day - HGTV's Rate My Space for Angelo Surmelis
Actually the filming took place in my studio in Missouri and Angelo, the remodelers, and I talked on webcam. That's how they film the shows. Angelo stayed in California and Dan Coffey traveled and filmed my space. But let me back track a little.
I really like interior design. I have the magazines to prove it. When I designed my studio I had a good time doing it and tried to make it look fun as well as functional. My daughter Alisha thought is looked good enough that she suggested I upload some photos to HGTV's Rate My Space. I thought that was a cool idea so I did. Little did I know. That was November.
A couple weeks later I got an email asking if I'd be interested in featuring my studio on the show as an inspiration space. In my head I said, "NO!" I have never liked being in front of a camera for stills, let alone moving pictures. But, something else made me say, "Sure." I think I said "sure" instead of "yes" so that there was still a chance at getting out of it. This was totally out of my comfort zone but the ball was rolling. And it rolled fast, by January we were done.
It took one day to film. Many takes. My fault, not Dans. At one point the Boyfriend said, "I think it's better if I leave." He had just heard me try to answer one question several times and it still hadn't worked. It was not Dan's first time working with someone that's nervous so he knew exactly what to do and say to get me to ease up and finally answer naturally. It went much faster and smoother after that.
The unexpected thing? I actually ended up having fun. That was a total surprise for me. It just goes to show that Dan was personable and professional. And I learned a lot just by that one interview.
The other unexpected thing? I didn't want to tell anyone about it because I had no idea what they would use from it or how it would turn out. I didn't want to say to everyone, "Watch this" and then be lame on the show. So I worried for 4 months how ridiculous I would be on tv. I should have know that they don't make it a habit of making people look like idiots (they edit those parts out) and find the better clips. The whole family was on tv. The studio was too. And so was I.
The night it was scheduled to air I forgot and almost went to the movies. Just as we were settling the details to go it popped into my head that the show was tonight. I think subconsciously I was still freaked out about what would be picked from the taping. I needn't have worried it turned out well. And amazingly?I'd do it again. I think.
(It's HGTV's Rate My Space Episode #306. It replays every once in a while. They gave me a DVD of it but I can't upload it. The tricky guys.)
I really like interior design. I have the magazines to prove it. When I designed my studio I had a good time doing it and tried to make it look fun as well as functional. My daughter Alisha thought is looked good enough that she suggested I upload some photos to HGTV's Rate My Space. I thought that was a cool idea so I did. Little did I know. That was November.
A couple weeks later I got an email asking if I'd be interested in featuring my studio on the show as an inspiration space. In my head I said, "NO!" I have never liked being in front of a camera for stills, let alone moving pictures. But, something else made me say, "Sure." I think I said "sure" instead of "yes" so that there was still a chance at getting out of it. This was totally out of my comfort zone but the ball was rolling. And it rolled fast, by January we were done.
It took one day to film. Many takes. My fault, not Dans. At one point the Boyfriend said, "I think it's better if I leave." He had just heard me try to answer one question several times and it still hadn't worked. It was not Dan's first time working with someone that's nervous so he knew exactly what to do and say to get me to ease up and finally answer naturally. It went much faster and smoother after that.
The unexpected thing? I actually ended up having fun. That was a total surprise for me. It just goes to show that Dan was personable and professional. And I learned a lot just by that one interview.
The other unexpected thing? I didn't want to tell anyone about it because I had no idea what they would use from it or how it would turn out. I didn't want to say to everyone, "Watch this" and then be lame on the show. So I worried for 4 months how ridiculous I would be on tv. I should have know that they don't make it a habit of making people look like idiots (they edit those parts out) and find the better clips. The whole family was on tv. The studio was too. And so was I.
The night it was scheduled to air I forgot and almost went to the movies. Just as we were settling the details to go it popped into my head that the show was tonight. I think subconsciously I was still freaked out about what would be picked from the taping. I needn't have worried it turned out well. And amazingly?I'd do it again. I think.
(It's HGTV's Rate My Space Episode #306. It replays every once in a while. They gave me a DVD of it but I can't upload it. The tricky guys.)
Speaking • World Family Policy Center Banquet Speaker

After winning the World Family Policy Center's art contest with Guardians of the Family I was asked to speak at the banquet for the international delegation. My remarks were about the allegory and symbolism I designed into the painting I did. It was about the traditional family and the importance of each family member. Some of the diplomats, opinion leaders, and scholars were from UK, India, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Africa and they took home prints of the painting to their countries.
After winning the World Family Policy Center's art contest with Guardians of the Family I was asked to speak at the banquet for the international delegation. My remarks were about the allegory and symbolism I designed into the painting I did. It was about the traditional family and the importance of each family member. Some of the diplomats, opinion leaders, and scholars were from UK, India, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Africa and they took home prints of the painting to their countries.