How to Tie a Scarf.......

How to tie a scarf.......or I could title this post, "A Star is Born"!  You see I've had this idea........... for a long time I've wanted to do a video on scarf tying.  I repeatedly hear from customers that they never know how to tie a scarf or what to do with it. Along with how to wear a shawl, it seems to be the biggest fashion challenge for many.  So I am always demonstrating ways to wear scarves and shawls.  After I do this the next comment is usually, "Oh can you come home with me?  I'll never remember how to do that!" (Does this sound familiar?)  So I've been on a quest to find someone who could film a video of me tying scarves.  I could then put it on my website and customers could watch it anytime and remember how to tie the scarf that they purchased.

So one day a funny thing happened. As I was in conversation with a friend who had just lost her job in publishing,  she was telling me how she was looking at new options and what she might do.  When I asked what she was exploring, she told me about a class she was taking at our local TV station.  Plymouth TV has this wonderful program where they teach classes on videography along with providing assistance to help students make their own films.  Can you hear the wheels starting to turn in my brain?  Excitedly, the next words out of my mouth were, if you need a project to work on, I've got one for you!  After explaining my idea to video me tying scarves she was intrigued.  (I have this added bonus that she likes my work and what I do!)

After thinking it over she e-mailed me to tell me that she had been thinking about the possibilities and much to my surprise was not only interested in what I proposed but expanded the project.  Seems that when she ran it past PACTV they were interested in doing a series of shoots and putting them on the TV. Oh my gosh!  "Moi" on TV!!!!!! Of course immediately I started thinking, they say you look 10 pounds heavier on TV. Yikes!!!!!!!!! How fast can I loose some weight!

So Robin and I began to plan the project, what we would film, when we would do it, and how we would go about it. We started filming in May and met on Tuesday's as often as our schedules allowed and by the end of summer the filming was complete.  Not only had we filmed tying of scarves but also the weaving process, studio set up, and an interview, all to be aired on our local TV station, PACTV.

After Robin did the editing, corrections, and adjustments (I'm sure these are not the technical terms), the video was ready to be aired.  The first showing was this past Sunday, October 21.  The reality of it being on TV didn't hit me until the first frame appeared with the title "Scarves in Motion" and there I was talking to viewers about how to tie a scarf!

I don't know how many people saw it.  It is a small TV station and viewing audience but I couldn't believe I had actually done it and I have to say it looked pretty good!  (And no I didn't loose any weight before it aired.)  My husband thinks I came across with the presence of an HGTV host!  I may be hard to live with after this!!!!!!!

In case you missed the show and live in the Plymouth, MA area, tune into Comcast 13 or Verizon 43
at 8pm on one of the following Sundays - 10/28, 11/4, and 11/11.  Let me know what you think.  I'll be waiting to hear from my adoring fans!!!!!!!!!! :-)

      

Thanks to Robin MacFarlane and PACTV for making this experience a possibility. You are awesome!

Creme de la Creme Models

Scarves by Judy Connor Jones

When I was in college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, I joined Tri Sigma sorority.  During those college years it was the women of this sorority that were my support system.  They nurtured me in all aspects of life as one knows it on a college campus.  They encouraged being philanthropic, gave advice when needed, and supported high academic achievements. But it wasn't all serious. Spending time in the suite on Friday nights for "Chef's Surprise" was always a great way to relieve the stress of the week.  Creativity abound as we took turns being the "Chef" of the week.  The menu was always hush, hush until you entered the suite.  Tuna noodle casserole (remember that?) was always a favorite!! Also on the lighter side was running back to the suite after classes to watch a "campy" little soap opera called  "Dark Shadows".  Oh how we loved watching together as we booed and hissed and felt sorry for Barnabas Collins.  Since this soap was broadcast live there were aways the inevitable "live bloopers".  Technicians would appear creeping slowly in a lowered position in front of the camera as if no one could see them. Or trees in the set would fall over when one of the actors would lean against it. We had such fun looking for these mistakes.

After college and we all went our separate ways, a group of us remained in touch.  We traveled together to The United Kingdom and through Europe. We were in each other's weddings. We celebrated and welcomed each others additions to our families. And now we grieve together as we deal with aging parents and the outcome it brings. Some of us moved farther away but we always stayed in touch.  We had a tradition of trying to get together at least once a year for a "sister" reunion. We named ourselves "Creme de la Creme" (tongue in cheek, of course!)

The last reunion of Creme was 2006. Our lives have taken directions that have prevented our getting together. When the movie "Dark Shadows"  came out, the e-mails started flying!  Remember when? Who went to the suite to watch the soap?  Wouldn't it be fun to see the movie together? One thought led to another and then Creme 2012 was in the works!

So last weekend I flew out to Ohio to be with my dear friends who I have not seen for a long time. Amazing how even though it has been 6 years, it was like the other day when we all were together. These women are the ones who, besides my family, know me better than anyone else! We have a lot of history together. So how did the weekend go?

The Inn at Dresden

For starters shortly after we arrived at The Inn at Dresden, Dresden, Ohio (former home of the Longaberger Basket founder) a terrific storm came up.  The sky got very dark, it started to rain heavily and tornado force winds blew furiously, over turning furniture, blowing shingles off the roof, and knocking down trees. A PVC pipe went flying from somewhere on the Inn and I expected to see Dorothy and Toto flying by with it!  And then it happened!  The lights went out! All electricity went out! The AC went out (90+ degree temps). The pump which ran the well went out!  You know what that means?  No water to flush a toilet or shower or anything! And champagne wasn't going to help this situation a whole lot!

So we lit candles and said, we can deal with this. It will only be a few hours (maybe........)!  OK it wasn't too long before we realized that it might be days! So our gracious Inn Keeper helped us find other lodging which wasn't an easy task as half a million people in central Ohio were without electricity.  Thank you Burke for finding 5 of the last 7 rooms left at the Hilton Inn Express - in - wait for it - ZANESVILLE, OHIO, home of the Y Bridge.

So we made a caravan down the road to Zanesville, with stop lights out and all manor of debris and destruction along the way.

We were sooooooooo thankful to have a place to stay and soooooooo thankful to Burke for finding it for us.  If you are ever in Dresden Ohio, stay at The Inn at Dresden and tell Burke I recommended it. I'm sure he will remember the group of women who were having the reunion that weekend!

So once we were settled into the Hilton, the weekend could begin. One thing about this group is we love to do something crazy and silly and just be girls again!  Knowing how much they love to "ham it up", I asked them if they would help me out and model some of my scarves while I took pictures.  I wanted to get photos of average ordinary people wearing my scarves so those interested in my work could see them worn by someone other than a model.  And believe me this group is not camera shy!!!! So ham it up they did! They were the perfect models. Thank you my dear Sigma sisters.  You did not disappoint!!!!

  

Habitat for Humanity Auction Update

Friday night the Habitat for Humanity "Salvage Art" auction was held in the Plymouth Center for the Arts.  Many artists participated in the challenge to take something from the Re-Store and make it into a work of art.  I have to say that the artist's came through on the challenge. Some pieces were more creative than others but on the whole the center was filled with wonderful art.  Habitat for Humanity is a great organization.  It is a global organization and it provides affordable housing for families who are in need.  Families do not just receive homes gratis.  There is an application process and review that occurs.  They must be able to pay back an interest free loan and they must put at least 250 hours of "sweat equity" into the building of the home. Habitat states it as "providing a hand up rather than a hand out".  Two of the families were at the auction and it was heart warming to hear their appreciation for this gift.  If you want to know more about Habitat for Humanity go to  http://www.habitat.org/.

I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the featured artists for this event.  The article was published online by The Patriot Ledger, a Boston newspaper.  Here is the link, http://bit.ly/maT7et I thought it was very well written and thank Teresa Dollfuss for writing such a great article.  As a side note, I discovered that her mother has family who live in Lewistown. PA where I spent my teen years. It's a lovely small town in the mountains of central PA. (Actually it seemed like a small town when I lived there but I think it might be bigger population wise than Plymouth where I live now.) It's rare to find someone who actually knows Lewistown let alone has relatives there and lived, herself, in a nearby town.  We discovered that we frequented the same pizza parlor, the best in town! Small world for sure!

So here are the photos of the finished pieces that Mike Ritter of Ritterbin photography took. (See post of http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-shoot-of-habitat-pieces.html  to read about the photo shoot)  He took some great shots.  Thanks, Mike.


Front view "Warm HeARTs Make a Home"
by Judy Connor Jones




Back view "Warm HeARTs Make a Home"
by Judy Connor Jones  

    



"The Cottage"
by Judy Connor Jones



 "Beach House"
by Judy Connor Jones




Detail of "Beach House" 

  Once again I want to thank all the people who donated aprons for this project.  You made this a very special project.   I  received a few stories related to the aprons.  One woman wrote: "As long as I can remember my mother always wore some kind of an apron while doing her cleaning and cooking. In case company comes, just take off the apron, you always look clean and proper, she used to say". Another friend wrote," My mom spent a lot of time in the kitchen - she loved to cook.  She always wore an apron over her 'house dress'. She spent alot of time planning and preparing our evening meals. She passed away 2 months before her 90th birthday" and  "I know she would have been happy with your project. She was a woman of great faith and the thought that something of hers would be used for the less fortunate would be something she would totally agree with. She was always generous whenever there was a need".

The "Warm HeARTs Make a Home" piece is still available. It did not sell at the auction.  Unfortunately there were more art pieces at the event then art collectors or philanthropists.  The piece is valued at $1400.  I don't know what Habitat is planning on doing with this piece.  If you are interested in this piece and making a donation to Habitat, you can contact the local Plymouth chapter at info@hfhplymouth.org or call 508-866-4188.

All work is copyrighted by Judy Connor Jones, http://www.judyconnorjones.com/
All Photography is copyrighted by Mike Ritter, http://www.ritterbin.com/

Photo Shoot of Habitat Pieces

Had a great day Monday going to a photo shoot.  I was having the all the pieces of the Habitat Work photographed. I wanted to have professional photography of the work so that I can use them for publicity purposes along with good documentation of what I did. The weather was beautiful!  One of the nicest days we have had for a looooooooooong time.

Photo shoots are interesting.  They take the coming together of several factors. The photographer has prep work to do in setting up his studio for the type of work he is going to shoot.  He must think about, to name a few, where the items will be placed or hung, what type of background will they need, what lighting needs to be set up, and of course all the paper work concerning agreements, fees, and licensing.

On the artist's side, all pieces must be ready for the camera.  I always take along things like an iron to get rid of creases that may have happened during transit, pins or clips in case things need to be fastened or hidden, and a lint remover to get rid of all those unwanted white specks that always show up in the camera lens!

Communication between the photographer and artist is critical. How are these photos going to be used?  Are they for printed material, publicity, craft show jurying, or just personal use?  Do you want full shots, close-ups, or both?  If a model to used there are a whole other set of considerations. I talked briefly about this in an earlier post http://studiojottings.blogspot.com/2010/04/photo-shoot.html.  All these factors make a difference in how the pieces will be shot.

I can't emphasis communication with the photographer enough! If communication between you and the photographer is not a two way street you may be disappointed in your results.  Take the time even in the middle of the shoot to make sure the photos are what you want.  Work with the photographer's limitations but also make sure that you are getting the shots you need.

OK, the fun part is watching how this all takes place.  It is a dance between photographer, work being photographed, model if present, and you.  Have fun at it! 

I took a few pictures of the photo shoot at Ritterbin Photography in Boston. Mike Ritter is the photographer.

If you are looking for a photographer, I highly recommend Mike.  Check out his website at http://www.ritterbin.com/.  I always enjoy working with Mike.  He brings a lot of his creativity to the table.  Thanks Mike.  I'm looking forward to getting the CD of the photo shoot.

Photo Shoot

Every few years I need to invest in good photography of my work. Since I enter juried shows it is a must to have photography that best represents my work. When I first started out selling my work in 1990, I was lucky enough to get into a well known local show in Rochester, NY with just photos I had taken. As the competition for spots in shows increased, that no longer was enough so I made a trade for photo shots with a friend and amateur photographer and a local high school girl who was an aspiring model. She received the experience and modeling shots, my photographer friend received fashion photography experience, and I received photo shots of my work for juring into shows. That all worked for a while, but then I realized how many times people were attracted to the model who was beautiful, young, and always smiling into the camera. I don't know how many times I was asked if she was my daughter! While I would have loved to claim her as my daughter (I have 2 boys!) I wanted people to notice and remark about the clothes! I was beginning to learn that professional or semi professional shots are complicated!

To make this story short, it is time for new photography of my work. On Tuesday I went into the South End of Boston with assorted pieces of my work (many new items) and had a 4 hour photography session. The photographer I am working with is very good. I discovered him at a show I did in Boston last Nov. I've been working with him to develop his skill in the juried show photo area. These shots are different than just a straight product shot. They require a background which makes the object pop while not creating a stark glaring difference. The shots must help the jury focus on the work.

The model we hired was great. She too must be able to show the clothes to their best advantage even when they are a size too big! Both of these people must work well together and between all 3 of us we bring suggestions and expertise "to the table". I would definitely work with both of these people again. It was a fun long tiring day but I received some great images of my work and made some new friends.

Thanks, Mike and Jessica. It was fun working with you.

Here are a few images from the photo shoot.

Photography Credit: Mike Ritter, http://www.ritterbin.com/

Model: Jessica Hansen http://www.jessicahansen.com/

All work on this blog is copyrighted.

Exciting Things Are Happening!

Exciting things are happening! Last week I had a photo shoot for a magazine article which will be on handmade fashions and accessories. A reporter for "South Shore Living Magazine" contacted me and interviewed me about my work and the pieces that I make. The photo shoot included 4 other artists. It was great fun as we posed for the camera! There was even an art director setting the poses! I realized that this is why I hire a model to photograph my clothing as I do not do that well! The article will be in the November issue and I can't wait to see it. This is the first time I have been included in a magazine article. Look for it if you live in the Boston and South Shore area.

Exciting thing #2: My work was accepted into the inaugural exhibit of "The Guilded Tulip" in Lancaster, PA. This is the new home of the Pennsylvania Guild of Designer Craftsmen of which I am a juried member. They are located on Gallery Row which is a new art initiative in Lancaster. The opening for the exhibit was September 5 at which time the Mayor of Lancaster welcomed the Gallery and the Guild. You can see more info on their website, http://www.pacrafts.org/. Check it out! Even better, if you live near Lancaster, PA go visit the gallery. Let me know what you think on the comment page of my blog.

Exciting thing #3: Two of my pieces were accepted into the Plymouth Art Guild Annual Tent Show in Plymouth, MA. Out of over 500 entries, 200 were accepted. The show is on until Sunday, September 21. It is under the tent on the Training Green in town. Check out show info on the guild's website at http://www.plymouthguild.org/ and all you Plymouthians, go visit the show!





















Shrug: "Tribute to the Women of Jane Austen"


8S Point Twill Variation Tencel Scarf
My next show is "The Festival of Fine Craft" October 4 & 5 at Wheaton Arts in Millville, NJ. This is a fabulous show and I love doing it. The website is http://www.wheatonarts.org/. Hope to see you there!