As many of you know, I’ve spent the past 15 years hosting television shows in Canada. I’ve worked with Candice Olsen and Mike Holmes and a bunch of other people who are just as good, but who you’ve never heard of.
Hosting is what’s paid for my house, my car, all my clothes, landscaping materials, my food and everything else that needs to be paid for as a result of being born a human.
Blogging on the other hand has paid for exactly 3 trips to Dollarama and small bag of Crystallized Ginger at The Bulk Barn. Blogging couldn’t even provide me with the fixings for a roast beef dinner. What it does feed however, is my soul. Look! I’m getting all introspective and mushy. At times crystallized ginger is not unlike magic mushrooms if you get a good batch. Right on, man.
Every once in a while though I get a good television segment that does the same thing. Makes me feel good about the world of television and the programming that can be done. It’s so easy for something to go wrong in television. The host could be great, but the camera operator is crappy. If the cameraman is crappy and the host is forced to do something over and over and over again … the camerawork might finally end up looking good, but the host looks worn out and crappy. If the camerawork and the host are GREAT, there’s still the business of the editor. If the editor doesn’t have a great sense of timing the whole segment (or movie, or television show) is crappy. You see the point here.
Television can go horribly wrong. Really wrong. Embarrassingly wrong. Saved by the Bell: The New Class wrong. I sometimes watch feature length movies and wonder how they ever get made. Even bad ones. The amount of people who have to be perfect at their jobs in order for a movie to be made is mind boggling. And all it takes is one doofus to ruin everything. Every try doing a good job after an entire crew has eaten suspect shrimp for lunch? As the saying goes, You’re only as good as your weakest person or You’re only as strong as your weakest link … Or something like that. I wasn’t really listening.
Today I’m going to share with you a segment that works. There’s nothing mind blowing or revolutionary about it. It’s just good. It’s interesting and fun to watch and other than the fact that I really needed highlights in a bad way, my hair looks O.K. It was shot and directed by Denise Jones for The Steven & Chris Show. It was produced by Kelly Wray. Kelly is both talented and beautiful. Music video beautiful. I kindda hate Kelly in a totally non-hating kind of way.
Many of you weren’t able to see my segments on Steven & Chris when I did them because they only air in Canada and a few portions of The States. I’ve managed to steal a segment from somewhere to put on my site.
I’m pretty sure they won’t sue me for showing you this, but in case they do … you don’t know nothin’. Got it?
Update: Tragically on August 3rd, 2015 Chris Hyndman was found dead outside of the condo he shared with husband Steven.
Cheap Design Solutions
Steven & Chris Show with Karen Bertelsen
Karen from the Art of Doing Stuff does a segment for The Steven & Chris Show.
This was the first of a 2 part segment for Steven & Chris. In the second part I’m in studio with them, showing them how to make my personal fire pit. I do not have that segment for you. Perhaps now that The Amazing Race is over I’ll have time to improve my thieving skills and will be able to steal that segment for you as well.
This segment featured a lot of the things I’ve done around the house for cheap that I’ve already shared on the blog. In case you missed them and you want further instructions on how to do it all here are the individual posts on …
The Glowing Orbs (outdoor version)
Reupholstering a Chair with a Throw
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some crystallized ginger to finish. I’m losing my buzz.
I LOvE your hair. The other stuff was really cool too, but right now I am fixated on your hair.
Thanks Kika! It’s a bit of a mess right now. I’d just had it done for Steven & Chris. My friend Renee does it in Toronto. Platinum white bleach! ~ karen
I LOVE your humor and witty comments!! You are amazing on this video! Maybe you will get more TV appearance opportunities :D You are very entertaining and I would definitely tune into what you would have to say :)
Hi Jennifer! Thanks. I’ve actually been a television host in Canada for 15 years. I’ve hosted lifestyle shows, entertainment shows and done commentary. I’ve only recently branched out into the world of blogging. :) It’s much more fun! ~ karen
Karen, if those crappy cameramen ever tell you they’ll ‘fix it in post’ you smack him upside the head and tell them to shoot it again.
Otherwise the editor will be using a picture of the cameraman’s head as a dart board as they attempt to ‘fix it in post’.
Taryn – LOL. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a cameraman say “they’ll fix it in post”. The odd sound guy … but never a cameraman. ;) ~ karen
This is wonderful Karen! A great introduction to your blog, your sense of humor, and your fabulous house. I’m going to link this video on facebook.
Thanks Melissa! ~ karen
I need help! Do you have to use three shower curtains like I do?! Ours is mounted at three points. WTF. How does your tub look so good like that? Do you have any claw-foot tub tips? I’m so jealous.
Elise – I use 2 shower curtains. One for either side. Clear plastic. I love my clawfoot tub, but honestly, it always looks better in pictures for some reason. So don’t be too jealous! ~ karen
I love it! you are so funny and that sneaky cat was priceless.
Love it Karen!! You funny lady! :)
Britt – Sometimes I’m funny and other times I’m just “funny”. ~ karen
Cat thought it was being invisible…hahahaha..
Lovely Karen ;) You’re so witty. Love it!
At the risk of sounding ‘stalkerish’ I am completely, totally, head over heels, addicted to your blog. I am thoroughly entertained and schooled in each and every post.
I’m pretty sure I couldn’t have laughed harder at the bathing segment and the portable fire pit while vacuuming and chopping. (still laughing)
Any of you TV folks out there reading these comments…let’s get this VERY talented host back on television where she belongs! (Just make sure it airs in the states so I don’t miss a show!) :)
Thanks for the support Anne! Feel free to spearhead the campaign. Look up Anna Gecan at HGTV in the States. She’s a good person to start with. Maybe I’ll do a post with the email addresses of all the network execs. to make it easier on all of you. LOL. Oh. That might not go over well though. Hmm. Best to do it yourselves. Look for programming directors, heads of original programming and sometimes the person in the cafeteria has a surprising amount of pull. ~ karen
Loved having you on the show! So fun. But just a wee correction… Denise shot & directed, I produced it. Team effort :) Don’t forget about me KB. Haha. Xo
You’re right! Crap. Crap, crap, crap. Bad host. I’ll go correct it now Kelly! I’m so sorry. ~ Karen!
Karen, you are hilarious! When will you be on TV next – we miss you!!!
Thanks Wendy. I’ll be on TV again as soon as someone starts some sort of campaign. But like I said … I won’t do bad television so mention that in the campaign. (Hence the being unemployed for the past 9 months.) ;) ~ karen
Karen, you are so entertaining, and I love every idea you have. No joke, every single one. I agree with those other peeps…get your own show!
Thanks Rose. :) I’d like my own show based on the site too. But it’s not up to me. If it were … I’d have a show. Feel free to campaign to HGTV Canada or HGTV US. Maybe even W Network. :) ~ karen
I saw that stump table on Design*Sponge a week or so ago and have not been able to get it out of my head. Love it. Well, I love it all, but I can’t stop thinking about that table. Love the video. Your haircut is so great and fresh!
Did you paint the bathtub? How?
You cannot have my bathtub. No. Didn’t paint it. It came that way. ~ karen!
True story: after reading about the globe lights, I went to my local thrift store to get some, and they were ALL GONE. I frequent a number of thrift store in three different towns on a regualr basis, and so far, no globes. See what you did? Because of you, everywhere across the Pacific Northwest, homes and yards are aglow with globe lights. Except mine. Thanks.
I want your bathtub.
The good news is that you can get brand new ones at any hardware store, and they’re STILL cheap. :)
I think you should get t-shirts that say
I’M CHEAP.
Sell them and then become rich. but then you will have to get shirts made later on that say I’M RICH BUT STILL CHEAP, which isn’t very frugal. funny but not frugal.
Courtney! My boyfriend hates it when I refer to myself as cheap. He claims I’m good with money. Not cheap. Which is actually true. Cheap people give crappy presents and reuse their paper towels. I’m just good with money. But it’s more fun to say cheap. ~ karen
So funny! Do you take your fire pit on any dates? Might get in the way! LOL
Very cute segment. I didnt’ quite get it, but did you say you were Cheap?
Cindy
Love it.
Ah! The DIY fire pit! That is how I found you! And you totally do have an accent :) It was a a great segment. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, yep, you should definitely have your own show. You’re right – well done segment!
ha ha that was great. loved it.
“Not now, ’cause I’m bathing, but soon.”
I managed to keep from laughing out loud but that killed me. HA.
LOVE LOVE LOVEd this! You need your own shown everyday. You are soooooo much more entertaining than Nate!
BTW I did a post about that sheaf of wheat table you have (didn’t discuss it) I’ve never noticed it in your pix before.
Julie – I’d love to see the post on my (not mine specifically) wheat table. I got it at a garage sale for around $3! It’s not an Eames chair, but still pretty good. ~ karen
You get to work with Mike Holmes? He is my hero. Ok besides you, he is my hero.
BTW, love to hear your cool canadian accent. Course to you, I suppose I am the one with the accent.
I wish you were my neighbor, well you are in a long distance kinda way.
Love the kitty cat in the segment too. Give kitty a ear rub from me. Thanks for showing us the video. It was dearly fun.
Amy in Florida
Amy – Thank you! LOL, my boyfriend is going to die when he hears you think I have an accent. He maintains we don’t say out or house funny. I don’t hear it either, but I was once called out on it by Jerry Springer of all people, so it must be true! ~ karen
Can I drive up there and bring you to the ocean for a couple weeks? I mean… free room and board (and ocean time) as long as you help me decorate my pathetic looking house! :-P
So… I take it you don’t wanna come thaw out by the ocean then?? LOL
Jacque – LOL. Who would look after my fish, my cats and my chickens?! :) ~ karen
The bf?? Or.. you could bring them with… well… cept the cats… I don’t think you want them to be Greyhound snacks… :-/
You have Greyhounds? I love Greyhounds. They’re so calm!
They really are! Our “puppy” is getting ready to turn 4. I swear he sleeps as much as a cat! LOL *looks at couch* Yup! Feet in the air sleepin!
OMG! Are you the cutest thing ever?
I Love a good thrift store or dollar store too. HERE in this small town in South Louisiana, the Dollar Tree {where everything is a dollar} is by far the best store on the planet. Not so much about the money, more about the hunt or the challenge to turn a dollar into something spectacular.
I want to build a fire pit for myself and waiting patiently on “how to”….
You “Rock” Karen, so glad I found your blog. I have really enjoyed reading.
Patti! Thank you! I linked to the post on how to build a fire pit at the end of the post. Or were you joking and making a reference to the video? Uch. Sometimes jokes are really hard to decipher on the Internet. Just in case … here’s the link to the fire pit post again … https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-make-a-personal-fire-pit-for-cheap ~ karen
Just had to write to say that I adore your spirit.
Thank you Anita. ~ karen
ENCORE!
Well … they’ve finished taping for the season … but you might like this! ;) https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/experiment-opening-a-bottle-of-wine-with-a-tree-trunk ~ karen!
It’s very greateful when I check my e-mail at the morning and I see “The art of doing stuff” I’m in the mood inmediatly. Your sense of humour make me feel alright and your ideas are amazing. I love your blog, I really love, yes. Thanks for be there. Greetings from Barcelona, Spain.
(Sorry for my bad english)
Karen your home and ideas are wonderful! Somehow though…as I couldn’t sleep and it’s 0450…I’m thinking of making a beet&pear&goat-cheese salad, ceasar dressing, brussel sprouts (I do em par boiled then fried with bacon and a sprinkling of orange juice, and eating all while relaxing around my Flame-glow metal fire box. Busy day ahead, so glad I got up early. THANKS ALOT!
Hah! You might also wanna fix your fridge and make some planter beds. Just for fun. ;) ~ karen
Inspirational and a hoot. Somebody should give you your own show….So glad you’re located over there and I’m over here I’d hate to have to fight you in a second hand shop for orbs… enjoy your crystallized ginger – I prefer mine encased in chocolate. Love your work.
I especially like the shot of you with knife in one hand and firepit under the other arm. Now, if you just hook a shoulder strap onto it, you can take it everywhere!
(Now, tell those Canadian TV people to get busy and film TAODS–The Series!)
Thanks Karen!
The only way I can get to see you ‘living’ ‘in the flesh’ is via your stealing! (borrowing??)
Just as well they don’t ‘transport’ people here anymore just ‘cos they stole a loaf of bread! ‘Cos I don’t know just WHAT they would do to YOU!
And I love love love the way Canadians say ‘out’ it is so cool! lol
xx
Snuggling with homemade fire pits is a favorite pastime of mine, too! Seriously, though, I loved the video. You’re a great host. Glad to have found you a few days ago. Not quite sure how I didn’t find your blog earlier. All the best!
Thanks Emily! I’m glad you finally found me! ~ karen
I love the globe lights! And it gives me a reason to go the the thrift store. Not that I ever need a reason…but it will give me something else to look for besides plates and cups. For some reason I always buy plates and cups. I have a lot of plates and cups.
Kim
The video tells me it is private. Dang…all that work to “steal” it and I can’t get it to work.
Erica J.! Not your fault. MY fault. It’s up and running now! Sorry. ~ karen
Ummm Karen…It says this video is private. Do we need a secret password?
Crappppppp! I do that ALL the time! LOL. Sorry. it’s ready for viewing now! And thanks! ~ karen