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.
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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.
Mindy
Love it.
Angela Giampietri
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!
Kristen@PrettySweet
Oh, yep, you should definitely have your own show. You're right - well done segment!
Maggie
ha ha that was great. loved it.
Blue
"Not now, 'cause I'm bathing, but soon."
I managed to keep from laughing out loud but that killed me. HA.
Julielorusso@gmail.com
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.
Karen
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
Amy Schmucker
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
Karen
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
Jacque Charwood
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
Jacque Charwood
So... I take it you don't wanna come thaw out by the ocean then?? LOL
Karen
Jacque - LOL. Who would look after my fish, my cats and my chickens?! :) ~ karen
Jacque Charwood
The bf?? Or.. you could bring them with... well... cept the cats... I don't think you want them to be Greyhound snacks... :-/
Karen
You have Greyhounds? I love Greyhounds. They're so calm!
Jacque Charwood
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!
Patti
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.
Karen
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
anita
Just had to write to say that I adore your spirit.
Karen
Thank you Anita. ~ karen
Sharon
ENCORE!
Karen
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!
Marina
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)
B.J.M
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!
Karen
Hah! You might also wanna fix your fridge and make some planter beds. Just for fun. ;) ~ karen
Deborah/ wholehearted home
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.
Pam'a
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!)
Julie shinnick
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
Emily @ NewlyWife
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!
Karen
Thanks Emily! I'm glad you finally found me! ~ karen
kim
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
Erica J.
The video tells me it is private. Dang...all that work to "steal" it and I can't get it to work.
Karen
Erica J.! Not your fault. MY fault. It's up and running now! Sorry. ~ karen
kim
Ummm Karen...It says this video is private. Do we need a secret password?
Karen
Crappppppp! I do that ALL the time! LOL. Sorry. it's ready for viewing now! And thanks! ~ karen