Art Unscripted

Carol Duvall's DVD

We are delighted to announce that we've solved the issues we discovered during our initial manufacturing run.  As of today, the fixed product is shipping.  All customers who pre-ordered an autographed copy of this DVD will be receiving their DVDs soon.

Speaking of autographed copies of the DVD, we still have a limited number available via our website.

We are already receiving some accolades for our new DVD.  You can read the latest product review on Cloud 9.

We also received a couple emails that we wanted to respond to here.  Apparently some viewers have mistaken the tall director's chair that Carol is seated in while she is greeting the artists as a wheelchair.  As a result, we have received email inquiring about Carol's health.  We are happy to report that Carol remains a strong and healthy crafter!  She did have some surgery earlier this year, but she is now feeling great.

Size Matters

A problem with our new DVD was just reported.  We always try to raise the bar around here...adding new features to our instructional DVDs that are innovative.  Some features are true innovations that we have never seen on any other DVD.  This time, however, we added a feature we have seen on other DVDs (just not in the Hobby and Craft industry until now).  We filmed in wide screen format.  This is the first time we have experimented with this format and we really like it.  Alas, an error was made during the DVD authoring process. 

Customers that view the DVD on a computer or a wide screen television are not impacted.  Unfortunately, and this is where we get to the "size matters" part...customers viewing the DVD on an older standard television screen do not have the same experience.  For these customers, the video image is chopped off on the sides instead of being displayed in a letterbox format (where black borders appear at the top and bottom of the screen).  We regret that this issue was not caught earlier.  Perhaps more people are viewing PageSage DVDs on computers and wide screen TVs than we imagined.

We are already working on manufacturing DVDs with the right fix.  This process will likely take about two weeks.  In the meantime, we will not ship more copies of the DVD until the problem is fixed.  After all, we want you to be able to view the DVD anywhere.  We deeply regret any inconvenience that this has caused.  We will have replacement DVDs available for any impacted customers. 

As always, we will keep you posted on the latest news...good or otherwise, right here on our blog.  Thank you for your continued support...heck, enthusiasm!...and understanding. 

Green Growing Pains

Thank you for the praise on our new packaging.  We are thrilled that today manufacturers have more earth-friendly options.  In the past, there were fewer options and they all came with much larger price tags!

Whenever you try something new, you learn things along the way.  On a good day, you learn something that makes you smile or makes you think.  Today we learned that we were experiencing some growing pains.  Literally.

Our new DVD is bursting with creativity and enthusiasm...and....well...as a result, some of the seals have popped off of the packaging!  This picture shows what we are talking about.  This is from an open case of DVDs.  To seal the folded card stock DVD case, there is a small clear perforated label on the side.  See how some of those seals have popped open?  We are now using larger seals that should eliminate this problem for any DVDs we ship.  We also have the larger new seals available for any of our stores that received any DVDs that may have popped open. 

This problem is isolated to the first run of product that was shipped last week.  We truly apologize for the seal that just wasn't tacky enough to hold everything together.

Carol Duvall's DVD Debut

We are delighted to announced that our latest title, Art Unscripted Retreat with Carol Duvall is now available.  Pre-orders are shipping this week.

And there is more good news...  Carol Duvall has generously agreed to autograph the first 150 DVDs sold via the PageSage website! (Fine print: Our online store automatically adds a date/time stamp to each order, making it simple to identify those first 150 customers.  Those orders will automatically receive an autographed copy of Carol's DVD at no extra charge.  Limit one autographed copy per household.)

This DVD also includes an exclusive peek into Carol Duvall's home studio where we wrapped up our retreat experience with Carol. This DVD also includes the features you've come to expect from PageSage DVDs:

Clear and up-close camera angles
Creative projects (over 2.5 hours!)
Interactive Gallery
Indexed Tips
Bloopers

There are seven different projects presented by seven different artists:
Judy Belcher
Sarah Hodsdon
Michael Jacobs
MaryJo McGraw
Magdalena Muldoon
Karen Elaine Thomas
Judi Watanabe

Right now we are busily processing orders, but next week we will be adding more images from this DVD to our website.  We hope that you enjoy watching this new DVD as much as we enjoyed producing it for  you.

PageSage Goes Green

Finally there is an economically viable solution that reflects the recycling we've done in other aspects of our lives for years.  PageSage is the first video/DVD publisher in the hobby and craft industry to go green.  This is an initiative that we have been working towards for quite some time, but all of the solutions we found were either cost-prohibitive or did not produce the quality that we require in our packaging.

Going green is more than just printing on recycled papers.  Sure, that is a great start, but it introduces other issues along the way.  Recycled paper is not white.  When you print on paper that is not white, you do not achieve the same vibrant color.  Some companies take the recycled paper and bleach it to make it white.  Wait a minute.  Bleach is not very earth-friendly!  Our printer coats the paper with a layer of white ink (and lets it dry) before printing color.  Speaking of ink, the standard ink used on printing presses today is solvent-based.  A greener solution is to use soy-based inks.  We found a printer that can do that and we were off and running...

Hmmm.  How will we seal the DVD packaging if the only components are cardstock and a single recycled plastic tray to hold the disc itself?  The first solution proposed was to shrink wrap it.  We laughed.  Shrink wrap?  That is not made from recycled plastic, is it?  No.  We found another solution.  (Each step along the way created as many questions as answers!)

The first DVD that we will unveil with our redesigned packaging will be the Art Unscripted Retreat with Carol Duvall.  What about existing titles?  (Well, it certainly would not be a green initiative for PageSage to discard a bunch of product that is already manufactured just to change the packaging.)  As our inventory is depleted on existing titles, they will transition to the new packaging.

Unfortunately, today recycled packaging costs more than its less earth-friendly counterpart.  We hope that someday the scales will tilt the other way as more and more manufacturers (and consumers) demand green packaging.  In the meantime, PageSage will absorb the cost.  We won't raise our prices just because we choose to do the right thing. (We thought you might like that news!)  Manufacturing with recycled materials also takes more time, but it is well worth the wait. 

Stay tuned for more announcements about Carol's new DVD, (shipping in a few weeks).  Going green just represents one new and improved PageSage feature for this DVD.

The Story of Stuff

We are big on recycling around here.  Go take a peek at The Story of Stuff and you may be inspired, like we have, to step back and think about the impact we have on this planet that we all share.  One stunning statistic...over the course of three decades we consumed 1/3 of the planet's natural resources!  Go watch the video to learn more. 

And then stay tuned to learn more about how PageSage is embracing some new green initiatives.

Millefiori Story is the Best Seller in 2007!

Polymer clay canes appear so complex and intricate...until you get a chance to learn from the best.  Judy Belcher shares tips, tricks, and stories as she demonstrates how to create your own gorgeous clay canes to use in home decor, jewelry, fashion and more.  We knew we had created something special with Judy Belcher when we produced Millefiori Story. After all, the minute Judy left our studios we were all itching to play with polymer clay. 

Today we learned that this DVD is the number 1 top seller for 2007 at Polka Dot Creations!  What makes this news even more noteworthy is that this title shipped at the end of September.  So, in just over three months, it outsold every other product.  Wow!  (See, Judy, we told you that you are a star.)

Thank you Judy, for sharing your creative journey with us.  We are so proud of the DVD we crafted together.

American Crafting Gladiators!

We were thrilled to be able to work with some incredible artists at CHA last month.  Our event, Art Unscripted LIVE was even better than we had hoped.  Today I was reminded just how much fun we had when I read Mary Engelbreit's blog where our event is the topic of the day!  It just goes to show that when you work with such talented people, other talented folks begin to notice.  The truth is, the best part of our world is the people we get to share it with.  Thanks Jen for making our day!

Back in the Studio

We are back from our field trip to Michigan.  We enjoyed our stay with Carol Duvall.  She is a wonderful lady.  In fact, she let us film a few segments for her upcoming DVD in her home studio.  Carol's studio is filled was treasures she received over the years from guests on her show.  It is a special spot...and we think it is pretty darned cool that we caught a glimpse of it on camera to share with you.

Art Unscripted has been quite a journey.  It began here in Pacifica.  Next stop, Anaheim California at the CHA show.  Then we ventured east to Michigan.  (This is the first DVD that has included a road trip or two.)  It has also been a creative journey...coming together with like minded individuals to raise the bar.  We challenge each other, learn from each other, and laugh together.  It just doesn't get better than that.

Every project we undertake begins with a goal.  Goals and dreams are what bind us together.  On Carol's DVD, we want to share more than a library of techniques in a singular medium (e.g., polymer clay, paper crafts, etc.).  This time we created a mixed media event showcasing artists who are experts in a broad variety of media...isn't that the soul of Mixed Media?  This DVD is more than an assortment of classes.  We explore creativity itself.  What happens when you provide the same set of base materials and instruction to a group of creative people?  Sometimes students attempt to mimic the sample artwork during a class.  At our retreat, nothing was further from the truth!  Each artist took what they had and added their own unique perspectives, color pallets, and interpretations.  The result is a diverse gallery full of ideas and inspiration.

Our differences are just as fascinating as our similarities.  Being able to walk across the frozen banks of Lake Michigan is the perfect contrast to a sunny walk along the beach today.  Living in all snow or all sun would be flat and boring.  Opening ourselves to and embracing the differences is an important step in any creative journey.

Off to Michigan

We are headed off to Michigan to visit with Carol Duvall.  We want to film a couple more segments before we complete her DVD. ;-)

Packing up a bunch of video equipment for travel can be challenging.  Our challenge for this magical mystery tour was packing up the tripods.  Our camera woman came up with a brilliant idea...which inspired us to visit the local golf supply store. 

I do not golf.  I never imagined that a golf store would have anything I would want to purchase.  Today I was reminded not to pre-judge things like that.  The travel case made for golf clubs is perfect for holding a bunch of tripods!  Of course, we did get some funny looks when we were out in the parking lot making sure everything would fit before purchasing the case!  And thank you to the kind soul that helped us finagle the loaded case into my car.

Creativity is about viewing ordinary objects with fresh eyes.  Today we experienced an intersection between crafts and golf that we never imagined.  Unexpected creativity...isn't that why we embrace art in the first place?

Art Unscripted with Carol Duvall trailer

We've put a new trailer for Carol Duvall's upcoming DVD, Art Unscripted™, on You Tube.  We also played this clip in our booth at CHA.  This DVD was filmed in a wide format.  Enjoy.

PageSage Theater

Once everything is assembled, a ton of freight is transformed into a vintage movie theater.  There is plenty of room to sit back, relax, and munch on some popcorn while you watch clips from our DVDs.  Art Mann (our artist figurine) is always getting into the act.  It looks like we interrupted breakfast with this photograph!

One of our favorite things in our booth is the artist gallery.  Every PageSage artist is asked to embellish a film reel tin for our display. We continue to be awestruck by their creativity.  Film reel tins have been transformed into everything from a shadow box and working clock, to mixed media collages and a purse!  It never ceases to amaze us when we watch artists who work with the same raw materials express themselves in such wonderful and unique ways.  Ever since our artist retreat last year, we have been receiving wonderful embellished artist figurines from our artists as well.  (You may have seen some of them in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine.)

Freight Returns to Pacifica

We were happy to have our freight from CHA return to our offices in Pacifica this afternoon. Watching them unload the truck, we were amazed by the dance and logistics required to get our skids off of the truck.

The first step was to position the skid on the gate of the truck (no easy task).  We gasped as we imagined the skid falling to the street.  But our trucker was quite adept -- juggling the freight, the hand truck, and the controls for the truck's lift gate simultaneously.

As he pulled away, we exhaled a sigh of relief.  Everything made it...nothing appears lost or broken.  Once we get everything sorted out and put away, it will be time to pack up our gear for another shoot.  For now, however, it is just nice to have everyone and everything back home.

Unscripted Artist

Art Unscripted LIVE™ was part The Carol Duvall Show and part Iron Chef...with surprises at every turn.  Sarah Hodsdon slipped on some ice back home the week before CHA.  As a result, she had a hairline fracture on her wrist.  But she was not going to be deterred. 

Who is that on Sarah's left?  That is Jennifer Cushman.  Sarah used her wrist injury as an excuse to pull Jennifer right out of the audience and have her help out during our creative challenge!  Carol is keeping an eye on this dynamic duo during as they crafted their little hearts out.

One of the fun aspects of this event is that these celebrity crafters worked side-by-side.  Here you can see MaryJo McGraw and Karen Elaine Thomas working next to Jennifer and Sarah.  Can you see that red paint on MaryJo's hands?  Their team didn't want to waste any time using a paintbrush during the challenge!

We had so much fun.  Our artists tell us that they were very nervous before things began...after all, they were not sure what to expect.  We loved the fact that they surprised us as much as we surprised them! 

Painterly Additions

There were a couple wonderful painters that joined us for Art Unscripted LIVE.  We knew we could count on Golden Artist Colors to volunteer a great participant, and we were not disappointed.  Chris Cozen is a talented mixed-media artist and part off the Working Artist program at Golden.  This is a sample of Chris' work from her website.  We just love her use of color and texture in her work.

If you are a fan of The Carol Duvall Show, then you will already feel like our second painter is part of the family.  Priscilla Hauser has been encouraging Carol to paint for years.  Her decorative painting techniques can be found in books, videos and workshops. 

We actually surprised Carol with Priscilla.  Originally Priscilla did not think she was going to be able to come to Anaheim for the show.  Right before the show opened, Priscilla worked her magic so she could join us after all...but we didn't tell Carol that.  She was delighted to find Priscilla was there.  We love it when we can help deliver a happy surprise like that!

Carol Duvall Wins at CHA

It was a wonderful evening.  Right after the CHA exhibits closed on Tuesday, shuttles began to arrive.  We boarded a shuttle and headed to the Disneyland park, California Adventure.  As the park closed to the general public, the CHA private party was ushered to the Hollywood Backlot area of the park.  The evening began with dinner and drinks.  After dinner, a couple key individuals within the craft and hobby industry were acknowledged for their contributions.  Carol Duvall is the first recipient of the CHA Lifetime Achievement award.  We were so proud to see her receive the recognition she so richly deserves...including a standing ovation.

Over a Ton!

Over a ton is a cliche. People use that phrase to refer to anything that is big and heavy.  Imagine our surprise when we learned that our CHA shipment really was over 2,000 pounds...2,030 pounds to be exact!  Whew!  Thank goodness for forklifts and an awesome crew to sort through everything and create the PageSage booth.

It is quite a magical experience...to transform an empty 10x20 foot cement pad into a vintage theater...all in a single day!  There is always that moment when you question whether or not everything will come together the way you had imagined.  Several hours later, you step back and realize that all of the planning and hard work made it all come together.  You wipe the sweat off of your brow, and head back to the hotel room to get some rest before the show opens!

We had an awesome show...and as we catch our breath we will share some photos with you this week.  In the meantime, we wanted to thank each and every person that shared this experience with us...from the crew that manned our booth to the artists that joined us for Art Unscripted LIVE...we are incredibly fortunate to be part of an amazing team!  Thank you for sharing our dreams.

Art Unscripted with Carol Duvall

It is almost here.  We sure hope that you will be able to join us!

Strong Stamper

We still have one thing missing in our artist line-up.  All of our celebrities are women!  Maybe we need a man to help round out the event.  Hmm... He would have to be a strong character... someone that would thrive if he was the only male on the team.  We also need an artist that embraces recycling in their artwork.  (You'll see that as a running theme during the event.) 

Michael Strong is a popular guest on The Carol Duvall Show.  You can also watch Michael's webisodes on TVWeekly.com.  With a rubber stamp or two and recycled junk mail, he creates elegant cards.  These cards are samples for a class he will be teaching in Yosemite this spring.  (He promises that this is a fun and easy painting technique that comes out great every single time.)

Michael is going to be a great addition to Art Unscripted LIVE.  We were glad we could get him before he leaves for a stamping convention in Holland.  He tells us that he will be selling stamps, doing make & takes, and learning Dutch!  (We hope he will stick with English while we are at CHA.)

A Real Gem

CHA is less than a week away and we are getting pretty excited around here.  Art Unscripted LIVE with Carol  Duvall is going to be so much fun!

Okay. So we have two of the best polymer clay artists in the country on board.  We also have some excellent mixed media and papercraft artists.  We've added a metal artist to the mix.  Maybe we need to bring in artists from other crafts to ensure that this is truly a mixed media event.  What about some bling?  Hmm.  We know that the Crafty Chica will make glitter fly... oh... I know... a jewelry artist would be great!

Enter Tamara Berg.  I am sure you have seen her work.  Well, maybe you haven't seen it in person... but with celebrites like Angelina Jolie and Lisa Loeb wearing her creations... you may have seen her work and just did not know it was hers!  Her jewelry is also available at Saks as well as other stores and galleries.  Tamara is a regular on TVWeekly.com and a popular guest on DIY. 

The spirit of Art Unscripted™ is that all art is about being creative and letting go... expressing yourself.  Experimenting with new mediums and perspectives expands our creative boundaries.  So when you put a group like this together... cool... unscripted moments are bound to happen.  We can't wait!