"The Victorian Woman"

#160 "Culture and Clothing...The Victorian Era" September 13, 2010

Back from our summer break and starting off the new Fall Season with the fabulous Brooke Stanton ( our last guest in the Spring Season).
We had decided to do a series of programs about women's clothing how it reflected their place in society. On this evening...we shot the Victorian program and one about the Roaring 20's.
We welcomed a brand new crew member too...Linda Talanian. She spent her first evening with us on camera. You can see her here with Jonathon learning the ins and outs of a studio camera... and she did a great job.
This picture of the set made it clear to me that it is well past time to replace the host's chair...getting pretty seedy looking. It spent the first 50 years of its life in a courtroom so perhaps it is time for retirement.
Our station manager was on hand that evening...but as you can see...she won't be for much longer. Amy is waiting for the birth of her twin sons later in the fall. Since I am writing this in January...I can tell you that she had two healthy and beautiful boys and will soon be back with us on Total Woman shoot evenings.
After a half hour of GREAT talk about the Victorian era and some terrific authentic costumes to view...Brooke decided to fit our Emma with the latest in Victorian wire undergarments. She had a good time with it!
The crew for this shoot...starting with the back row, left to right...Katlyn Doren, Catrina Bruyn ( director), Elizabeth Lowry ( make up artist ), Dorothea O'Regan, Linda Talanian. Front row...Emma Lowry, Brooke Stanton ( guest), Cheryl Webb Scott (host).

"Who needs Calvin & Vera?..We have Brooke!

159 "The Costume Designer" June 14, 2010

What can I say about Brooke Stanton after I say "Fabulous".
I met Brooke at the first year birthday party of my godson, Xander. Brooke was Xander's mom's, Amy, dear friend...have I lost you already? We met at the party and before you know...we were talking The Total Woman! (That's a language well known to all women)! We had such a great time discussing costuming for specific historic periods... designing for the movies and theatre and how clothing told so much about the culture of the time...and just like that...a series was born!

Brooke made her debut with us a few months later and everyone in attendance had a terrific time... learned a lot...had tons of questions...and definately wanted to hear and see more!
So we made plans to insure that we all got our wish.

Now we are looking forward to the next installments when Brooke will be telling us all about the different styles and periods in fashion history. I can't wait! This is one of my all time favorite subjects and I think Brooke is quite capable of making it one of yours too! Be sure to stay tuned...it's going to be a colorful and exciting ride!

"A Tribute to our Wonderful Sarah"

"Saying Good Bye to Sarah"...Late 1990's to the Present Day

Meet Sarah MacLean...later to be Sarah MacLean DeWitt. She started as a crew member on The Total Woman while she was in high School. She was a quick study and became very skilled very fast. She decided to go into Television Production and went to college to pursue that dream. At first, she wanted to be the next Diane Sawyer...but she soon found her nitch in the control room, behind the camera, and in the editing bay. By this time...she was directing TTW and working with numerous independent production companies while she was in school. Once school was over, she landed a job running the television studio at Brooksby Village in Danvers. The studio wasn't even built when she started her new job..and she make all the decisions that were necessary to get this brand new station up and running...including all the hiring. It was a gigantic job....but she took it all in stride.

Through all this....she continued to be an active member of the Total Woman crew...business appointments and Extreme Frisbee matches kept her away at times...but she remained one of the cornerstones of our little enterprise.

Then...a few months ago...she called me to plan a dinner together. We have been getting together for movies, cooking lessons, coffee breaks, and dinners out for as long as I have known her. This one was very special....she told me that she and Jon were moving to California...she had a new job....she was going to be working on "Dancing with the Stars"! Incredible news! And she was leaving in just a few weeks.

The first two pictures here ( if I manage to upload them properly ) are Sarah telling the guests and crew of The Total Woman about her plans...I love that last one...with her flashing that amazing smile!

So, Sarah, this is for you! We all wish you and Jon nothing but the best...because that is exactly what you deserve! We wish you well...we will miss you...and we love you!

"What is Hypnotherapy and what can it do for me?"

#121 "Hypnotherapy" 4/13/09 It doesn't seem possible....but it was a year ago when we shot this program with the totally remarkable Dorothea O'Regan! Not only was she a great guest...but she volunteered to learn how to do camera for the other show that evening, "Early Learning"! We were a bit short on crew...so both of the special guests rolled up their proverbial sleeves and pitched in to help! It was great! You can see Amy Palmerino, executive director of Stoneham TV giving camera lessons to Patti Freil Ledyard ( the other guest) while Irene Curran (technical director) and Catrina Bruyn (director) get things squared away in the control room. It was a scramble there for a while...but it all worked out very well.

Sitting across from Dorothea as she told all of us about the journey she had taken that brought her to the discipline of hypnotherapy had all of us spellbound for the whole 30 minutes!

We went out to dinner afterwards and had such a lively stream of conversation that we "closed down the place"!

One of the nicest parts of this evening happened when Dorothea asked if she could continue to come as a member of the crew! She has been a loyal member ever since. You can see her in almost all the crew shots on this blog. Turned out to be a very lucky evening for all of us!

If you would like to know more about Dorothea and Hypnotherapy...here's how!.....quantumhypnosiscenter.com

"A Totally Delicious Evening!"

#136 "Let's Talk Cakes!"
11/23/09

What fun to spend a half hour talking to Tasha Schlake Festel about her wildly imaginative baking sensations. It all started with her children's birthday cakes and quickly expanded to a business of originally designed cakes and cupcakes to order.

The diversity and uniqueness of her products are a delight to behold and an adventure to eat ( many have surprises inside like jelly beans or candy corn.

After all was said ( in the show) and done ( when we got to eat the display)...it was a thoroughly satisfying evening!

Want to know more about Tasha's creations? Visit her website at....

"There's a lot to know about Yoga!"

#153 "Yoga" 4/26/10 Saskia Bergmans...where have I heard that name before? No doubt it sounds familiar because so many people have told me over the past few years that I should have her as a guest. Then one day my friend Judy Higgins said, "You should have my yoga instructor on your show...she is fantastic!". Guess it was written in the stars!

We had a large crew on the 26th and there was another show being produced in Studio B. People everywhere! Saskia arrived early and made friends with the crew and watched Elizabeth do my makeup while everyone else was scurrying around taking care of business. Peeking through the glass, I could see everyone settling in to their stations while Catrina was sitting in the set holding up a card so the cameras could be white balanced.

Saskia and I took our places, the opening credits ran, and soon I was introducing the program. In all the excitement...I had not fully registered that our guest for the evening was a striking woman. She had a glowing smile and a quiet grace that seemed to change the atmosphere of the whole studio. The half hour flew by... filled with thoughtful conversation that was effortless. It was a wonderful experience.

When we all came together for the group pictures...everyone got a case of the giggles (as you can see here).

If you want to contact Saskia...www.studio-om.com

" A great talk with Katherine Clark"

#152 "A Woman in Politics" 4/26/10

I started hearing about Katherine Clark several years ago. She was a mover and shaker on the Melrose School Committee. Soon after...she was shaking and moving in The State House of Representatives. Concerned about education, looking to reorganize preschool screening and early intervention programs, school safety, and a long line of other issues...she was someone I wanted to know. Someone I wanted to have on the show. Problem...I didn't know her.

About a month ago, Peter and I attended the annual "Blossoms" event. It is a auction fundraiser for the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library and the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce...and an evening that is not to be missed. In the middle of a crowded and noisy room, Peter turned to me and said, "There's Katherine Clark. Didn't you want to have her on The Total Woman?". Reaching into my purse to pull out a Total Woman business card, I started towards her. As I walked away...I heard him say..."Go get her!".and that was exactly what I had in mind! She greeted me with a warm smile and answered simply, "I would love to do the show!". It was a VERY good evening!

Day of the shoot arrives and we learn from Katherine that The House is in session that evening and she will have to leave during her dinner break, drive to Stoneham to do the show, and turn around and drive back to Boston! And that is exactly what she did...and the show was great!


I want to thank the Ladies of the Crew ( and that most certainly includes you, Emma, at the ripe old age of 11) for doing such a great job of preparing everything for this shoot. Katherine walked in, sat down, and the cameras rolled. A very professional showing from the crew. You are the greatest! Thank you all again.

I won't spoil the content of the show for you...but I can tell you that you will enjoy getting to know more about her...just like I did.

You can also check out her websites ...
mass.gov/legis/member/k_cl.htm or staterepKatherineclark.com