It has been hard--I'm telling you--to keep quiet about this big announcement for weeks now! But finally I can tell you what I've been on about.
A television crew from the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric just left my house after about 2 1/2 hours of shooting and interviewing me in my studio! That's the juice. But the details are worth telling!
Back in the beginning of February I was contacted by a producer from CBS after she read my Quit Your Day Job article on Etsy. The angle of her story was going to be about leaving the corporate grind to start a creative business, and what role Etsy has played in helping make that possible. I didn't breathe a word on my blog because you know how unpredictable TV can be--if it fell through I didn't want to have to retract all my shameless yammerings.
Now, I am free to yammer shamelessly from the rooftops, however! The crew was here, the segment was taped and it's all quite official now! You might recognize the reporter, Richard Schlesinger from the 48-hours Mystery shows. Yeah, when he's not reporting on grisly murders, he's profiling young entrepreneurs specializing in handmade paper goods!
You have to know--I am really, really self-conscious about the sound of my own voice on tape. I can't even play back voicemails or answering machine messages without cringing. So I was really nervous about being an awkward tool. Make no mistake--there were one or two embarrassing gaffes, but I'm going to rely on sensible editors to keep me from looking and sounding like the dweeb that I felt like!
They filmed me working on design at my computer, cutting paper, assembling invitations and opening UPS shipments. They even got Darryl and Cooper on camera--after all, those guys behind the scenes are what really makes this little operation tick!
Oh, it was fun! What a thrill to see a big truck pull up full of camera equipment--right here in little Danbury, CT! Who knew Mew would make its prime-time television debut after being in business scarcely one year?
Onto that debut bit--I still have no exact air dates and times. The team is going to head down to the Etsy Labs to interview Rob Kalin as well, so it could be a little while. But stay tuned here for updates--I'll be looking for someone to Tivo it for me!
Holy cow!!!!! That is awesome - congrats, congrats! :)
Posted by: Sarah | March 03, 2009 at 03:45 PM
WOOOOOHOOOOO! Can't wait to see it! YAY Alyssa!
Posted by: Fog and Thistle | March 03, 2009 at 03:56 PM
YAY!!! That is SOOOO exciting!! I could not read that post fast enough, I think I need to read it again. OH! so happy for you :)
Posted by: Sarah | March 03, 2009 at 04:11 PM
I am so proud of you Alissa - you're amazingly talented and SOOOOO deserve this exposure. Much love.
Posted by: Julie | March 03, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Great! Good for you! am so proud of all you have done and you are an inspiration! Nx
Posted by: Natasha | March 03, 2009 at 05:03 PM
so happy for you!!! PLease let us know when! I'm gonna bust out the VCR and tape this baby!!
Posted by: hobocamp | March 03, 2009 at 05:11 PM
This is SICK! I mean it in the BESTEST of ways!!! HOLY CRAP GIRL!!!! YAHOOOOOOO!!!!!
Couldn't happen to a nicer gal. First Fog&Thistle.. now you- I'm surrounded by celebrities!
Posted by: Cicada Studio | March 03, 2009 at 05:14 PM
You ROCK! So exciting!!!
Posted by: nichole | March 03, 2009 at 05:25 PM
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! I am so EXCITED for you!!!!!! HOW MANY MORE CAPITALS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS CAN I USE?!?!?!?
Posted by: Angela | March 03, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Congratulations! Wheee!! This is EXCELLENT!!
Posted by: Liz (madeinlowell) | March 03, 2009 at 06:31 PM
Just saw this on twitter and had to pipe in with a WOW awesome awesome, SOOO awesome! That's unbelievable, I'm so happy for you! Yay!!
-jena
Posted by: Miss Modish | March 03, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Get out!!! Get right out!!! Congrats, that is so very, very cool!!!
Posted by: Clementine Cassie | March 03, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Are you on cloud freaking 9 or what????? That is so incredible!!! Congratulations - I'm excited that they picked you and that the whole "handmade" genre is going to seen on primetime TV! YES!!!!!!!!! Please let us know when it's going to be on!
Posted by: daisy janie | March 03, 2009 at 08:54 PM
SO EXCITED FOR YOU - SO PROUD OF YOU ... WHAT NEXT!!!??
Posted by: KARIN SAMPOGNA | March 03, 2009 at 09:58 PM
Good things happen to good people!!
Congrats! Juanita
Posted by: Juanita Barone | March 03, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Congrats! How wonderful for you. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the day that it airs. Wow...how exciting.
Happy Day!
p.s. I found your blog via etsy forums.
Posted by: Anni Kae | March 04, 2009 at 10:02 AM
That is SOOO amazing! Congrats! I can't wait to see it!!!!!!!! So deserved!
Posted by: Renee (aka UglyKitty) | March 04, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Congratulations! That's so awesome, and inspiring. I'll Tivo for you if you need!
Posted by: Kristin | March 06, 2009 at 03:53 PM
How awesome!!!!!!!!!!! congrats! I loved the chinese lantern invites you did for my sister's bridal brunch last July -- so happy for you!
Posted by: Emily S | March 07, 2009 at 07:31 PM
ooops, duh you designed the Cherry Blossom Parasol invites, not chinese lanterns. doh!
Posted by: Emily S | March 07, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Woooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
Posted by: Sunny | March 10, 2009 at 12:17 AM
This is awesome! Way to go!
I can't wait to see it!
Cheers!
Gabreial
Posted by: Vintage Indie | March 11, 2009 at 03:17 PM
That was so awesome! Do you know when it will be on?
Posted by: Bukola | June 19, 2009 at 05:09 PM