Our Featured Guest Star- Bobbypin’s Boardwalk

This week we are welcoming Jan from Bobbypin’s Boardwalk. Tom and his mustache were both particularly excited to meet Jan as she is one of his biggest fans. Which really helps out Tom’s self esteem. You see, he and I went to the mall together and some teenager asked him if he was the guy that was in Ashton Kutcher’s movie. The kid wanted him to get an autograph from Ashton and Demi. Poor Tom hasn’t quite recovered.

Tom wanted to set up the Green Room with a big southern buffet spread and since he heard that Jan likes martinis, well he wanted to set up a bar for her too. Since the budget at Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy Sitcom can barely afford Sprite, let alone vermouth and gin, I wasn’t quite sure how we were going to manage it. And have you seen the price of olives lately? Appalling! Fortunately, Tom called his buddy William Shatner over at Priceline.com and Mr. Shatner was nice enough to arrange a huge discount on Jan’s plane fare. Of course, Mr. Shatner insisted on coming over to meet Jan. Especially since he heard there might be Brunswick Stew and biscuits and gravy on the buffet. Bill is a huge fan of southern cuisine.

There was a slight problem when Bill and Tom went to Sam’s Club to pick up supplies. Mr. Shatner was immediately surrounded by trekkies begging for his autograph and Tom, who was wearing a red shirt, was mistaken for an expendable crew member and pelted with paint balls. Poor Tom hasn’t had a good day.

So let’s sit down with Jan a bit while Mr. Shatner goes and fills his plate at the buffet. Tom, you can sit right there next to Jan. She knows who you are. See?

Suzy: Tell me a little about yourself, your family, your other hobbies…
Jan: First I must say that it is so sweet of you to invite me to your sitcom. I just LOVE interviews and when I heard that you and Tom were interested in getting to know me, I told my staff to clear my schedule so that we could spend just as much time together as possible. Ahem, what’s that, Tom? Oh, yes, the question — yes, well then — I am married to a wonderful man, have three marvelous children and well, Suzy and Tom, today you two will both be my hobby. Hahaha. Suzy, dear, would you be kind enough to ring that little bell for another martini. Oh thank you so much. I just love these.

Suzy: When and why did you start blogging, and where would you like your blogging to lead?
Jan: Well, dears, I started blogging I believe last July – or was it August? Hmmm. I’ll have to have someone check on that. You see I was laid off, and after spending such long hours looking for another job and NOT finding one, well – I had just run out of people to talk to, so I just figured that on a blog, I could talk on and on and on, and no one would mind. So that’s just what I did. I get to meet new people everyday!

Suzy: Can you tell us a few things that most folks don’t know about you?
Jan: Well, Tom, you might believe this, but Suzy, you probably will not – but here’s the thing…Do you know that I have never had a manicure or a pedicure? Oh no no no – I surely have not. I have always done my own nails, and they are usually just painted the same color as my latest room renovation. Other than that, my life is pretty much an open book – I blog about almost everything. Now I did say “almost”, Suzy.

Suzy: Name a few of your favorite websites that you go to for inspiration.
Jan: I visit all of my followers’ blogs, and that’s where I get most of my inspiration. What lovely, lovely people. You know, Suzy, I wish they could have joined me today, but I just didn’t know if you had enough martinis made up, and I do love those martinis today. Tom – what else were you pouring into my glass? Oh, yes, just a tiny bit more, Tom. Thank you so much, you handsome thing you (hiccup). Oh bless my heart.

Suzy: You seem to do a bit of everything. And your website has an organized schedule. Can you tell us about that?
Jan: You know, Suzy, it’s funny that you bring that up.. On my last job interview, they asked me just what I did exactly, and that was just what I told them – I can do just about anything or everything…Listen, honey…, and Tom, you know it’s true – when you’re running with a couple of wild ones like Tom and me, yes, I see you winking at me, Tom, well – you just learn to do what you gotta do, isn’t that right? And that schedule thing – I did try that, and it worked for two days.

Jan: The only thing I’m absolutely positive about is the Boardwalk Bragfest. I insist that we have our Boardwalk Bragfest every Tuesday. No matter what else, martinis or no martinis, we will BRAG on Tuesday. Tom, what are you going to be bragging about on Tuesday, you sweet thing?

Suzy: Poor Tom. Ha! I don’t think he knows what to think of you! Since I’m kinda a crafty blog, I have to ask. Is there a type of craft that you prefer? You, know- the thing that you get so involved in that you lose total track of time…
Jan: Suzy, I just love your crafty blog, I love the things you make – did I tell you that yet? Because you are a very talented and crafty person and I’m so glad that you decided to do this craft blog. I mean I bet there are some crafty people out there who put together a science blog or a cat blog or a –well – a non-craft kind of blog and those kind of blogs just aren’t my cup of tea (hiccup) or my martini, for that matter. I do like to paint on walls and do BIG things. I like things BIG – Big art, Big Murals, Big projects. I guess that you get your BIGGEST changes with paint, so it seems that I always have a can open painting something. Tom, do you paint?

Suzy: Since my blog is also kinda a sitcom, can you tell me if you have a favorite television show or favorite star? Tom wants to know…
Jan: I think that Tom wants to know a lot of things by the way he’s winking at me. Well, that’s okay. You know Suzy, isn’t it hard to work with him? He’s just the cutest thing. How do you stay so focused on your interviews, honey?
Suzy: I think about baseball a lot. Ha!

Jan: I love to watch “Hoarders”. In fact, I never miss it. It keeps me on the straight and narrow so that I don’t “overbuy” at yard sales. Tom, do you have that problem too? I also like Project Runway – such talent.

Suzy: How do you make time to blog? I know first hand how time-consuming a good blog is. How do you schedule it all in?
Jan: When it’s something that you love, …no, no, Tom, I’m not talking about you now…just look at him blush. But – when it’s something you love, you find time to do it. In fact, most days it’s hard to pull myself away from doing it. Did you want me to ring that bell for another martini for Tom?

Suzy: Oh, I think both Tom and his mustache have had enough. Ya know, he was always a cheap date…anyway, I believe a crafter’s space tells a lot about them. Can you tell me about yours?
Jan: Well, Suzy, when I’m involved in one of my creations, everything in my craft room is positively destroyed. When the project is finished I spend days putting everything back in its spot. I simply cannot expect my staff to do that. Goodness knows where they would put it.

Suzy: Is there anything that you would like me to particularly promote? Your Etsy Shop? Any special tutorials coming up? Any sponsors? Giveaways?
Jan: Oh thank you for the chance to promote my link party, the Boardwalk Bragfest. The Boardwalk Bragfest is held every Tuesday and is just so much fun! I would love for everyone to link their projects to it. It gives us an opportunity to discover new blogs and meet new people. We just all get together and brag and brag and brag about our accomplishments and projects and have a wonderful time.

Jan: I’m currently working on a painting tutorial. I want to demonstrate how to repaint a room from ceiling to baseboards. I’ve also got a little tutorial on some brass trays I redid (allowing the brass to shine through), and –oh this will be so much fun – looking at designer rooms and discovering how WE can improve them. That’s a few of the upcoming posts you’ll be seeing, Suzy.

Suzy: Wow. I’m really looking forward to your upcoming projects! Your taste in room design is amazing and I look forward to learning a lot from you.

Suzy: Please take a moment to swing by Bobbypin’s Boardwalk and visit Jan. There you will find so many amazing projects, tutorials and decorating tips.  You will come away with tons of inspiration.  Jan, thanks so much for coming by! We were so thrilled that you made the trip. And you totally made Tom’s day.

Just so you know. He hates playing second fiddle to Bill. Of course it doesn’t help that Bill likes to walk around in a torn yellow shirt and talks…with dramatic…pauses. He’s a total lady magnet. At least he has been since he negotiated the “Captain always gets the Hot Chick” contract in the 2nd season of Star trek. But he’s not nearly as tough as he likes us to believe. I have it through very reliable sources that those rocks on Star Trek were styrofoam. Just saying.

Well it looks like Bill and Tom are setting up a game of pool, and since we are out of olives, it is probably a good time to close the bar down. Not that Tom and his mustache will notice. He’s always been kinda a light-weight. One more martini and I bet I’d have to carry both him and his mustache home. Of course, that might not be a bad thing…