A Candid Conversation with Jo Pearson
July 22, 2013
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| Joann (Jo) Pearson |
Today I had a great conversation with Joann (Jo) Pearson, former judge of
TLC's Craft Wars, the face of
Michaels and my dear friend Dawn McLaughlin's Mom.
Dawn and I became friends when we met at work several years ago. It was an instant friendship and we felt as if we had known each other our whole lives. We both love to make each other laugh and if you saw us interact in public you would probably think we were a bit crazy, but that's what makes our friendship so much fun.
And then...I met her Mom and got to know her, it was simply the cherry on top of our friendship.
I have only seen pictures of Jo's house, her pink zebra striped PT Cruiser and of course heard the countless stories Dawn would tell me about her, including the tree she has out in front of her house with red plastic chairs hanging from it...wait for it...it's her
chair ee tree! Before I even met Jo, I knew that I liked her! Jo is full of life, quirky, she tells it how it is and she is talented beyond belief!
Dawn has asked me on several occasions to go to Texas with her to visit her mom, and now that I have my personal invitation from Jo...I am looking into airfare! Can't wait to see her unique home in person and maybe even get in on a craft tip secret or two!
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| Jo in her pink zebra striped PT Cruiser |
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| Jo's Chair ee tree in her yard |
Today she gave me an inside look into her world...
Jo if you could describe herself in one
word what would it be? "Glitterific!" What would your friends and family say? "Crazy!" Dawn laughed and said "That's what I was going to say!" Oh I can see how this conversation is going to go. (all laughing)
Jo w
hat would you say is your most significant accomplishment? "When I was on Craft Wars. I really enjoyed doing that show." You were a fantastic judge on that show! You told it how it was and had a great sense of humor about things.
If you could do one thing over in your
life what would it be? "Oh my gosh,
Oh Man! I don’t think I have a good answer for that. I can’t say that there is any one thing except maybe a project from hell. But if
I have to say something, I think it would be having
my Gastric Bypass surgery sooner than I did." How much have you lost so far? "50 lbs" That’s great!
Jo do you have a favorite saying or a motto you like to live by? "Yes! If
you can’t glue it…don’t do it!" Seriously I am going to start using that! I love it!
So your daughter talks about how good of a cook you are, do you have a favorite recipe? "That's easy, cabbage
rolls." Jo I just made those yesterday for my dad! "Not like mine you didn’t honey!" (laughing)
OK Jo, it's on, we are having a cabbage roll cook off when you come to town! "Done!"
Jo you are so extremely gifted when it comes to crafting. What got you into the crafting world? "Well I
was 8 years old and I started making pot holders. Then I got into Huck Weaving." Jo, I don't think I have ever heard of that, what is it? "You have to purchase a special kind of fabric and pearl cotton. You use the pearl cotton to
embroider designs onto the dish cloth. I’m not sure
they even do it anymore. I would sell them in a neighborhood hair salon." You were quite the entrepreneur at a very early age, I guess you could say you were destined for the crafting world.
I am sure that you have come across some great crafting tips along the way, would you care to share a few? "Sure! Use
a hairdryer to remove glue goobers or strings from you crafts. I hate those.
Put candles in the refrigerator,
they burn longer. Put glue sticks in the freezer to help them last longer in your glue gun. And…use Red
Devil double stick tape for everything! It even works with glitter." Those are all great tips. Thank you.
1. OK, this is kind of off the crafting subject, but do you have a favorite tradition? "Hmmm I'm not sure." Dawn chimed in here and said "Your Christmas trees!" Jo "Oh that's right, themed
Christmas trees! I have an upside tree with snowmen on it, a red tinsel Hollywood tree with Hollywood ornaments, a
pink tree with candy and gingerbread, a tree
with birds all over it in my bedroom. And you couldn't think of
any traditions "Dawn had to remind me. Oh I also have a Zebra
tree with feather boas and zebra ornaments,
a tree in my kitchen with kitchen utensils, French poodle tree in the bathroom and of course a tree with crowns in
my bedroom." Those sound amazing! Can't wait to visit with you and see your home. It sounds like an adventure!
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| Snap shot of some unique items in Jo's house |
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| Jo's Movie Room |
I think this might be obvious, but what is your favorite color? "Glitter!" Of course!
Can you tell us about anything you have in the works? "I actually do have a few things in the works but I can't share a lot about those yet. You can check on Michaels website for information as we release it. Lot's of fun stuff coming up!" We will certainly do that! And I will be sure to do a follow up with you once that information is released. (I did check it out and found this awesome video at www.michaels.com click this link to see an episode of Junkin with Jo
Anything you would like to leave us
with? Words of wisdom? "Yes, if
you believe in something, go with it! Follow your dreams. If you believe you
can do it, you can do it. And don’t be mean and nasty to people along the way,
they are the very same people who will make you who you are."
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Jo with her daughter Dawn and Dawn's family,
her husband Jim, Son Taylor, and daughters Courtney and Ally |
If you had one wish…what would it be? "To have my own TV show." I would tune in every night!
Jo, it has been a pleasure as always. I can see now where Dawn gets all of her crafting skills from for her Doodles Dots N Dimples store. It runs in the family! I look forward to when you come in town and to our cabbage roll cook off! Bring it on! (laughing)
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