Oh friends, this past week was a big and busy one…and I confess to being simultaneously a little bit punchy from lack of sleep and yet all wound up from the excitement. When I created Mahar Drygoods in 2005, I drew inspiration from many sources - children’s book illustrations, classic nursery furnishings, vintage fonts and the aesthetic sensibility of Ms. Martha Stewart - to name a few. Champion of the domestic arts, proponent of contemporary crafting and purveyor of good taste she is someone I’ve long admired and aspired to emulate in many regards. That being said, you’ll better understand my giddy craft-geek thrill in being invited to demonstrate a project on her show.

Fast forward over two month of proposals, photographs and samples to this past Monday morning which found me lugging a big black duffel bag of (sock) bones across Manhattan to the Martha Stewart Show’s arts & crafts department. It was a quick meeting but fun for me to be in this space packed with island work stations, computer terminals and rows of shelving packed with supplies and past projects. Photos were off limits in this area, but the staff was super friendly and kindly humored my questions about what they were currently working on. The open shelving area over the computer work stations were filled with books and examples of crafts that had been created on previous shows. We ran through the Sock Skeleton basics and I handed off all of the demonstration ’swaps’ made in advance - swaps being examples of the project in various stages of completion.

Shot of the tv screen with the show listing on TV Guide.

Not knowing how long I might have to be there, I had more or less blocked off the better part of the day - so it was nice to suddenly find myself with some extra time in the city. We did an enormous amount of just walking around and exploring, had some lovely dinners with family and friends, squeezed in an afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History and a great tour with the Tenement Museum down in the Lower East Side.

Top: Examples of the amazing dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History. Bottom: Images from the Tenement Museum.

Wednesday morning, call time was 8:00 a.m. Accompanied by my partner Devin and good pal Eric we arrived a little early, signed in, went through security and were escorted to the dressing room. Rachel Maddow was to be the celebrity guest that morning, but unfortunately had to reschedule - so were able to set up shop in the lovely room I’m sure was intended for her.

Clockwise: Breakfast in the dressing room.; My ‘assistants’ hamming it up in the makeup chair.; Me, an amazing Martha staffer, pal Eric and partner Devin; the Sock Skeleton Kit styled for the camera.

Honestly the next couple of hours felt like an out-of body experience: walk through number one, makeup, outfit selection/approval, a quick change, walk through number two with the cameras and then back to the dressing room to wait.

I was the first guest on the show, so about ten minutes in they came to get me, touched up makeup, fitted me with a mike and walked me onto the set now facing a packed audience. During commercial breaks there’s a fellow who entertains the audience (regular viewers know Joey), they play loud upbeat music and work every one into a clapping, craft happy froth. This was the first time I actually met Martha. She was very cordial, said, “So, you’re the skeleton guy?,” I laughed and said “Yes,” then she asked where I was from and how to correctly pronounce my last name, and then we were on!

Shot of the tv screen in the dressing room.

Martha read the introduction from a teleprompter and then we launched into the project. Honestly, with the wall of cameras the audience sort of disappears (as does all sense of time). But we had eight minutes, with cue cards to keep me on track as to where we should be in the process. When I mentioned feeling out-of-body earlier, nowhere did this seem more intense than during the actual taping. Before I knew it we were done and I was walking off set with total amnesia, not remembering anything I had just said. But I didn’t trip over the camera cords, I didn’t slice off my finger with the wheel cutter not did I gore my finger with an embroidery needle, words came out of my mouth and I remembered to wear pants - all things that flash through your mind as possible disasters.

Top to bottom: Me trying to be a brave boy during rehearsal.; All of the skellie parts beautifully laid out on set.; Talking through the demo on set.; Me looking authoritative.

We debriefed in the dressing room, gathered our belongings and were out the door! Surreal. Overall I have to say it was a very positive experience and one I’m happy to have under my belt. Having never done anything like this before I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect and anticipated it might be a very tense, stern and all business-like environment. But I have to say, the producer, the staff and the crew were all so genuinely nice, friendly, attentive and professional that they made the process a real pleasure. (And if any of them are reading this, I cannot say “thank you!” enough.)

Relieved and smiley in front of the studio building after the taping.

I didn’t actually see a video of the segment this until a few days after the taping. But it’s now online and while I can’t embed the video here you can view it by clicking on the image below. My first thought was “Who is that guy with the parade balloon head?” (Seriously, they say the camera adds 10 pounds - I just didn’t know they’d all be in my face.) Second thought? “This guy really likes the word ‘exactly’.” So much so I said it exactly (ahem), count ‘em…11 times. Awkward self deprecation aside, I think it came out pretty well. Martha seemed engaged and to genuinely like the project. (Big sigh o’ relief.)

Now if you’re inspired to play mad scientist and create your own Sock Skeleton there are a couple ways to go about it:

1. I’m happy to say that my instructions and diagrams are now permanently archived on MarthaStewart.com and can be downloaded for free!
2. Or if you’re one of those folks who like a good kit with the materials already sourced and ready to go - you’re in luck! The Sock Skeleton Kit features project materials and professionally printed instructions all appropriately packed in a corrugated cardboard coffin and is available for immediate shipment from MaharDrygoods.com.

If you do give it a go, send me a picture! I’ll happily post it online. And finally a very sincere and warm “thank you” for all of the incredibly kid words of encouragement. (Even if you were just being polite and truly thought it was horrid, it was nice of you to say and it made me feel good.) I’ve prattled on about the whole event ad nauseam and promise it will die down soon, but want you to know I really do appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

Above: Instructions and downloadable template as found on MarthaStewart.com.
Below: The Sock Skeleton Kit as found on MaharDrygoods.com.

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