Author: thevisionroom

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Bingeables: Love Life

Written by Samantha Stemmer

 

As June approaches, the blazing heat of summer is in full swing and the joys of beach trips, pool days, and “dog days” are among us. However, along with the summer heat comes summer storms that usually only last thirty minutes to an hour, and what better way to spend those thirty minutes than curling up on the couch to watch a romcom? 

(HBO Max)

 

Debuting on HBO Max over a year ago on May 27, 2020, the show “Love Life,” created by Sam Boyd and starring actress Anna Kendrick alongside Zoë Chao and Peter Vack, has been criminally underrated. “Love Life” currently has one season that consists of ten episodes running around thirty minutes a piece and in June of 2020 was renewed for a second season, yet no release date has been announced. No, “Love Life” will not change your life and does not delve into deeper conversations or messages; however this show will put a smile on your face and make thirty minutes fly by. “Love Life” can be described as an anthology that follows one person per season through their journey into finding their soulmate, and the first season followed Anna Kendrick’s character, Darby Carter. 

 

The first season of “Love Life” spanned from 2012 to 2019 and over the course of the seven years features all the different relationships Darby Carter has had. Darby began the season as either a senior in college or a recent graduate living with two roommates in New York City. The episodes, typically titled after Darby’s boyfriends, for example the first episode is titled “Augie Jeong” and the second titled “Bradley Field,” play through the relationships Darby had with those particular partners, until in the last episode, Darby meets “the one.” There are a few episodes that vary from the pattern of being about Darby’s boyfriend, including one about her roommate and best friend, an episode about her mother, and one about her childhood, however that episode did include her high school relationship. So while the show is primarily about Darby’s relationship with men there is also an aspect about “Love Life” that is about Darby’s relationship with the women around her and her relationship with herself. The episodes are both comedic, romantic, and relatable enough to keep you watching.

       (Sarah Shatz / WarnerMedia / HBO Max)

 

The biggest flaw with “Love Life” is the lack of attention to the surrounding characters. For example Zoë Chao’s character, Sara Yang, who is Darby’s roommate and best friend is incredibly interesting but only receives one episode dedicated to her with a ton of character to unpack. It would have been more satisfying for viewers if this episode was instead a part of an entire season which focused on Sara and her finding her own soulmate. Along with Chao’s character being glossed over, so was Peter Vack’s character, Jim, who is revealed as Sara’s boyfriend in the first episode.

 

While “Love Life” is a wonderful series to binge that is light-hearted and enjoyable, I do not know if a second season is necessary. The show’s ending did a great job of balancing tying up any loose ends yet keeping some elements up to the viewers imagination. I think another season following Darby Carter would be redundant, however a season following Sara, Jim, or Mallory, Darby’s other roommate and friend played by Sasha Compère, would be worth watching. Overall if you want an easy show to binge during the summer give “Love Life” a shot and let us at The Vision Room know what you think. 

 

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Complexity of Cartoon Characters

By Neha Seenarine

 

‘Space Jam’ is coming back to theaters, but with all sequels, the characters are never the same.

Photo from Collider

The sequel, ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ will not feature Pepé Le Pew and Lola Bunny will have a new look.

Pepé Le Pew has been removed from the film. His character promotes rape culture relentlessly with the same storyline. 

“Each begins with a cat, usually but (interestingly) not always female, getting a stripe of white paint on its back, usually (but not always) by accident,” said Jennifer Finney Boylan, journalist for The New York Times. “This makes our hero, Pepé, mistake the cat for one of his own kind — and his response to those of his own kind is always deep and passionate love. He has a curious way of expressing it, though. Even though he is French (which in the Looney Tunes world is shorthand for relentless amour), his terrible smell repulses the objects of his affection, who struggle valiantly to get away, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. “Odor-able Kitty” ends with Pepé with a chain around his ankle. “Now we are inseparable, are we not, darling?” he says. The shot follows the chain across the room to the cat, whose leg is also bound. The last we see of the pussy, she is desperately hacking away at the chain, trying to get free.”

In today’s world, Pepé Le Pew’s image of being a cartoon bachelor is not acceptable. Some may argue that audiences are too sensitive about animation. However, cartoons are created by people with a purpose. There are writers that sit down to create a character and their motives. An animated French skunk can easily be portrayed as a womanizer by simply flirting.

There is a line that should not be crossed. Critics act like sensitivity is a problem. However, the media industry should be mindful of its viewers. In a world with the ‘Me Too’ movement and the constant fight for people to be heard; there are victims who have been taken advantage of. It would be traumatic to sit down and watch a family-friendly movie that depicts rape. When the movie is over, it can leave a good or bad impact on someone.

It would be a step backward if Warner Brothers chose to leave Pepé Le Pew in the ‘Space Jam’ sequel. At the end of the day, companies have a reputation to protect. ‘Cancel culture’ is real. The internet will not hesitate to black-list industries. It is either lose the skunk or lose the company’s revenue.

The ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ controversy did not stop there. Lola Bunny is dressed appropriately for a children’s movie. However, ‘Space Jam’ fans are appalled with the lack of cleavage. 

Cartoon characters do not have to be sexy. Animated female characters like Lola Bunny are portrayed to have a fit body and be seductive to the protagonist (in this case, Bugs Bunny). She is a bunny that plays basketball, it is okay if Lola has a flat chest. 

Sex appeal does not add value to a character. For example, the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) from Marvel Comics wears a revealing costume. When the comics were adapted to live-action movies and shows, actress Elizabeth Olsen, wanted to wear clothes that covered her body when playing Wanda Maximoff.

“It’s funny because sometimes I look around and I’m just like — wow, I’m the only one who has cleavage, and that’s a constant joke because they haven’t really evolved my superhero costume that much,” Olsen told ELLE Magazine in 2018.

The Disney+ show, ‘WandaVision’, debuted a new look for the Scarlett Witch. Olsen gave input on how she wanted her costume to function. 

“She is so practical that she immediately put it on and she was like, ‘OK, I can do this move and I can’t do this move. And I need to be able to do this move,’” ‘WandaVision’ director, Matt Shakman said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight this week. “We were like, ‘Great!’ So then we have to re-engineer it because those suits are tough. I mean, it’s one thing to look amazing. It’s another thing to actually function.”

Photo from Disney+

There are more to characters besides how they look. Characters are impressionable to audiences based on their behavior. It is important for young audiences to get a glimpse of heroes projected for who they are, not how pretty they look. Young audiences should be kept away from bad influences that will taint the way they think. They are young, let them imagine the world as good and inspiring.

We are seeing a shift in the entertainment industry. Our characters representing our culture as society develops with new standards. Would you be satisfied with your favorite cartoon being rebooted to represent today’s ideals?

 

 

 

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Top Five: Franchise French Fries

By Neha Seenarine

There are plenty of listicles on the internet about the best fast-food, French fries. This simple side dish has sparked controversy on which restaurant serves the best. What makes my list more trustworthy than others? Nothing, it is all about preference. 

(Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

What makes the perfect French fry?

French fries is the only acceptable food that your friend can stick their hand in your plate for. The perfect fry to me is seasoned shoestring cut. I am not big fan of potato wedges or steak-cut fries because I think there is too much potato inside. I prefer a good crunch. 

Most fast-food restaurants stick to the straight cut for its simplicity. We usually see crinkle-cut in Chinese takeout and Curly cut and waffle cut varieties can be find found at local diners. However, Arby’s and Chick-Fil-A serve different cut fries and that is one of the things that makes their menu diverse from other fast-food restaurants. 

A major flaw about French fries is that they get soggy quickly because, they are not meant for a catering event, just something quick like your lunch break. 

This is where my spiel on French fries ends, here are my top five choices:

(Photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash)

  1. Five Guys – Cajun Fries

Five Guys is not stingy with their servings. You order a small, they will give you twice the amount. The fries are seasoned perfectly, and it is served in a cup. It is easy to be on-the-go with your Five Guys fries. I am not sure who the five guys are, but they are doing a great job. The only downside is not everyone can enjoy Five Guys’ fries, they are made in peanut oil and the probability of allergies would be an issue. 

 

  1. Popeyes – Cajun Fries

Again, the Cajun fries. I guess we can see a pattern on my preference. The fries are thinly cut with some flakiness to it. Popeyes’ fries keep me going back to their orange box for more. A big flaw is the portion. Maybe it’s me, but a large order of Popeyes’ fries is barely sharable for more than two people.

 

  1. Wendy’s 

Wendy’s fries lack seasoning, but there is a nice thin cut to them. They are a bit bland, but nothing that ketchup can’t fix. There is a great dipping sauce that can stir some controversy – it is the Wendy’s Frosty – personally, I would dip in the chocolate Frosty.

 

  1. Chick-Fil-A – Waffle Fries

Enough with the straight-cut fries! Chick-Fil-A’s waffle fries hold a nice flat shape. Also, it seems to hold sauces much better when dipping. Although I am not a fan of Chick-Fil-A’s mission statement, their fries are worth the try.

 

  1. McDonald’s

The Classic. You cannot go wrong with McDonald’s fries because it is a perfect cheap buy when you need a snack or you need to satisfy a child and there is location in every 15-minute. The fries overall are a bit salty for me. It is not my first choice, but it is not unbearable to eat.

 

I am from the East Coast. I have not had the opportunity to travel and try regional fast-food restaurants like In-N-Out, Jack in the Box, or Raising Canes. When I do, I will be sure to update this list. 

 

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From TV to Radio, The O.C. is Back B*tches

Written by Samantha Stemmer

(Kast Media)

After 14 long years without the comedy and drama that Fox’s The O.C. provided, Rachel Bilson, who played Summer Roberts, and Melinda Clarke, who played Julie Cooper, have partnered with Kast Media to produce the podcast “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” The podcast features both Bilson and Clarke re-watching the entire series as both cast members and fans, revealing the behind-the-scenes scoop with each episode featuring different guest stars.

 

The podcast, which is scheduled to produce over 100 episodes, premiered on April 27 and will release episodes weekly on Tuesdays. The first episode featured series creator Josh Schwartz, who is also responsible for creating teen drama Gossip Girl. Bilson, Clarke, and Schwartz discuss the casting process, creation of the show and development, and all their favorite moments of the pilot episode.

 

The second episode, which was released on May 4, “The Model Home with Patrick Rush,” features Bilson and Clarke sitting down to watch the second episode of The O.C. with the main casting director of the series, Patrick Rush. Rush tells Bilson and Clarke the hardest roles to cast and his favorite lines from the second episode of the series. Rush also starts to get some of the “tea,” asking Bilson about her relationship with Adam Brody.

(Kast Media)

 

On May 11, the third and most recent episode of “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” centers around the third episode of the T.V. series “The Gamble,” and welcomes guest star Peter Gallagher. Peter Gallagher, who plays the character Sandy Cohen, was the first member to be cast on the series and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the podcast as he shares his audition experience. 

 

While fans might not have gotten The O.C. revival or reboot they dreamt of, this podcast is the perfect solution. Fans can dive back into their favorite 2000s teen soap for around an hour and a half every Tuesday to relive the series and find out all the actor’s gossip and inside scoop. Bilson remarked that they will welcome many other guest stars to the podcast and even added that they hope Mischa Barton, who played Melissa Cooper, will join for an episode too.  

 

The next episode of “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” comes out on May 18 and can be found on a multitude of streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music, additionally each episode can be found on YouTube. We at The Vision Room cannot wait to see who next week’s guest star will be. 

 

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When the Lights Go Out

By Neha Seenarine

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(Photo by Dalelan Anderson on Unsplash)

Our world is reliant on technology, but what if it was taken away from us?

We are dependent on our phones, television, and laptops to navigate our life for us. We would not know how to drive to a new restaurant without a GPS app or what to wear without checking the Weather app before we hit the shower. Luckily, I can explain what happened to me in a day without technology in 2021. A storm hit my town and took out my electricity. I imagined the power would be restored after an hour or two because that is usually the case with bad weather. However, I was in for the longest day of my life. 

Seventy seven percent of people responded that they believe society as a whole relied too much on technology to succeed according to a study by Penn State. When people say all their work is on their laptop, it is true. I had my phone running on cellular data until the battery died. I sat there thinking about all the work I could have gotten done. I could have finished school assignments, written an article, or update my Pinterest boards if I really wanted to. 

“The type of entertainment we get from technology today is known as ‘passive’ entertainment,” according to the University of People, which is like being on autopilot.  This could be anything from binge-watching a show on Netflix to listening to a podcast. It does not require much effort. Passive entertainment, or passive leisure, is different from active entertainment or active leisure, which involves the exertion of physical or mental energy.

Communication Technology has soared, and we have taken technology for granted. We use social media to pass time and abuse search engines to answer all our questions. I was not able to see my emails or follow up with a friend on how they are doing today and the funky memes they saw. I am so used to my mother texting me if I am ready for dinner. Texting lacks facial interaction and the steps we could have made across the house.

It seems that I was out of the loop for a day. However, it was nice to be away from all the blue light seeping into me. I would recommend taking a break from technology whether it is a few hours or a weekend. It allows you to reflect and be exposed to the things around you. Your phone can break, but the external resources around 

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The United States is making Champions League History

Written By: William Morales

Captain America has done it again, and no, this isn’t referring to superhero Steve Rodgers. This is referring to the 22-year-old soccer sensation named Christian Pulisic. The young man known for captaining the stars and stripes. The talented youngster that plays for Chelsea Football Club in West London. Day-by-day Pulisic is making history all over Europe as an American soccer player. 

  Two seasons ago after joining Chelsea, Christian Pulisic took England’s domestic league, the premier league, by storm. Tallying a total of 13 goal contributions in 25 games is a fine first season in a difficult league to adapt to. Although his second season hasn’t been as productive, he has come up with two of Chelsea’s most important moments in the past 9 years. Last week he had a thrilling finish against a tough Real Madrid side to force a 1-1 draw, and this week a brilliant tie-settling assist to send Chelsea through to the finals of the Union European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League. A feat that Chelsea hasn’t reached since 2012, the last time the Blues defied all odds. 

If Christian Pulisic features in the final on May 29th (which he should), he will become the first American in history to play at this stage of the competition. Now if you didn’t know, the Champions League final is the Superbowl of European football, except all of Europe is literally watching. The stage is set and Pulisic has a chance to represent the United States on debatably, the biggest football platform in the world.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania native will be making history, and he has been setting soccer on fire for about 6 seasons now. Having signed his first professional contract at age 17 with top German club Borussia Dortmund, he has contributed heavily, and has also paved the way for more young Americans to start careers in Europe. An all-time high 51 American players are currently playing away from the United States, with all but two of these playing in Europe. As the 2026 world cup in the United States approaches, Pulisic has done a great job at being a role model for his national team teammates.

In recent weeks, Pulisic has reassured fans that he is growing in confidence: “It’s amazing at the moment, I’m feeling confident and the team is feeling this way as well.” (GOAL)

His charisma and belief in his own abilities is great to see, and for younger fans at home it’s nice to see an American being interviewed after big games. It’s a name fans will hold dear for years to come. 

It’s great to hear a player speak so confidently, but also reassuring when the coach echoes that confidence. Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel was also Pulisic’s head coach at his previous club Dortmund. He can also sense the talent in his play: ““I feel him stronger and stronger, more self-confident and he can be a decisive factor in the next game with his speed and ability to dribble, and his ability to arrive in the box in dangerous situations, and balls from the side, and crosses he has the feeling to arrive and score.” (NBCSports) 

After a lifetime of Americans sticking close to home and playing in the Major League Soccer (MLS), some of the country’s younger stars are making a name for themselves in Europe. Participation in the Champions League alone is impressive but helping a team travel to the finals is unbelievable. Pulisic brings his own flair to the game and as he continues to make headlines, people begin to realize that the beautiful game is making its way over to the states. The new generation is going to make a name for themselves at home and around the world.

 

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DARE TO LIVE A LIFE YOU WILL NOT REGRET 

Written by: Chisom Okoye 

DARE TO LIVE A LIFE YOU WILL NOT REGRET 

Dare to take chances, follow your dreams, risk it all, fall in love, believe in yourself, ask questions, let go, make mistakes, start over, speak the truth, take responsibility, find happiness, live for today. – Author Unknown

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(Photo by Aniket Bhattacharya on Unsplash)

Let’s talk about imposter syndrome for a moment, it is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. Now, let’s talk about how often times we find ourselves in the rabbit hole of self-doubt where we forget our worth and our value, how we lose faith in our abilities because the world has somehow convinced us that everything we want is hard and probably unattainable. 

It is especially hard on us “creatives” who just want to spend the rest of our lives creating magic but are met with the harsh reality that jobs in our respective fields are quickly dying out in this fast-growing digital age. It doesn’t take much after that to become discouraged, even after earning a degree in their passion. 

During one of our enriching journalism meetings at The Vision Room, my colleague Sam (@samstemmer) mentioned something that stuck with me. That when one wants to pursue acting in Hollywood and they are in search for assurance, asking everyone from fellow actors to agents whether or not they will make it or blow up and be successful they are always met with the same answer, “We are not sure, we cannot guarantee you anything, but we do it because it’s worth it and we have so much fun doing it!” This stuck with me because I realize it is important to dare yourself to do things that scare you. Even the thought that we have to decide on what we want to do with the rest of our lives is scary, having fun while doing something that scares you is worth it. 

I agree that jobs related to the Arts and Social Sciences have taken a huge hit, especially during the pandemic and it can be discouraging but maybe we need to look at it from a different perspective. For instance, why do we study what we study with the goal of getting a job? Why don’t we create our own jobs and fill in the gaps we believe need to be filled? 

People do it all the time; people who became successful using their creativity to expand their brands and get their name out there even during a pandemic!  People who are so desperate to do what they love that they decide to pursue what they want to and aren’t afraid to fail! Let’s not just be envious of that kind of energy, instead, let’s build that kind of momentum for ourselves. We have nothing to lose but ourselves if we don’t try! 

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(Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash)

So, since The Vision Room is all about finding solutions and making a positive impact in your journey, here are a links with a few tips I would like to share a few articles that I hope help you on your journey to discovery and owning your life’s journey today! 

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-tips-pursuing-passion-even-if-you-feel-behind/ 

https://www.themuse.com/advice/do-what-you-love-how-to-identify-pursue-your-passions 

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/7-ways-you-can-make-time-for-your-passion.html 

https://hbr.org/2019/10/3-reasons-its-so-hard-to-follow-your-passion 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/francesbridges/2019/08/30/5-tips-to-help-you-find-your-passion/?sh=6a97f37f2947

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/find-your-passion_b_6798766 

Photography References: 

Photo by Aniket Bhattacharya on Unsplash 

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash 

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Arts Freshest Faces: John Dougherty

 

Written by Samantha Stemmer

 

(@johnnymcdougherty)

Arts Freshest Faces latest feature is again, found in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the promising young man’s name is John Dougherty (IG: @johnnymcdougherty). John Dougherty is a 21-year-old film studies and accounting major at University of North Carolina Wilmington, pursuing a career in editing and production, but Dougherty is not just any student. As Dougherty said laughingly “I currently work two jobs right now, as busy as that sounds, dealing with mainly editing work.”  Dougherty’s first job is with the company Foreword Films (IG: @forewordfilms) where he does a lot of client work including editing commercials and podcasts for nonprofits. John Dougherty’s second job is an internship for well-known director, producer, and writer of documentaries, David Garrigus.  

Dougherty is originally from Frederick, Maryland and at the end of high school he moved about an hour outside of the Wilmington area of North Carolina. The young editor found his passion in middle school after watching heavily edited YouTube videos. However, there is no single inspiration that he necessarily aspires to, or someone who sparked his love for the craft. Dougherty explained “I don’t know where I get my inspiration from, I’ve just been [editing] for so long that it just kind of turned into what I do. I just kind of fell into it one day and stuck with it.” 

While in middle school, the first program Dougherty played around with was Adobe After Effects, and then in high school he was fortunate enough to have access to Adobe Premiere where he found editing easier. Eventually, it became fun and he “looked forward to editing.” He continues to hustle being a full-time student with two jobs and recently filmed and edited a concert video of a band called Tweakk (IG:thebandtweakk). Dougherty also mentioned that he is a big music fan and his favorite bands are Green Day, The Used, and Mt. Eddy, and would love to host a music show one day.

(@johnnymcdougherty)

Moving forward, John Dougherty’s dream job and biggest goal is to have his own production company. Dougherty said, “I would ideally be making big budget Hollywood movies and my end goal is to let the directors make their vision without pushing [my own or any other] agenda [on them].” As for now, Dougherty plans to take a semester off to work this fall and hopes to find his “golden ticket.” Dougherty jokingly remarked that he would love to find himself in a position this fall to be a successful college dropout. 

If Dougherty does not find his “golden ticket” during his semester off he plans to finish his degrees and then continue to do sound, editing, and production work either in Wilmington, North Carolina or move to Atlanta, Georgia. For those looking for success behind the camera in editing and production, his best advice is “to always take pride in your work, and if you want to be an editor and you’re not constantly editing, you’re doing something wrong.” People generally do not always pay attention to the magic that takes place behind the camera, but you need to pay attention to the magic that is John Dougherty. 

 

 

 

 

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Is clear skin only for rich people?

Written by: Chisom Okoye 

(Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash )

The other day I went to my local shopping plaza to shop  for groceries. There was a store right next door that I had always overlooked but that day, something told me to go in and check it out. Lo and behold, it turned out to be not just a beauty store but THEE beauty store I had been looking for since I landed in the US! It had all the popular (some arguably fancy) products I thought I could only find online and it was the first time I could actually consult a real life person about what I could use for my particular needs! No more driving miles to get to the other beauty store across town just for a product, no more ordering and paying delivery fees, no more waiting for days before my order is delivered, I now found a store right on my doorstep!

While I’d like to think I was in skincare heaven, I don’t believe heaven will charge this much!

I ended up paying about $50 for two testers in small packages promising to deliver the best results with their non-harmful, cruelty free ingredients.

Yes, yes, I know I always rave on and on about how much fun I’m having on my skin care journey and how much closer I am to being a skin care expert with not a single qualification. What I haven’t told you about is how badly this journey can break the bank – if you allow it to – and one way (out of many) that you can work your way around that!

While I do not regret purchasing these products, it got me thinking about how much one has to spend to find the perfect products for their skin, and when they actually do how much they have to actually spend a month to buy into the idea of achieving perfect skin. It got me cringing about how much I have already spent trying to find the perfect concoction! And while I tackled the question about whether all brands could have the perfect products in my last post, my question this time would be centered around how we could spend more wisely if we knew more about the ingredients we are paying more for in these products

I was speaking to someone who spoke about the skepticism he had when it came to the ingredients and the fact that we really don’t know what is in the products that we are buying. That some of them could actually be harmful and deceitful and it would be wise to make your own products!

“I make my own shaving cream,” he said, “I go to the grocery shop and I buy raw ingredients and mix them up and it works for me.”

(Photo by freestocks on Unsplash)

This comment amazed me because I had never thought to look at skincare beyond the products at the store or beyond mixing these already processed products up. I had never dared to mix up raw products to put on my skin, and I thought it was a brilliant idea!

So this week I leave you with the challenge to do more research about the products you’re buying and really assess whether the ingredients are indeed healthy and good for you. Of course you will not know everything and some will be far too technical for you to understand, but you will walk away learning SOMETHING about the ingredients and that is the point! Who knows, you might end up mixing up a good concoction for yourself and that might be just the trick you needed! And no, clear skin doesn’t have to be for the rich alone. And perhaps, making your own skincare products might just be cheaper and more effective!

So I will leave you with some tools to use on this challenge in the form of links to YouTube videos that helped open my mind to understanding more on how to choose raw ingredients if we to decide to go down the concoction (skincare) making route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGs6zHn2Gq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHdJxZ0wuQQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=948MLgRGNyU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbY_nLc3kU4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KKR7D_KNt4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx6eM1CkR94

And an alternative opinions and warnings to balance things out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRPuO39xHw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRtR1ApnKqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUoHmRQRSaA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kchM-FOmtY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kniRD12MDbU

 

Disclaimer: I am not an expert so follow these tips at your own discretion and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

GOOD LUCK!

 

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It All Began with a “Thank You”

Written By Neha Seenarine

Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Hanna Edison, (@h.h.hooks), accidentally started her small business creating a ‘Thank You” gift.

Two years ago, Edison spent time in New York with her brother and his friends.  During her visit, she became sick “I felt terrible, obviously,” Edison said. “I left, but I wanted to thank them so I rug-hooked them a portrait of their dog. They shared it on social media and I got requests to make more. It snowballed from there.”

So, what is rug hooking? According to Wikipedia, Rug hooking is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage.

Before the pandemic struck, Edison was a bartender, she lost her job which gave time to pursue her hobby which is creating art. “I suddenly had a lot of free time,” Edison said. “I was like maybe it will go well. Maybe it will keep me entertained for the next six months or how long I can’t leave my house. I feel like I got lucky. The timing worked out where I never had to sit down and make a decision of quitting my job and starting a business.”

Edison’s projects have had a fast response on social media. Her messages were flooded with requested commissions. “It feels like a lot,” Edison said. “I open my DMs and there are a hundred people yelling at me. I’m so thankful that so many people want to talk to me. It grew so quickly, and suddenly had a lot of demand. I was overwhelmed for weeks. I am getting better at managing it.”

Edison appreciates the engagement on social media. “I’ve done portraits for people that have just seen my Instagram,” Edison said. “It’s very cool to have a positive reaction or people that’s like ‘Oh, your post brightened up my day’ or whatever like it makes me feel so nice.”

Her small business is a one-woman show. Edison tackles her projects on her own at her own pace. “I can make so many at a time,” said Edison. “It will happen at the pace it happens.” Edison’s rugs feature fruits and vegetables. There are other projects reacting to political issues and simplicity, the beauty of dogs for example.

“It was never really like a ‘this is going to be my brand’ decision,” Edison said. “It was sort of more like — I think this would be fun to make, and I want this in my house so I’m just going to make it and then I got a very positive response online.”

Edison plans to continue her passion for art regardless of having a business.

“I love the act of creating like it’s very meditative,” Edison said. “The world is scary it’s like a way to slow your brain down and like you’re very focused on a very simple task like knitting or crochet.  Selling art is something I was really apprehensive about doing for a long time, but it’s been really positive and lovely, and I’ve gotten so many like lovely messages from people.”