Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Something to Think About

Remember Joan Steffend from HGTV's Decorating Cents?

I always liked her. Even if I didn't care for the re-do on a particular show, I always liked her. Wondering what she is doing now, I searched her name online and found Joan Steffend's webpage.  Here is part of her history:

In television news, I started out acting like a news anchor and reporter, but then learned on the job at the NBC affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota. By the time I left for an anchor job at KARE-TV (NBC) in the Twin Cities two years later, I had figured out my favorite part of the job -- telling people's stories and having the license to ask people almost anything. At KARE, I started looking for people and stories to uplift the viewers, and in the process won quite a few awards, including a national Emmy (the only one that made it into the living room) and the Grand Award from the New York International Film Festival. My favorite achievement, though, was getting 40 thirty second spots on the air at KARE called "Something to Think About." (check a few of them out on the right side of this page) They were meant to encourage and inspire myself and my two beautiful daughters, and I think they did.

Please take a moment and click on this:  Something to Think About. You'll need Quicktime to view this brief clip of six of Joan's inspirational spots.

Those spots were done before her 11 year run on HGTV, but I think the care she showed in those spots carried through in the 400 episodes of Decorating Cents. I hope you like them as much as I did.

8 comments:

LemonyRenee' said...

I HAVE wondered what happened to her. I miss her! Like you, I didn't always go for what the particular designer she was working with was doing, but she was always enthusiastic and gracious. (Now, it seems most of HGTV is about selling homes or huge renovations. Too bad.)

I really enjoyed this. Thanks!

KTW said...

Can't wait to go look at these! I always loved her and I think her voice is amazing. She comes across like a friendly next-door-neighbor. I always thought we could have been pals. :)

KTW said...

Wow. They were all terrific, but that last one was pretty powerful. Thanks for posting this, Knitty. You always give us food for thought. :)

Blondie's Journal said...

I don't know of Joan but I only started watching HGTV in the last few years. I will check out her segments.

Thanks, Knitty!!

xoxo
Jane

Sewconsult said...

I loved watching Joan & miss her. I viewed the clip. Such true words. I did have the good fortune of growing up in a fairly small city...30K, which I miss greatly. I was the daughter of a big fish in a little pond. When I married, we moved to a big pond & I was nobody! That was difficult to grip. That takes growing up.

Her last words brought tears to my eyes. The last words I said to my brother (whom I had battled with all our lives) were, "I love you". His eyes told me that he heard me, but he wasn't able to say anything back. I am pretty sure he would have, if he had been able to.

Thanks for giving me a time to remember.
Beckie

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

This is so interesting! I loved watching Joan in her TV programs. She was always smiling and had a great send of style and humor both! Thanks for reminding me! I'll take a look at the link too!

Chatty Crone said...

Honestly I don't remember her. And this week I'm not adding anything else to my computer - it went hay wire this week and I almost lost it - and I am attached to my compueter!!!!!!!!

Hope you are having a great day.
sandie

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, Knitty! I loved reading this because I love Joan! Thanks for the link. I'll be sure and check it out!

XO,

Sheila :-)