Betsy McCarthy’s e-mail inbox is full after she appeared on Tuesday’s “Today” show.
Jane Pauley interviewed the Vancouver woman for a series called “Your life calling.” Ten years ago, McCarthy ditched her high-powered career as a health care administrator to pursue her passion — knitting.
“Ten years ago, when you did this, reinvention wasn’t the buzz word it is today,” Pauley said in the segment. “You’re our role model.”
“It takes the ability to live with a lot of ambiguity,” McCarthy told Pauley.
McCarthy started by working at a yarn shop in the Puget Sound area, where she was living at the time. But knitting soon evolved into a bona fide profession. Her 2004 book, “Knit Socks! 15 Cool Patterns for Toasty Feet,” has sold 65,000 copies. Storey Publishing plans to put out a revised edition later this year.
McCarthy, 67, moved to Vancouver in 2003. She almost turned down the “Today” show interview because of her previous experience with media. In her varied career, she worked as the Medicaid director for the state of Illinois, and later as the director of Multnomah County’s department of human services. In those positions, media attention meant controversy. But she had fun with the “Today” taping. A camera crew followed her around for days as she walked her dog in Esther Short Park, puttered around her condo, convened her knitting circle at Java House, and attended the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival in Tacoma.
McCarthy’s blog, http://betsymccarthyknits.com, includes links to the Pauley segment.
Hudson’s Bay grad works on Oscar-nominated short film
John Harrison had a vested interest in the outcome of Sunday’s Academy Awards. Harrison, a 1998 Hudson’s Bay High School graduate, was the cinematographer for “Kavi,” nominated in the best short film, live action, category. The film was shot in India in fall 2007.
He and his wife, Jen, watched the ceremonies from their Seattle home base. “Kavi” didn’t win, but clips were shown from all the nominees. That short window of exposure provided a powerful platform for addressing the film’s topic, modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
“It’s good to see that the film and its message were given such a large audience,” said Harrison, 29, whose parents, Dawn and John Harrison, live in Vancouver.
Harrison was set to leave earlier this week for San Francisco to begin work on another short film. He’s also working off-and-on on the National Geographic Channel show “Alaska State Troopers.”
Harrison isn’t sure yet how being part of an Oscar-nominated film might open doors for him, but he’s eager to find out.
“It’s certainly at the top of my résumé right now,” he said.
Camas makeup artist gets red-carpet treatment
About 41.3 million Americans tuned in to see Sandra Bullock win the Oscar in the best actress category Sunday, but Camas resident Michael Key and wife, Lynn, got a closer look. Key, publisher of the Vancouver-based Make-Up Artist Magazine, attended his first Oscars last weekend, and his limo arrived at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre right in front of Bullock’s.
With her gold gown, red lips and dark hair, “she looked very elegant and beautiful,” said Key, 48.
The two-time Emmy-winning makeup artist used his Twitter account to weigh in on his favorite Oscar looks.
Among them was Jennifer Lopez. Some said her Armani Privé gown looked like bubble wrap, but Key said it looked “very artful” in person.
Key also saw Mariah Carey, whose lip gloss he liked, and Jane Seymour. Seymour’s hair was a little plain, he said, but she looked lovely, especially for a woman who’s almost 60. Key said he didn’t see any worst-dressed contenders this year. His quibbles were small, such as noting that Matt Damon’s trousers were several inches too long.
Key didn’t converse with any stars, but he did have a literal run-in with best-supporting actor nominee Woody Harrelson and his entourage.
“Woody Harrelson just walked through my photo of my wife and I,” Key tweeted. “His shoulder is in the shot.”
Bits ’n’ Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you’d like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.
