Robyn Hood Black - children's author, poet, artist

May 01, 2020 8:37 AM EDT

You are hilarious! Thank you for sharing that. My favorite part are your expressions in response to your bloopers. My best one was when I said wobby greenbean instead of wobbly greenbean!

- Liz Steinglass

May 01, 2020 9:27 AM EDT

Oh, Robyn, I now see that you took so much time & care with all your videos after seeing your bloopers. I loved them, too, the expressions, the trying, trying, trying to make it all work! This will be an April we'll all remember, I suppose, with sadness, but thank goodness for the laughter, too! Happy May!

- Linda Baie

May 01, 2020 9:40 AM EDT

--Glad you enjoyed, Liz - and thanks for hosting us all today! That green bean line was one of my favorites anyway, and now I love it even more, thinking about a "wobby" green bean - ha!

--Thanks, Linda! For a couple of movies, we lucked out the first time and I didn't have any bloopers or mishaps. But, that wasn't the norm.... ;0)

- Robyn Hood Black

May 01, 2020 12:20 PM EDT

I'm so glad you saved and compiled all that footage, Robyn! It makes me feel better about all the outtakes I have from making videos for my school. I use my dog Smidgey as my muse, but as you know, animals are not always cooperative when you want them to be. I'm still smitten with your sweet chihuahua. Thanks for the smiles. : )

- Bridget Magee

May 01, 2020 1:23 PM EDT

Thank you for sharing your videos, including your bloopers. Of course everyone has them and it was fun to see how gracefully you responded to them.

- janice.scully@gmail.com

May 01, 2020 1:33 PM EDT

What a lot of time and effort you put in to making your videos. Thanks for the bloopers. I just subscribed to your YouTube channel so that I can watch all of your videos in one sitting.

- Amy Merrill

May 01, 2020 1:36 PM EDT

Hahahaha--your expressions! What an ambitious Poetry Month project, Robyn! Also, I read your "I'll Wash, You Dry" poem yesterday. Fits this moment so perfectly. Lovely poem!

- Laura Purdie Salas

May 01, 2020 1:44 PM EDT

--Aw, thanks, Bridget. I'm sure your students are loving your videos! Rita sends Lowcountry love to Smidgey… :0)

--Thank you, Janice. I don't think I cussed during the making of them, though I can't promise I never do. But I guess I was on school behavior - ha!

--Thanks so much, Amy! Glad you enjoyed, and I appreciate the 'follow'! :0)

--Merci, Laura. And thanks for mentioning that poem - I was thinking I should probably do a recording of that for these shelter-at-home days we're in. So maybe I'll get the tripod back out... ;0)

- Robyn Hood Black

May 01, 2020 4:39 PM EDT

I love the blooper reels. After watching the polished versions where the readings all looked effortless, I now appreciate your work all the more! I thought I might like to try a poem video myself, but now I see the pitfalls. Can’t wait to check out the Progressive Poem.

- Joyce Ray

May 01, 2020 4:42 PM EDT

Ha! What's with all the traffic, though? I thought we're supposed to be sheltering in place. Seriously, though, look at the great video library you have to show for all those efforts! Weldone

- Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

May 01, 2020 5:50 PM EDT

Oh Robyn! And Liz & Margaret & Linda M. & ALL of you becoming movie stars:) This brightens my day, to hear your poems read by you. And as for the bloopers, my favorites are your sweet canine at the table, the hair blowin' in the wind, in the wind, in the wind, the naybors, the "wrong" chapbook & well, honestly, all the blooper reel. It took a lot of heart & time to make the true "takes" but also to compile the bloopers. Congrats on your April Poetry Month 2020 Movie-ganza. And how groovy to have a movie crew.

- Jan Annino

May 01, 2020 6:34 PM EDT

Your Blooper Reel is priceless, Robyn! Were those the same cyclists heading back? Like you, I'm looking forward to spending time with the many projects I didn't have time for in April. Thank you for sharing!

- Catherine Flynn

May 01, 2020 6:49 PM EDT

I would have a whopping blooper reel if I had saved all my outtakes from doing Morning Message screencastifies during this time of online teaching/learning!! I feel your pain!

- Mary Lee

May 01, 2020 7:56 PM EDT

--Oh, give it a go, Joyce! It's kind of fun after you try it. ;0) Bloopers and all. Thanks so much for watching these. :0)

--Thanks, Michelle. I KNOW - where are all these people going?! ;0) Actually, our side road goes straight to a rails-to-trails trail. And we have the EMS folks at the end of the road, too. Thanks for the kind words!!

--Thanks on all accounts, Jan, and I look forward to catching up on more videos by poetry buddies! And, ha! - movie crew. They were great and the price was right...;0)

--Hi, Catherine - Haha! We have lots of bikers going by. Glad you enjoyed me spinning my wheels in front of my phone camera - thanks!

--Oh, Mary Lee - "screencastifies" is too funny. I'm sure Morgan can relate, too. Happy continued online teaching adventures!

- Robyn Hood Black

May 01, 2020 8:31 PM EDT

Bloopers is what it's all about, right? I also have started over many times...your mash-up is so amusing! Thanks for sharing.

- Karen Eastlund

May 01, 2020 8:35 PM EDT

Thank you for the laugh out loud video. Your expression say it all! I love your sense of humor. xo

- Linda Kulp Trout

May 01, 2020 8:55 PM EDT

--I'll take the company, Karen - thanks so much, and Happy MAY!

--Glad you got a kick out of it, Linda. Definitely realized early on in this project that I needed to be able to laugh at myself! Hope you find lots to smile about this month. :0)

- Robyn Hood Black

May 02, 2020 7:37 AM EDT

Robyn, how fun! Your camera crew must have a wonderful sense of humor too. I love it. Thanks for including us in your bloopers. You did make it look pretty easy in the daily poem videos!

- Linda Mitchell

May 02, 2020 11:58 AM EDT

You mean you didn't get everything perfect the first time around?! :D Thanks for the blooper reel (what an ending). Needed to laugh. You are too adorable. Thanks for providing so much joy this month with your mini poem movies!!

- jama

May 02, 2020 12:30 PM EDT

--Thanks for joining in the fun, Linda - and glad you couldn't see all the snarls "hidden in the seams" of the real videos! ;0) Happy May - Tra La right back your way!

--Well, Jama, your comment makes my day. Glad you enjoyed, and please thank Mr. C. again for his support! ;0) Now I have some welcome catching up to do on other folks' blogs, like Alphabet Soup, which nourishes my soul like no other!

- Robyn Hood Black

May 02, 2020 10:28 PM EDT

this is terrific RObyn! I've loved your videos, but love the blooper real equally. I t looks like you had fun.

- Sally Murphy

May 02, 2020 11:48 PM EDT

Thanks so much, Sally it WAS fun to do, even if things didn't always go according to plan... ;0) Happy May!

- Robyn Hood Black

May 03, 2020 8:02 AM EDT

What a terrific family project! Now you have all those wonderful videos, plus a funny tribute to your mistakes :-)

- Tabatha

May 03, 2020 9:18 AM EDT

Brilliant bloopers, Robyn! I did so enjoy them. The wind and hair across the face in the beginning was my favorite. LOL! I, too, will be revisiting everyone's NPM work in May. That's the trouble with having your own project and teaching from home! Just not enough time in the month. Cheers!

- Christie Wyman

May 05, 2020 2:41 PM EDT

Woo hoo! You made it through a month of poems and learned to do something new with recording and sharing. I have been blown away by the generosity of people creating and sharing videos for teachers, children and parents. We've all had to learn new things these weeks.

- Kay Jernigan McGriff

May 05, 2020 4:00 PM EDT

--Thanks, Tabatha - kinda right up your alley, imperfection-appreciator that you are, no? Well, I appreciate your joining in the fun!

--Glad you got a chuckle, Christie - I do appreciate the breezes around here, but I didn't realize quite how prevalent they are until we tried shooting these little movies in different spots during the month - ha!

--Thanks, Kay - you said it. I don't know that I'd even heard of "Zoom" before April... My hat's off to ALL teachers on this National Teacher Day! (And, I decided just to plow forth with scant knowledge instead of waiting for the "perfect" time, which was not ever going to come around , anyway- ha! ) Glad you enjoyed.

- Robyn Hood Black

May 05, 2020 4:03 PM EDT

It seems I have to post another comment since your blog cut off the punchline of my last one and now I need to explain myself! I do know how to spell well done. I had an arrow pointing to it with the word "blooper". I guess your blog doesn't have a digital sense of humor. Poo.

- Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

May 05, 2020 4:09 PM EDT

--Hahahaha, Michelle - just so happens I'm wrangling with comments right now. My blog seems to be making its own unsolicited bloopers these days... ;0) I appreciate your humor whether the auto-techie-gremlins do or not - thanks!!

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 16, 2020 8:41 PM EDT

What a treat! Thanks, Robyn :-) You picked a perfect topic, both for the book and for these times. Nice job on the face mask!

- Tabatha

Apr 16, 2020 10:30 PM EDT

A perfect poem to match your mask adventure! Thanks for sharing it--will have to come back later and hear the video.

- Buffy Silverman

Apr 16, 2020 11:42 PM EDT

A perfect poem for the times Tabatha. And you may have inspired me to have a go myself. I've been thinking of getting my machine out, but keep hesitating because I'm so rusty and an adequate seamstress at best. But hey the fun is in the trying, isn't it?

- Sally Murphy

Apr 17, 2020 5:35 AM EDT

I love all the sounds in your poem and those final two lines capture so much. My grandmother and mother were both proficient seamstresses, but sadly that's a skill I lack. I'm impressed by your persistence and your masks!

- Molly Hogan

Apr 17, 2020 8:45 AM EDT

You captured the sounds and emotion involved in sewing perfectly! I struggle with directions and often find a different, but strange, way of doing things. You face mask looks good.

- Janice Scully

Apr 17, 2020 9:35 AM EDT

Ha! I can SO RELATE to your sewing poem, Ms. Do it Your Own Way. :) :) And there you are again with that mischievous Robyn-look in your photo. Love! xo

- Irene Latham

Apr 17, 2020 9:36 AM EDT

--Thanks so much, Tabatha - and thanks for such a wonderful book/resource for everyone who makes the, er, occasional mistake. Like I did reading the last couple lines of my own poem here. But, seemed appropriate just to leave it... ;0) HAPPY POETRY MONTH to you! XO

--Thanks, Buffy! This video was pretty fun to make. Mistakes and all.

--Thanks, Sally - "so rusty and an adequate seamstress at best" is the perfect description of MOI. But while I might labor endlessly over one word in a poem, when it comes to sewing, "good enough" seems to work for the masks. I say, go for it! ;0)

--Molly, another perfect description of my own situation! My mother made my wedding dress, and my grandmother's quilt covers our bed. I did take a class or two when my kids were little and enjoyed making some of their clothes and Halloween costumes. I was shocked this week to find that I could put my hands on my sewing machine instructions after moving several years ago... and more shocked that I didn't really need it. :0) Thanks for hosting everyone this week!!

--Thanks, Janice - you and I must be "cut from the same cloth"! (Sorry. Couldn't resist.) Have an inspiring day!

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 9:39 AM EDT

--Hi, Irene - so loved "seeing" you in your SCBWI Southern Breeze workshop last night! Glad you enjoyed. And, I would NOT be willing to compare my seams with yours, Missy. XO

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 9:39 AM EDT

Such fun, from such frustration (in that moment.) Sounds like my sewing process. A poem I take to heart.
And I appreciate your including it in words. I love hearing your voice, but sometimes (as this very moment) it's not convenient to raise the laptop volume) & then I fail to get back to the enticing listen, be it within a post or shared other ways. Your poetry month projects are so energizing! Brava!

- Jan/Bookseedstudio

Apr 17, 2020 9:56 AM EDT

--Hi, Jan - Thanks as always for your encouraging, light-filled words! This one you might want to listen to later, as I attempted to actually proNOUNCE all those garbled sounds I included in the poem - ha! Hope all your stitches hold tight today, with just the right amount of 'give'. XO

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 10:13 AM EDT

Those masks are looking good! My daughter has been making ours (my sewing experiences usually end in disaster--your poem leaves out the part about throwing things across the room and raging thunderstorms). I did enjoy the poem, and have witnessed these stages in my daughter's sewing through the years.

- Kay Jernigan McGriff

Apr 17, 2020 10:27 AM EDT

Yes, I've had a few mishaps, too, including the sewing then realizing that I placed the fabric one sees backwards. Oh, well, still works! It is certainly a timely poem to make all of us who are opening up the machines again & trying! Happy Friday, Robyn!

- Linda Baie

Apr 17, 2020 10:29 AM EDT

Yikes, meant to say to "make all of us who are sewing feel better"!

- Linda Baie

Apr 17, 2020 10:32 AM EDT

--Haha! Too funny, Kay. I'm going to try to get a few more made. (None of them are actually looking the same - I keep tweaking as I go!) Can't promise something won't fly across the room...

--Thanks for joining in, Linda - the poetry party and the mask-sewing. Rusty sewing peeps, unite! (extends power fist into the air....)

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 12:16 PM EDT

Ha! I love this. I have been such a poor sewer and repeater of all your steps except the last that I gave my sewing machine away! Ack! I could have used it these past weeks. Thank goodness for Etsy! There are sewers that sell masks there. Never would have thought of Etsy if it hand't been for Artsy Letters.

- Linda Mitchell

Apr 17, 2020 3:29 PM EDT

I wish I was better at undoing knitting mistakes, so I could hide them! Fun poem!

- Laura Purdie Salas

Apr 17, 2020 3:30 PM EDT

I wish I was better at undoing knitting mistakes, so I could hide them! Fun poem!

- Laura Purdie Salas

Apr 17, 2020 4:25 PM EDT

Testing blog comments

- Hector / AG Web Services

Apr 17, 2020 4:33 PM EDT

Another test comment

- Hector / AG Web Services

Apr 17, 2020 5:02 PM EDT

Your poem videos make me so happy! Today's poem is perfect for today's mask making frenzy. Great use of onomatopoeia! Like your face mask model too. :)

- jama

Apr 17, 2020 5:03 PM EDT

I admire all of you with sewing abilities. My daughter took a class and has sewn several things. Reading and listening to your poem is like listening to her work, too :) Thanks for sharing.

- Kimberly Hutmacher

Apr 17, 2020 5:11 PM EDT

Your poem is sewing machine music to my ears. My daughter sees, and it all sounds so familiar. Thanks for sharing, Robyn.

- Kimberly Hutmacher

Apr 17, 2020 5:29 PM EDT

test

- test

Apr 17, 2020 6:19 PM EDT

--Hi, Linda - Ha! Understood. And, I'm glad you had success finding masks on Etsy. There has actually been such demand that we (sellers) all received emails asking folks to make masks and offer them for sale if possible to help out. (My 'skills' are not at all consistent enough for that, but I'm glad folks who do sew regularly have answered the call!) :0)

--Haha, Laura - and, HEY - at least you can knit! Once upon a time I knew the simplest crochet stitch, but....

--Aw, Thank you, Jama! And I'll pass your compliments along to the 'model,' who has generally been behind the camera for most of my videos! ;0) Stay safe and well and covered up! XO

--Hi, Kimberly - thanks so much. I am quite out of practice! And thanks for the extra effort re. blog comments... which brings me to:

--Thanks, Authors Guild folks leaving the test comments, for trying to fix my 'comments' section issues! Virtual tangles, I guess... ;0)

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 8:20 PM EDT

Robyn, I went to the YouTube link before reading your poem and loved your presentation. It was filled with the "perfect" facial gestures and sounds. What a great poem and final product.

- Carol Varsalona

Apr 17, 2020 8:28 PM EDT

Thanks so much, Carol - glad you enjoyed it! Have a great hunkered-down-with-poetry weekend. :0)

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 17, 2020 10:33 PM EDT

How brave of you to record a poem with so many "sound effects." LOVED your animated reading, Robyn!

- Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

Apr 17, 2020 11:27 PM EDT

Haha, Michelle - that's what social distancing will do to you! ;0) Thanks for coming by!

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 18, 2020 5:37 AM EDT

So fun, Robyn! Your reading had me in 'stitches'. I still haven't gotten past my initial sewing mishaps...untangling the thread/bobbin has been a nightmare. Luckily, my 16 y/o daughter knows her way around the machine. :)

- Bridget Magee

Apr 18, 2020 7:48 AM EDT

Ah yes, we've all been there! And how great to see that acknowledged so perfect. I absolutely love all the sounds. Who knew so many of us would be sewing again.

- Liz Steinglass

Apr 18, 2020 7:49 AM EDT

Ah, yes, we've all been there and how wonderful to have the experience acknowledged so perfectly. I love the sounds! Who knew so many of us would be sewing again.

- Liz Steinglass

Apr 18, 2020 8:35 AM EDT

Sounds (literally) just about like MY process!

- Mary Lee

Apr 18, 2020 6:13 PM EDT

Your poem resonates with me and the process my sewing projects go through! We made masks, and it took a while to smooth out the process. I have discovered your poetry moments through the SCBWI gathered links. You're doing a fantastic job with the readings, the variety and the beautiful and meaningful locations of your filming. Thank you!

- Joyce Ray

Apr 18, 2020 11:03 PM EDT

--Hi, Bridget - Ha! That's funny. And it's interesting to read about another mom listening to her daughter zipping along on a sewing machine. I was not patient enough to learn from my mom while growing up, but then took a lesson or two - after a couple of college-era attempts - after having kids years later! ;0) Thanks for coming by!

--Glad you enjoyed, Liz! And isn't that something? I was pleasantly surprised I remembered how to turn on my old machine, and more or less operate it!

--Ha, Mary Lee! Well, I'll take the company....

--Oh, Joyce, what a very kind comment! Thanks for taking the time to check out the little videos, and I'm glad you found them on the SCBWI resource. And, the "smoothing out" of the process has definitely taken me several runs! I'm not sure any of the ones I made are really alike, though I did come up with a quirky design on the fly that I started adhering to, mostly. ;0)

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 19, 2020 11:19 AM EDT

Keep sharing, Robyn. I love it all! My first attempt at masks (cutting up old flannel sheets) resulted in some rather odd, yet incredibly soft masks for the two of us. No sewing involved. I so love that you are helping keep your neighbor safe. Be well!

- Christie Wyman

Apr 19, 2020 12:54 PM EDT

The zip, zip, zip, and the pin, pin, pin, I love the rhythm. I am not able to sew masks as my machine is broken. I love what you are doing for NPM!

- Jone R MacCulloch

Apr 19, 2020 12:58 PM EDT

Zip,zip,zip and pin, pin, pin and Chikita, chikita, chikita, chikita...love it! the rhythm. My sewing maching is broken so I can't use it and it's old so not worth fixing. I love what you are doing for NPM. Very fun to see each dat.

- Jone

Apr 19, 2020 10:40 PM EDT

--Hi, Christie! Good for you for the re-purposed flannel. Sounds cozy! (And, actually, it was our neighbor who gave US a couple masks that she'd made, before I got my own machine out! She's who we all want to be when we're in our 90s!) Stay safe & well!

--Thanks so much, Jone (& looks like my comments gremlins are still gremlin-ing. Hopefully that can get fixed soon!) - thanks for taking a look a the videos. And, THANKS for sending the wonderful kid's poetry postcards! Got mine! :0) Take care of yourselves. XO

- Robyn Hood Black

Apr 20, 2020 5:12 PM EDT

So fun a poem, so true an experience, so useful a skill and an attitude! Your videos are looking quite professional!

- Heidi

Apr 20, 2020 7:52 PM EDT

Aww, thanks so much, Heidi - I'm having fun with them! [ And have had to untangle thread MANY times during this mask-making process... ha! Plus, a blooper reel will be coming at the end of this month's adventures....]

- Robyn Hood Black