July 23, 2015

Guess who's (finally!) making YouTube videos again!


Around a year ago, for the first time in my life, I began making YouTube videos. Tony and I - he behind the lens, I in front of it, as per usual - filmed a few and then as we got busy with our awesome trip to Vancouver Island, another bracingly cold winter set in (we were filming our vids outdoors), and as life in general stole the show, YouTube got put on the backburner for me.

Well, no more...I hope! This week, for the first time ever, I filmed a little “I’m back” video myself using my Canon Rebel T5i camera. In it I expand on the points above, delves into some of my plans for my channel, and invites all of you to ask me anything you'd like to know or to suggest topics for future videos (which you are super welcome to do here in the comment section of this post, too).





I know myself, I know my health, I know the complexities of my life, and I know that promising you a new video on X, Y and Z days every month is a recipe for failure (to be able to do so) on my part and potential disappointment on yours, so I won't say anything that set in stone.

I will however give you my word that I have every intention to continue posting YouTube videos again on a considerably more frequent basis (in an ideal world, at least once a week - but again, we'll see, and I'm happy with pretty much any frequency that beats about 11 months since my last video, which was what this unplanned YouTube hiatus lasted for!).

Thank you so much to all those here who is already following me on YouTube and if you haven't done so already, please feel free to subscribe to my channel there.

Huge thanks, everyone - I'm massively excited to share lots of new videos there with you in the weeks and months to follow!

*PS* If you need more incentive to follow my channel, I will be wearing some outfits there - especially when Tony's away this summer - that will not be appearing (in the moment at least) in blog posts. So you can get more of my vintage style on YouTube - yippee! :)

31 comments:

  1. Splendid! I'm quite looking forward to more videos! I'm trying to get more videos up, too, but isn't it more work and more time consuming than you would think! I'm subscribing to your channel post haste!

    -Krystle! 1930slife.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear! Goodness, does it ever! Not granted, my chronic health problems factor in here, but I also find it to be very physically draining. I'm not a YouTube pro by any means and usually do a few takes before I'm happy with a video, so there's a lot of time and talking involved. I assume that I'll get better/faster and feel more natural at it as time goes on though, so that should help.

      I just filmed my second (new) video yesterday morning and will be editing it soon and getting it up hopefully sometime next week.

      It's wonderful that you're trying to make more videos as well yourself. I wish you tons of success there, honey.

      Have a terrific Thursday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. YAY! There you are, dear friend! There you are!!! SQUEEZE! I love your voice. And for the record, the video came out really well. The light looks good and even, so don't you worry.

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    1. Huge thanks, sweet Franny! I really appreciate your kind feedback about the video quality. The lighting could be worlds better and the background a bit or exciting, but we have almost no "free"/blank walls in our house, let alone light coloured ones that would work for shooting against, so I just had/have to make do and try to create with the circumstances around me. I shot my second (new) video yesterday morning and will be editing it soon and hopefully getting it up next week. It's a summer reading haul and I'm really looking forward to sharing it on YouTube.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. How exciting that you're back on YouTube! I cannot watch videos while I'm at work, but I've recently discovered YouTube videos as a way to spend time alone at home, so I'll definitely be checking out your channel in the future.

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    1. I really appreciate that, dear gal. Thank you very much! It's still very much in its infancy, but all things willing, I do have high hopes for my channel and feel like I'm more certain of it (its direction, future, etc) than I was when it began last year.


      Wishing you a wonderful day - big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I cant wait to see your videos! No pressure!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Sylvie - that means a lot to me. I've already created the second (new) one and hope to edit it soon and it get it up there sometime next week.

      Big hugs & happy Thursday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. It is so lovely to see you back on video! I won't lie, I missed a few of the words as Teacup waved and talked and tried to get your attention (I don't think she realised you weren't a Skype conversation) but she was having such a great time watching and listening to you! We look forward to seeing more lovely videos from you :)

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    1. Aww, that's super sweet! I definitely think that I have the kind of voice and bubbly personality that would be apt to appeal to small children and babies alike. I actually remember a friend once saying to me that I would make a great children's TV show host and that has always stayed with me. No career change plans there in the slightest, but your comment reminded me of that previous remark and really made me smile.

      Tons of hugs to both of you,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Hooray, I've hoping you'd go back to doing them!!! (That is a fantastic hat, by the way!)

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    1. Thank you very much, honey! I'm thrilled about it, too. I was a total bundle of nerves there though and you can hear it in my voice and the speed at which I was talking. I've already filmed another video (to be uploaded either this weekend or next week, just depending on when I get it edited) and I can already see a substantial change in how calm I was/am and sound, which is great.

      Big hugs & happy Friday wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Hooray, nice to see you back behind the video camera lens Jessica! I'm excited to see what you've got in store :) x

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear friend. You have been such a supporter of my videos and my return to YouTube, and I want you to know that that seriously helped me to get in front of the lens again - even if I was a giant bundle of nerves here for this video. I've already filmed a second once since (to be uploaded either this weekend or next week) and my nerves and tone of voice are much calmer in it. I've got ideas for numerous more videos, too, and hope to get in more shooting really soon. I can hardly wait! :)

      Tons of hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. I'm so happy you're back! I really enjoy the videos. My request might seem a bit odd, how about a video on vintage undergarments. Practical layering of a garter belt with stockings, a girdle or waist shaper along with a bustier or brassier and then a slip that goes over everything. This could be shown on a mannequin or bust form. When I try to dress with my undergarments and lastly put on a dress, I feel so constricted. I have lovely slips but feel that wearing a brassier under it becomes uncomfortable. Due to my intestinal illness, pressure on my mid section eventually hurts developing into unfortunate distress. Just a thought.❤️

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    1. Hi sweet Christy, thank you very much for your supportive comment and lovely video request. As someone in the same boat (with tight garments on my waist), I wholeheartedly understand. There's really no secret to how I personally layer my undergarments (aka, it's pretty basic in a vintage context), but I could definitely try to put together a video like that, perhaps with Tony's help (to man the camera and zoom in when needed), once he's back. Thanks again for the great suggestion. Please keep them coming any time!

      Big hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Profound, honest, real.. that is what this video is.
    I love it.
    No faking, no voice overlaying, no special effects added - just you. And, my dear Jess, sometimes that is all we need. So: thank you for this magnificent video.. and thank you for being BACK on filming..

    Huge hug.
    Keep on making these little gems.

    Marija

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    1. Sweet Marija, no one and I really mean no one, cuts to the chase and sees the truth is something better than you. Thank you for your supportive, wonderful take on this video. I was a total bundle of nerves here - and can see and hear it, but, so what? It's my channel and my life and I want to be true to both at all times. That said, I've already filmed a second video (to be uploaded either this weekend or next week) and was a lot calmer, had a more even tone to my voice, etc in it, and I'm sure such things will just continue to improve further as time goes on.

      Huge, heartfelt thanks again - tons of hugs coming right back at you!
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. That was such a nice video - "bye bye elephant, bye bye", I loved that! And surely you are amazing, so no need to get better as you said, but if you say, OK - then you will get better and more confident! I liked the video very much! And it's nice to come back, but please, don't worry about filming, I mean, not that much - otherwise, what is meant to be nice for you, turns into a worry. I mean, I post once a week, on Mondays. I may start posting on Thursdays too, but if not, it's fine. That was the way I felt to be OK, not feeling so overwhelmed - but that is just what works for me, of course I will love seeing more videos! Hope you have a very nice weekend, may you enjoy it a lot!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. Hi sweet Denise, thank you deeply for your wonderfully nice comment and for spotlighting that moment in my video. It was so spontaneous and shows the cutesy side of my personality really well. Though I was a tangled web of nerves for this video, I'm so glad I took the plunge and delved back into video making again. I've already created (but still need to edit, so it hasn't been uploaded yet - very soon, I promise) a second video and can see a significant different in my nerves and the tone of my voice (less rushed/hyper) in it, which is great. I'm sure things will just continue to improve more and more there as time goes on.

      I appreciate your support so much - thank you very much!!!!

      ♥ Jessica

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  11. My comment got cut off I think u seem to be a very confident public speaker
    Retro Rover

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kate. I was a total bundle of nerves here though, let me tell you! I've since made another video though (with 25 random fun, fascinating facts about myself) which I published this morning and my nerves were virtually gone for it, which is a good sign.

      Have a stellar weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. cuuuuteee!!!!
    you look sooo completely confident in front of the camera!!! enviable!!
    and the fab hat and cool plaid shirt are perfect rural canada :-) wonderful! to see your gorgeous outfit creations on move will be fantastic! i can´t wait for that! and i can totally understand that a stone cut schedule is something that could produce trouble or flatten creativity - one have to do such things when one feels like doing it :-)
    greetings from me and lisbeth!! xxxxx

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    1. Bless your kind heart, dear Beate. I was a complete and total bundle of nerves that day - not only because I was in front of the camera again but because that was the first video I'd ever filmed of myself (or anything else) with my DSLR and I was really winging it. Oh well! You just have to jump in with both feet sometime and that what I did. I've since filmed and shared a second video (on Saturday) and my nerves were virtually gone for it. I have plans for two more videos soon (including a thrifting haul, as I actually had a spot of thrift store luck this month) and am sure my confidence in front of the camera will only improve as time goes on.

      Tons of hugs & sincerely heartfelt thanks for your support and encouragement!
      ♥ Jessica

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  13. The general outlay of this type of video is really cute, but a tip: do experiment with the sound, since it is very metalic, and it is not nice when you turn up the volume. Perhaps, you need to move the microphone closer or you should sit in a room with more carpeting, I don't know.

    I have an idea: How about picking number 5 (then number 10, 15, 20, etc., meaning randomly) dress from the left in your wardrobe, show us the dress, and then tell us what you would style it with and why? Since you are the mistress of accessories, this could be both entertaining and educative. I mean all accessories from cardi, to hat, jools, purse, shoes, belt ... Just an idea. Have a lovely day, dear. :)

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    1. Hi sweet Sanne, thank you very much for your lovely comment and thoughtful feedback on this video. I really appreciate it. That is odd though, as I get very little metallic sound on this end. Could it perhaps have to do with your bandwidth or another computer related factor? I'm certainly not claiming that the audio here is star quality of course, but now you have me wondering if it sounds metallic-y for others as well. I tried playing it on my phone (iPhone 5) and didn't get much there either. Hmmm - I'll have to ask Tony about that, as he's far more knowledgeable than I am about such things at present, though I do feel like I've already had quite the crash course in video making in the past few days alone and am trying to learn more.

      That is a marvelous idea for a video or series of videos, thank you very much! I'd love to do them with standing upright and modelling the garment and accessories. I did one such video last summer (it was about how to style an early 1940s daywear look) and really enjoyed it. They're easy, too, because if the camera is out with us for a photo shoot, it just makes sense to film a "what I wore" video, too, if time/weather/my health/etc permit. I really appreciate you letting me know that you'd like to see more of that kind of video.

      Many thanks across the board again. Have a fabulous last week of July!

      ♥ Jessica

      Of course, as time goes on, I want to improve both the audio and lighting qualities of filming, though I can't do much at all about the massive lack of light (this video was filmed with the blinds on every window on that floor of the house completely open) in our house, save for investing in some professional lights and other equipment for video making, which I would love to do, when possible.

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  14. I'd somehow forgotten how adorable your voice is! It was such a treat to watch a new video and I'm so pleased that you're feeling some creative inspiration to make more. I look forward to the next one, whenever that may be.

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    1. Aww, that is wonderfully sweet of you to say, my dear friend, thank you very much! I was an absolute bag of nerves that day and I can hear it in my voice here, but I've since filmed and uploaded two more videos (one with 25 fascinating random facts about me, the other a mid-summer book haul) and my nerves were practically gone in both, so my voice was a lot calmer/clearer, IMO. Now I just need to work on saying "umm" less as a filler between words/sentences. I don't do this more than the average person in real life, so that must still be the nerves or perhaps my natural shyness at work there.

      Many heartfelt thanks again - have a beautiful weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. How lovely to see you back. I thought your videos were great before and were like an extra way to get to k ow you. I look forward to seeing your next ones.

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    1. Thank you very much, my sweet friend! Ohhhh, how I was a bundle or nerves and energy when I filmed this first (new one), but thankfully those have since all but vanished and I'm not quite so hyper or nervous sounding in the new ones that have followed it - the latest of which, a detailed look at snoods, just went up yesterday.

      Oodles of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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