'Hand-Built Dreams' Described at Savanna's Ladies Day Out

By Tom Kocal

Almost everyone knows of "TinkerBell," from the widely known 1953 animated feature film "Walt Disney's Peter Pan." She also opened all of Walt Disney's TV shows, sprinkling fairy dust on the castle. Today, many of you with children or grandchildren have probably seen the 2008 animated feature "TinkerBell," which delves into where the magical impish fairy got her name. She's a "tinker."

In the olden days, a tinker was someone who travelled around the countryside, fixing just about anything, mending household utensils, etc. Today, there is a real-life TinkerBell, Michele Brown Beschen, originally from Savanna, Illinois, now the star of "B.Original" on the DIY Network.

Beschen was the featured speaker at the Ladies Day Out luncheon on Wednesday, April 22, hosted by the Savanna Chamber of Commerce. Held at the House of Events, nearly 200 ladies (and a few men) enjoyed the Savanna natives' story of how she created her TV concept.

"My whole family was always busy making things with our own hands," Beschen said. "That's how I was raised, right up the road between Savanna and Thomson. That's what I've taken from my life and applied it to my work."

Beschen spent 9 years in Des Moines, IA, doing a program for a TV station there. learning about production, sales, "and everything in between." She thought about a show based on her first love - making things. "I could recycle anything I could find to re-use in new ways," she said, "making my hand-built dreams."

After an escapade in her living room that resulted in hundreds of worms "escaping" from some acorns she had left out on the carpet, her husband decided it was time she had her own workshop, which is how her DIY show evolved. They experimented with some show ideas in the workshop, put together a sales package, and made a presentation to the Des Moines station. They invested their savings into a new video camera, Mac computers for editing, and jumped right in.

"I've always been interested in the people behind the projects," Beschen said. "This evolution was how 'Courage to Create' was born. Don't be afraid to tackle anything. We all have to start somewhere."

Soon after, the DIY Network showed interest and bought the show. "We changed the name to 'B. Original,' based on advice my dad gave me when I was little."

They continue to add to their "courage to Create" programs, and have recently added "B. Organic," a program going back to basics, nature, and of course, creativity.

"We still shoot the same way we did four years ago. Nothing glamorous, no make-up artists, no stylists. Just a focus on the real people and projects that we present. But it works!

"Living in small-town Van Meter, IA (a short commute from Des Moines) we can shoot out in the middle of a country road, never have to worry about traffic control, and sometimes never even stop one car!," Beschen exclaimed.

When asked where her inspiration comes from, Beschen replied, "We are ALL creative, but we all have different ways to show it. There is power in creativity. It leads to some amazing discoveries. I utilize my creativity every day, and there is nothing more rewarding and exciting than injecting your ideas into a hand-made project. One thing always leads to another, and I never run out of ideas. Nature is very inspiring - go outside!"

Other creative, inspiring advice from Beschen includes never admitting that you "can't" do something. "I don't use the word 'can't.' If someone tells me I 'can't,' I make them back it up! We all have challenges. There are always solutions."

Michele Brown Beschen will be on ABC's "Good Morning, America" May 3 for a segment on "How to make a Hermes Purse," and will do a room make-over on May 9. She is also featured often on Rachel Ray's award-winning daytime show.

"Plus, we shoot our show year-round," Beschen said. "It's been producing TV shows, DVD's, and everything else 5-days-a-week for 7 years in Van Meter. It's a lot easier to work at home than in New York on Rachel Ray's show. They usually shoot 2 to 3 shows each day when I go there. But the studio is too confining. I like being outside in Van Meter, shooting in different locations, much better."

In closing, Beschen said, "I am very proud to be from Savanna. I include my family in my shows as much as I can, and I truly love my work. I'd rather invest in tools than shoes . . . I can make anything I need. Actually, I've hurt myself more in the kitchen than in my workshop with all my power tools!"

Now THAT'S a tinker belle!

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