A Christmas Carol with all new illustrations by Quilter Francine Haskins

Washington DC artist and quilter has created all new images for Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and the Christmas Ghosts are illustrated as Black Victorians!

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2E7Aepq

Ebook: https://amzn.to/2G4RNcg

Enjoy!

Scrap Easy: Building A Collage Quilt - Publish Your Quilt Pattern

Scrap Easy by Aisha Lumumba

Have you ever considered sharing a quilt pattern you've created with a wider audience?

Quilter and author Aisha Lumumba has published Scrap Easy: Building a Collage Quilt. It's also available as an e-book.

I LOVE the powerful, colorful book cover. This 50-page paperback book includes easy-to-follow instructions and large photos to help guide you. Ms. Lumumba's book will help you creatively use the fabrics in your scrap bag!

You CAN publish your own quilt pattern book! Here's one source to help you.  Enjoy!

Self-Publish a Gallery Exhibit Catalog - See How an Arts Quilts Show Did It!

Art Quilts: My World in Black and White
Exhibit Catalog

Is your guild having an exhibition? Consider creating a permanent record of the show by self-publishing an exhibit catalog. You can sale the copies during the exhibit and even have them available to purchase online, ensuring folks outside of your local community know of your wonderful textile projects!

Have a look at the preview feature for the Fiberarts Connection of Southern California's exhibit catalog for Art Quilts: My World in Black And White.

This 57-page paperback catalog is available from Lulu.com. Anne Copeland curator this 2008 exhibition featuring 40+ quilters from across the country.  Enjoy!

Eileen Birch's Images of a Textile Artist

Images of a Textile Artist

Congratulations to Eileen Birch on the publication of her Images of a Textile Artist.

According to her bio, Eileen Birch studied design arts at St. Claire College and Georgian College in Ontario, Canada. This 32-page full color paperback includes a variety of images of her textile work: quilts, handbags, garments, and even holiday table runners and Victorian tree skirts.

Have a look on Lulu.com and preview Images of a Textile Artist for yourself. Enjoy!

Rose Marie Werner publishes State Bird and State Flower Quilts book!

Congratulations to Rose Marie Werner who followed her quilt research passion and published State Bird and State Flower Quilts! I recently asked Mrs. Werner to share her experience with you:

Tell us about your quilt book: State Bird and State Flower Quilts is an outcome of my research of 20th Century quilt patterns and quilt kits. In the book I have compared 37 sets of quilt blocks with either flowers, birds, or both. I have also included some of the history behind state birds and state flowers and information on each state's choices. The book was written primarily for quilt appraisers, quilt historians and collectors, but the general public may also find this information interesting. It is a documentation of a bit of Americana.  

What motivated you to tackle publishing yourself? Was it a complicated process?  In the past I had contacted publishers about publishing some of the research I have been doing. The whole process of putting together a book proposal and meeting the differing requirements of each publisher was very time-consuming - time I would rather put to doing research. When I found and read How to Self-Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog, I realized that it was possible to publish the research myself. 

I tried two companies. The first company seemed more interested in selling me help with formatting and editing and I became frustrated when I ran into unfamiliar terms or processes that I didn't understand. I laid the project aside for nearly a year and then went to CreateSpace.com. It was more user-friendly and offered tutorials throughout the process. Because I did the formatting and editing myself, I did not spend a penny until I purchased a proof copy for $5.00.  (All the self-publishing sites will sell formatting and editing for someone who does not want to do that themselves.) It was not a complicated process (especially with a guidebook to follow) once the Word document was finished. My book has a lot of pictures, so I had to learn how to work with them. Once I uploaded the file to CreateSpace they told me what issues I needed to address and offered tutorials in doing that. It wasn't long until I had a proof in my hands. 

How did it feel when you first held a copy of your book?  Seeing the book for the first time was so exciting! There was MY NAME on the cover of a BOOK! Books have always been an important part of my life. I read nearly every book in my elementary school library and have continued to read all my life. Now I am a published author. It is still a little hard to believe. I'm already thinking about which other parts of my research could become a book.  

What an inspiration! And, it is a cool book. I have a few Ruby Short McKim, Colonial Pattern Co., Modern Handcraft, Laura Wheeler, McCall and even Aunt Martha patterns - just not any about State birds or flowers.  Mrs. Werner's book includes all those pattern makers and more. Enjoy!

Steps to Publishing Your Art Catalog on CreateSpace

I hope you are finding the How to Self-Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog workbook useful to bringing your quilt art to others. So, now that you have your manuscript, how do you get it published? Here is an overview of the major steps for publishing your art catalog on CreateSpace.

1.  Visit www.CreateSpace.com. You'll want to Create a New Account. Complete the requested information. Once you've done this you'll get an email with a link to activate your account. Creating an account is free.

2. Add a New Title to start your quilt, guild, or gallery catalog. You'll need to complete the Start Your New Project page.  Selected the Guided set up process.

3.In the How to Self-Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog, Step 12 asked you to gather some information about your book. If you have completed this step, the upload of your book should go quickly!  On the Title Information page, you'll add the title of your book (no typos!), author name, catalog description, etc.  

 4.Choose your ISBN option. You can use a CreateSpace ISBN for free or use one of your own ISBNs that you have purchased from www.ISBN.org.  Even if you use a CreateSpace ISBN, you still keep all rights to you art catalog. Refer to the CreateSpace Service agreement if you have any questions.

 5. Describe your book's interior features.  Indicate if your full-color quilt, guild or gallery art catalog will have what trim size? When you select full-color interior, you'll notice that white paper is automatically selected.  Next, indicate if you're going to upload your book or manuscript file or if you want to pay for CreateSpace's professional design services to format your manuscript. Now, the How to Self-Publish Your Quilt Catalog shows you how to format your own Microsoft Word document so you don't have to pay for someone to design your catalog if you don't want to.

 6. Next, if you are uploading your own book or manuscript file, now is the time to upload!  Once the file is uploaded, the free CreateSpace Interior Reviewer will show you page-by-page how the book interior looks. The Interior Reviewer will highlight potential printing problems. At any point you can correct an error, and upload a revised manuscript.

7. Now, upload or create your own book cover. CreateSpace provide three choices for you: Build your own cover using their free templates, uploading a cover you have, or paying CreateSpace to design a cover for you.

8. CreateSpace has about a dozen or so template cover designs that you can customize - no programing or other technical skills needed!  I know - I used one of the free template to create the cover for How to Self-Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog!

 

For this example, I used the template - and even used one of CreateSpaces free images for this sample cover. 

 

9.  Now it's time to submit your interior and cover for CreateSpace to review and approve for printing.

CreateSpace will email you in a day or so that it has approved your files or may ask you to correct something that will hinder printing and resubmit the file(s).  You'll next have to provide Sales Information for your book as well as indicate where you want to sell your book (e.g., Amazon, expanded distribution to other online sites, Amazon sites in UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and the book's retail price. Be sure to order a physical proof.  I have rarely ordered a proof and not seen some mistake that I was able to correct (e.g., misspelled word, etc.). And, from personal experience, it a absolutely FABULOUS to see your proof when it arrives - to see your name in print and to actually hold in your hands your own catalog!


Do let me know when you're quilt catalog is published.  I'd love to read it and share your good news with others here on the blog. Enjoy!

"A Journey Through Plastic Space" by Marcella Hayes Muhammad

While I was on a social media site, I read about Marcella Hayes Muhammad's art catalog. This 60-page full color catalog features her abstract, cubism work. There are nearly 50 images in this catalog - all for only $10. CreateSpace is used to publish this art catalog, that includes an essay by Dr. William E. Colvin from Alabama State University as well as text by Mrs. Muhammad. She shares her inspiration and insights about creating her still life, musical, Maruvian mask, and figurative series. And, if you're in the UK, you can also purchase the catalog! 

Congratulations Mrs. Muhammad on "A Journey Through Plastic Space".  Enjoy!

Sherrie Theriault has self-published more than 30 art books!

Hello!  Recently I was introduced to this new children's picture book, Quilt Me Into Memory by New Jersey outsider artist Sherrie Theriault.  I purchased the book immediately based on the quilt cover!  I was also surprised by the unusual viewpoint of the story and the Harriet Powers' references. I just had to email her and ask a few questions.  Let me introduce you to Sherrie Theriault - who has self-published more than 30 books featuring her artwork!

What inspired you to create "Quilt Me Into Memory"? 
Sherrie:  Many years ago my mother suggested that I consider writing books.  Because I am a profound non-speller, I made light of the idea that I could write a book, but she held fast. I was driving to the library, praying for the willingness to at least try. I was also praying for inspiration; when I arrived the first thing that caught my eye was Antiques Magazine; the cover image was a pictorial quilt by Harriet Powers. I pored over the article. I was stopped by an ad for an auction; an antiques dealer was going to auction off a handbill from the last slave auction at the Macon County courthouse. I was devastated; it was a list of people's names and ages and attributes. I sat in the library and cried and as I did it occurred to me that this auction was not the end of the story, that the plague that is chattel slavery is not the end of the story. Harriet Powers' quilt was there on the cover of this magazine telling some more of the story and maybe I could tell some of the story too. I xeroxed the article and the ad; came home and wrote Quilt Me Into Memory.

Are you also a quilter?
Sherrie:  Yes, I do quilt, but I am a playful, inexact quilter. My mother is a competition quilter, also a quilt instructor.  The quilt on the cover is my mother's work. She is the only person I would trust such a task to. She captured everything my heart had to say and quilted it.

How did you produce this book using CreateSpace? Did you use their book layout service or did you do it yourself?
Sherrie:  I use the program Photoshop to typeset my artwork. I use Microsoft Word for book layout and then I convert the Word document to a PDF file for upload. The book's cover I created in Photoshop and PDF the file directly from there.  This is the 31st book I have created using CreateSpace. I love them and the opportunity they provide me. I have to say I haven't ever used their layout service.

As an artist, why is it important that you also create books for your work?
Sherrie: I am an outsider artist and my work is represented in a gallery and this is wonderful. With that said, nothing compares with the range and longevity that a book offers. When someone buys my sculpture from the gallery it is theirs and though people may admire it or commission a similar piece, it is never the same as the first one, the real one.  With books it's the real one every time and they can be shipped anywhere and now they can be converted to Kindle format and go with you anywhere. I can't do that with sculpture; I can't make it accessible in the same way.  Sculpture is wonderful, but books are a different kind of love affair.

Would you like to share an important tip to other artists looking to create a book of their artwork or publish a children's story based on their artwork?
Sherrie:  I fear that this will sound trite, but breathe. Then be patient with yourself and be aware that you might not be your normal charming self while building your book so keep some space between you and those you care about, less apologize that way.

Make a big note for yourself that says, "There is a learning curve; it will not always take me this long to do this!"  Post this all over your workspace and do all you can to believe the note because it is true.

My first picture book took six months to build and much blood was drawn, not all of it mine. Now it takes an hour or two to build a book once I have finished the typesetting; no blood and lots of smiles when it's done.

The last thing I will say is... do it!  Nothing in this world feels the way your book feels in your hands; trust me, you don't want to miss out on that feeling.

Sherrie - thank you so much for your time in sharing your self-publishing experience for your artwork. I was inspired by 30+ books and "Quilt Me Into Memory!  

I hope this interview is helpful to those who are following the Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog blog!  I'm happy to include YOUR quilt catalog experience, too.  Enjoy!  

Edna Patterson-Petty's Fabrics Work Now Published!

Congratulations to East St. Louis art quilter Edna Patterson-Petty on the publication of her new book, Fabrics Work: My Creative Journey!

What motivated you to create a quilt catalog?
"I started the process in 2010 with Blurb.com and never completed it for whatever reason, and as an outcome I became frustrated. It wasn't until Kyra published her book "How to Self-Publish Your Own Quilt Catalog," that I signed up to follow her blog, and I then decided to finish what I started, but this time with perseverance and CreateSpace."

Was your publishing process difficult or expensive?
"Pulling the information together was not difficult since I had started the process before, but the difficult part was working with a new version of Micrsoft Word 2010. Everything was way different from what I was used to with the old version. So, I had to have help in "ironing" out a few things. The process of creating the catalog was not expensive, it was free."

How does it feel to have a finished catalog of your quilts?
"I feel relieved, excited and nervious all at the same time. It is like creating a new art piece, and not knowing how it will be accepted by my peers. But all's good, I have FAITH."

What advice do you have for other quilters or guilds considering making a catalog?
"My advice is to go for it, for those of us that need a little help, Kyra simplified it in her book. So, it is time to stop talking about it and be about it!"

Would you like to add anything else?
"Yes, I would like to thank God for the good, the bad and the ability to make it through. In the words of MARY, MARY - "Go Get Your Blessing."

Fabrics Work: My Creative Journey is available on Amazon. This 28-page, full-color quilt catalog includes 18 quilts and an essay by Edna Patterson-Petty.  Congratulations Edna!!

If Quilts Could Talk: My Quilts, My Stories by Aisha Lumumba

Congratulations to Aisha Lumumba on her 2nd quilt book!  I love how she is taking her quilts and making them available to a larger audience who may not be able to see them in person or on exhibit. Add to your library "If Quilts Could Talk: My Quilts, My Stories" by Lumumba. This 32-page, full-color book features five quilts inspired by real-life adventures from Lumumba's childhood in rural Georgia.  This book is first in a series!   

You'll see how Aisha used one of her quilts for the cover. Don't you just want to DANCE with these two sisters?  She also used Microsoft Word for the interior. You can do this, too!  Enjoy!

Monna Ellithorpe Publishes Double Wedding Ring Quilt Pattern

Earlier this year Monna Ellithorpe used CreateSpace to publish her "Easy Double Wedding Ring Quilt" instructional pattern book. This book is 6" x 9" and has 32 pages.  Mrs. Ellithorpe was motivated to write the book, according to the description on Amazon, "out of sheer frustration in trying to make a Double Wedding Ring Quilt. Wanting so desperately to make this beautiful quilt for her daughter..."  She goes on to say the pattern is one even a beginner quilter can make! 

Today's posts are about different self-publishing ideas other quilters had. This is a quilt pattern book. Next you'll read about a children's book involving a magical quilt, and finally, a more traditional catalog on quilted sculptures.

The steps we've covered to date have included the major elements of creating your own quilt catalog:

• Determining your catalog theme - Step 1
• Educating yourself on self-publishing printers and the elements important for you in selecting the appropriate printer/distributor.
• Determining the components of your quilt catalog (or children's book, pattern book, etc.)
  
• Formatting your quilt catalog using Microsoft Word - and typing your manuscript just as it would appear printed
• Writing the text or essay for your catalog and inserting the quilt and other photos.

I hope your quilt catalog is coming along!  Enjoy these examples from other self-published quilters!

Mary and The Dream Quilt - One Grandmother Publishes Stories for Her Grandchildren

Susan Victor published Mary and The Dream Quilt, a 60-page book for her grandchildren using CreateSpace. According to the book's description, "When Mary and Squeaks find the Dream Quilt hidden at the bottom of Grandmother's Trunk of Tricks, fairies, dragons, and mermaids are just a dream away. But an ugly old witch and her nasty black cat learn of it too! Courageous little Mary must quickly discover her magic and stop the witch's plans before the Dream Quilt is lost forever."

Have you considered publishing a children's story featuring your quilts?  Have a look at Mary and The Dream Quilt on Amazon and click the Look Inside logo on the book cover. You'll see that this book has a black & white interior with black & white line drawings. You can read the positive reviews about the book.

I believe if the late Celia Spatz LoPinto were here, she would add Susan Victor's book to Mrs. LoPinto's "Stitch Me A Story: A Guild to Children's Books with a Quilting Theme." Mrs. LoPinto self-published her 74-page guide in 1994 and updated it in 1999. This guild included the title, publication details and story descriptions for more than 125 children's books.  What a gem!  Enjoy! 

The Studio Quilt, No. 8: Quilted Sculpture

Congratulations to Sandra Sider, who has published another catalog in the Studio Quilt series. This 50-page catalog features the quilted sculpture pieces by Mary Beth Bellah, Susan Else, and Jill Rumoshosky Werner. This catalog is published via CreateSpace and retails for $14 (though at the moment it is listed for just $10!).

As you consider your own personal or guild catalog, you might brainstorm possible series opportunities:

• A guild's two or three major exhibits during the year
• A gallery might focus on creating catalogs featuring up-and-coming local artists
• A quilter might consider a catalog for different themed quilts (e.g., family quilts in one catalog by one person and another catalog featuring a collection of quilts by different family members or across different generations)

What kind of catalog series are you considering?  Enjoy!

Step 11 - Type Your Artist Resume and Proof Your Catalog

Your catalog is a great way for potential collectors of your work to become familiar with you. For people who have already invested in your work, this catalog may enhance the value of your quilts to them. The artist resume is a way to illustrate your involvement with your craft in a more formal way than the essay you may have written in your catalog.

Let's say you want to create a one-page artist resume to include in your catalog.  The topics you might consider adding:

• How to contact you.  You might provide an email or website address.
• Selected exhibits where your quilts have been included
• A selected list of any book or articles that feature your art work
• Selected public or private collections that include your quilts
• Selected list of guild or association memberships 
• Notice that you offer workshops or lectures about your artwork or quilt technique(s)

Guilds which are creating an exhibit catalog may consider adding a page featuring the guild's history or invitation for readers to join the guild.

Congratulations!  If you've been following these steps, you have the basic framework for your own quilt catalog!  You have an essay that provides insights into your artistic motivations, you have a dozen or so images of your quilts, and an artist resume.

In Step 12 - we'll start the process of actually getting your catalog published and distributed.  But, before that, you'll need to ensure that your catalog is proofread.

Ensure any purposely blank pages are indeed blank.  Check for grammatical errors, readability, formatting consistency and such. For a week or two, put your manuscript aside; then, come back to it with fresh eyes. Proof your manuscript again. Consider hiring a professional proofreader or ask friends who will be very honest with you (smile!). I have used elance.com to locate proofreaders within my budget. In any respect, you'll need an error-free file to create your quilt or art catalog.

How is your quilt catalog project coming along?  Do you have any questions that I can help with? Do drop a note in the Comments area.  I'd love to hear from you.  Enjoy! 

Offer your quilt catalog in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy!

Today CreateSpace announced that authors using their service can distribute their books (like your quilt catalog!) on the Amazon websites in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.... for free.  Your quilt catalog, if you choose to participate in the Amazon Europe program, will always be in stock in these countries.

Additionally, your quilt catalog, if you use CreateSpace, will be available for same-day shipping in those countries. No longer will your potential customers have to pay extra for shipping from the US. 

What is great for quilters outside of the US, you can receive royalties from your quilt catalogs by direct deposit in US dollars, British pounds or Euro. 

This morning I've expended the How to Self-Publish Your Quilt Catalog distribution to these new countries.  It was as easy as a click!  Enjoy!

Step 10 - Insert Photos of Your Quilts into Your Catalog

No art catalog is complete without photographs! I have several exhibit catalogs published in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s that have B&W photographs because this was the affordable way to publish such gallery catalogs.  With print-on-demand, you can publish a catalog in full-color. 

By now you should have determined the layout you want for your quilt catalog as well as the number of images or photographs you want to include.

There are a variety of photographic styles you can use for your catalog, such as:

• Professionally or personally photographed art pieces;
• Images of you at work sewing on your machine or sewing by hand;
• A photograph of your quilt on a bed or wall; and/or
• A group photo of you with family or friends near one of your quilts on display

You might consider different photo caption styles, such as:

• Name of piece, year made, size of piece, materials used, owner of the piece
• Paragraph describing your inspiration for making the piece

Other Items to Consider:

• Be sure to give the photographer credit for his or her images in your catalog.
• If you have photographs of anyone other than yourself in your catalog, be sure to get a signed photo release from each person in the photo. Be sure you have their written permission to publish their image.  
• You’ll need digital images to insert into your Word file.  For CreateSpace, the final interior book file size cannot be larger than 400MB.  Insert your photographs into your Word document; do not copy and paste the images, for best quality.

There are a few online resources for taking quality images of your quilts:

• Shoot That Quilt!  This website by Holly Knott and Andy Baird provides great insights on cameras you might use, lighting needed, how to best angle a quilt for photographing and even examples of what NOT to do! 
• Paula Furgason, Guest Author on the Adventure Quilter website, offers five tips for improving your quilt photography.
• "QuiltAlbum" has created a 2 min. YouTube video showing quilt photography steps. Enjoy!