the book!

The Cut Work Portraits and Other Art Quilts book is in the editing stage!  I have handed it off to a friend to check my grammar, etc.  It ended up as 55 pages of detailed info how to & a dozen patterns, plus 11 sub patterns and each pattern has quilting options, suggested embellishments or a small tute to make that quilt even more special, using techniques that you can use on any project, not just the Cut Work Portraits!

See the Cut work Portraits book page to see the patterns included in the book.  Or look at the Cut Work Portraits blog for more details and to sign up to be notified when the book is published.  For those who pre-order (I will tell you when you can do that, don’t try just yet) I will add another 5 patterns - free!  I will use this blog for all my business transactions.

Since the Cut Work Portraits blog is for business, I will put the free pattern for the Heart Strings quilt on there too, instead of here on the OneCouchQuilts blog as originally planned.

I have already started working on what I am going to call the Butterfly Prayers and Other Comfort Quilts book.  It will feature a quilt similar to the one I made for Mrs. Hall and the PB&J quilts made for the Bible College students a couple years ago.  There will also be the current quilt I am working on for my youngest nephew who also is a Bible College student – Heavenly Prayers and a quilt still rattling around in my head that will be a manly quilt with the same feel as Butterfly Prayers, but without the butterflies!  :-) Why are men so difficult to make quilts for??!

And the next thing I am working on in conjunction with the Butterfly Prayers and Other Comfort Quilts book, is a line of fabrics through Spoonflower!  Wow, that is a new thing for me.  Sounds fun though, huh?

Cut Work Portraits book

I have all the pages done for the "how to" part of the book. 
I have all the pattens created and ready to insert into the book.
I have over half the pattern additionals are done.

With each pattern, I am trying to write some extra tip, add an extra little coordinating pattern, and suggest (& give) some quilting design.  I admit this is quite the little challenge I have set myself!

My goal is to get the book done in the next couple weeks, and off to the printer!  It is looking so pretty!

I wanted to make it all really big font, so it was easy to read.  But, there is so much info in there, that I had to reduce the font to kind of normal size.  If I had left it at a large size font, the book would have been quite pricey, or I would have needed to remove alot of info - neither seemed acceptable.

I think I may offer an E-book in a larger print size.  I have to check into the cost of the E-book.

If you would like to keep track of the book's publishing date, please become a follower.

Or, wait til next week, my blog specifically for Cut Work Portraits should be finished by then.  You can submit your email address for updates on that site.

Here it is: http://cutworkportraits.blogspot.com/

The Cut Work Portraits blog header

You can see a few of the patterns, I will work hard in the next couple days to get this site completely updated, showing all the patterns, and mentioning the extras in the pattern section of the book.

Oh, this is exciting!

Quilt Nebraska

As I said earlier, I have been invited to teach at QuiltNebraska in July.

This is an annual event that the State Quilting Guild hosts.  It is a full weekend of lectures, workshops, competitions and show.  And I am so honored to be asked to teach!

They want me to teach a class using my favorite fabric printing techinque - cyanotype!

I pray that at least 8 people sign up, so they don't cancel the class!

If you are interested in attending QuiltNebraska, you can see the web site here: http://qne2013.tripod.com/  or check out the Nebraska State Quilt Guild here: http://nsqg.org/quiltnebraska.html.

The cyanotype class I will be teaching will provide students with the basics of how to, then a few extra steps for changing the colors of the fabric, and changing only partially.  We also will discuss what to do in bad weather and how to care for the fabric after it is printed.

Each student will recieve several squares of fabric to play with as part of their class fee cost.

Trusting the Lord & His answer

Uggh!!! What a year this has been!  (I am talking about the last time I made an update to the book status).

First, I need to give you a little background.

I had many requests to write a book about my Cut Work Portraits technique.  So, I began writing - then ran into lots of life issues, and major software problems!

Also, there never seemed to be time to "get it done".  I was working 2 jobs, and never seemed to have a moment to myself.

In November, the Lord blessed me with the loss of my part time job.  It was sort of a political thing, but I know it was really a God thing.  My job involved watching the public, and every day it became more apparent that people have forgotten what PUBLIC means and what PRIVATE means, and they constantly showed more and more of their PRIVATE behaviors and body parts in PUBLIC areas! 

Being a Christian, this was really starting to wear on me, so when they told me I was fired, I wasn't too upset!  I knew God would take care.

For a couple months my hubby and I prayed about it, and I applied for several jobs.  But, nothing came about.

Then, last month, we had Missions Conference at church, and I was allowed to attend every night, without having to rearrange my evening work schedule!  It was so very nice!

Of course, we knew the Missions Conference was coming up, and had been praying for weeks what the Lord would want us to do.  And just as the Conference started - we got an answer.  Not just the dollar amount to give each week to missions, but what to do about my job situation.  The answer was "trust the Lord".

Dan and I had already cut back in every way we could on the home budget.  We also refinanced the house, saving us alot each month.  But, we were still short on the amount to make up for the job loss.

Then God said "trust me" - so we are!  We determined to trust the Lord to make up the difference and give us the incrase for our missions giving too.  We began to pray He would supply our extra income.

Two days later, I talked with a very knowledgable software specialist, and she spent a couple hours showing me how to solve my software issues.  And that same day I got an email asking me to be a Teacher at QuiltNebraska this summer!  Praise the Lord for quickly answered prayers.  True, neither answer has YET brought in any extra income.  But, He has given us assurance that He has ways of supplying.

I will do a couple separate posts about the book update, and about QuiltNebraska.  But, for now, I am sailing right along!

Update on the Cut Work Portrait Book!

I have been frantically working on the rest of the quilts, and the text for the book!

I am slowly resolving the software issues (I think).  And will soon turn it over to my two editors for help with grammar, etc.

I think I will have 13 patterns included in the book.  You can see most of those on the Cut Work Portrait Book page.

I am playing with the idea of offering 1 or 2 free patterns as a thank you for all who pre-order (once I get the book done, and know what the cost will be and have it set up so people CAN order).  What do you think about that?  What subjects, holidays, topics would be a good thank you pattern?

And can you think of something to name the pattern section of the book?  It is an editing issue, in that one chapter is named Pattern - as in creating it - and so I don't want the chapter with the free 13 patterns to be called the same thing!  Silly, huh?  I had thought of Gallery, but that usually means just pictures.  My husband suggested Samples, which is sort of right, but still doesn't seem to say it all.  Hmmmmmmmm........................

Become a follower to get the latest news on the book.

Quilt Pattern Magazine

Have you ever opened your email, and just been thrilled and excited to see a subject line, that tells you “I REALLY gotta find time to read this!”?

Every time I receive the Quilt Pattern Magazine newsletter email – it is hard to keep working!

Their newsletter and magazine are always so full of great info that inspires and informs. This is evident not only in the pages of their magazine, but in the Gallery of projects made from their patterns (Jane, I really, really like your earth tones Big Block Star, by the way – that is definitely on my TO DO list).

Their web site also has some great tutorials of basic info. Just last night I was talking to my granddaughter, Isabel, and promised to teach her English Paper Piecing. She loves to hand sew, and does really well, so I thought maybe some Grandmothers Flower Garden blocks would be a good start. I remembered that they had a tutorial for that, so printed it out – we are now ready to begin our lessons next week.

Besides all that, QPM has something that not all magazines can say – they truly are committed to not only sharing info, but to doing it the green way. I appreciate that their magazine is online – it makes it easily available to most everyone, while not stuffing our landfills!

Each month the magazine can be downloaded and then reviewed and printed anytime you want! I know my quilting space is very limited, and if I can get my inspiration on a computer, instead of on the bookshelf – it is helpful – that leaves more space for more fabric! Shopping, anyone? LOL

They also have a quilting chat area they call their quilting family – Pattern Pastiche! You gotta love this little quilting family. Don’t we all love to learn new things, and then share what we make? Or maybe have somewhere to ask questions when we don’t understand a technique.

And finally, one area that they excel at – is their respect of quilt designers!

Have you ever had an idea (or read one), and thought it was just the next best thing since sliced bread? Or should I say, since Rotary Cutters?

If you read submission forms for other magazines, you really get the idea that what you submit, will look next to nothing like what they print.

QPM is dedicated to not only promoting their own ideas, but ensuring that designers’ techniques and patterns reach the subscribers and still have that original inspiration and plan behind it.

They are currently proving this dedication to designers with a promotion for advertising. And I would like to personally thank them for that opportunity. It is splendid to work with a company who not only has high ideals, but actively implements it.

update on book & free quilt pattern

Cut Work Portraits & Other Art Quilts book

I want to give you a little hint of what the book will be like. Here are the chapter titles and subtitles, click to enlarge the pics.

I have almost all the text for each of the chapters done, and am working now mainly on Patterns and Gallery chapters. I do have one chapter (or is it two?) that are not in the Table of Contents yet.

During Christmas break I realized that quilters may want to make a quilt, but they do not have a photo to use to create their pattern, and there is not a LITERAL way to get one!

For example: you want just a fun winter quilt, that will showcase some pretty snowflake material, and you want a pattern of 2 friends sledding down the hill. Now, you might say, “just stick some friends on a sled, and get out the camera!”

Well, that would be fine if you want people, but what if you are in a whimsical mood, and you want the friends to be polar bears!? Well, I would not suggest you try plopping some bears on a sled, and shoving hats and scarves on them! So, you need a way to create a photo, of subjects in situations that don’t really exist!

Or, what if you have a photo, but the subjects are not close together? How can you manipulate the photo to make it work? Well, that is why I am adding another chapter!

Also, I have finalized the permission slips for use of photos, sketches, patterns and quilts. I plan to send those out this coming week. I also will have the chapters to the testers so they can begin to create the patterns and quilts for the book.

I am still having some technical difficulties with the software, but am not too concerned about it yet since I am still writing. I have some ideas of who to call on for help if I cannot figure it out.

Hmm, I wonder how long it takes others to write their first book?

The best way to see when the book is published, and be notified, is to become a FOLLOWER by clicking “JOIN THIS SITE”. You will get an email anytime there is an update to the site.

This will also let you know when there are any free patterns added! Did you catch the first step of the Heart Strings? Check out the Free and Fun page.

Heart Strings – a free quilt pattern

The Heart Strings quilt is in the quilting stage. Having been set aside to make birthday and Christmas gifts (see the What's Is Happening page).

I wanted everyone to have a chance to make the quilt top in time for Valentine’s Day, so have posted the first step on the Free and Fun page.

I will writ e up all the instructions and post them once the quilt is all done.

I am really anxious to see the quilt done! It has been so much fun to do. I hope the Bride & Groom feel that it is worth the wait! If not, I will be happy to keep it. It will be hard to let go once I am done, I have put so much into it.