Debut!

Well, it has been a very exciting week around

my American Homestead!  On St, Patrick's Day

my first book was released and on Saturday I

gave my first lecture about it.

The lecture was about how I became a quilt and

craft pattern designer including all the influences

I have had in my life that brought me here and

of course it was the story of my first book and a

trunk show of the quilts.  It was so wonderful to

have had the chance to debut my book while

 being surrounded by so many of my friends.

And it was extra special since my daughter Katie

Rose was home for Spring Break and she could

share the day with me.

Afterwards, I signed books in The Quilt Shoppe's

booth and I'm happy to say we sold out of the 

first shipment.

Images courtesy of Silva Photography.

My friend Irene Silva of Silva Photography

captured these sweet images of people reading 

my book.  I'm so happy she did this because I

didn't get to see this since I was signing books.

What is so special about this is, this is exactly

what I envisioned as I was planning and 

designing this book.  I wanted more than just

the quilts and patterns.  I wanted people to be

able to enjoy beautiful photos that gave a feel

of each of the homesteads where these quilts

live.  Each quilt design has a photo of the house,

a landscape shot showing a scene from the area

where the house is located and a still life showing

decor or collectibles that would be in the house.

And then of course, there are all of the beautiful 

photos of the quilts.  Most of the landscape and

still life photos are mine, I took them in my garden,

on my travels, at Mounds Park, in my hometown.

The photo of the 2 kids in colonial costume for the

Colonial Saltbox quilt is of my kids, Katie Rose and

Brennan, in the costumes I made them when we

used to visit Colonial Williamsburg for our Spring

Break every year.

And then a few nights ago, a friend of mine sent me

a message on facebook with this link:

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/2014/03/24/new-books-2/

A review of my book!  How very exciting!

It's a book!

After a year and a half of work I finally got to hold

my first book in my hands.  This is the advance copy.

A very exciting moment in my life, I must admit.

It seems providential to have arrived on the eve of

our trip to Spain, like I'm being told that it is time to 

refuel.  Tomorrow I'll be off on another adventure, 

seeking inspiration for projects to come. doing some

of the stitching for projects for book 2, hopefully having

some time for rest and relaxation and I pray, to find

temperatures above freezing...

Stay tuned!

My First Book!

 

Just about a year and a half ago I attended my

first International Quilt Market as a vendor.  I

had just started a quilt pattern design business

and this was my first big time exposure in the

quilt world.

 

 

I was in my booth at Market one day and I was busy

with customers.  My fabulous Mr. Wonderful was there

to lend a helping hand, he's great with a hammer and nails

but a needle and thread ~ hmmmm, not so much...

So a woman came into the booth and started asking Rob

some questions which he tried to answer, finally he

confessed,  "I'm just the driver."  To which the woman

replied, "Oh, you're adorable", she then gave him a card

and said she was the Publisher at C&T Publishers.  When

 I finished up with my customers Rob gave me the card

and told the story.  It was a cute story but I was so sad

because I would have LOVED to have had a chance to

speak with a big time publisher.  A short while later

another woman came into the booth and said she was

the Creative Director or C&T Publishing.  She said her

publisher made her come visit this time since she had

been to my booth 3 times already and didn't want to

look like a stalker ~ ha ha!  So we gabbed about quilting

and publishing and old time paste-up methods and when

I returned home the conversations continued and soon

 enough I had a book contract!

 

And here we are a year and a half later, all the edits

are in and the book is heading to the printer.  I have

learned so much in the past 18 months and it has been

 a fascinating education.  So much energy goes into

making a book and so many people are involved.  It has

 been a wonderful experience.  I can't wait until I actually

 get to hold the book and flip through the pages, that is

still a few months away but the book is available for

 pre-order right now at the following sites:

 

From C&T:

http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=3130

 

From Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Homestead-Quilts-Brownstone-Craftsman/dp/1607058073/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383245779&sr=1-1&keywords=american+homestead+quilts

 

I hope everyone enjoys the book!

From my American Homestead,

I wish you All the Best,

 

~ Ellen

 

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