Friday, June 10, 2011

Changes: drastic, but necessary


I thought I was almost done with the catalog for "Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" when I was faced with a dilemma. The 40-page book was much too thin as a softcover, and making it seem more substantial by adding a hardcover increased the price of each copy by $10.


After mulling it over, I decided the only reasonable solution would be to add 40 pages. An 80-page softcover book is actually less expensive than a 40-page hardcover book. Only two of the additional 40 pages are blank, which I'm sure readers will love hearing.


Sure, it was a lot of extra work, but it allowed me to include the entire collection of 40 textile objects, as well as a section with closer views of the blocks grouped for comparison. It has made the project much more comprehensive, and hopefully material to be considered by those who wish to research this pattern.


The changes were drastic, but necessary. As it turns out, my style of adding substance is not to throw a hard cover on the book, but to make it meatier on the inside. Now I get to include the whole collection, and the price will still be fairly reasonable. I'm hoping the catalog will be available in late June or early July, in advance of the exhibit at the Benton County Museum. Stay tuned...

8 comments:

  1. My proofreading offer still stands.
    It looks great. Rock on.

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  2. Thank you, Sandra! I've got it covered. The only thing left to do is photograph one quilt that has yet to arrive, and make small adjustments to the layout for consistency. Then I'll be ready to offer it for sale. L)

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  3. It looks great...love the comparison pages! (the "spiky quilt" at the auction ended up being a pickle-dish...and not a particularly nice one. I did however get a bushel of fresh peaches!)

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  4. I looks wonderful! I'm sure this book will inspire many more NY Beauty quilts!

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  5. Peaches sound much better than a not particularly nice pickle dish quilt.

    I'm feeling happy that the catalog will have the whole collection. Only half of the quilts will be displayed at the Benton County Museum, so anyone who gets the catalog will get bonus material. My greatest hope is that the project would inspire more research into the origins of the pattern. It's always nice to see new quilts, too.

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  6. I am very interested in your catalogue. Will it be available for purchase even though I am in Australia? from Jenny McH

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  7. Yes, it will be available worldwide through Blurb online. I'll post details as soon as it's ready to go.

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  8. I am so happy that you added 40 more pages and wouldn't mind if you added another 40 of close ups of the blocks ;)
    I just received my small wonders book and I can't tell you how thrilled I am with it.
    kathie

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