I'm back from my trip to Colorado, and what a totally intense trip it was. I left Wednesday in the early afternoon. The kids stayed at home with a totally enthusiastic and lovely Boston University graduate student (thank you, Marianne!) until Daddy came in from work and then Charlie took two days off and stayed home with them. Thank you, Charlie!
After two flights and one long van drive, I was finally in Loveland, CO, where Interweave is based. One of the editors met me and showed me up to the Interweave corporate apartment which is a lovely one-bedroom right in downtown. I was totally exhausted and went right to bed.
Thursday morning my editor, Elaine Lipson, picked me up and took me to Fort Collins to Joe Coca's studio. Joe is the photographer who took all the pictures for this shoot and his studio is very impressive. Lots of huge lighting equipment and lenses and rolls of backdrop papers. Joe was very low key and patient while I sewed and stuffed and generally figured out what I was supposed to do. Joe has two fluffy white dogs that kept us company throughout both days.
The first morning Tricia, the Editorial Director at Interweave, and Liz, the Art Director, joined us. I unpacked my huge box and Liz got right to work arranging and rearranging and then rearranging my scissors and forceps and glue on a blue linen backdrop. Clearly arranging items for a photo shoot like this is a true art form. I have a much better understanding now of what must take place at Martha Stewart Living when they are producing those amazing still-lifes for the magazine. It took nearly an hour to get the scissors shot.
We ordered lunch both days from the Spicy Pickle in Fort Collins. Very good salads. You knew I had to tell you what I had for lunch!
And in the afternoon and all the next day I cut and stitched bird pieces together and we photographed all of the basic steps. I had to take off my rings, my watch and my bracelet for the shots that included my hands. I'm glad I got a manicure. I really like the photos in craft books that show hands. There is a level of engagement with the author when you can see her hands at work. I'm glad my book will have pictures like that.
Thank you to Elaine for lending me her sewing machine and teaching me to use it for the shoot. I have very rarely sewn on any machine but my own so I had a little bit of learning to do, but Elaine is an expert and she helped me along. I can't sew on the machine with shoes on so I had socks on or was barefoot most of the day. Do you wear shoes when you sew? I was afraid I'd press too hard on the peddle and zoom along at a crazy speed. I usually sew in slippers that I kick off when I need to use the peddle.
At the end of both days we were totally exhausted, but we got so much accomplished. Every technique for making eyes, every option for forming beaks, all of the ways I construct wings – it is all visually documented. The question I get the most – how I insert the wire and make the birds stand – is very clearly explained step-by-step. I feel very confident now that anyone, even a pretty beginner sewer, will be able to make a bird successfully using the photos in my book.
At 6:40 am on Saturday the van came to pick me up and take me back to the airport. My flight was delayed and I was going to miss my connection so at the very last minute, and after some frantic dashing through the airport at top speed, I made it onto a direct flight back to Boston and got home two hours early.
It is good to be back. Roxanne and Stella bonded with Daddy while I was away and we were all so glad to see eachother again. And now I feel ready to write and sew and make the rest of the book. Knowing that all of the most vital information has been visually documented in such an expert way is a huge relief. Now I can sew and draw and design the rest of the projects with a feeling of freedom and ease.
Jodie says
How tiring and wonderfully exciting. Whilst you were off doing that, i finally got hold of your interview in cloth paper scissors (it takes ages to get to Australia). It was a great article and I am even more excited about getting hold of your book.
Lynn Davis says
That all sounds wonderful (if exhausting), Abby!
I sew (and throw pots) barefoot, too!
Camie says
I look forward to reading/seeing the interview. Warmest congratulations!
Karin says
Good to hear you had such a wonderful time. And that you feel so releived now that it’s over. I look forward to see the result of all this hard work!
me.yahoo.com/a/hCL3nztltOccRATIdnfHPHNLdG6MQhKbRw-- says
Colorado is fantastic! And I’m so happy that you got to do all of this. Sounds so interesting! BTW, I miss Spicy Pickle! Everything there is great!—Julie M.