what’s going on

Okay, I am officially in the black hole of craft book writing. I sew and sew, draw and create, and sew some more and in the end have no pictures to post here.  This is a bit frustrating, but that's okay.

I think this is a common experience among craft bloggers who write books. So here's reporting from the black hole.

I've made 16 bird patterns and I have at least two more to create. That feels significant.  For each pattern I have to draft it on paper, take pictures as I make it at every stage, write up the pattern and label all the pictures, and then finish sewing it up.  In addition to the 18 birds there are numerous side bars and extensions that need to be designed, photographed and sewn. 

I  like some parts of the process more than others for sure. I would happily sew away the day and forget to photograph as I go (this has already happened several times causing  me to have to make yet another bird and remember to photograph it the second time around). I really like writing the creative parts, where I explain how I came to make that particular bird, what makes it unique.

I am trying to discipline myself to write the technical parts as I go so that I'm not left with a whole bunch of to do  on December 1 with only 10 days to go until my deadline.  I'm sure, though, that there will be tears and stress and more tears around that time anyway. 

I have so many ideas, so many ways to extend each project. I feel like I could continue to make birds and variations on birds endlessly for this book and it is hard to accept that at some point I will have to call it a day and turn it all in.

I have been stretched as a crafter in such a great way during this process.  I've used different materials, tried new techniques, created brand new birds patterns I've always wanted to try but in the past had gotten bogged down and never gotten to. There is nothing like a manuscript deadline to get you moving and to make all those ideas take form.

My table of contents is like a big to do list and it is almost all checked off. We are officially out of counter space to store all the birds.  I'm going to miss them when they are in Colorado for their January photo shoot without me.

My editor is at Quilt Market in Houston this week.  Just the thought that my book will be at Quilt Market, that my birds might be seen by such a wide audience, makes my heart skip.  It's coming together, even though this post has no pictures.  I can accept that.