Why, oh why, do I do this to myself??? And what exactly have I gotten myself into??? What started out as a fun project that would bring my love for quilting and some letters from some former German Prisoners of War written to my Grandparents is taking on, what I consider, a life of its own!
The sew along was great fun. The research of history and collecting of personal family stories that I shared with the release of each of the vintage patterns collected by my Grandma was interesting and fun as well. The writing and development of those vintage patterns was fun too! The opportunity to hear from others around the world as I shared the letters, history, recipes and stories was priceless!
Oh, let me start over... My Mom is a local history lover - probably where I get my love for it as well. She is a member of the local Historical Society and they hold an annual dinner that features a speaker that presents a program on some local site or major event. The dinner this year is November 5th and I was invited by the Society to offer a program about the Trinidad POW Camp and share the letters and history that I published here on Melva Loves Scraps during the sew along. All in all, not a big deal. They would like for me to have a book for sale at the event.
The book that I created on Shutterfly is a special keepsake that I had wanted to create, but it was far from cheap but worth every penny in my mind. Just as the finished quilt is invaluable to me.
The Historical Society has used a local copy shop to print and bind smaller books at a very reasonable price. The proof-reading copy of my book was not as reasonable as I had hoped ($40+) and it was the content only. No cover. No index. No reference citation pages. No binding. I have a lead on a new source that looks like it has great potential with very reasonable costs (less than $30). All I have to do is simply upload the .PDF file.
At least I won't break the bank getting an initial printing done. Of course, there is the question, "How many do I print?"
Things are looking good! Ummmm.... NOPE! The error message I got indicated that "The Fatal Errors" need to be corrected... and there are A LOT OF THEM! Mostly issues with fonts that are not recognizable, but seriously... WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO???
It was suggested that I apply for a grant with a private foundation that provides support to local communities and service organizations of the Purgatoire Valley and they have assisted with similar projects for the Historical Society. Now for sure I won't break the bank getting the initial printing done! All is good... but the deadline is September 30. My grant application must be submitted under a current 501(c)3... the Historical Society has one... they don't meet until September 29. I have been assured that there is time to get the necessary vote for allowing me to use their Non-profit status, and receive the needed documentation from the Society so that I can submit all of the requested and necessary information in by the deadline.
I have two months before the dinner and presentation but only about a month to get everything figured out.
As I sort out all of the details for the book and the program, I'm going to be in serious need of some quilting therapy! I am fortunate that I have plenty of that to do too.
❧The wedding quilt will be quilted this week... I'll get the fabric for the binding on order. There's a whole story about this one, but I have rambled on long enough about the book thing so I will wait to share when it is done.
❧I will then start a t-shirt memory quilt for the college softball coach who recently lost his sister. She was one of his biggest supporters and he wants a quilt containing the various softball shirts she wore whenever she attended the games in support of him.
❧Also in queue are two more quilt tops for my favorite and best customer.
Have you ever printed a book?
Do you have any suggestions or pit-falls that I need to know about?
Would you be interested in a copy of the book?
Leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Stay calm and keep quilting,
Melva
Linking with:
To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal
Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting
Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Wow and wow! I've never published a book, either through a publisher or via any kind of online self-publishing, so I'm not any help at all, but I'm sending positive thoughts that the grant will be "granted" in plenty of time, and that it eases the money issue. Looking forward to your posts about the wedding quilt and the T-shirt quilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to To Do Tuesday!
Well, I'm certainly no help as I've never printed a book, much less written up a grant proposal (I understand they are quite a bit of work). I hope all things come together for you!
ReplyDeleteI have not printed my own book but one of my brothers used Shutterfly to create an album of pictures for us siblings almost 7 years ago. I used to be a typesetter for books and magazines when I lived in New York, but that was 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel. Many times I’ve taken on projects that grow and consume every ounce of energy, strength, and time. (I can’t think of any that consumed all my money but at least some of it for sure.) My words advise come from the answer to this riddle: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Here’s hoping you chew that elephant down to manageable portions. And yes your post title is so true: our pasts can take on a life of their own. Mine haunts me all the time.
ReplyDeleteHi Melva! Take a deep breath. The saying, no good deed goes unpunished. I hate that saying!! You know as well as I do that this is part of God's plan. No matter how much planning we do, He has the wheel and is directing us to where we need to be. SO, knowing that . . . set aside your stress. It will work out, it will be fabulous and just how it is meant to be. Yes - you will certainly need some quilting therapy to keep your other endeavors afloat. Now, let me add - how freakin' COOL!!! Melva! I am so proud of you and the sew-along. You know you're grandparents had no idea how this would grow into something so many years later. They were just being good people - just like you. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting adventure, Melva!! I wish you much success in getting everything done. I'm sure you will do awesome with the speaking engagement! And just think - you'll be published!!
ReplyDeleteTry https://www.printingcenterusa.com/
ReplyDeleteI recently printed a book with many pictures with them using a pdf. I was very happy with the results.
That is quite the adventure and you will learn a lot....not always fun. Congratulations...and good luck with the grant and getting this terrific project done.
ReplyDeleteWow - I am so excited for you , and to follow you on your journey - this is a really cool thing.....
ReplyDeleteSo much to take in! You OK? Breathe deep! Calm, all right, you can do this. One step at a time.
ReplyDelete