The Electric Quilt Company: Users: Newsletters and EQ Mailings

CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Hidden Block Quilts - Tessellating Fish - Designs by Alene - Karin Hellaby - Mischele Hart & Ann Castleberry - Color Printing Tips - Electric Quilt Computer Lab

An interview with
Mischele Hart & Ann Castleberry
Authors of the book, Simple Shapes, published by That Patchwork Place (July 2001)

Mischele is on the left, Ann on the right

Mischele and Ann are quilter friends who co-wrote a book together, using EQ in the process. We talked to them about their book, the process of writing it and getting it published, and how EQ was involved.

Q: What is the basic idea behind your book, and how did you both come up with it?

A: The basic idea behind the book, "Creating Quilts With Simple Shapes" (Martingale & Co.), was to create a simple flowsheet approach for problem solving regarding quilt design and fabric pulls. From observing ourselves and others, we decided we needed to write a book to help eliminate fears about original design and fabric selection. And we do all have those fears. The flowsheet approach helps the quilter deal with problem solving as she/he is starting a new project.

Q: Have did the two of you originally meet and become friends?

A: We met through quilting! I (Mischele) went to Ann's house to teach a group of quilters an "It's Okay If You Sit On My Quilt" class. Right off, we seemed to be of the same mind regarding quilting, and how to make it fun and easy. We can just about start and finish each other's sentences and seem to be able to intuit the other's thoughts when it comes to design. And we laugh a lot.

Q: How did you actually work together for this project? Did you meet, or e-mail? Who did what?

A: We live 2 hours and 15 minutes apart, portal to portal and visited several times during the course of getting the book together and e-mailed very frequently. We used EQ3 for the quilt design work and sent project files back and forth by e-mail all the time. It was not unusual for one of us to start a new design in EQ, get stuck, and send the project along to see if the other could manage to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. And that would usually happen. We still have a large number of EQ designs germaine to the book that we did not include. One just has to stop somewhere!

Turquoise Tango by Mischele Hart, quilted by Jackie Robinson

Q: At what stage did you approach a publisher? In other words, did you just have the idea in mind? Or had you already made quilts which you could show. I think others are always interested in knowing how to approach a publisher, how much to show, and how to put the whole presentation package together.

A: We approached a publisher when we had most of the projects designed and about three-forths of them pieced. We knew that even if we didn't make the "cut" for publication, we did have quilts and ideas for a great class series, and we'd encourage other aspiring authors to approach a book submission with that same attitude. Book proposal forms are usually available for download at publisher's web sites. We encourage everyone to put forth the best submission possible for their concept. Your proposal is your first introduction to a publisher that you hope to work with for several years, and says a lot to them about how serious you are about putting forth a product that will sell well for them.

Q: How long did your whole project take you two – start to finish?

A: We worked on the project for about 2 years. After a book submission is accepted for publication, it can take about 18 busy months to get the book on the shelves. Once our submission was accepted, Ann and I agreed on a division of labor. Ann was pregnant at that time and wrote the lion's share of the text and I busied myself with finishing the quilts and quilting them in a timely fashion. We met very often as the publisher/editors sent text and art work for us to proof.

Q: How did EQ help you in your book?

A: Electric Quilt really made the design process much easier and MUCH more creative for us. Having the ability to take a basic design, add or subtract design elements, experiment with size and settings, and audition value easily in various locations was invaluable to us. We cannot emphasize strongly enough that EQ stimulates creativity. As adults, most of us have forgotten how to play, and EQ seems to invite playing. When you play, creativity soars. We've wound up with great designs that have nothing to do with the original kernel of thought we started with. Up to the point in time that we started on this book concept, we were mostly graph paper gals and now that we've used EQ we won't go back. We are instant gratification gals when it comes to trying out an idea and EQ makes design changes quickly and easily. So it was easy to accept or reject projects and move forward in a positive manner.

Q: Did you learn anything during the book writing process that you would do differently the next time?

A: We learned lessons too myriad to communicate easily. Most of all, we strengthened an already strong friendship. We learned to meet deadlines and pull an all-nighter if needed to get the work done. And we were fortunate to have a publishing company that thinks no question or concern is silly and walked us through the process we needed to finish for them.

Q: I love the gallery on your book’s Web site. Are some/all/ of the quilts from your book?

Tampas Go Hawaiian by Ann Castleberry

A: Yes. All the quilts at in the book gallery are from the book.

Q: Mischele, as a quilt shop owner you’re in tune with trends. Want to play crystal ball gazer and predict 2003’s quilt trends?

A: Wow! Don't we all wish we had a crystal ball? I think that florals are really "back" and we'll be seeing more quilts that are geometric and pretty at the same time.

Q: What are you both working on now?

A: We've come up with what we think is a pretty simple and slick design idea, have 16 projects made so far ...and just can't decide where to stop. But we're stopping long enough to submit another book proposal. Wish us luck!

EQ: And we do!