Friday, July 12, 2013

the book quilt


If writing my book was all crocheted up into the squares of the book blanket, then these few weeks before the release time is definitely stitched into the book quilt.

Each email received and sent, each room tidied and cobweb brushed away, each photo taken, each interview question answered, each time and date diarised, each little piece of nervousness and over-emotion, each big piece of excitment buliding, each ohmygoodness ohmygoodness I wrote a book!


Each time I cut out a bunting flag to advertise the book, I also cut out a tiny 9mm by 9mm square of the same fabric.

As I sewed and pressed the flags, I sewed the little squares into long strips.

And as I stamped the bunting, I took breaks and sewed the strips into a quilt.

There was never any plan beyond the current stage. There still isn't.

Sometime over the next little while when I am meant to be doing something else, hopefully I'll sort through my stuff and find an old blanket. Then I'll pin the little sqaures to the blanket and to a bigger piece of fabric. And then sometime after that I'll stitch it all together. Together.

It's not all that big so I don't know what will become of it or where it will go.

But I do know that this time just before the release has surprised me with its mixture of jumbled up emotions. It feels big and sometimes overwhelming to see my name printed in red on the cover and the photos that I took and words that I wrote inside. It feels like an acomplishment and through the nerves I am also really proud.



I also feel really lucky to be a crafter. For the therapy of the cut and the stitch and for this quilt that holds the stories of this time. It's such a blessing really.

Happy weekend my friends.
I do hope yours is wonderful.

xx

40 comments:

  1. Gosh...you should be so proud Kate. I just love that bunting and quilt. So much love and colour. Happy weekend to you too x

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  2. How exiting! Enjoy the ride, look forward to seeing the book
    Jacqueline

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  3. Oh wow. HUGE congratulations! Can't wait to see your new baby. Lovely bunting too.

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  4. the bunting is just lovely Kate. So much congratulations for your book xx

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  5. You should be really proud of yourself. I can't wait for your book to be released. Sarah

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  6. Congratulations Kate, you can be really proud of ourself. Sounds like you put a lot of work and emotion into this project of yours and I am sure it'll do really, really well!

    All the very best!

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  7. Huge congrats, Kate, it's an amazing accomplishment and you have succeeded at it. Published !~! Wow. I bow to your tenacity and resilience.

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  8. Um, that's YOUR NAME on those books!!
    I want to grab your hands and squeal and jump like a 13 year old!
    :)

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    1. I agree with Dee's comment! Such an awesome thing Kate! You wrote a book (and it was published :) !!
      Your book quilt is a beautiful moving meditation. Congrats beautiful lady xx

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  9. I am SO FUCKING PROUD AND EXCITED and I haven't even read it yet!!!! Xxxxx

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  10. Yay! Hurray! You SHOULD be proud, oh, so very proud xx

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  11. Congratulations Kate - a great achievement - your first book of many, I guess.

    Penny
    x

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  12. Hi - I read your blog lots but have never posted. Congrats on the book; how wonderful to be published! My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I read 9mm by 9mm, and I tried to imagine what kind of seam allowance would allow squares that small to be sewn into strips, Then I saw the pics and I'm guessing you meant to say 9cm by 9cm? :-)

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  13. "It feels like an accomplishment"?.....just a bit of an understatement there! It's a HUGE achievement Kate. Be very proud. I'm super excited and happy for you. Congratulations!!!!! Mel xxx

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  14. I am so excited for you! Look at those gorgeous books. Amazing :)

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  15. I'm soooo excited for you! Every time you post I get a little tummy flutter about the book, the launch, the everything! A life changing event I'm sure... xxx

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  16. Again more excitement for you !! I love your blog and photos and stories and crafting and travels ! I have full confidence that your book will be a treasured hit ! Now go and make some tea, put your feet up and revel n the fact that you are now a published author !! Big YAY !
    Lauren
    X

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  17. Congratulations Kate on your very first book! You are now a published AUTHOR, and how wonderful. I am sure it will be fantastic just as reading your blog posts are, with so much warmth and love you have filled in them. I hope the nerves do settle a little so you can truly enjoy this moment.

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  18. I'm so happy and excited for you, Kate! And I'm so busting to get my hands on a copy of my very own. Your quilt an blanket are such a lovely commemorative idea, and what a wonderful accomplishment, of course you are proud and a bundle of emotions..you wrote a book! x

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  19. Take in every moment and even the imperfections you see. We all love you because of that.

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  20. just enjoy the moment because you did it!! Jo x

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  21. Congratulations author Kate! This is something you'll always be able to keep as a record of your life at the moment..very cool!

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  22. Oh Kate...the book bunting and the book quilt look amazing...what a wonderful crafting project to commemorate your achievement. xx

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  23. I loved this!! What a great idea a journey in fabric and so beautiful.

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  24. "I also feel really lucky to be a crafter. For the therapy of the cut and the stitch and for this quilt that holds the stories of this time. It's such a blessing really."

    ...I love this! Congrats on the book. How exciting!

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  25. So exciting Kate. I'm just dying to get my own copy.
    xx

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  26. Congratulations, enjoy everything and what a beautiful and colourful way to remember it all by- Such an exciting time:)

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  27. look forward to reading the book! Love the quilt top too!

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  28. Hoo hoo hooooooo I cant WAIT *scrunches up face*

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  29. Kate, I just preordered the book on Amazon. Congrats!!!!! Gail

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  30. Looking forward to seeing the book. :-)

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  31. sooooooo exciting
    and so happy for you
    xx

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  32. oooo this is so exciting! You are super awesome x

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  33. BIG - HUGE - MAHOOSIVE Congratulations. Looking forward to buying my own copy! You go girl! xx

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  34. I am going to love that book - I KNOW it. x

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  35. Joining in with everyone elses excitement and can't wait to get a copy of your beautiful looking book. xxx

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  36. I am a new visitor to your blog. I loved the wool post and all your craft AND you have a book! I hope to find it soon. Great pictures and inspiration. Ann

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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