Lots of our ICAP members have published books, whether that is through a traditional book publisher or self-published. Today we can go even further and skip the printed page and publish solely in an e-book format. Regardless of the format you use, marketing is key. Yes, if you use a traditional book publisher, you are paying for their marketing expertise. To ensure the highest level of success for your book, you will need to do marketing on your own. Here are tips to market your book.

1. Call your local quilt, art supplies and book shops and ask if they will host a book signing for you. Look for unusual places to do signings. For example, maybe your book features quilts with dessert names. Try a signing at a local bakery. I remember talking with a novelist who was doing signings at the airport. Talk about a captive audience. Do not forget to promote the signing with news releases.
2. Sponsor a contest. If your book is about adding embellishments, have entrants post photos of their work on your website and award a prize. You could even have viewers vote to get more people involved.
3. Set up a blog hop to promote your book. You approach several other bloggers and ask them to review your book or to interview you about your book on their blogs. Blog hops remain a good way to reach an extended audience that you might not reach otherwise.
4. Print bookmarks that include the cover image, details about the book and a link to your website. Leave these on tables at shows, and ask your local shop owner if she will put them out with other literature. Be sure to include a link to your site on the bookmark in case someone wants more information.
5. Look for opportunities where you can be interviewed about your book. I can think of two right off the top of my head: American Patchwork & Quilting Radio Show with Pat Sloan and Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski.
6. Get others to sell your book for you. Many other teachers or lecturers offer books to their students. If your book compliments their topic, ask if they would consider carrying your book. Several years ago I sold books in the our booth at Quilt Festival for one of our members who gave a “Meet the Teacher” talk on the show floor. She did not have a booth and wanted to offer her students a place to purchase the book. As soon as her talk ended, I was inundated with buyers. This was definitely win-win for both of us.
7. Create a Fan Page on Facebook just for your book. This lets you promote the book and encourage conversation among the book’s fans. Encourage sharing of photos of quilts made from the book. Share your tips for success with the projects.

What has worked for you to market your book? Do you have other ideas to share on marketing books?
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photo credit: rickbucich via photopin cc

Pictorial Art Quilt Guidebook
Leni Weiner
C&T Publishing; $29.95

I have a fondness for collage, and this highly usable, user-friendly guidebook teaches you how to take a photo and translate it into a fabric collage. Leni Weiner’s premise is that the photo frees her from figuring out the proportions, perspective, light and shadows. Using a photo, Leni creates a full-size pattern, traces sections onto freezer paper and uses the pieces to cut fabric. (One tip Leni shares is to use the free program GIMP to work with your photos.) Leni divides the book into three sections. First, you will learn about color (without needing your color wheel), value, print and scale. She has a wonderful value scale of gradations in gray, from white to black, so you can identify what value your fabric is. With the fundamentals in place, Leni takes you step-by-step through making an art quilt from a photo. When you are ready to venture on your own, you can use her practical ways to approach common elements, such as trees, rocks, and animal and people features. An additional project is also included. I cannot wait to delve more deeply into the process.

If you have tried Leni’s techniques, I would love to hear about below. If you would like to learn more, you can look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon  if you would like to learn more about the book.

What is marketing? For years the American Marketing Association defined marketing as “the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, proton and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives.” Whew! Last July the AMA approved a change in its definition to “the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.” Still a lot in that definition, though the rewrite seems to have left out the value for the organization.

For me, I have been defining marketing as “inviting people into your world where you can share your gifts to help them solve their problems.” If you do a good job, you are rewarded for it, both monetarily and in other ways. It is about creating a relationship with others to serve them. I was reminded of the value of relationship marketing this week.

At my home, we contracted with a company to do some work on our deck, replacing bad boards and re-staining the surface. We have had numerous problems with the company, whom I will call Company A. Company A actually subcontracted the job to Company B. Company B did the board replacement and subcontracted with Company C to do the actual staining. We did not realize we were contracting with so many companies.

Yesterday I had a conversation with R, the man who owns Company C. He came to the United States from Jamaica and was sharing his philosophy of marketing. (He told me he had been an entrepreneur for 14 years now.) What was most important for him was building a relationship with the customer. It was not about the money; it was about the relationship. He said that if he put the relationship first and went beyond doing his work, the rewards would follow. Watching his work and listening to his stories, I can see why he experiences the results he does.

I also read an interesting article in the New York Times over the weekend by Arthur C. Brooks titled “Love People, Not Pleasure.” It was about unhappiness and filling our empty spaces by loving things and using people. Adversely, the formula to happiness is to love people and use things.

That ties right into my, and Company C’s R, theory about marketing. It is about loving and serving people.

How do you define marketing? Leave a reply below.

Contain It!
Linda Chaney and Laura Chaney Gerth
American Quilter’s Society; $24.95

When I think of English paper piecing, it is usually about hexies these days. It was a delight to see this easy adaptation of the technique to make numerous vessels and other home accessories. Once you have learned the basics of stabilizing and stitching the pieces together, the authors — a mother and daughter team — offer instructions for seven types of flat or container projects. The instructions are clear and well-illustrated, and you will find full-sized templates to use. I appreciated the “Lessons from Laura” tips to be sure your project turns out well. I found several projects that I wanted to try from a fussy cut scalloped to the star boxes. I am pretty sure once I start it will be hard to stop.

Carolina Lily: New Quilts from an Old Favorite
by Baxter Lasco
AQS Publishing, $18.89

One of my favorite books of the year features the winning quilts from the New Quilts from an Old Favorite contest sponsored by The National Quilt Museum. The block for 2011 was Carolina Lily. I am always impressed by the creativity and innovation shown by individual quilters interpreting one block. I was particularly taken with the tiny fused Carolina Lily blocks — more than 750 of them — that made up the background in the first place quilt, “Only a Lily,” by Julia Graber. Each of the 18 winning and finalist quilts is shown in full color along with comments from the quiltmaker. I enjoy learning more about the quilter’s design process, where the inspiration came from, and new techniques. All the quilts definitely open your mind to the concept of the Carolina Lily block and beyond. A terrific inspirational and learning resource.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon  if you would like to learn more about the book.

For 29 years, the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals has recognized outstanding teachers. This year’s recipient is Jacquie Gering. Here’s some insight into her teaching philosophy.

What standards of workmanship do you require of your students? What do you do if they don’t attain them?

I expect my students to do their best, though that may not be the same for every student. Expecting the same standard for every student isn’t how students grow and develop as sewers and quilters. I try and assess students’ levels of development as they sew and create in my class. It is my role as a teacher to take them from where they are and move them forward in their development. As most of us do, I teach classes with master sewers and beginners in the same class. It is important that each of those students learn despite the gap in the skill levels they brought into the class. It is my job as a teacher to differentiate my instruction and support during class time to meet the needs of each individual.

It’s also important to remember that class is for learning. Mistakes are a natural part of that process and should be celebrated. We actually learn more when we make errors, but we need to learn from them. I had a student in my hexagon class sew her first y-seam and comment to me that it didn’t look like mine. My response to her was that I’ve sewn thousands and she’s sewn one. We looked at her work together and I encouraged her to look at her piecing and identify what needed to change in the next one. As I teacher I need to encourage and motivate students to work hard and to improve. Expecting immediate perfection of themselves or from me can lead to frustration and an unwillingness to try and make mistakes. I try to create a safe environment in the classroom where students feel comfortable to try.

My class doesn’t end at the end of the class day. I provide handouts for each class, which help students review and remember what was taught in class. I encourage students to share their in progress and/or finished projects by email or get in touch with me with questions or concerns. Ongoing support and encouragement is an essential component of my teaching philosophy

How do you encourage creativity in your students?

I think the most effective technique for encouraging creativity in my students is by not giving them the answer. My job as their teacher is to put them in their zone of development, that place where they are a bit uncomfortable, but not paralyzed and frustrated. It is in that zone that students will learn the most. When students ask me questions, I try to guide rather than give. I can tell a student what to do, but if I do that, when they leave me, they won’t have developed the confidence or skills to deal with the decisions that will need to be made in their own sewing rooms. I have to assess quickly and know when to support and when to push and challenge a student. For some students they get loads of support at the beginning of class and I lessen the support and move them to more independence as the class progresses. It is a dance of moving in and pulling away and reading students reactions in the process.

I also provide many samples to inspire students. With only one sample, students have the tendency to want to copy. With multiple samples and possibilities, students start to open their minds to options and creativity.

Lastly, I capitalize on creating a creative community in the classroom. With 20 students I have twenty teaching assistants that are at the ready. As students create I share student work, accomplishments, mistakes and questions with the rest of the class. Learning from each other provides so many opportunities to see into the minds of other quilters, examples of ideas coming to life, or techniques being learned. I am always respectful of students’ privacy and their work. I don’t share unless they give me permission. I also don’t manipulate, cut, or change the work of students without their permission. Most students are willing, but some don’t want to be in the spotlight or need time to be confident to share, especially mistakes and as a teacher I need to respect their wishes.

How do you encourage students’ further growth in quilting, beyond the formal class?

I am a “teach a student to fish, rather than give a student a fish” kind of teacher. I teach primarily technique and design classes. Those are skills that students will take with them beyond what they make or produce in a three or six hour class. I also work hard to build confidence in my students. Students who believe they can, will when they are no longer in a classroom setting. Lastly, I work hard to inspire students. Quilting is fun and joyful. Class should never be tedious even if the technique is difficult. I try to create a lighthearted fun atmosphere in class that will inspire students to go home and sew!

What do you feel is your greatest contribution to the field of quilting?

I self identify as a modern quilter and I am an enthusiastic advocate for modern quilting. I was fortunate to be at the forefront as the modern quilting movement gained momentum and grew in popularity and exposure. I have earned respect in the community and I am proud to be one of the representatives of the movement. I have worked to educate about the movement and am especially proud that I have brought new and younger quilters into the larger quilting community as well as helped the community begin to understand and embrace the modern movement. My work in educating about modern quilting has also allowed me to share the joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from being a quilter.

Celebrate Christmas With That Patchwork Place®
That Patchwork Place
Martingale; $26.99

It’s Christmas in July time! Lots of shops hold Christmas workshops to get everyone started making holiday gifts, and this selection of 22 designs has arrived just in time. You’ll find full-size quilts, table runners, mantel covers, stockings, an advent calendar and much more from a variety of designers. You’ll even find a Festival of Lights table runner to celebrate Hanukkah. I particularly liked the ruffled Christmas Cookie Apron by Mary Burns and Ode to the Grinch Quilt by Jenny Wilding Cardon. I’m sure you’ll be charmed by several of the designs.
 

I am really a very organized person. I know where to find what I need. I could say, “A place for everything, and everything in its place,” only that is not quite exactly true.

While I am organized and I know where everything is, I can become someone who is consumed by stacks of this and that. Yes, I know what is in the stacks, but all those stacks are robbing energy from me.

When the space is clearer, so is my mind. When my mind is clear, I will work better. I know this to be true. I also know that once I start working in a clear, clean, cutter-free environment, new opportunities show up for creativity and for business. Why would I not want this to happen?

Last month I decided I really needed to get back in control of my space, back in control of my energy, and I launched a clutter reducing plan. (I think the visit to the used book store where I couldn’t find my way was part of the incentive. I am making it fun for myself. I have got three days a week that will have clutter-reducing activities. They are Toss-Out Tuesday, Weed-Out Wednesday and Throw-Out Thursday. I really only have to schedule a little time each day to reduce what I am saving.

And, I have planned my rewards. In addition to a treat at the end of the de-clutter session, I purchased an orchid to keep on the quasi-desk I have behind my computer. It looks nice in its new space!

It is nice to have the files in a drawer, and fewer files in the drawer. I managed to get rid of quite a lot. I have boxes of books in the garage waiting for a friend to pick them up and deliver them to the Virginia Quilt Museum where they will be sold to support the museum. Old quilt magazines are set aside for another pickup. And, the recycle bin has been quite heavy on its weekly trip to the street. Why was I holding onto this? In some cases, I thought I might need the material in the future. (Wonder if I would remember where it was?) Some I felt guilty about having purchased and not used. Some were pretty projects that I wanted to make. Of course, I have not yet, so I tossed 90% of those, too. Not to mention my tastes have changed over the years.

Will you join me? As you pick a time to sort through what you have, ask yourself some questions. Why are you holding onto this? What happens if you toss it? Will you really even miss it?

Will you join me and make space for good energy in your business and life?

photo credit: Vanessa Penagos via photopin cc

Painted Appliqué
Linda M. Poole
AQS; $24.95

Creativity — photography, writing, painting, sewing — has been the mainstay of Linda Poole’s life, so it is no wonder that she took the opportunity to combine those loves in Painted Appliqué. Linda teaches you both her glue stick appliqué method and her painted appliqué technique using the same patterns; i.e., you see the same pattern completed in both mediums. By reproducing Linda’s patterns or creating your own, you have the option of using either or both techniques. You will learn how a variety of paints, mediums and ink pencils work on fabric. I really liked the close-up, step-by-step instructions. If you are looking to add painting to your fiber toolbox, this resource will answer many of your questions.

This book can be found on Amazon.com; leave a reply below to tell me what technique Linda taught you.

Earlier this week I was talking with a long-time friend about some changes we had each made in our lives, both personally and professionally. During the conversation I noted that I was giving up some of my survival skills. You know, the ones that have been in place forever and that can operate on auto-pilot, whether you need them or not.

You might wonder what I mean by “survival skills.” I am referring to a way of being that has served us in the past. One example for me would be perfectionism. I am sure you have several, too.

Why do we hang onto these? One reason is our ego. We do not want anything to interfere with how we perceive ourselves, or how we think others perceive us. We want to protect our ego. Problem is that while these “skills” worked for us in the past, we don’t consider whether they still serve us today. And, in many cases, they do not.

As entrepreneurs, we don’t generally have the freedom to have someone else give us feedback. When you have someone helping you, whether that is a mentor, coach, supervisor, you can get a different perspective, a view to see how you are functioning – or not.  What happens as entrepreneurs is that we can get caught up in the ego-driven world and can get stuck. And if we do not take the time to look at those “survival skills,” we can stay stuck and our businesses do not grow.

We all need that mirror that lets us to see what survival skills we need to give up. That mirror can be hard to find, so try to spend time reflecting on what could be holding you back. Take time to journal. If you have a good friend or mentor, ask her with an open mind on what her feedback will be.

Lastly ask yourself, “What is the payoff?” If I am having a hard time letting something go, I need to figure out what is good about hanging onto it. This really lets me have clarity about the issue.

When I started reflecting on some of my survival skills that I am letting go and the resistance I had around a few, I was reminded of the quote from  author Anais Nin, “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

My question to you is, What “survival skills” are you holding onto?

photo credit: mfhiatt via photopin cc