Getting Stitched on the Farm

My part is finished - almost

I'm back after four days in photo shoot land. I was fortunate to work with a good team - here's a photo of Kevin the photographer across the street from our last shot, using a long lense on his digital camera. What a clever guy, taking his life in his hands, shooting from the middle of the road or down on his belly - all for the photos of my knits! Thanks Kevin. And Sheri his able assistant. And Cindy Book Designer / Art Director extraordinaire.

Here's Robin, the wardrobe stylist running out of the shot quickly after tweeking an outfit. Photos are totally of the moment - the light can change when cloud hides the sun and the opportunity is over. Everyone involved has to be quick.

Talk about an exhausting process! But I'm hoping that knitters will love this new book. It should be out in the fall if all goes well. There are 27 projects and I must say, I pretty much love them all - that doesn't often happen. I can't give you any sneak peeks right now except for the cover. (And yes, I know Amazon has my name spelled wrong. I am trying to get that fixed but that's another story.) But later in the summer - maybe! Believe me - the title of the book - Kristin Knits - wasn't my idea. I'm a bit embarrassed by it in fact having my face plastered on the cover. Those marketing gurus over at Storey love it. And what do I know? Basically, it is a book about Colorful Knitting - which was my choice for the title but that was a while back. It is a follow-up to Colorful Stitchery and almost every project has some embroidery on it!

I slept until 10 this morning and I am still wiped. I really don't know how photographers do it. I assume they get used to it. They also aren't tied up into the emotional aspect of making the product look good.

When I do a book, I put my heart and soul into it and then I hope someone out there likes it and buys it. It is a long process and by the time the book comes out, I am usually onto other things. It will be awhile until this book goes to print. I will still be involved - but not as involved as when I was putting all the projects together, writing the copy and just now, hoping the photos turn out okay.

When I got home, I was thrilled to find 3 copies of Colorful Stitchery in my mailbox in of all languages - Indonesian. Look carefully and you'll see some words you can't understand. I know there is a vast textile history within the cultures of Indonesia. But I'm surprised they were the first to translate the book. It is totally thrilling (but not exactly lucrative) to have your book published in another language. When they go through my stuff when I'm no longer inhabiting this earth, maybe someone will notice it amongst the bookshelves before it ends up in a dumpster.

p.s I'll be selling the new book via my website later this summer - much closer to publication date. If you'd like an autographed copy, I would love to sell you one!