Friday, March 27, 2009

Going Dotty and Good Book News

I've named this post Going Dotty because that is how I feel. Do you see how the dots are a bit blurry? That's what my brain feels like..... I've spent hours working in Adobe Illustrator, tweaking charts for my next book. Years ago, when I worked at CEY, doing pre-press charts and desk-top publishing was a major part of my job. As a designer and author for the past few years, I haven't had to worry about all the pre-press production of charts and schematics, nor the niggly little things I used to do in Quark to get our patterns to press. It was a mind-boggling amount of work but I got rather good at it.

This week, I've been doing all the clean-up of the knitting charts for my new book that is being published in the fall by Soho. It takes a long time - a very long time.... With every chart I get a little quicker, thank goodness. I'm on a crunch for delivering the project which makes me nervous and anxious - more anxious than some of the other book deadlines I have had.


This book has been in an on-going fashion for over two years now. This morning, I received a copy of the cover that Diane Lamphron, the Art Director, has designed. I was so excited to see one of the photos with type on it and with my name. This part of the book process begins to feel fulfilling as it starts to come to life. I shared it with my little family at breakfast and they approved.


I think this is a first try on the cover - I'm not sure this is how the book will actually look but it is nice to see progress being made. What do you all think?

I never posted the names of the winners from Thursday and Friday last week. Sorry 'bout that - this week has been chart heaven..... They were Carol from Boston area - she won the Baby Day. Katrina from Utah won the Grand Prize. Carol and Katrina - your boxes of yarn went out today by US Mail. Look for them soon. You'll be getting the books and DVD directly from the publishers and t.v. producer.

Thanks to all of you for entering - it was great fun and I am still digesting all the comments. What fabulous readers I have.

p.s. Yes, you will be able to order books directly from me on my website in the fall. The whole book is still quite a ways off - sometime in October or so. I can't deal with early orders with Paypal, etc. Just all too confusing and time consuming for my little brain. But I can promise you that about a month before the book is due, I will put signed copies up for sale on my website. In fact - I count on selling lots of signed copies and really appreciate it if my blog readers will buy from me and keep this old farm and blog going...... Thank you very much!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not bad!

:D

I like the type colors. The type kerning in the book title needs a little work...

The photo is excellent.

Francis said...

I can't wait to buy this new book! Let us know when it is available to order.
Francis

Anonymous said...

Yay! I'd pick this up in the store.

This cover has a nice balance of elements and sophisticated color. I'll be interested to see what the final is and can't wait for the projects inside. Two years! That's a whirlwind in the book world.

Francie said...

What a beautiful book cover. The sweater is gorgeous. I love color too so it would definitely get my attention.

Lynn said...

Oh, I want that book! The cover looks very enticing!

Anonymous said...

I want to make that cover sweater--right now! Guess that means it's an effective layout, right?

Jennifer said...

How exciting to watch your hard work become a book. The cover art is gorgeous. I especially like how the title font pulls the colors from that gorgeous sweater. Did you really get Andie McDowell to model your sweater. OK - it's probably just a look-alike.

Best of luck. Can't wait until it's published.

Carol said...

I really like the photo! I think it looks great on the cover. Can't wait to see the whole thing.

Anne said...

Zomg I am *so* excited about your book! Please tell us that you will have copies for mail order which you will sign and ship. I want one and I love giving my friends autographed copies of book!

Anonymous said...

I like it. I'm now going to look up "kerning" so I'm sure I learned something today. Knew what that meant once...

From the cover garment, I expect this book to be about very dramatically colored projects, not just monochromatic or two-color projects.

Anonymous said...

congratulations! i can't wait to see the book.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristin, hang in there. As a copyeditor, production person from years back, I understand what you're going through. The satisfaction comes at the end, once when you ship everything off to be printed, and a bit more when the book comes back. By that time you're on to new things, right? I found you because of the sheep, fell in love with your house decor, and only now discovered who you are. Mom has had her yarn shop for 39 years so yes, I know Classic Elite etc. I work mostly with fabric and color is everything. I also write a blog where I review books at times, so you're on the list for coming months: http://artyouwear.blogspot.com
Hope to have a chat once you're done with the details making you cross-eyed. Wish I could help.cheers, Rosalie

Renna said...

I can't even begin to wrap my brain around the technical stuff you mentioned. ;-Þ

I they do go with the cover shown, the book will look awesome. I love that cover!


Congratulations to the winners. I'm trying to be happy for them. ;-Þ

Willow said...

I'm not doing technical stuff and my brain feels like that.

Enjoy your weekend. I hope you have an opportunity to rest your eyes, brain and body.

Deborah Newton said...

Looks great-- very eagerly anticipated!

Maureen said...

I love everything about the cover but would like to see a little more of the front of the jacket.

Molly Betsy @ Star Cottage said...

Very nice. I love the sweater. So eclectic. I will have to get this book for my sister. She is an alpaca farmer in Maine, and she spins and knits, she would love it. Great job!

Donna S. said...

Lovely. I always want to buy your books from you but I don't do paypal. Most people will send me the pattern or whatever after my check clears...would you consider that? I know it's extra work so I understand if not. I would just rather buy it from you.

Turtle said...

the cover looks wonderful! Congrats to those super lucky winners!

Kristin Nicholas said...

Donna S- You can order my books directly from me by sending a check - there is a downloadable order form for it on my shop page at the very bottom of the page.

Unfortunately, my single patterns don't work that way.

If you keep reading my blog, I'll announce the book release in the fall and then you can send me a check. It really is no bigger pain on the books because I have to go to the post office anyway and someone else prints them for me.

bd said...

Very nice cover. I like the sweater very much!

Deborah said...

I'm very excited about the new book. Congrats! I'll have to let my LYS to be on the lookout!!! I wore my Circles and Bobbles (I didn't stripe my sweater) and it's always a huge hit!

Anonymous said...

Loved the potential cover! I'd love to be in that very place wearing that very sweater!

Good Luck.- elizaduckie

Johanna said...

Oh, I can't wait to buy that book, but would you ship to Europe / Germany? I would be so happy to own a signed copy!
I love your blog, so keep on writing!

ColorJoy LynnH said...

The cover is wonderful, whether or not it becomes the real thing. You must be getting excited!

I look forward to buying the book from you when it arrives. Will watch for it.

Anything with your name on it means color to me, so of course they want to call the book by that title. Perfect.

And "How to Design Your Own Beautiful Knits?" This one is definitely on my list...

Anonymous said...

I love it! It's on my buy list......

Amy S. said...

The design is beautiful! It might be a little confusing to have the subtitle precede the title, but the layout does look nice that way. I agree with the poster who wanted to see the front of the sweater.

So exciting that you are bringing out another book! I leaf through your first one all the time, just for the visual pleasure.

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