Saturday, April 17, 2010

PROOF(s) that I have been working...


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Ok, I'm ready to spill the beans!!! For the last month or so, I've been reformatting some of my best-selling eBooks to print as physical paper patterns. Moving around words and graphics gives typos the opportunity to sneak in, so I have been doing tons of proofreading. This has meant lots of time staring at the computer screen and pouring over stacks of printouts. I was SO relieved to send them to the printer earlier this week. It all seemed like a distant dream, and then yesterday UPS delivered proofs - WOW! I'm so excited to hold the booklets in my hands...I can't stop flipping through them. Now I just need the focus to do a final check for boo-boos, take a deep breath, and sign off on the proofs!

I'll do a longer post with all the details about the paper patterns when I have the goods in hand. Please put any questions you may have in the comments section and I'll address them in that future post, or email me directly (carla (at) scientificseamstress.com). I honestly didn't think I would ever make this leap, but there are so many people that prefer the look and feel of a paper pattern, so I wanted to provide a product that incorporates all the detail of an eBook, but in the more traditional form. That said, I LOVE publishing in eBook format, and will continue to introduce all new patterns as eBooks :) .

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I've been spending my "break" time tending to the plants. The seedlings I started inside are getting big, so I need to start letting them spend some time outside so they can harden off. Our average last frost date is supposedly next week, but I've heard it is best to wait and plant the tender stuff after Mother's day. We'll see if I can hold out that long!


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The babies from the seeds I sowed outside are coming along nicely, too. They are small compared to the plants inside, but they are very sturdy and healthy. In just a few short weeks, we'll be enjoying our first salad of the year (and we will probably be doing it outside, because the dining room will be packed full of patterns - eeeek)!

17 comments:

Jeanne Morris said...

Oh wow... you HAVE been busy! I used to be a paper pattern person all the way. But now I have fallen in love with the instant gratification of the ebooks...and I doubt I can go back!

Nini

Mindy said...

EEEK! I am so EXCITED! I can't wait to hold one in my hand!!!

Aimee said...

Congrats on the patterns!!! You know I would love to have a Carla pattern book but still have the flexibilty of printing the patterns at home. I am not a fan of tracing patterns. ;) I guess I will have to buy the paper patterns to go with my ebooks. :D

On the gardening front. We have always used May 1st as our planting date. My Mom moved to Rodgers Forge in the 50's and my grandmother always started planting on May 1st. Hopefully that will help with the garden excitment.

disfamof3 said...

YAY CARLA!!!!
Congrats :)
I am a ebook fan too but I am sure that you will sell many of these beauties once you get them out there.My mother isn't a fan of ebooks she demands 'real' patterns!

CONGRATS again!

Jona Giammalva said...

Paper patterns and a garden! So much growth going on at your place! I can't wait to see the patterns (and put them in my store!). I've never seen patterns as detailed and helpful as your e-books so I'm curious to see how you're going to fit it all in one envelope! :) Congratulations!

Dana said...

I have so many of your eBooks, but I'd love to have the paper patterns of a few of them also! Can't wait to see the finished product!

Blessings--
Dana

rosie/the fabric shopper said...

Congrats! I have the bought the ebook for the little pants but haven't gotten around to making it yet. I get so stuck on making the skirts for my shops that I just am too worn out to think about trying something new! I am so boring! LOL

Tabitha said...

I am such a lazy gardener, no inside starters for me I already sowed the seeds and I try to plant them where the babies will be protected if it gets cold again and I only plant the survivor plants in my yard lol waiting to see my babies comin' up! Love the paper patterns I am going to have to pick up a couple of those too...THANKS!

Tom said...

YES! They look awesome Carla!

Cathy said...

They look tremendous Carla!!! Wow!!! I love the graphics and the paper the patterns are on and everything! Congratulations!!! This is sooooo exciting!!!

Sew Pretty Dresses said...

Carla that is great! With you paper patterns you are opening yourself up to an even broader off the internet market. I can't wait to see which ones you chose to print!
Great garden btw!

Caroline ~ TrilliumDesign said...

Congrats! That is awesome. About time to! ;)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I can't wait to walk in a store and see your patterns!

Char @ Crap I've Made said...

SO exciting!

Villa-loredana said...

I find you over my dear Komar, and glad to meet you. The ideas and template is quite good. Thnaks. Loredana.

Barbara Fisher said...

I LOVE your ebook patterns--I have a whole passel of them and the clothing I have made from them has been a hit with everyone. I love the careful explanation and photographs you put in the instructions (you write sewing instructions the way I write recipes--detailed and step-by-step, assuming nothing in the way of skills from the reader--and I appreciate that!).

That said, I think that you will drastically widen the scope of your audience by putting these paper patterns out in shops around the country, a la Amy Butler. There are a lot of people who sew who are NOT computer literate, but who will spend a lot of money on quality sewing patterns that they can use again and again.

Good luck with the paper patterns! (And keep bringing us new goodies to sew!)

Kathy G. said...

Carla,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for developing your patterns on real paper!!! I love your ideas, but am an "old school" sewer, and love my paper patterns. I can't wait to buy - where can I? On your site or in shops? How exciting - Kathy G.