Time to Take Massive Action!

I am working on a multitude of projects at once. This always seems to be the case for me. Do you ever find that you have 10 projects on the go and they all seem to reach 80% completion? Well, I've decided to focus on one at a time . . . so, it's time to take "massive action" to finish something! I heard Tony Robbins say that in an eBook and I tell myself to take massive action all the time now. It sounds quite hilarious, but puts me in a good frame of mind to get things done. (And my son thought it was quite hilarious when I told him he needed to take massive action on his bedroom before he could watch TV!)

So right now I'm completing my first fibre art book manuscript. That entails choosing a publisher, designing the patterns, writing a sample chapter, creating the table of contents and making the samples so you can include some gorgeous photos. It is also very important to follow the online submission guidelines to a T, so that information needs to be gathered as well. And, as I mentioned earlier....it is about 80% complete so I just have a few more things to do. Here's a sneak peek detail shot of one of the samples. You have no idea what it is of course, but it includes fabric, wool, and foil.

So today's massive action will be accumulating all of the writing, patterns and detail with the submission forms and then having some fun with samples and photos. 

Do you have a quilting book idea in your mind? I've had a few and every once in a while I see one of my ideas appear in a full colour book and I think, "Why didn't I think of that - wait a minute . . . I Did!" I just never sent the idea to a publisher. So if you have an idea you've been meaning to get organized, now's the time. Take massive action and make your submission. What have you got to lose?

Study, study, study...

Tonight the boys are at a hockey game and I have a few hours to myself. I thought I might watch a movie, piece my sample for an upcoming class, or even take a long bath....but NO. I am realizing that what I really must do is cozy up with a good book and get reading.

The thing is, I love quilting, and I love reading, so I have accumulated this ridiculous collection of books and magazines, but it may be true that over 80% of them I've never had the time to read. On top of that I am studying for my quilt judging and there are required books for that.

I've met a couple wonderful new friends who are also taking the course and it seems they are way ahead of me with their wonderful study habits, so I'm feeling compelled to catch up!

Here is one book on the required reading list that I'll focus on tonight...

When I pulled this book out of the library, I saw the gorgeous vintage quilts on the cover and thought, "Yikes, this is very old and very thick!" (yes, I really say "yikes" all the time - ask my son) But it is actually printed in 2011, so it's quite new. The detailed diagrams are brilliant and the monochromatic colour scheme throughout the book is very easy on the eyes. I also like the mass amounts of little diagrams which make it a quick read like a comic book, except with better content! It is a must read, especially for me, in this course because I am very much a quilter turned fibre artist. I've affectionately dubbed this book PQA in my study notes. 

There are optional books on the list as well, and I can choose to focus on all time favourites as well as books with techniques that I have less experience with, so I'd love your input. 

What is your absolute favourite book in the quilting industry? Let me know...