How to get published at Stampington, All about Copyright, and what to put in your Book Proposal- Plus a free E-Book all about Wire!!!

I know I've mentioned Create Mixed Media to you before- it's that fabulous new website where you can learn all about the cool art mediums you've wondered about, or the artists you're curious about, or the techniques you'd like to see demonstrated I've really been enjoying it the last few months. It also has some really interesting things to say about different mixed media related topics. Recently, this article by Stampington's Editor-in-chief, Christen
Oliverez caught my eye. She wrote about the sort of things that an artist can do to catch an editor's eye when submitting artwork for publication. I'm always interested in what the publisher has to say about this sort of thing because I only experience the submission process from the position of submittee (?word). I also enjoyed getting Tonia Davenport's article about preparing a book proposal. Both of these would have been extremely valuable to me when I was first starting out and wondering how on earth to do both of those very things. In the end, I just googled both magazine proposal and book proposal before I sent my first efforts in each area out into the world. Now, having gone through the experience of submitting a book proposal, and submitting art to magazines, I read what the experts say and honestly shake my head that my poor attempts were ever given a second glance. It was definitely a God thing because it was definitely NOT a me thing, if you know what I mean. :)

Another interesting series of articles on the site were written by the fabulous Rice Freeman Zachary about copyrights. It's an area I've become increasingly interested in and increasingly confused by. What can you use? Can't you use anything that's an art material? Isn't that the purpose of people creating art materials? What kind of credit do you need to give for what materials? Honestly, it's a headache I think many of us avoid by either looking the other way, or erring on the side of caution and refusing to use anything that was artist designed. I hate to admit that although I feel like you should be able to use things I'm increasingly avoiding artist designed supplies in the work I intend to sell.

One final super cool thing about the site- they are now offering a new  e-book for free. The first e-book was titled Stitched Up and contained projects that involved stitching. Their second e-book has now debuted and is titled Wired Up and contains the Scribble Heart Project from my book, Creative Bloom. How cool is that? SO if any of these little bits of topics interest you- and how can they not- head on over to Create Mixed Media today!!!

Special "Art as Usual" Pre-Order Options for Purchasing My Book!

It's almost here! My book, Creative Bloom: Wire and Fabric Projects and Inspiration will be available in mid- November; only a month and a half away! To celebrate I've designed some special pre-order packages. I really had fun dreaming up these packages and can't wait for you to see them. I want you to know though, that the book, by itself, is also available for pre-order through online retail sites at a really good price. I just wanted to offer you some extra artsy goodness in these packages because I can. It's also a bit of a thank you. I love this blog because of how sweet and generous and encouraging you all are. I am so grateful. This post unlike my usual ramblings, is however, really about the pre-order packages I dreamed up so if you've already ordered my book- thank you! Would you mind telling a friend or two? I really do appreciate it!
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 So to make it super easy I've linked this post to my pre-order page where you can purchase these packages as well as find additional information about what is included in each package and see the special pre-order pricing. Each package does include priority shipping. I will ship them to you as soon as possible after I receive them. Yay!

Three Very Special Pre-Order Packages-

I designed three packages that will only be available through me and most probably only for a limited time, the Personal Creativity Package, the Creative Christmas Package, and the Creativity to Share Package. I created each of them with different purchasing reasons in mind.

For instance, if you can't wait to buy the book for your own personal artistic development and are really giving it as a gift to your artist self then the Personal Creativity Package is for you. Not only does it come wrapped as a gift, but it also comes with the wire word "inspire" handmade by me. This is sized so that you can either display it in your studio space, or you can actually incorporate it into your personal artwork. As an artist I know how hard it can be to stay motivated and I'm hoping that in this book, and with this wire reminder, you'll find personal inspiration that will not only motivate you but excite you as well. This package is specially priced for pre-order at $24.95

Next we have the Creative Christmas Package. This I designed as a special gift you'll give to that artist friend or family member who you know quivers with excitement at the sight of a new craft book. They love the gorgeous photo layouts, the exciting projects, and the inspirational writing and can't wait to delve in. They might have an interest in fabric, or mixed media, or fine art and be inspired by the possibilities this book shows for combining all of these. I guarantee there's no other book like this anywhere so this makes a unique gift like none other. To make it even better I've included special Christmas themed wrapping as well as a handmade snowflake ornament created by me. This is an original design that combines wire and beads that I know they will keep and love to pull out year after year. This book will also come signed and with a blank gift tag for you to use. Oh, and if you love Christmas you can purchase this for yourself as well. It makes a nice "Merry Christmas to me" present. This package is priced for pre-order at $34.95. I am only selling a limited number of these packages. So order early!

The third option is the Creativity to Share Package. This is the one to get if you'd love to give this book as a gift but really want one for yourself as well. It comes with two books, each signed, and each wrapped as a gift. I priced this package to make getting two books a little more do-able. Now you don't have to choose to give the book or keep it. You can do both!!! This package is available at the special pre-order price of $45.95. That's less than cover price!

Again, I am so excited to offer you these packages! I love that they include not only the book but allow me to add my personal touches that really convey the sense that this is really something special from me to you. From my artist spirit to yours. Again, thank you all so much.

****If you'd like to purchase more than two copies of this book, say if you want to give one to each member of your art group this year, then please contact me for additional special pricing. I'd love to talk to you and help you spread the creativity around!

Holding My Book for the Very First Time!!!

On Monday the advance copy of my book arrived!!!! I still kind of can't believe it. I sat down immediately and started to read it from cover to cover. It's just such an incredible experience. I actually kept it to myself for a day and didn't tell anybody just because I felt like I needed to absorb it all a little first. This book was a very long time in coming. I sent my first e-mail proposal 22 months ago. It was pretty rough and I'm so grateful to North Light's acquisitions editor for looking past that roughness and helping me to refine and develop it before taking it to the publishing board. They then look at your proposal, outline, artwork, etc. and decide if this is something that will fit them and they think they can sell. They vote and the very nervous author then gets an e-mail saying it's a go, at which point she's in a moms group meeting and screams and then quickly covers her mouth hoping no one heard. Of course they all did and are curious so after the meeting you tell a few of them that you are going to be an author. Seriously.

THEN the work begins, you develop a list of projects (20+), trusting all the while that you will be able to make them all, because when you handed in your list there were a few things on there that you'd never actually made before. But you thought they would be really cool if you could, then you spend the next few months figuring out how to make the things you said you could. All the while trusting in God to give you the answers you don't yet have when you need them. Your mother tells you she doesn't want to see you with another art supply in your hands again-ever- because all you do when you come visit is hand over the kid and start to work. Of course she loves the kid to death and doesn't really mind. And she might be a wee bit proud of you, just tired of not seeing much of you. Your husband's looking a little neglected and is sick of jarred spaghetti, but is being super supportive because you're doing this together and you both know when you hold the book in your hands it will all be so worth it, and he knows how badly you want it and wants it for you (cause he's sweet like that).

You lean on your friends and your family and somehow the work gets done and it's amazing. Then all you have to do is step out the projects for the photo shoot, fly to Cincinnati for the week long photo shoot, and when you come home everyone is so glad you're finally done. Then you break it to them that you still have to write the book. So you spend your Christmas vacation writing the content. All the while loving it and hoping that as you write others will hear your voice and be inspired by it. You of course pretend it's this awful chore but you truly love having this chance to encourage and share your experiences with others.

Then there's a few rewrites, editing, back and forth between your fabulous editor and you, and then you wait. And wait. The book is going to design, it's going to editing, it's doing all these things without you now and after a while you start to see snatches of what it might look like but still you don't quite know.

So when the Fed ex truck pulls up and hands you your book, it's amazing. Like holding your baby for the first time you can't quite believe that this- came from you. It looks a little like you and a little like all the other talented people who worked on it. It combines your vision with your editor's, the designer's, and every one else who had a hand in shaping it. But you're truly absolutely holding it in your hands. So that's when I sat down and read it cover to cover. I was reacquainting myself with my words and art. It was consuming and wonderful and I almost missed picking up my son from school. So you toss it in your purse and run to pick him up and he's the very first person you show. He says he's already seen all your art and doesn't need to see it again- oh, and weren't there some Oreo's?

And slowly you start to share it with the people you wrote it for, other bloggers, other mommies, other artists who are seeking inspiration, or haven't yet dared to call themselves artists. And you hope and pray that they will be inspired and encouraged and go out and make tons and tons of art, now with a clearer idea of who they are as artists and what inspires them. You hope they appreciate it a little more than your 5 year old does, and maybe even enjoy it with some Oreo's.

The book is being sold now as a pre-sale through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other sites. Amazon gives the release date as Nov. 17th. Crazy!

An Interview and the Release of my Book's Cover!!!!

I had a super pleasant surprise this morning when I found an interview I did last week on The Shop Bug's site. It was a surprise because she pulled a lot of images from my blog to go with the interview. Some of which I haven't seen for a while.

I really loved doing this interview. It was a lot of fun to think about some of the questions Rachel asked. You know, you don't think about some things UNTIL someone asks. She has a great site so I would LOVE it if you would follow the link above and check out the interview.

THEN I scrolled down and found she had my book cover. YES! MY book cover has been released!!! Here it is:

I am SO EXCITED (I don't think I've ever used so many capitals in a post before)!!!! I absolutely love what North Light did for the cover and don't think it looks like anything else out there. What do you think? Wouldn't this stand out on the shelf if you were browsing? Wouldn't it make you want to pick it up and see more? I think so... :)

Yay!! It finally seems like it's really all happening!

Creative Bloom: Book Update

Just a quickie update to let you all know where the book is at in it's development. A couple of weeks ago they were taking the beauty shots and then last week it was at design all week. The fabulous designers at North Light are working their magic and I couldn't be more pleased!!! So exciting to have so many talented people adding their abilities to making the book the best it can be.

Publication date is November. Thanks again for all your well wishes with this project!!! I am sooooooo excited to show it to all of you!!!!!

CRAZY!!!! My Book on Amazon!!!

Browsing the web last night I googled the name of my upcoming book thinking I'd see what other Creative Bloom sites are out there and already taken. Found a design company in Canada and few other miscellaneous things and then... I saw it!!! My book is now listed on Amazon.com. I kind of can't believe it.

Here's what it says:
Creative Bloom: Wire and Fabric Projects to Cultivate your Inner Artist (Paperback)

~ Jennifer Swift (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1 edition (November 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440303169
• ISBN-13: 978-1440303166

Wow!!!! Pretty amazing!!! The fact that I have a book coming out still doesn't register sometimes. It isn't something that was even on my "someday" list a few years ago. It didn't seem possible. Pretty amazing example of what God can do in our lives!!!

The Photo Shoot Week!

I worried about it, I planned for it, and the anticipation of it nearly threw me over the edge but the week came, and it went and it was wonderful! I was in the hands of professionals (North Light publishes approximately 70 books a year), and the people I met just reinforced that impression I had of professionalism. My editor, Rachel, was amazing to work with, as was the photographer, Christine. They were the two people I spent the majority of my time with and they made it so easy, as well as fun and immensely enjoyable to create this book. Best of all, I now feel like it's going to be such a better book than it was, because these two people have added their talent and time to make it amazing. I was also able to meet the designer, the sales and marketing staff, and a host of others who have completely humbled me with their enthusiasm for their jobs and this book. It was a wonderful experience.

The goal we had for the week was to step out all 25 projects within a Mon-Fri, 9-5 schedule. We finished each night ahead of schedule and by Friday we had just one project left and so I was able to clean up a bit and take a few photos of my own to share with you. It was a fascinating experience for someone who loves books as much as I do, to see first hand how they come together and all the people that are involved in the process.

The studio itself, is such an amazing workspace. The room I was in all week was my photographer, Christine's, and just one room of this massive workspace. It was really fun to get a look at the prop room and to glimpse some of the other author's works as they were being photographed. I have a fascination with the juxtaposition of plain and fabulous and this studio completely embodied that. I've seen the wonderfully polished photographs that are taken in this building and to see the workhorse of a space they're taken in was really interesting. The photo at right is of a room within the studio that they will paint and decorate to use as a backdrop for photographing an author's projects. All week it looked like the photo at right and then the very last day, Friday, it was completely transformed with curtains, furniture, bedding, and was positively adorable. All decked out and ready to showcase the new works of an amazing author. So for me, it was absolutely fascinating to see the lengths that North Light's photographers, designers, and stylists will go to for a great photo.

So that's it for the little studio tour- I hoped you enjoyed it!!

And We're going to Disney World...

I signed it, stuck it in an envelope and sent it off this morning!!! My first BOOK CONTRACT!!!! I've been hesitant to mention it til now but it seems I really am going to get my book published! It's to be titled Creative Bent and will be released November of 2010. Crazy!

I thought about keeping it under wraps but found it's hard to write a blog about my art and inspiration and not mention the book about my art and inspiration I'm writing as well. I'll try to let you know as much as I can about what I'm doing as I go. Although I can't share the finished projects I believe I can show you some of the others I'm experimenting with as I'm developing the submitted works. SO I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get any comments from any of you as I work through this!

The book will focus on my wire and fabric work but will include a ton of variations on this combination. I have mixed media, jewelry, home decor, as well as a lot of versions of some of my current designs. Right now it's a YAY!/Panic thing I've got going but as with all things- I know that if I trust God and rely on Him to lead me this whole experience is going to ROCK!!!!

P.S.- I told my son we'll go to Disney World when mommy's finished. It's my incentive to get him to let me work when I need to. We were going to go anyways but I figured he might as well think he's getting something out of this too. :)