Freedom of Speech Threatened?

Romans 8:13-14 – ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

As many of you know I’m working through Romans 8. I had a very different post planned, however, I’ve learned the US Congress is soon voting on a bill that could censor what we view online. The bill may have been drafted with good intentions, websites and blogs can be blocked. Free speech one of the fundamentals of our constitution can be stilled.

At first I agreed with the petitioners just on general principle, I don’t want any more of my rights eroded away. I thought, my little blog is safe, I don’t write on controversial topics. But, who decides what is controversial? I write about Hope, God, Faith, and Jesus. Could that be considered controversial? If someone in power doesn’t want God’s word spread could my little blog be stopped? What about all the other inspirational bloggers? What about the Bible websites? Could they all be blocked?

On a business level, I write about quilts and quilting. However, I don’t necessarily promote new fabrics or companies selling designer fabrics. I like the designers. I like the fabric they create. I don’t usually buy it, doesn’t mean I don’t buy, it’s just not always my first stop. Will the fabric manufactures stop my little blog because I advocate recycling, up-cycling, reusing fabrics? If I do spotlight one designer, will other manufacturers (who don’t carry that line) want to shut me down for promoting something outside their sales line?

Will our fabric designers websites and blogs be closed because someone doesn’t like the fabric they design? Will writers’ blogs be closed because they write about something “unapproved”?

Tomorrow, in response to this bill many blogs and websites will go black, including this one. Please check out the bill here and make your choice, http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/

As I said, this started out to be a very different post. However, this is important to me. I hope your freedom to read what you want, where you want (online, in a newspaper, in a book, etc.), when you want is important to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Changing Directions – The Quilt of Healing

Quilters love giving their quilts away almost as much as they enjoy making the quilts. In part, because if we didn’t give some away we’d soon be smothered by our creations. However, the real reason we give our quilts away is to share the love. We give quilts to loved ones, so they can be wrapped in our love even when we are far away. We give quilts to charities, to wrap those affected in love, warmth and knowledge that there are  people who don’t even know them that care about them.

When Pat, a quilter from Owasso looked for a home for her quilts, she quickly selected a Hospice in Texas that had been there for a family member. She had taken quilts with her on previous visits to family and the Hospice was always glad to receive the quilts. However, on one trip the destination of her quilts changed.

She traveled to Texas shortly after wildfires had swept that portion of the state, leaving people homeless and without anything. One of her family worked with these fire-damaged people helping them get on their feet. He asked if he could give the quilts to those folks this time. She quickly agreed, and her quilts loaded in his car for him to take to the ‘office’.

When he returned that evening he told her about one of the women who received one of her quilts. The woman had gone to work the morning of the fire, returning that evening to find the fire had swept her neighborhood. Her house, and all her belongings was in ashes. The only things she ‘salvaged’ were the clothes she’d worn to work, her purse, and her car. Everything else was gone.

When presented with the quilt and a place to live, she hugged the quilt as though inhaling the love stitched into it. She was happier with the quilt than the fact they’d found lodging for her. The quilt began her healing.

Neither of the quilts pictured were the donation quilt, but wouldn’t someone love to receive either of them? These are from the 2011 Kiamichi Quilt Guild show, “Fall in Love With Quilts.” The one at the top is titled “See ‘n Red” and is the creation of Sharon Savard.

This one (below), is the “Little Camp Quilt” is  by Pat Cotton of McAlester.

 

Marketing Ripples

Throw a rock in a pool of water and watch how far the ripples move out from the center, where the rock landed. Our book promotions are much the same, especially online. We don’t know who will read and react (by making a purchase) to our words, but we keep sending them out there to cyber space.

Online promotional ideas aren’t endless; at least I think there’s a finite number of them. I haven’t found the end yet. Of course, each author has his/her own spin, making the ideas go even further.

So far I blog, you’re reading it, remember? Have a Facebook and Twitter account, and use my email to help grow my readership and establish my platform.

Email sounds a little clunky, slow, and old-fashioned. But, I don’t mean sit and carefully compose individual email after email, although, for some that might not be a bad idea. No, first, add a signature to every email you send that tells a little something about your book.  You can add a sentence or two enticing your correspondent to find and read your book. Of course, finding it won’t be hard for them, you’ll also have a link in your signature that will let people click and buy.

Quilter, Jane Skoch who uses the name Maiden Jane, simply lists her website, her blog, and her Etsy store under her signature:

Jane Skoch
http://www.maidenjane.com

http://www.maidenjane.blogspot.com

http://www.maidenjane.etsy.com

Author Pat Browning lists the name of her book, where to find it, her blog and a quote from Paul Newman, giving credit to where she found it:

Pat Browning
ABSINTHE OF MALICE (Krill Press 2008)
Kindle and Nook E-book $2.99

http://browningpat.wordpress.com/

“Once you’ve seen your face on a bottle of salad dressing, it’s hard to take yourself seriously.”–Paul Newman, quoted by literary agent Michael Larsen in his blog

Linda Formichelli, author, writing coach and teacher simply lists her website below her name:

Linda Formichelli

http://www.therenegadewriter.com

My publisher/editor Dan Case simply lists all the places online he can be found:

Dan Case, editor
Writing for DOLLARS!
http://www.WritingForDollars.com
BLOG
http://PromoteBooks.blogspot.com
AWOC.COM Publishing
http://www.awoc.com
Web site
http://www.DanCase.com

I currently mention I’m available to speak to groups, my blog address, and where to find my book. In the past I’ve also included a short, two or three sentence excerpt from the book to entice readers.

The nice thing about the email signature, it’s fluid, flexible, you can change it on a whim. Have a new book published? Add it to your signature. Find another quote you like better? Add it to your signature.

You’re not through with email yet. Now, you have everyone who receives an email from you learning about your book(s), you can send emails to help grow your readership.

If you have a book signing, give a presentation, or simply have good news to shout to the world (book is in it’s second, third, fourth printing, you made top seller, or your second, third, fourth, etc. book is now available) sending emails will help spread the word. Send an email to every family member, of course. They may already have your book, or not, this might encourage them. A simple reminder from you about your book, will jog their memory that “oh yeah, I have a relative with a book” and they’ll tell their friends. Plus, it’s just nice to share good news with family, same thing with close friends.

You can also send an email to organizations you belong to. They can include the information in their next newsletter or communication with the group. Be very careful sending individual emails to addresses you glean from the membership rolls, you don’t want to spam them.

That’s it for this week. Next week, Blogging for Sales. In the meantime, how do you use email to increase your readership and grow your platform?

 

 

 

 

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A Week in Photos

Sunday. It's still winter, so am keeping a few "winter" decorations out

Mon. Max the guard dog on duty.

Tue. 1/10 Sign of the Gerty Store

Another view of the Gerty Store sign. She makes awesome fried pies!

This is what happens when you get in a hurry to finish the blocks. Thur. 1/12

At the OKC Winter Show 1/13

Wall hanging of mine and David's hands. 1/14

 

Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show

Yesterday I spent the day in Oklahoma City at the Winter Quilt Show. Lots of quilts to see, people to meet, and new products to drool over.

When I first arrived I met quilt designer, Victoria Craig. We spent most of the day together visiting booths, and learning from each other. Well, I learned from her, not sure how much she learned from me. Her patterns were being carried by SEW N SEWS, a machine and quilt store in OKC that I will be visiting next time I’m there.

I purchased her pattern, Linus Sampler. She designed and made the quilt for the Linus Foundation. Her quilt is  used as an attention-grabber whenever they have a booth to attract more interest.

I found some interesting fabrics from Studioefabrics at Two Sisters Quilting Booth. I’ll post pictures of the fabric, and maybe (don’t hold your breath) the finished quilt top, later.

Another bonus of attending quilt shows is finding and reuniting with people you only see at shows. I was lucky this year and found Joy of A Joyful Soul Fabrics. Where I purchased an Amy Butler hat pattern. I’d found Joy, and the pattern a couple of years ago, but was unable to make the purchase. Yes, I could’ve gone online and bought it, but I didn’t. Don’t ask why, I have no idea.  Anyway, now I have the pattern, and will be using it. This summer I’ll have a cool hat or two to wear.

Joy is aptly named, she is a real joy to be around and visit. Currently, she and her family live in Texas where her military husband is stationed. Thanks Joy.

That’s all I bought, but found so many other things I put on my ‘wish’ list and other items I just plain enjoyed seeing, and learning about.

In addition to the vendors, there were, of course, quilts. I ran out of room on my camera, so didn’t get pictures of all of them, but here are a few:

Elinor Rahme pieced this Marsha McCloskey “triple feathered star.” Isn’t it pretty in blue and white?

I loved this “No Squirrels Allowed” quilt. I forgot to write down the quilter’s name, if anyone knows who made it, please let me know so I can give proper credit.My photography skills aren’t the best, can you see the three birds on the tree limbs?

I wish there was something next to these ‘flowers’ to give you an idea of how small they are. The entire quilt is just 49″ X 62″. There are 2287 hand pieced hexagons in the quilt. The entire quilt was hand pieced, and hand quilted. I don’t think there was a name on this one, if there was, I forgot to write it. Again, if you know who made this please let me know so I can give proper credit.

On the description page it was called the Bottom of the Basket (BB) quilt because the project kept being shoved to the bottom of the basket as other projects took precedence. The little quilt was nine years in the making.

Also attending the show was Judy Howard with an exhibit of mini quilts to fight childhood hunger.

 

Wake Up

Once again it’s Friday morning. That means it’s time for Five Minute writing, no editing. We write, as Gypsy Mama says, “For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.”

Here we go:

AWAKE

Ever notice how we wonder, and often ask, how the world can keep spinning when a person we love is gone from this world? But, it does. The sun comes up. The birds still sing. There are jobs still to be done, The world keeps spinning.

We have no choice, we follow along. We arise each morning. We do our daily chores. We continue with our jobs. We keep moving, but we aren’t awake. We just are.

Eventually though we wake up. Really wake up. We watch our children or grandchildren at play, we laugh at their antics. We remember tricks they played while we were sleep-walking through life.

The trick, is to force ourselves awake, even when we want to sleep. In sleep there is no pain. In sleep we forget the going of our loved one. But, in sleep, we don’t live, we don’t grow. Some sleep is needed of course. We were made to live. When we’re awake, our sleep is restful, healing, restoring our energy for the next day. Sleepwalk sleeping, is just moving through the day, not improving anything.

Good morning world. I’m awake. Are you?

That’s all there is to it.

Won’t you join us?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

 

To read other interesting takes on the word AWAKE, or to link up your own view, visit Gypsy Mama.

 

Writing to Sell

Writers write. We’ve all heard it. At workshops, in magazines, and from our writing friends. It’s practically a mantra, “writers write, writers write, writers write…”

Those words are usually used in talking about writing our projects. WE hear, either in our head or from others, when we hit a ‘writers block. It’s the answer we get from more proficient writers when they are asked how they became such good writers, “writing, writers write.”

Have you ever thought about those words applying to SELLING your writing?  Joel Schwartzberg, author of the popular, THE FORTY YEAR OLD VERSION (yes, the book was the foundation for the movie, used those words, “writers write,” in an interview with Steve Harrison, explaining one of the methods he used for selling his book.

True, Joel had several tips, but they all revolved around writing. Joel wrote new essays for a variety of sources, which always included a path to his book. If his writing was online, an ezine, or another blog, the path was a link directly to his book. If his words appeared in print, CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, The New Jersey Monthly, and  Newsweek, to name a few, a short bio including information about his book was included.

Check your copy of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL. You’ll find several of the essay authors also have a book (or ten) that is listed in their bio. Most anthologies do the same.There are several inspirational anthology opportunities with varying pay rates. The website for writers, AbsoluteWrite, has a listing of anthologies looking for submissions. Some of the listings are no longer accepting submissions, and there are probably other anthology sources. If you know of any, please share them in the comments.

Anthologies aren’t the only vehicle available to increase our readers. You’ll notice Joel was also published in several magazines, including the regional New Jersey Monthly and the more national  Newsweek. Being published in either type will increase your readership.

Colleen Plimpton, author of  MENTORS IN THE GARDEN OF LIFE, has an article in the  January 2012 issue of Toastmaster Magazine,(an international publication) “The Magic of Sense Appeal” The article is about bringing a speech to life by using sensory detail (sound familiar?) she detailed how speakers could use sensory details to keep an audience involved in a speech. True, Colleen is a speaker, she’s a member of Toastmasters, however her book isn’t a collection of speeches, or a speaking how-to. No, her book, is a memoir, about her life and the lessons she learned from those who passed through it. Colleen is a gardener, her website is mostly about gardening. Yet that article in Toastmaster Magazine, sent me, and probably hundreds of others to both her website and her book. Sales were made possible to new readers because of the article.

If you belong to an organization that publishes a magazine, or newsletter, whether regional, national, or international readership, submit articles to that magazine. You know what they want, you are one of them. When your article is published, so is information about your book, reaching more potential readers, and buyers for your book.

So, you don’t want to write for an anthology, and don’t belong to an organization with a publication. Never fear, you do have interests. Right? Whether or not your book is about those interests doesn’t matter. Write the article the magazine needs, then information about your book will be in your bio.

Where are you being published? In addition to your book. Add information about your book, website, and or blog, to your bio. You never know when that little blurb will bring you new readers.

Next week we’ll look at some of your online options for writing to promote your book. In the meantime, where are some of the places your published that promotes your writing?

 

 

 

Saturday Show and Tell UFO Goals

A little late with my Saturday Show and Share. I’m joining up with some fabulous quilter/bloggers to finish up some of the UFO’s taking up space.

First up is the project for challenge at Patchwork Times. For that challenge we listed 12 projects, mine are here. Yesterday, the number of the project for this month was announced. For me it will be the Allen Quilt Guild Swap Block Quilt, for lack of a better name. These are half square triangle blocks that my quilt guild members swapped soon after I joined them. It’s the first one I ever participated in. The blocks need to be sewn together, then the whole thing quilted. No problem. Right?

A few of them unfolded

Stack of hst squares from Allen quilt guild

I’m also  linking up with Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap, and the 2012 Finish-A-Long. For this challenge, at the beginning of a quarter, we post the UFOs from years past that we will work on and with any luck finish in the same quarter. My UFOs for the quarter are:The Allen Quilt mentioned above. The wall hanging Grandmother’s Flower Garden. As you can see a couple of the ‘petals’ need to be attached then the whole thing quilted. More information about it is here.

Flower Garden

This one will probably take the entire quarter to finish. However, I’m also working on:This prayer quilt. Don’t ask how long I’ve been working on it. It needs to be retied (I had to take them out), and bound.

Then there’s this prayer quilt that needs the binding fixed and the quilt delivered:

Prayer quilt #2

Yes, I started this quilt after the first one and it’s closer to being finished, but that’s because I had to take all the ties out of the first one, I’d made a few mistakes and it wasn’t right. I’d hoped that finishing this second quilt would give me the confidence to go back and complete the first one. Didn’t happen. Both will be completed this quarter, hopefully this month.

Then there are these growth charts:

growth charts in the making

One is almost finished, and the second one is barely started. They were supposed to be Christmas gifts. Ha! Guess they’ll be Valentine gifts. The children won’t have a birthday until Sep. and I don’t want to wait that long.

There’s also the monthly applique. Our group started these at the beginning of the year as a block of the month applique challenge. I started it, but had an issue with the February heart block. Finally decided to do the entire quilt in black and white. This will be finished this quarter also.

Yes, it does say “pot holders” however the patterns were in both 6 and 10 inch and we thought they’d make cute blocks for a quilt. I’m not quite sure what I’ll do for the July block though, there wasn’t a July pattern, and we were all to choose our our design. Problem is, most designs I think of depend on the patriotic colors, not sure what I’ll do in black and white for that month. But, I still have a little time, this just needs to be finished this quarter, not this week.

 

Finally there’s the denim quilt for my grandson Spencer. I have the denim squares cut, but that’s it. Since it was also supposed to be a Christmas gift, I hope to finish it this month so it can be a birthday gift for him.

There you have it, my unfinished projects that WILL be finished in the next three months. I’m sure I’ll add some new projects along also. I already know I want to make another prayer quilt. I’ve even bought the fabric for it. Maybe I’ll get it finished sooner than the other two.

I also need to make the leaf blocks for our 2011 exchange, which we’ll do at the next meeting. Not including them though, since they aren’t even started.

 

Silent Sunday – A week of Adventure

Sunday Sunrise

 

 

Mon. - Ozzie thought the Christmas blanket was for him - Wrong.

Tue. Christmas decorations, including Ozzie’s washed blanket, packed away for another year.

 

Wed. Dinning table cleaned off, no patterns, no fabric, no wrapping paper. Waiting for tablecloth

Project for January.

Fri. Shelf finally up in utility room - next project?

Sat. Local store/cafe.Supper with friend.

 

Five Minute Friday – Roar

It’s the first Friday of the New Year and, thankfully, LisaJo at The Gypsy Mama is continuing with Five Minute Fridays. Today’s word: Roar

ROAR

Our younger grandson recently started roaring. His parents and brothers thought it was cute, which encouraged him to roar more. He’d smile and roar just because he was happy.

He’s not very verbal, so this roaring may have been a way for him to share his happiness. He didn’t roar when he was upset or angry, only when he was happy.

When I visited and he roared for me I couldn’t help but smile too. Not only because he was looking for me to smile or laugh, but because the roar reminded me of his grandpa. My daughter didn’t know why the baby had started to roar. I knew it was because his grandpa taught him to roar.

Either in his sleep, or when he was playing alone, his grandpa would visit and get him to roar. He may have learned it before he was born. His grandpa went to heave long before the child’s birth, maybe while they were both in heaven his grandpa taught him about roaring.

His grandpa went by “Bear” several times in his life. The last, in the months and years before his death. Our first grandson dubbed him “Bear” on their first meeting after they’d spent the afternoon ‘roaring’ at each other.

There you go. Five Minutes of ‘top of the head’ writing. Join us by linking up with The Gypsy Mama, or just pop by and read some of the other ideas.