Have you taken a stroll through this lovely book yet? Handmade Home is Amanda’s Soule’s follow-up to her very popular book, The Creative Family. If you love sewing projects that repurpose well-loved items from the home and for the home, you won’t be disappointed. Amanda’s sweet perspective on life, family and appreciating the little things that we’ve come to love on her blog comes shining through in her new book, Handmade Home.
I was fortunate to meet Amanda in person last spring at the Squam Art Workshops. We took the rustic playhouse stage together, along with three other authors, and chatted with the attendees about our books, publishing, and what it means to put your baby (book) out into the world. (speaking metaphorically, that baby is Harper, Amanda’s real baby)
Amanda’s and my path had crossed previous to meeting via blogging and emailing each other. At one point, many months ago, we had compared notes about my then-work-in-progress, Sewing Green, and hers, Handmade Home. Both books with sewing projects, both focused on repurposing and reuse, but from different angles and in our own voices. It’s a wonderful surprise to finally see her efforts come together. Amanda brings such a sense of nostalgia, history and an admiration for family past, present and future. She articulates it in a way that makes you feel as though you’ve been friends forever.
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And now I’m off on a tangent:
I find the act of publishing so fascinating. Creating books (our babies, our labors of love) and sending them out into the wild…they take on a life of their own. I hesitate to keep comparing it to parenting, but I can’t get away from it. Seeing your book go forth without you, for better or worse, is like sending your child off to kindergarten.
Will she make friends? Will people see her good traits, the way I do? Will she do well?
As a parent (and an author) there is only so much you can do to prepare, nurture, and encourage your children (books). Soon enough they join the masses and all of your love and hard work is on display for the public. To be adored or to be dismissed. To be revered or to be criticized. I have to say, it is a bit daunting. No, books are not human, but they come from the heart. And like parenting, I consider being an author an incredible honor. I’m pretty sure Amanda would agree.
Nice post, Betz.
Nice post, Betz.
Nice post. Especially as I’m getting ready for my kids’ first day of school next week.
I love your passion for what you do. It sure comes through. My daughter is in publishing and I know how much goes into each part of getting a book into the stores! How proud you should be!
I received your book Sewing Green along with Handmade Home and Weekend Sewing, they were a bundle from Amazon, and I love them. All three of these books are awesome and will be put to use soon. For now I am just taking my time gazing at their pages and imagining their potential in my home. Thank you for putting it out there and giving me the chance to enjoy it in my life. -Gail
Betz, thank you so much for this timely post…love the parenting analogy…my book just “joined the masses” and it is daunting and scary and exhilarating.
Wonderful post, Betz. I own both of your babies/books and find them to be beautiful and useful. I enjoyed hearing this sensitive perspective on the the emotions of publishing. Thank you!
Oh gosh can I ever relate!! With my book on the verge of making its worldly debut I feel a mixture of excitement and fear…butterflies in my stomach…and all that first day of school stuff.
to publish…..hmmmm
I love your takes on what it means to be an author. I feel completely the same way, my published writing has taken the form of newspaper and magazine articles, which somehow is maybe less scary than sending a book out into the big world. But it’s still such an emotional process and I always feel so fragile about letting them go!
eeeekkkk… I have my first book coming out too (Feb 2010) and it is just like parenting. I love your blog!
Nice post. BTW I really like your book!
Lovely post! I’m also a parent and wishes to have a book of my own as well. Maybe someday. Thank you for inspiring me.