It's hard to believe that my first book, BoHo Chic Jewelry, was just released this past March
2014, and there I was last week, only six months later, flying off to Cincinnati, Ohio for the
photo shoot for my second jewelry instruction book, Soldered Alchemy. I feel so grateful and
fortunate to have the opportunity to share my ideas and designs with the world, and I really
hope that my books not only help to teach people new skills and techniques, but that they
inspire people to explore their own creativity in new ways!
This was a busy summer! Within a span of less than three months, I wrote an entire book.
A few people have asked me what writing a jewelry DIY book entails. Do I write the text? Or do I just create the projects? The answer is yes, I do it all. It basically begins with
brainstorming project ideas, about 25 or 26 projects that all are cohesive yet different from one another, each with varying difficulty from beginner to advanced. Everything has to kind
of mesh together and coordinate in a certain way (that's the cohesion I was talking about) but at the same time, every project has to be unique unto itself, and there has to be a nice
balance of different types of projects. It's not an easy task to accomplish!
In a nutshell, I brainstormed possible project ideas, and then sat down and designed each
project. Next I made each project from start to finish. This is when I also wrote the step by
step text for each project, while at the same time snapping test photos for the step by step photographer along the way. I did this so that once we were at the photo shoot, we would
know where to stop and take those important photos that displayed what was explained in
the step by step instructions described in the book. Once all the projects were completed
(and they had to be perfect, as these were the actual projects that would later be
professionally photographed for the book), I then worked on what's known as the front
matter, which is the beginning section of the book that contains the materials and
basic techniques sections, as well as the introduction and dedication. Oh, and I almost
forgot to mention, I was working under a deadline! That being said, there is not much time
to leisurely create. You really have to be focused, have great ideas, and know what you're
doing to do this type of work! But I love it.
Taking a moment to recharge before my flight.
There's no better feeling than putting your bare
feet in the grass for a few minutes!
Once all of the text and projects are finished, it's time to fly to Cincinnati to the publisher's
photo studio so that they can take all of the step by step photos that accompany the text in
the book. For this, I have to pack up my entire workshop - all of the tools and materials that
I need to create every project in the book - and ship them out to the photo studio so that
when I arrive we can get right to work! Once I arrive, I unpack everything, set it all up, and
then remake every single project while the photographer takes the photos.
Sitting in the airport, waiting for my flight.
Yummy bagel I had in the airport.
Goodbye Detroit! On my way to Cincinnati. I flew from where I
live in Pennsylvania to Detroit and then to Cincinnati.
Arriving in Cincinnati
"I'm in Cincinnati!" Hotel selfie before work to send to my boyfriend hehe...
Arriving in the photo studio the first day...so nice and clean! Just
wait till I get all of my supplies and materials laid out!
All of my finished projects that I had completed beforehand were
laid out on a table so that I could double check them for reference.
Some of my materials and tools, and in the bags were all of the
parts and materials that I needed for each project. It pays to be organized!
Here is where I worked!
My text was put into a layout and I used it as a guide.
In the middle of working on a project.
My fabulous photographer Christine Polomsky hard at work editing the step by step photos.
We worked from Monday through Friday, Christine taking photos at every step while
I made every project. It was a lot of work, but Christine is just awesome and we had agreat time all week! On Friday after we wrapped up the last chapter we packed up all of my tools and materials to be shipped back home to me and then I headed to the
airport to fly home. Next the photos will be edited and put into place within the
manuscript, and then in a few weeks I will do a review of the manuscript where I
answer any of my editor's questions, making any needed corrections or clarifications,
making sure that each photo matches up correctly with the text. Once that is complete,
more editing reviews will be done, the beauty photography will be done (those are the
pretty photos at the beginning of each chapter and on the cover), the fabulous designer
Brianna will work her magic, and then off to the printer it goes!
The book shown being created in these photos is entitled Soldered Alchemy,
and it is being published by FW Media, and will be released in May 2015. Once it is available for presale on amazon I will announce it here on my blog! What do you think?
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