One thing I love about book tours is getting to know the author a little better. Monique Dillard, author of Fat Quarter Winners published by C & T Publishing, is one of the nicest people I have met in the quilting business, and I had plenty of questions for her. Like, how does she stay so nice while sewing up a storm and managing her successful design business? (No, I didn't ask her that!) Lisa, Thelma and I are going to be doing interviews with Monique this week, and we hope you will find our questions and Monique's answers interesting. The quilts pictured below are all designs that can be found in Fat Quarter Winners.
"I know you have been quilting for a number of years now. Can you tell me when you started designing patterns? What led you to take the plunge into getting your patterns published, and was it difficult"?
"I started designing patterns in 2004. How I began was I was teaching classes and changing patterns to make them easier for my students. I added pressing directions and easier techniques and sometimes I would change the pattern to make it more appealing. Then, some of my friends and I were talking and they encouraged me to start designing. It was a scary idea because I was worried that I would run out of ideas. On the contrary, I find that I have more ideas now than ever. Once I started, there was no looking back. There is a lot you learn when you are starting your own business in the creative arena. I learned most of it by trial and error and there were a few wonderful people (including Carrie Nelson) that helped me. They offered advice if I asked and were wonderful to me. Because of this, I try to pay it forward. I look at it like this: each person has their own voice and style and the more that we can help each other out, the better."
"I know a bit about what inspired you to write Fat Quarter Winners, but am curious about the process you went through to get the book published. Can you share how you attracted the attention of your publisher, C & T Publishing"?
"Actually, C&T approached me. I had always understood that the big publishing companies didn't pay much per book. While this is true, they can market the books much better than I can and therefor, sell more books. They will send all over the world and can get to places that I would never be able to. I received a phone call from C&T about 2 years ago. The representative asked me if I had ever been interested in writing a book with them. I was honest and said that I hadn't thought about it. She explained that I would still be able to write my patterns the way that I do and I would have complete creative control. She also told me that their marketing is wonderful and can get my book out there. I thought about it for a few days and came up with the idea of a fat quarter book. I decided to do it. I am very pleased with C&T and the attention they have to detail. They edit the books thoroughly and as an author, you get to see each stage of the development. There are several stages of development of the book. You send them the quilts by a certain date and then the manuscript shortly after. Then, they do an editing stage and go over all your numbers and figuring. There is quite a bit of back and forth to make sure the numbers are correct and that everything is understandable to the consumer. On the next step, they place the images in to make sure that they correspond with your instructions. The author goes over that too. The final step is to see it all laid out with the quilts, images and instructions. Around this time, you get to see the cover. Both these steps are the exciting part and it means that it is really happening. Finally, the book is made and 2 years later, there you go!"
"Your style of quilting is generally traditional, which is so appealing to me. Have you always made quilts that are more traditional than modern"?
"Yes, I've always been a traditional designer. On occasion I use more modern fabric but I tend to stick toward the traditional. I think it's growing up in the mid-west. Very traditional, darker fabrics".
Is there anything from your childhood that inspires your current designs or motivates you to create?
"Both my grandmas were sewers. My dad's mom was a quilter and I love to look at her quilts. My other grandma did more craft sewing. My aunt Cecile (my dad's sister) used to have me over to her house to sew. I always loved Home Ec".
What designers influenced you when you first began quilting?
"The designer that influenced me most is Harriet Hargrave. I took a class from her at our local guild and she is my quilting hero. She was so inspiring and interesting. She is about the only person that I would say I'm in awe of in quilting. Otherwise, I wouldn't say that I had any one person that inspires me. My inspirations tend to be more about the fabric, color, blocks and different geometric shapes. I love to play with fabric, colors and blocks to get a unique design".
Hope you all enjoyed that! Check out Monique's blog tomorrow to learn some things you may not have expected about her!