Business & Tech

Quilter Sews the Seeds of Love for Her Craft

Quilter and author Ebony Love, of Hainesville, has begun a public campaign to find investors for her new book about fabric die cutting.

If you’re being called an expert in something, why not write a book on the subject?

That’s exactly what award-winning quilter, designer, blogger and video educator Ebony Love, of Hainesville, has done. All she needs now is the financial backing to self-publish “The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting Tips!”

Love, who owns LoveBug Studios in Grayslake, has turned to a unique fundraising Web site called Kickstarter.com, which allows artists and entrepreneurs to solicit private funds for creative projects. She is well on her way to meeting her minimum goal of $5,000, to register her book and hire an editor. Within the first 24 hours of posting her project to the site, she reached 30 percent fulfillment.

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“I’m pretty confident,” said Love, adding if she doesn’t raise the money, she will pay for the start-up costs out of her savings. If the $5,000 minimum goal is not met, would-be contributors won’t pay a thing.

With so much support already, Love is hoping to generate another $4,500 for initial production costs. More investments into her book will mean even more publishing opportunities.

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The 200-page how-to book, which is already written, “will be published no matter what,” said a determined Love, who is planning on an Oct. 1 release date so she can promote it at the upcoming International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas.

Love was inspired to write a book on fabric die cutting, a manufacturing process used to create a large number of fabric pieces of the same shape, because of the lack of how-to resources on the subject.

“I wanted to fill that gap,” she said. “I want everyone to be successful. People forget when they start out it’s ugly and crazy.”

Traditionally, quilters cut their shapes by hand, over and over. It’s time consuming and if you’re not successful, you can waste a lot of expensive fabric, said Love.

An accomplished sewer and garment maker, Love eventually taught herself to quilt.

While making gowns and costumes for clients, said Love, “I’d end up with fabulous scraps of fabric that I couldn’t bring myself to throw away, so I taught myself to quilt.”

As a beginner, Love used the old-fashioned way of creating fabric shapes by hand, with pinking shears.

“I had bruises on my hands. I thought, there has to be a better way!”

It took Love, who works full-time, six months to research and write her book over late nights and long weekends. Through her popular Web site, www.lovebugstudios.com, which features blogs, instructional guides and a store, fans have been requesting to pre-order the book.

Love, who also edits her own digital magazine called “Blocks to Die For,” admits she is still getting used to being referred to as an expert, but she is passionate about her craft and eager to share her knowledge with fellow quilting enthusiasts.

In fact, she has posted more than 40 instructional videos on YouTube. Check them out at www.youtube.com/user/lovebugstudios.

Love is available for lectures and workshops, and teaches in her spare time. This fall, she will teach classes at the International Quilt Market.

To make a contribution or learn more about Love’s book publishing campaign, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/1135685915/finally-a-book-on-fabric-die-cutting


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