2012 Brenda Novak Auction

Hard to believe, but the 2012 Brenda Novak Auction for the Cure of Diabetes is right around the corner, little more than 2 months away. Since my Teen has this disease, I've been contributing a quilted project for several years now. This year, I'm offering something a little different that I hope will appeal to authors, but perhaps readers might like this, too.

I am offering to make a "book cover wall hanging"--that is I will design and make a wall hanging that includes the images of up to 4 book covers. High-resolution files, submitted by the winning bidder, will be printed onto fabric and sewn into a quilt that will probably measure around 24" x 18", depending on how many book covers are used. To illustrate what I'm thinking of, I made up a prototype for Brenda as a thank you for all she's done to make the auction happen.

I chose to work with Brenda's latest series and started with these three book covers:


I need to pause a moment and admire the incredible design work of the art department at MIRA. The colors of the covers are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. The sunrise or sunset at the top of each cover uses color that is carried over into the color of the printing of Brenda's name. I was inspired to do a sketch that would incorporate the main color of each cover and the color of Brenda's name. I decided to frame each cover with a border matching Brenda's name. Then I would make strips to run the length of the quilt, top and bottom, using the main color of each cover. Here's what I drew:


I dug through my fabric stash and found fabrics to match the colors in the covers. And I found a fabulous fabric that worked as a border and frames the quilt so nicely. Here's the finished quilt: 

          

Here are some close-ups of the quilting:



To give you an idea of the scale of the quilt and also how well the image transfers to fabric, here's a copy of Inside next to its image on the quilt:


So, I'm looking forward to seeing if anyone will bid on this and give me a chance to design something around another set of book covers. When May gets here, I hope you'll help me spread the word!


Comments

  1. WendyFebruary 29, 2012 at 10:29 PM

    OMG - I want to win this! You could do covers of four Bat Cave keepers :) I plan on bidding, but I have no doubt it will eventually get too rich for my blood. Damn, why am I librarian and not a doctor? Oh yeah, the whole sick people, blood and sucking at science thing.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 29, 2012 at 10:48 PM

    Janet W How insanely gorgeous ... perhaps I need to win :) Great job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. PhylFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    Thank you both! Please, bid all you want :-)

    I think this is one I'm going to have a lot of fun with.

    ReplyDelete
  4. SonomaLassFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    I hate to be a wet blanket, but please be careful about the copyright issues here. I don't think most readers can legally copy book covers, and even authors need permission in some contexts. I would hate to see anyone get in trouble over this.

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    Replies
    1. PhylMarch 1, 2012 at 9:05 AM

      You're not being a wet blanket at all! Actually, this is something I've considered and I asked Brenda about way back when I first proposed this. If an author wins this auction it will be easier to get the permissions we'd need, for sure. When I made the sample for Brenda I got the images directly from her editor at Harlequin and they were aware why I wanted them.

      Delete
  5. HilciaMarch 1, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    Phyl that is a fantastic looking quilt!! Gorgeous! I think Brenda will love it. I'm amazed at how gorgeous the covers look on fabric. Good luck on the auction. As always, I plan on bidding too. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PhylMarch 1, 2012 at 9:08 AM

      Thanks Hilcia! And Brenda has it now. She was delighted and very kind in her comments. Glad you'll be bidding. It's greatly appreciated.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousMarch 1, 2012 at 12:20 PM

    OMG. I must have one of these. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PhylMarch 1, 2012 at 3:04 PM

      Thanks so much, Jessica! I really appreciate it.

      Delete
  7. ChristineMarch 6, 2012 at 5:06 PM

    As I commented on twitter when Brenda shared this... it's absolutely gorgeous. Very unique and special to the author or reader who wins! Can you remind me when we're closer to the opening of the auction so I can promote this on my blog? I think I missed promoting you and the auction last year!!! :(

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  8. PhylMarch 6, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    I will do that! Thanks so much, Christine. I'm grateful for those willing to help spread the word.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ItaliaMay 11, 2012 at 5:43 AM

    This is the first of a trilogy of "IN" books. "In Seconds" and "In Close" and numbers two and three. Brenda did not disappoint! She gave us a nail biter that I had a difficult time putting down. I won't go into the plot or characters as that's already been done by other reviewers. I can only add my opinion that this book is a winner and I can't wait to begin the second in the series. I definitely recommend this book and any others written by Brenda, for that matter. I marvel that she is self taught in the art of writing as she does it so well.

    ReplyDelete

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