Thursday, February 25, 2010

Brainstorm: Title

Lily gets to spend all day napping...


meanwhile my brain hurts trying to offer suggestions of book titles to the publisher. Here is the current thought:

Say It with Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters

The word "quilts" needs to be fairly far forward in the title, due to all sorts of indexing, marketing, cataloging reason. The words "liberated (associated with Gwen), "lazy" (everyone complained these letters weren't for the lazy) and "unruly" (might have negative connotations, plus really hasn't been established yet) are all out.

Needs to be understandable and clear - no guessing what the book might be about. Can't be overly clever. What do you think of the title under discussion?

72 comments:

Funky Kim said...

Quilts that speak: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters

Then quilts is the first word. And all that jazz.

Quilt or Dye said...

Oh, I like that Quilts that speak suggestion above.

I don't think the SAY it with quilts gives me enough information and the feeling I get is to give quilts away as presents like saying it with flowers.
"Write it in quilts" since you are going to teach how to make letters.

Loris said...

Quilts to read...is a variation of the above but I'm not sure I like it better. Ask sweet Lily when she wakes up :-)

jovaliquilts said...

I thought it was very clever until I read the comments, and I do think to the uninitiated it might sound like quilts to give away. Hmmm...I'll give it some thought.

Tonya Ricucci said...

yeah, I can see that. quilts to give away. but I have to say "speaks" doesn't work for me. I instantly think of training a quilt to speak the way you do a dog... argh.

Kim said...

Do you want it to tie in with your new website title?

Kristin Shields said...

I really like it! In fact, it sounds like a great website title too!

TK K said...

How about "Free-Pieced Alphabet Quilts?"

Yes, you can do more than an alphabet sampler with the technique, but that's obvious.

TK, a quilter

Quiltdivajulie said...

Say It Quilts

Says it all - quilts with words always SAY something . . .

Lettered Quilts or Quilty Letters

(another thought train that I like maybe even a little better)

I still like UnRuly Quilter for your blog, etc.


GOOD LUCK trying to keep everyone happy (hope you keep yourself in that group!)

Lynn Dykstra said...

Suggestions:
Quilting out Loud
Quilting Bee--Spelling Bee
Words Without End

Lynn Dykstra said...

"I'm Just Sayin'--Quilts that Speak"

Lynn Dykstra said...

Word Factory--Quilts that Talk

Krista said...

I like the first one. What popped into my head was "Quilt-speak", but I like Kim's better.

Quoteable Quilts? Quilted Quotes? Alliterative, but probably not great, since I doubt your quilts have entire quotes pieced into them.

♥Duff said...

Yes, that title works. I especially like that it does NOT contain the word "strip" which invites all sorts of Trojans (how's that for a pun)?!

suggestions? Hmm...

Quilting Loud & Clear: Easy...
(because loud and clear has the connotation of speech and so does...)
Ad-Lib Quilting : Easy...
Quilt Communication: Easy...
Quilt Quips: Easy...
Word Up, Quilters: Easy...(okay, I admit it, that one was thrown in for your amusement)


another thought is that this book might be the route to establish UnRuly Quilting as your trademark. it's a new idea and a new name--make them both known! I think a book like this would blow the pants off any negative connotations of unruly!

Anonymous said...

My suggestion:

Quilt sayings: Free-Pieced Letters the Easy Way.

Couldn't resist putting in my two cents worth.

Cj.

Anonymous said...

I really like your idea for the title. We tend to try to make the whole world happy and it is an impossible job. The "easy techniques part for free pieced letters" will clarify what is meant and should come up in a search format requesting that type of book. I like it. Liz

gjb said...

...something like: Quilt Text Letters - Freely Pieced...

grendelskin said...

I like Kim's also; or how about "Outspoken Quilts: Easy Techniques..."

PurplePickle said...

I like "outspoken"

laura said...

I like Quilt Out Loud... most of your work is high contrast, contemporary and makes a statement..

Teresa Rawson said...

Quilt Conversation Starters...
Quilts Well Stated...
Quilted Conversation...
Quilt Jibber-Jabber...
Quilting Spoken Here...
Quilting Without Spell Check...
Quiltin

(This is fun!)

Teresa Rawson said...

OOPS...I posted too quick!

Quilting in Any Language...

Teresa Rawson said...

Quilts My Cats Can Read...

(they do read, don't they?)

Statch said...

I really like the original title, but I also like the 'Outspoken Quilts' or 'Quilt Out Loud'. I also agree, though, that using 'Unruly' is good and might be a good chance to establish your brand.

Anonymous said...

I like the suggested book title. If I saw a book with that title, I'd probably take a closer look. :o) I'm going to assume you'll have a great quilt on the cover that will showcase just what the title is about.

I think I'd stay away from Quilt Out Loud... Isn't that Mark Lipinski's tagline, slogan, or something or other?

~Erin

Infodetective said...

I like Quilt out Loud a lot as it's modern and makes a statement. I think the sub-title should contain UnRuly to help brand the book with the website. Here are two that are variations of the already proposed suggestions:

Quilt out Loud:
Create Free-Pieced Letters Quilts with UnRuly Quilting Techniques

Quilt out Loud:
Learn to write in quilts by with UnRuly Quilting Techniques

Gypsy Quilter said...

It works for me. As does, Letters to Quilt By, Speak Easy Quilts, Wordly Wonderful Quilts, Why Not Words, the Language of Quilts, and If you can say it, you can quilt it. But I think that last one is too long. Love the Pokey picture.

Carla said...

How about:
Word Quilts
Fun with Free-Pieced Letters

(now my brain hurts too!)

Sarah said...

I like your idea "Say it with Quilts" because it's clever, without being too clever and it really does describe what you do. I also like "Quilted Conversations" because I'm a big fan of alliteration (my Christian name and Surname both start with S, which I've always really liked). :-)

Sarah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Diane said...

I think I like your original one best too - it's catchy, and the explanatory words say exactly what it's all about.

wlstarn said...

Read My Quilts!

Unknown said...

I am so bad with titles. There are so many that would be good, but in the end you need to be happy with it.

Kristin L said...

I like it. I got it right away. I also like The first suggestion of Quilts that Speak. Read my Quilts from "wlstarn" caught my eye too though. All very clever and straightforward.

julieQ said...

I like it. I did not misunderstand it on first read...I think it is good.

RebeccaMom said...

Sounds straight forward but intriguing to me! :) I stopped by from OMQD, just to say hi and poke around :) hope you are having a great day!

Vicky F said...

I like your title; it's deeper than it first appears.
Also "Wordy Quilts: Quilts that won't shut up" (just kidding!)

laura said...

Someone is right- Quilt Out Loud is a tagline as well as a website for a quilt show on QNN... *sigh* that was my fav

holly k said...

Spell-bound quilting (or something like that)
If a quilt could talk...

I also like Quilt out loud
So many fun options...I'll try to think of some more so you'll have more to dabble with!!! ;)

wishes, true and kind said...

I like Say it with quilts, etc. Great title. And I think Quilt Out Loud is already taken. Isn't that a show with Mark Lipinski?

wishes, true and kind said...

Yep -- Quilt Out Loud! is a show on QNNtv.com with Mark Lipinski and Jodi Davis.

Anonymous said...

I like your suggestion (Say It With Quilts: East Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters), but you could also use "Say It on Quilts: Easy Ways to Free-Piece Letters."

Sharon said...

How about "Talking Quilts: Easy Free-Pieced Letters the Unruly Way"? or something along that line? Just thinkin' here...

Anonymous said...

how about Quilt talk- easy pieced letters techniques

Dawn in MA

Diane said...

So "Wonky Words" is not in the running? I haven't read through all the suggestions, but think that Funky Kim nailed it with the very first one! BTW, I love "Unruly Quilter" for your website!

Diane said...

As someone who has sold many a quilt book in her time, a catchy title is important. "Say It With Quilts" sounds too generic.

comicbooklady said...

I like Say it with Quilts and Quilts that Speak...the difference between the 2 titles is that one implies (I'll teach you how to)Say it with Quilts, the other implies (let me show you some) Quilts that Speak, although adding the subtitle Easy Techniques makes that moot. I also like Outspoken Quilts,it does link better to the unruly quilter idea...tough decision...is it yours or the publishers? maybe give them more than one?

Susan said...

My first thought was "Words (then in tiny letters- Won't) Escape Me"

Then I read that "quilts" needed to foremost and I can't think of anything better than what you have already....

Good luck, I'm sure you'll hit on the perfect thing, Tonya!

Lynn E said...

I like Outspoken Quilts, the Unruly Way. Just a thought

AnnieO said...

How about Quilt Wonky Words: Easy Free-Piecing the UnRuly Way. There! I combined a couple of other people's suggestions....

Your working title suggestion is good, just not YOU enough.

Jennifer D said...

Ah, they are No fun, so practical.

I love UnRuly Quilter, but I do see their point.

I like "Say It with Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters" alright, but it is not much fun is it?

How about...

SpeakEasy Quilts!

floribunda said...

does it matter that there was already a book called "say it with quilts" by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes? I like "quilts that speak" better!

Riel Nason said...

Hi, I am relatively new to quilting and love to peek in at your blog. How about QUOTABLE QUILTS for the title before the colon, then your tag title "Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters." A little alliteration is always nice, and since the best things we say are quotable, then the carefully chosen words you incorporate in your quilts certainly are too!

Riel Nason said...

QUILTING THE WRITE WAY: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters?

Tonya Ricucci said...

So many great suggestions, some of them I LOVE only to discover they've already been used, for instance Quilt Out Loud and Spellbound. Obviously can't do Say it WITH Quilts - good catch. Say it ON Quilts maybe.

I like Word Quilts etc or Wonky Word Quilts. Free-pieced Alphabet Quilt or Free-Pieced Letter Quilts too.

No, I don't get to make the final decision. I get to make suggestions. I would LOVE to have unruly in the title or subtitle, but we'll see.

Anonymous said...

Go with the first thought - I've found it usually works best to not overthink . . .

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Clare said...

Free-Piecing Letters the Unruly Way!

Oh that is so naff!

After reading through all the comments, I'm reverting back to your original idea, but there is still something which niggles. Not sure what. Perhaps the length of the title?

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Say it with quilts is the title of one of the books by the "Quilts,Qullts, Quilts" ladies so I think it would be confusing.

How about the word "messages" like Quilts with Messages.

KQ Sue said...

How about: "Spell It Out"

KQ Sue said...

Quilts That Have Something To Say

Anonymous said...

I love "Read My Quilts!"

GlowWorm said...

How about "Stitch, Whack, and Spell: Easy Free-pieced Letters from the Unruly Quilter"

I think "Word Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters"

is the most straightforward title suggested and then down below you could add "From the Unruly Quilter" to get your new trademark/web page in.

"Outspoken Quilts: Easy ..." is more fun and you could still add "From the Unruly Quilter" down below.

GlowWorm said...

I would definitely avoid titles that are similar to previously published books. That is what makes finding a book on Amazon hard. I liked "Say it with Quilts" but if it has already been used, then even "Say it on Quilts" could result in someone not being able to find your book if they don't know your name or the title exactly.

Katie said...

I like your Free-Pieced Letter Quilts or Wonky Word Quilts. My idea is Free-Pieced Quilt Letters - the Easy Way

sewprimitive karen said...

Goodness, the title seems perfect.

Lynda said...

Great. You certainly don't want to be clever in a book title - it needs to tell you quickly what it is about, so it goes from the hamnd (via the till) to the bag!

Alice said...

Quilts with words

Fun and wonky word quilts

The writing on the quilt:)

I also liked - Quilts with words - fun with free pieced letters

I also like your title

Cara said...

I haven't had time to read all the suggestions yet, but Quilts Talk and then your subtitle popped in to my head when you asked.

Brandie said...

Write it, Quilt it - Letters Without Patterns
Think it, Quilt it - ...
Think it, Quilt it, Do it - ...
hmmm - lots of good ideas above. I am a huge fan of your go for it without a pattern approach.

Tanya said...

Hmmm. No ideas from me so it will be interesting to see what you choose... For some reason the current name under discussion seems to stilted and long for fun and friendly TONYA. My two cents.

Cheryl Arkison said...

Lots of good ideas brought up. I can say that the title as you shared doesn't seem to capture your energy.

Free Pieced Letter Quilts?
Talking Quilts - Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters?

I also like the idea of playing with the notion of letter as a Homograph - the quilt itself as a letter (the kind you write to a loved one) made up of letters.