We have at least the attention of one magazine and I appreciated Jeni's comments so much that I told her I was publishing it on my blog.
Hello!
I'm Jenifer, the Creative Director of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine, I was sent to this blog post by a nice lady at the NQA quilt show today! I just read each and every comment to my sister/partner, Gretchen, the Advertising and Circulation director, out loud! And after drinking some much needed water (haha)I wanted to post a comment to you! First of all, thank you to the many people who had such nice things to say about our publication. Secondly, we are all quilters just like you, and you have touched on issues close to our hearts. We would love to have more submissions of projects to our magazine, and it is as easy as sending us an email of a quilt or sketch of a project that is unpublished. Send them to homespunmedia@aol.com and we will consider them! Most of our projects have been primitive, but at least in every issue there has been a traditional or reproduction quilt, so we are open to that as well, for possible future publications. We will be sure to keep all of your comments in our thoughts as we plan our upcoming issues! Thank you Lori, for opening up this discussion, it is very helpful for our "new" magazine!
Jenifer, Gretchen, and Judy (even though she isn't with us here at the show!)
Any other magazine editors dare to jump in on this conversation?
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| Just had to have a photo and I thought this was a pretty unique magazine cover! |
Nice response to your post, lets you know quilters and editors are reading blogs. I have a draft I just wrote yesterday about the new issue of PQ&Pl which I think is wonderful. It post tonight. I just purged two years of quilting magazine and of all those there were only three quilts/articles that I saved. That represents a large amount of money in subscriptions for the three quilt patterns. We take our old magazines to guild and they sell them for 25 cents. An easy way to raise money for the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI usually buy mine in the store since I like to see them first and then use a coupon to get it half price when I can;) I do love the prim magazine and there is always a couple of things I will make, so worth it.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I only subscribe to the Prim mag now, haven't found any inspiration for quilts in any of the other magazines. I find more inspiration from designer and quilting blogs. I really don't know what the other magazines need to do to catch "our" or my interest.
ReplyDeleteIn this fast paced internet environment magazines are going to have challenges just like newspapers. I have country living and country home magazines from 20 years ago that I can not let go of and I haven't purchased a new one for 10 years. Hmmm, for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteI have less these days to spend so I am more mindful of how I spend the money I choose to spend on my hobbies.
I guess those designers, publishers have to really stay on top of the game and do there homework, like reading your blog....hehe!
Yes that is a very creative magazine cover...
Wow! I'm impressed that at least one magazine paid attention to your blog/our comments and RESPONDED! Gutsy. Word of mouth is powerful advertising and a little bit of bad can really hurt a business. I hope other editors are paying attention. I just threw my renewal for AP&Q in the trash yesterday. I had even subscribed as a gift to a friend for the past 2 years and told her today of my cancellation. She said she thought it had been poor reading for the last 6 months, but hadn't wanted to tell me since it was a gift! Magazines are high and unless they improve, I'd rather spend the money on more fabric. Lori, thank you for being brave enough to get this conversation started!
ReplyDeleteWell well! Result! Good to see the quilting press taking notice. Well done, Lori...wonder whether there'll be any others putting their heads above the parapet?
ReplyDeleteI hope more magazine editors will take notice and read all those comments. Sadly though....we have internet and so much at our fingertips anymore.
ReplyDeleteI stopped my magazine subscriptions (all Australian) and occasionally buy an USA mag if I happen to be in the newsagent (and they stock them) and see an interesting front cover. However I have decided that it is possibly my 12 years of quilting and reading magazines that has led me to think the magazine content is stale! Because its just like fashion, you wait long enough it comes back into vogue, so it must be hard to reinvent the wheel, especially for me when I prefer traditional designs. I have turned to blogs for my inspiration and just to see what other people make in fabric choices I might like but have no intention of ever purchasing. Its like window shopping, you know whats "in" but you didnt have to get undressed to see if it suited you OR hand over any money and were entertained along the way! Thanks for sharing Lori, I find your blog inspiring, happy quilting Sue SA.
ReplyDeletegood for you Lori for getting the attention of the magazines - we needed some good representation.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel good when you know people listen and you can make a difference. Glad you got this out there.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that the other magazines don't get it?? I remember a couple of years ago AP&Q had a questionnaire asking what the readers wanted. And you know what the overwhelming response was?? More Scrappy quilts!! I remember the answer because I like to use my stash and scraps, but at that time there were not many patterns available. At that time there was the big push about jelly rolls, and the accu-cut machine. Most of us do not have any kind of cutting system except a rotary cutter. I think the reader response was a real surprise to the magazine. I don't subscribe to AP&Q anymore. And I will probably let my other subscriptions run out. The price of magazines keeps going up and up and like Mary said, there is so much available online without all the advertising.
ReplyDeleteMy only subscription is to PQ&P - I let the others go. I just cannot take another 'easy-to-make-in-an-evening-jellyroll-project' While I understand there may be a need for such from time to time, I want projects that are as unique as I am - not a quilt that is the same as every other quilter's in town.
ReplyDeleteAren't you proud of the little dust storm you've created?? LOVE it. And I totally agree on the magazines... BLAH.
ReplyDeleteOh, this just keeps getting more interesting, doesn't it? *grin* It must be fun for you to see what an effect you have had! Maybe something will come of this in the magazine trade?? We can only hope, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI rarely buy magazines now.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see one editor has responded.
What a nice response from Jenifer; love that magazine and also Quiltmania. Hope the glossy American mags are reading all this; they need a bit of updating.
ReplyDeleteWell that is just awesome - that is why I love quilting and the online quilting community so much. It's amazing how we all can be connected like this. That was a great response. :)
ReplyDeleteI really wish more magazines would just specialize. Thanks for giving this topic light.
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