Finally! A new crafty magazine with the current crafter in mind!

Adorn hits newsstands next Tuesday, June 13th!

In order to properly introduce this new endeavour, I put a few questions to Craft Editor Linda Permann:

1. What gap is Adorn trying to fill?
LP: I think there’s a bit of a lag between traditional craft companies and modern crafters. There’s a huge group of (mostly) women in their 20s and 30s that are crafting, logging on to websites like GetCrafty and Craftster and WhipUp- and the craft industry needs to catch up with materials and ideas. People are doing amazing things with basic supplies, and we want to show some of that. We want to provide hip inspiration that makes you want to gather your supplies and craft up a storm.

2. I know you’ve said in your interview with Marie from The Sampler that the demographic is women aged 20-40, but can you elaborate a bit more on the audience you’d like to reach?

LP: We’re trying to reach the modern woman who wants her clothing and living space to reflect her personality, but doesn’t always have a ton of time on her hands. We also aim to make the projects easy enough for beginners to try, because we know more advanced crafters can add their own spice, and we think everyone can have fun making crafts. So we’re targeting people who craft already- especially the huge amount of crafters on the internet who don’t have a true craft magazine—and people who are interested in crafts but have been too intimidated to give it a go, or just never found a project that inspired them enough to learn a new craft.

3. Do you ever get craft fatigue with all this craftiness hitting you from all angles? If so, how do you combat it?
LP: To be honest- yes! But I am always looking for new ideas so even if I am not 100 percent psyched every single day, it’s not the end of the world. And my love of craft runs deep. However, my advice for craft overload is this: diversify. For a long time I was just crafting. Crocheting, sewing, making cards, etc. I realized I needed to get out of the house, get some exercise, play with recipes, take some classes. Right now I’m taking a film class, last summer I took monoprinting. There are so many creative fields so if you feel like you’re overwhelmed by one, try another one. It’ll inspire your craft, or your craft will inspire it (For instance, I used a lot of yarn in my monoprinting work.) I think the key to life is variety, it just makes everything richer.

4. I know that you are a crochet whiz and do lots of different types of crafty things, but as working on the magazine opened you to any new crafts in particular?
I’ve always dabbled in everything, so I’m not sure there’s any one thing I’d never done before, but I will say that it has opened me up to lots of cool tools that can make my life a LOT easier. Like the right kind of pliers for jewelry, or the Fiskar’s Circle Cutter (which I just LOVE for making perfect circles). Sometimes I see new tools and they are inspiration all their own. I hate to sound like a big advertisement, but I’d never work without some of these tools again!

5. Do you see any new trends developing in craft? I know that there has been a big importance put on knitting over the past few years, are there any craft mediums that you think should be getting more attention?
Well, we obviously think embellishment is huge. I guess that opens a big umbrella, since any craft can be turned into an embellishment, but crafts that don’t take a lot of time or experience are definitely getting notice. At the last CHA trade show, there were tons of trim and accessory lines that were aimed at simple embellishing. Embroidery is having it’s day in the sun, with Jenny Hart, Kristin Nicholas and Julie Jackson’s recent books. I’d also like to see more attention given to beading/jewelry-making, since there are a lot of unique supplies in the world. I think that may be next.

Bonus Question: I know you’re been working hard on getting this issue out, what’s been on the Adorn jukebox lately? seeing that you’re keeping an eye on cultural producers…
LP: Oh gosh… I’m horribly behind on music. No time! I just ordered the Dixie Chicks and The Flaming Lips. Other stuff I’ve been listening to lately, in no particular order (and not necessarily new, even): Death Vessel, Sufjan Stevens, Metric, Regina Spektor, Jeff Buckley and Loretta Lynn.

Thanks Linda! I can’t wait to see the magazine next week! Yay!

For even more on this new magazine, check out Susan Beal’s interview with the super-talented Linda over at GetCrafty!