Oh, sad day! I just got an e-mail that my new favorite magazine, CRAFT, is dead. The last issue with Amy Sedaris on the cover is the last one they’ll publish. This is a bummer, because I just got a subscription for Christmas!
Here’s part of the e-mail I got..
Lately you’ve been telling us something that we’ve found increasingly true: Do-It-Yourself interests – from tech to fashion, science to crafts – are increasingly converging on the web. Our craftzine.com community is thriving. At the same time, print magazines are facing rising production costs and shrinking ad markets. Therefore, it makes less sense for us to publish two separate print magazines in the DIY space. Craft: Volume 10, our Celebration issue, will be the final issue of CRAFT magazine.…
...We will continue to publish the print version of MAKE Magazine. We will send you an issue of MAKE for every remaining issue you have in your CRAFT subscription. We know you’ll enjoy it. The same editors who work on CRAFT work on MAKE, giving it the same spirit of Martha-meets-MacGuyver innovation and inspiration. Already, over a dozen articles commissioned for CRAFT are destined for future issues of MAKE this year.
They say that they’ll also refund your subscription if you e-mail them at: cs@readerservices.craftzine.com or by phone at 818-487-2037 or toll-free at 866-368-5652. We’ll see… I asked for a refund. I’m just not that into MAKE, it’s a litte too techy for me… I craft it old school, I guess.
Sad day! CRAFT, r.i.p.!
Popularity: 16% [?]
13. February 2009 at 9:35 am
CRAFT is far from dead! While we won’t be producing a *print* publication any longer, we are moving ahead in developing a robust *online* publication and are very excited about the changes. We have a fantastic team and great leadership, and have some awesome things in store for our readers.
I totally understand the sadness over the loss of a favorite print magazine. There is something really comforting about curling up with your favorite magazine on the couch. However, our transition to an online publication is a great way to serve our growing online crafting community, and we are all very excited about the move to a completely digital format. So please help spread the word that we are not dead, and that our future is bright and exciting as we embrace this change.
Thanks so much for your loyalty!
Sincerely,
Rachel Hobson
Contributing Writer
Craftzine.com
13. February 2009 at 12:08 pm
Ok, so it’s online…but for those of us who are tactile people who work with our handsm (or ALREADY spend the day at the computer!), spending more time staring at a screen is torturous. And what happens when the power fails? Or you want to get some inspiration on your flight? Waiting at soccer practice? You a now alienating this, your print-driven audience…
26. February 2009 at 1:06 pm
I agree… I love the hands-on experience of a printed magazine. I actually gave this magazine to a couple people as Christmas gifts one year. Discovered it during a workshop at American Greetings and though, WOW – what a GREAT magazine. Not surprised it’s a favorite of yours. Quite a bummer that their printed magazine is gone now. Hmmm… what will I do for Christmas now? Well, I’m sure I’ll get plenty of inspiration from your site for handmade ideas (is this the year I’ll finally MAKE stuff for people?).
26. February 2009 at 3:17 pm
I still like the Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper Scissors, and Paper Crafts Magazines. Somerset Studio also has a great line of magazines, too. I ESPECIALLY like the Quilting Arts “GIFTS” issue for Christmas…lots of “artsy” things to make. (Remember, CPS/QA is where I learned to make fabric paper! And, yes, Wendy…I will try to share many good handmade gift ideas!