Re: [lace] Anna magazine, and lace content

[Laceandbits]

In a message dated 11/01/2009 19:49:38 GMT Standard Time, 
cro...@northwestel.net writes:

>  

I was interested to read about the two new Anna's, but I was not impressed by 
the web site you gave us!!!  To me it is an example of AMATEUR, which is 
especially not good when it's a professional company's site.

In the craft school (where it's still only the 4th) there are no answers yet 
and in the boutique (here it's the 7th) they're still out looking for things 
to sell.  They did manage to have the 11th on Val's blog page.  Unfortunately 
the only entry was dated 8/25/08.  Don't rush yourself, Val.  Finally, when I 
followed the invitation to 'click here to enlarge' the photos across the bottom 
of the page, the result was a full screen, very pixellated and completely 
unviewable blur.

There are 39 comments on the non-blog (with a big rush on the 15th November 
for some reason - a comment on a chat board perhaps, which encouraged people to 
complain?) But Val has answered the comments that the designs were too simple 
with "A commonly accepted belief in American craft publishing is that US 
crafters only want what's quick and easy--that no one has any time and that 
anything beyond what's basic will be rejected. I can't tell you how happy I am 
to 
hear that this is an incorrect belief"  So perhaps they will have the courage 
to 
be more like the original Anna. 

My main point is that there is this apparently smart website, to help promote 
a new magazine, but 5 months on there is still nothing more than a fancy 
front page with buttons that basically, take me nowhere.  Why don't they think 
it 
through and either wait awhile before they start the website or make sure that 
any buttons there are actually take me somewhere interesting.

I am copying this to Anna, and I'll let you know what feedback I get.

However, for me here in the UK it looks as if we are still going to have to 
go without.  I can't see the newsagents stocking a German language magazine.  
Once the US issue gets going, if they really do have more challenging projects 
and especially if they regularly have either bobbin lace or fine needlework 
such as Schawlm embroidery, I might ask the shop where I buy my American 'Art 
Jewelry' if they can get it for me.  So please, can we have feedback from any 
Arachnes who do buy it.

Jacquie in Lincolnshire

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Re: [lace] Anna magazine, and lace content

[Jeriames]

Dear Jacquie and Julie and Others Interested,
 
First, there is so much on the magazine stands, that I wonder  why anyone 
complains.  Surely, there is something just right for each  level of expertise. 
 
A membership to a Guild might be more satisfying,  and provide more additional 
benefits to you.  If we don't support the  Guild's, they will die.  Most of 
our teachers are as a result of the  Guilds and the programs they provide to 
develop expertise.  Most of our  instructional books are from these teachers.

As to the letters from Jacquie and Julie:
 
 
If there is much common interest, we need to find the faithful Anna  and 
Burda readers and subscribers.
 
If a German publisher received a lot of comments from the  U.K./U.S./Canada 
(and European countries where English is a 2nd language, but  German is not the 
needleworker's 2nd language), the comments might  push them to think about 
all English language needleworkers in a different  way.  Then, they might stock 
the U.K./U.S./Canada and other  countries with a more comprehensive 
English-language magazine and shut  down the *kindergarten fare* you say is 
published in 
America and  distributed on this side of the "big pond" only.  One magazine 
that fits  all English-reading needleworkers makes sense.  Devoting 4  to 8 
pages per issue to beginners might be all that is  needed, and would reduce 
publishing costs.  
 
BUT - what we have to be mindful of is the high cost of shipping and  
distribution.  One lovely 66-pg. magazine published 6 times a year by  The 
Embroiderers' Guild (England), "Stitch", which I buy at Barnes & Noble,  costs 
$9.99.  I 
think the high price is in response to high  shipping costs imposed since 
9/11.  This is in addition to the regular  members' 66-pg. bulletin 
"Embroidery" 
from The Embroiderers' Guild  (England), which costs $82.12/yr. for 6 issues, 
and is mailed to me in the  U.S.
 
Once you have some sort of explanation from Germany, you  could ask 
needleworkers that bought Anna or Burda  magazines in the past to write to the 
publisher.  We'd like a  *specific person to write to* - someone in a 
decision-making 
capacity  at the publishing company is preferred, because they should want to  
protect the reputation of the Anna/Burda brands.  They are most probably  
making decisions based on sales, not on what you want and cannot get from them  
(so you do not buy).  There needs to be balance - and feedback to the  
publisher.
 
Writers would best express themselves if they read at least one of the  
unsatisfactory magazines, instead of using a form letter or quoting Arachne  
correspondence.
 
Arachnes - if we want good publications, it is important to gain the  
interest of many more needleworkers who will buy such magazines.  In the  
meantime, 
please don't skip membership in our Guilds which offer so much  from generous 
volunteers, teachers, and authors.  No one is getting wealthy  doing 
needlework, and that is one of the problems in 2009. 
 
Demonstrate!  Give talks!  Set up exhibits!  Wear handmade  lace in public 
places!  Do what you can to increase the number of people  who enjoy working 
with needles, bobbins, crochet hooks, knitting needles,  etc.

 
Jeri  Ames
Lace and Embroidery Resource Center  

 
In a message dated 1/11/2009 4:11:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
laceandb...@aol.com writes:

In a  message dated 11/01/2009 19:49:38 GMT Standard Time,  
cro...@northwestel.net writes:

>    

I was interested to read about the two new Anna's, but I was not  impressed 
by 
the web site you gave us!!!  To me it is an example of  AMATEUR, which is 
especially not good when it's a professional company's  site.

In the craft school (where it's still only the 4th) there are no  answers yet 
and in the boutique (here it's the 7th) they're still out  looking for things 
to sell.  They did manage to have the 11th on  Val's blog page.  
Unfortunately 
the only entry was dated  8/25/08.  Don't rush yourself, Val.  Finally, when 
I 
followed  the invitation to 'click here to enlarge' the photos across the 
bottom 
of  the page, the result was a full screen, very pixellated and completely  
unviewable blur.

There are 39 comments on the non-blog (with a big  rush on the 15th November 
for some reason - a comment on a chat board  perhaps, which encouraged people 
to 
complain?) But Val has answered the  comments that the designs were too 
simple 
with "A commonly accepted belief  in American craft publishing is that US 
crafters only want what's quick  and easy--that no one has any time and that 
anything beyond what's basic  will be rejected. I can't tell you how happy I 
am to 
hear that this is an  incorrect belief"  So perhaps they will have the 
courage to 
be more  like the original Anna. 

My main point is that there is this apparently  smart website, to help 
promote 
a new magazine, but 5 months on there is 

Re: [lace] Anna magazine, and lace content

[Aurelia Loveman]

Dear Jeri and Arachnes --

Note that the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art), which is about as lofty 
as you can get, short of the Metropolitan in New York, is having a 
Textile Day on Sunday, May 17. The lacemakers will have a booth, the 
embroiderers will have a booth... we will be displaying our lace, 
demonstrating equipment, techniques... things are looking up!


Aurelia
Baltimore, Maryland



Dear Jacquie and Julie and Others Interested,


A membership to a Guild might be more satisfying,  and provide more additional
benefits to you.  If we don't support the  Guild's, they will die.  Most of
our teachers are as a result of the  Guilds and the programs they provide to
develop expertise.  Most of our  instructional books are from these teachers.


Arachnes -
Demonstrate!  Give talks!  Set up exhibits!  Wear handmade  lace in public
places!  Do what you can to increase the number of people  who enjoy working
with needles, bobbins, crochet hooks, knitting needles,  etc.








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To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line:
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