CQ: So where did CRAFT magazine come from – and how long has it been in the works? It certainly snuck up on me!

NZD: CRAFT magazine is a DIY project based magazine for our new generation of crafters. It's a sister publication to MAKE Magazine which has been around since early last year. We started working a special "crafts" issue of MAKE back in September 2005 and realized there was so much great content and community out there that it really needed to be its own magazine. So it took about a year to get it all out! It was an amazing process to learn the ropes on how a magazine gets started so now to see it "in the flesh" is very satisfying. We are all so happy to hear how much people are loving the first issue.

CQ: I'm still in happiness shock, a glee coma -- it's such a great mag. So what is your background and how did you get involved with CRAFT?

NZD: I studied Mass Communications at UC Berkeley so I have a background in writing/journalism. Most of my career in the last ten years has been in interactive design and technology. I've written about 4 books, 3 of them web design focused. O'Reilly publishes CRAFT and MAKE, but they're famous for their web design and technology/programming books. You know, the ones with the cool animal illustrations on the covers. It's a natural fit for my background to incorporate crafts, design/technology, and writing. I also design and help maintain the websites makezine.com and craftzine.com, in addition to writing for the magazine and CRAFT blog.

I started crafting when I was a kid, learning how to sew and knit. I've always been a crafty person and I love making things for friends and family. This job is like a dream because I have even more crafting A.D.D. I want to start all these cool projects I see so I have to pace myself! Right now I'm working on a needlepoint Nintendo DS case for a friend's birthday and a knit cardigan for myself. I also want to start knitting socks, when I really need to start thinking about some quick holiday gifts!

CQ: I hear ya - I've got the craft bug but bad. Who do you work with - who are some of the other people involved in starting Craft?

NZD: It's pretty much the same team that started MAKE along with our super awesome Editor in Chief, Carla Sinclair. She co-founded Boing Boing when it was a print 'zine with her husband Mark Frauenfelder (who also happens to be the Editor in Chief of MAKE.)

CQ: How fun to be involved from the outset with such proven talent. You also run the blog for CRAFT, which I'm addicted to (it's in my daily routine, right next to cuteoverload.com). That must be fun to do.

NZD: I just love blogging on the CRAFT blog. Every day I try to post the latest happenings in the craft world: projects, news, crafter interviews, book reviews, events, etc. I just post what I think is relevant and fun for us crafters, which is easy for me because i'm a total geek. It's also been fun this past year to meet the crafters I've been writing about or emailing with. I love being a part of this craft community. Our blog is really about celebrating the community so if crafters out there have a project or site they'd like to submit, they can do so here. We send out a bi-monthly CRAFT newsletter highlighting the best of the blog, and crafters can also sign up for that!

CQ: I'm all over that. Are there any other facets to this incredible undertaking? (podcasts, appearances, etc – will there be a Crafter Faire in addition to the Maker one?)

NZD: We have a CRAFT podcast right now which you can subscribe to through iTunes. Most of it is our CRAFT Pattern Podcast where we feature a pattern (sewing, knitting, crochet, etc.) every Friday. Bre Pettis who does our MAKE podcasts has also done a few cool CRAFT podcasts too -- and there will be more to come!

This holiday season will be so busy for us. Most of the team, including myself, will be traveling around to craft fairs. Here's the full list of where we'll be. I'm going to be at Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle, Craftland in Rhode Island, and Bazaar Bizarre in LA. Also, I'll be covering most of the local San Francisco events such as the SF Craft Mafia trunk show that's happening on Sat 11/18. Everyone should come by our table to say hi!

As for Maker Faire, yes -- we will be having it again next Spring and CRAFT will definitely be a big part of it. It's going to be even more crafty than last year and should be so much fun!

CQ: That sounds like fun... maybe I'll get there this time. Okay - lastly, tell us how we can subscribe and/or participate in CRAFT.

NZD: We really love to hear from crafters out there! Anyone can submit ideas for projects or articles to the magazine. We have a link here which describes what to do and a form you can submit.

It's easy to subscribe to CRAFT at craftzine.com. Just click on the Subscribe button in the nav bar at the top.

Or you can easily buy Vol 1 of CRAFT off of Amazon.

CQ: Fantastic! I found an issue at my local Border's and had to snap it right up, even though my subscription was on its way. Now I have two copies so I can read with both eyes! It's so delicious. Congratulations to you all on a job (and a blog) well done, and thanks for chatting with us!

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p.s.

Got a question for Crafty Query? Someone in the craft scene that you'd like to know better?
Just wanna say HEY? Send me a note c/o julie@subversivecrossstitch.com