It’s been ages since I’ve taken out a magazine subscription - I always used to keep up with the latest arts and crafts news in print but I guess with so much information freely available online these days - I’ve been finding what I wanted to know without having to pay out!
I follow my favourite artists online and keep up with the latest exhibition news etc at the touch of a button.
I just had an urge to resubscribe to Ceramic Review the other day as I glanced over at my big piles of past issues. I also used to subscribe to Crafts magazine (Crafts Council) and Craftsman magazine (No longer in print sadly)
Oh my gosh, I forgot how thoroughly exciting it is to have a fresh, new piece of literature to read - even the smell of the pages! Yum. I’ve only just flicked through (Don’t want to spoil it for myself) but the photographs are stunning and I can’t even wait to see the advertisements at the back - drool over new equipment and materials I want to buy!
Do you still buy magazines in print or maybe you subscribe to the digital version?
I love a new magazine, it’s definitely nice to have something real to hold.
I have subscriptions to Delicious magazine as I love cooking, I have far too many cook books and also to The simple things which is lovely and a nice escape with a cup of coffee
I used to subscribe to a lot of monthly magazines…well hubby paid and it was something that I would choose in lieu of birthday or Christmas presents.
I used to love the ones that gave surprise freebies too.
I was also once featured in a magazine and even got asked for my autograph at a craft fair as a result…ha ha…
However I stopped them all when I found that they were mostly filled with advertisements. I even, currently, have my own advertisement in a magazine but I don’t subscribe to it any more as I can no longer afford the cost.
I agree Sarah @dotterypottery its really nice to get a magazine in the post box.
. It does feel like a luxury, but also the permission to relax and put your feet up and perhaps get a little inspiration. I have never considered a digital subscription it just doesnt appeal to me, in the same way as wouldnt read a virtual book.
Ive subscribed to several in the past, such as Gardens Illustrated.(which i still keep) Ive recently subscribed to ‘Simple Things’ too Donna @underneaththeeaves and ive noticed a couple of Folksy items featured. They also had a lovely article featuring a maker local to me which was really nice to see.
I also occasionally buy Pressing Matters magazine, as a gift to myself but cant justify a subscription.
I subscribed to Teddy bear times again this year after being featured, I had a year out but have gone back to it again, I prefer that paper in my hand, I have a huge collection of reference books that I never get around to reading but I love books. I don’t think a digital one can replace taking it off the shelf and flicking through the pages.
I’m the same with music, I constantly buy cd’s even though we have google home in most rooms of the house, I love to hold and own that piece of music… hence the reason why I am running out of room in my house lol
Magazines where never my thing, even as a youngster. Unless I really like the freebie if there is one, I don’t bother. I do have a yearly subscription for the Hunkydory magazine though, as it gives you a massive card kit every time you renew, it also has a card kit with every issue (which is every two months), and the magazine itself has lots of card ideas with instructions and no advertisement. I also got featured in it once, which gave me £10 credit on their shop which I use anyway, and with the discount that goes with the subscription it was actually a no brainer! I do keep them and turn to them for inspiration if I get stuck, or to try out new layouts and have a little challenge with the competition. My only problem is that I am starting to struggle with storing them somewhere
Another vote for Simple Things magazine which is calm for the soul.
I buy Uppercase magazine through their uk outlet for its inspiring content and beautiful layout. https://uppercasemagazine.com/
And New Scientist keeps my brain active and worked out every week, though i admit to skipping anything about Quantum as it’s beyond me
That is the problem with print copies, finding enough room to store them all. I actually collected two boxfuls of Crafts magazine from the early 80’s from someone on Freecycle a few years ago but they are taking up a lot of space!
That Uppercase magazine looks interesting Helen @HelenCliffordArt - I thought it was going to be about typesetting or something
It looks really inviting and modern.
I used to subscribe to magazines but they were one of the first things to go when tightening our belts. Now I view magazines via the Libby library app. There is access to so many magazines.
I subscribe to 2 print magazines, Gardeners World & Positive News. I am also a member of a couple of wildlife charities who send out digital magazines 2 or 3 times a year but I hate trying to read a book or magazine on my computer so those I don’t read.
I used to but the craft/jewellery ones all went completely digital so I stopped. I still have YourDog, Which? WDDTY and the Organic Way but if they don’t continue to provide hardcopy, I’ll drop them too. Nobody reads all the articles they’d want to on screen, it just encourages skim reading. I want a proper book or magazine to curl up with, not a tiddly phone. You can take the girl out of the library but you can’t take the librarian out of the girl! Power to the hardcopy choice!
Not had a subscription to anything for years, I used to have Country Living, You’re Horse and another horsey mag I don’t remember, but I found that everything just cycles around, you’d get very similar articles every month each year.
I loved the photos in CL, I used to dream of living in a beautiful country home full of beautiful things and have a beautiful country garden, now I appreciate different things in my life.
This question came up the last time i got my hair cut. I also used to love a whole variety of magazines. Some , like Country Living had beautiful photography - especially in the 80s/90s. Now the only one that i buy with any regularity is Uppercase. The editor absolutely pours her heart and soul into each issue . As someone else has mentioned, the UK distributor saves you having to subscribe from Canada.
Just had a look at that Uppercase site and that magazine looks lovely, haven’t bought any magazines for many years now but may look into that one when I have more funds!!
I did used to subscribe to a Papercrafts magazine from the US (though think sent from the UK), Crafts Beautiful, Artist and Illustrator and there was one other in terms of crafty mags that I had cards and scrapbook layouts in a couple of times.
Other than that I had music magazines at one time… Smash Hits, Kerrang, Metal Hammer and Raw.
Also Delicious magazine for the foodie stuff.
I also eventually had to clear a lot of them out, just kept some of the articles from them for a while.
I still have a few of the US Papercraft magazine specials though and still use them as reference from time to time. I did used to love that one.
I used to subscribe to the print versions of Ceramic Review and Crafts Magazine (and used to write features and reviews for both of them too), but was so disappointed when the print version of Crafts was discontinued in favour of an online version. Gazing at a screen is not what I enjoy most in life! @dotterypottery
Upper Case definitely looks interesting from their website. @HelenCliffordArt
I sold a huge pile of Teddy bear times and teddy bear magazine also classic inspirations a few years ago on ebay as I needed to declutter the space. They are both quite expensive and all looked brand new, i sold them in at least 3’s.
The Inspirations magazines were really popular, I did have another huge box full of them in the loft from mum in laws as well but let them go to charity.
