Editor Spotlight: Andrea Rangno

Meet the creative forces behind your favorite Stampington publications with our Editor Spotlight feature!

 

Andrea Rangno, Editor

GreenCraft, The Stampers’ Sampler, Take Ten, Catch Up Issue, Handcrafted

 

What is the most gratifying thing about your job?
Being surrounded by such extraordinary creativity, day in and day out, is what makes this job gratifying for me. I have worked for a number of publishers, covering various industries, but the fact that I now get to work for one that features subjects I’m already so passionate about in my personal life is like a dream come true. I am truly excited to come to work, every single day.

Is there an especially moving story that you have written about?
As an assistant editor I was given the opportunity to work on a number of publications and I would have to say the most moving for me so far has been Apronology (with Managing Editor Beth Livesay) because of the recurring themes of family and the female experience that run throughout that magazine. Apronology is full, of course, of beautiful aprons, but it’s the stories attached to them that make me catch my breath – the women who make those aprons write about their mothers and grandmothers, about their childhoods, and about how this simple garment has informed their lives and their sense of self. I can relate to that in so many ways.

When you’re not writing about other people’s work, what art do you create?
My interests are varied. I love to find creative uses for recycled materials, like glass bottles, paper bags, and paper towel rolls. I recently was given a couple of old windows, discarded after a home remodel. I cleaned up the frames, removed rusty nails, and covered the glass with chalkboard paint. I can’t tell you how many uses I’ve found for those old windows, or how many people ask me where I got them. I also love to sew, though I find very little time for it. Traditionally my biggest sewing period of the year comes around Halloween when I ask my kids what they want to be – it’s amazing what their imaginations come up with! I can be found grumbling during most of October, but come the 31st the looks on my kids’ faces pays me back for my hard work tenfold. I dabble in furniture making (I love tools!), stamping and card making, and knitting as well.

Where do you find the most artistic inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. The most common source, of course, is the internet – the Web is teeming with blogs that I can never seem to get enough of, and Pinterest only fuels my addiction! I also love Etsy. I am a major thrift store stalker… it’s very rare for me to walk out of a Goodwill empty-handed!

What is your favorite creative memory?
My creative ambition didn’t really kick in until after my son was born, six years ago. My husband was finishing graduate school and we didn’t have a lot of money. My son was accepted into a great daycare program, a couple times a week, and all of a sudden I found myself with more free time. I would wander around stores and look at the beautiful things for my home that I could never afford. One day it occurred to me that I could learn to make these things, and soon after I signed up for a sewing class. After that I signed up for a furniture making class. Pretty soon I was making the beautiful things I had seen at the store, for a fraction of the price. I’ll never forget how good it felt to complete those first few projects and how empowered it made me feel – with creativity and drive, the sky really is the limit.

What is your idea of the perfect weekend?
I have two young kids, so sleeping in past 6:30 a.m. sounds pretty good! In all seriousness though, I love quiet weekends where I have time to get my house in order, so to speak. We have a couple chickens in our backyard that are largely neglected during the week so I enjoy spending a little time giving them treats, cleaning out their nesting boxes, etc. Pickup soccer games with the neighborhood kids, a quiet dinner with my husband, and maybe a stroll through an antique barn – this would be the perfect weekend for me.

Where do you turn for inspiration when you are in a creative rut?
To music! I actually listen to a lot of music on Pandora when I’m feeling uninspired. Sometimes it takes a couple days, sometimes it takes longer, but I usually come out of a rut with what feels like a million ideas. I also spend a lot of time reading when I’m in a rut. I’ll grab some past issues of Stampington magazines and refill my creative coffers. It’s hard to look through gorgeous magazines like Somerset Life and Artful Blogging and not feel inspired!

What would you like to accomplish a year from now?
A year from now I’d like to be doing what I’m doing now, which is managing beautiful magazines and creating my own art here and there, along the way. Coming up with new challenges and inspiration for the magazines is a high task, and I’m very excited to rise to the challenge.

If you could own any craft product, what would it be?
I’ve actually never owned a die-cut machine! It’s one of those things I keep talking myself out of buying, but I really do need to get one. I love to make cards and scrapbook, and I think having a die-cut machine would really add a whole new level to those interests.

Tell us a bit about GreenCraft.
Well, I’m completely biased, but I think the wreath on the cover is pretty special (mostly because I was the one who made it!) The February issue of GreenCraft is actually filled with some great projects. Cynthia Shaffer’s felted plant pouches are gorgeous and would make a fabulous gift. Crystal Jeffries found a great use for old CDs, which has always been a huge challenge for me. And Amy Relf’s repurposed oversized denim pillows are so perfect for anyone with kids or pets! I’ve already got a stash of old denim jeans going so that I can follow her lead.

 

To find out how Andrea created her gorgeous rosette wreath, be sure to check out GreenCraft Spring ’12, available now. Enjoy free shipping on your issue by using promo code: BLOG0212 at checkout before February 29th, 2012!