The Editors Reveal a Few of their Favorite Spring Issue Features

by Cynthia Levens

 

What comes to mind when you think of spring? As editors at Stampington & Company, we think of all the new incoming artwork to publish in our magazines. Spring is often associated with liveliness, energy, and warmth, which is reflected in the quality of artwork we receive around this time of year. Excitement ensues as we open boxes and boxes of fun artisan items. We wanted to pick just a few of our favorite finds from our spring publications to spotlight and share with you. These works of art stood out and really resonated with us; read on to find out why.

	The delicate layers of lace on Diane Utley-Aguilar’s dreamy linen dress are mesmerizing; they perfectly cascade all around the bottom. This linen and lace romance is a match made in heaven, to be worn by a bride on her special day. Find more of Diane’s altered artwork in Altered Couture.
	Perhaps the most remarkable part of this necklace is the handmade focal piece. Lynne Suprock fell in love with a druzy pendant at an art show in Pennsylvania. Mounted in 18-karat gold, and vying for a spot in Lynne’s jewelry stash at home, the piece had a price that was too extravagant. Being the prolific jewelry designer that Lynne is, she re-created the must-have piece with casting resin in her home studio.  It is incomparably unique, and can be found in Belle Armoire Jewelry.
	Jenny Petricek shares the first journal she created after a long break from art due to illness and heartbreak. She shares, “While writing is still an integral part of my practice, I’m amazed at how the artistic acts of collaging and painting have provided me with an even more therapeutic method of dealing with the ups and downs of life.” Read more of Jenny Petricek’s inspiring story in Art Journaling.
	“These pieces are very simple to make — just a bit of decoupage medium and colored napkins — and you have a seashell that looks like a Ming vase!” says Devon Warren, managing editor of GreenCraft Magazine. Check out the spring issue to see more of Cheryl Miller’s stunning shell art.
	With the help of Photoshop CS5, Kinga Britschgi created traditional hot air balloons with a twist. Managing editor of Somerset Digital Studio, Jane Holstein, says “I love the fact that magical worlds come to life in digital art.” Venture into this magical digital world with Kinga in the spring issue.
	Kim Klassen’s still life photography is her meditation and daily practice. She uses lighting to her advantage to capture the gorgeous images featured in Bella Grace. As Editor-in-Chief and Director of Photography, Christen Hammons explains: “Good lighting is a crucial component of beautiful photography. With the arrival of spring comes longer days and abundant sunshine, making this season the perfect time to start a daily or weekly photography practice.”
	Emilie Raffa’s food photography comes from the heart. She had a curiosity for food from a young age, but it only morphed into blogging after the birth of her son. Born with severe colic, for six weeks straight Jake cried. While soothing her son, and scribbling down recipes and ideas when time allowed, Emilie soothed herself by thinking about food. “Then one day he stopped,” Emilie says, “The floodgates opened. I was able to collect my scraps and translate my thoughts through the lens of storytelling.” Find more of her sweet story and savory images in Artful Blogging.
	This spring, fringe is in! “This suede cross body bag features swingy fringe, a detail that I am loving for spring. The southwestern design elements also make this bag great for everyday wear,” says Natalie Way, managing editor of Haute Handbags. Find this stylish design by Lisa Zinza and how she made it in the spring issue.
	How fun is this? Michelle Neff made a blackboard word search game for her guests to play on a vintage artist’s easel. Read all the highlights of this creative gathering, and see even more of Michelle’s party ideas in Mingle.
	Kerry Dahlin decided to use file folders as page dividers to organize her modern art journal, which is clever and striking! As Managing Editor Amber Demien explains, “When making your own journal, you want pages that will stand up to wet media. Not only do file folders fit that criteria, but they can also function as a way to organize your journal.” You can find more of Kerry’s creative techniques in Art Journaling.
	These softies by Carly Gledhill are too adorable. With tiny giggly smiles, stripes, sweet bows, soft stitches, and a spot-on color scheme, this pair made selecting Carly for the Artist Portfolio feature in Stuffed a sure bet. See more of her hip quirky softies in the spring issue.
	Colorful, edgy, contemporary, and downright dynamic! With a card like this, you would have never guessed that Frances Peets was once intimidated by The Stampers’ Sampler. Even though her work was not selected at first, she continued to submit. And look at her now — after sending in a new collection, she earned the Guest Artist spotlight in the spring issue of The Stampers’ Sampler. Managing Editor Devon Warren now feels that Frances’ style is among the strongest published in our stamping magazines.

 

Cynthia Levens is the managing editor of Altered Couture, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Where Women Create, and Belle Armoire. 

 

Leave a Comment for Your Chance to Win Your Favorite Spring Issue!

[This giveaway has ended.]

We’re giving away a spring issue of your choice! Spring Issues include: Altered Couture, Artful Blogging, Art Journaling, Bella Grace, Stuffed, The Stampers’ Sampler, Somerset Digital Studio, GreenCraft Magazine, Haute Handbags, Belle Armoire Jewelry, and Mingle. For your chance to win:

1. “Pin” your favorite image from those featured above.
2. Share a link to your newly created pin in the comments section below (get your link by opening your pin and copying the URL).
3. Tell us why you loved that Spring Find in your comment.

*Contest open to U.S. residents only, and expires on May 7, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.