And Now...

I've gone on a campaign since early spring: to rid my mailbox of unsolicited paper catalogues. Honestly, 75% of the mail I receive are catalogues or fliers. Besides my lack of interest in what is being offered for sale, it's environmentally destructive. It's a tiresome process; but I am determined by the end of the year to have a catalogue-free mailbox.

Toupie, however, enjoys the process of my ripping off the address pages, balling them up and tossing them around the apartment for him to chase and bat across the floor.

Knitting down the stash: I've knitted two shawlettes; have another two on the needles. Piccys will follow when I have a blocking party Saturday at the end of the month.

Derek Barnes Revealed

It has been revealed that  Jenna Smith-Clarke, Jenn Smith Clark, Jenn Smith-Clark (the name has been spelled various ways) is a cousin of Kerrie Allman: Nikki Bladon.
And Derek Barnes? He is a relative: but deceased!

Craft Magazine Now A Limited Company

Handmade Living Magazine Ltd has now changed its name at Companies House as of 23 July 2012 and is now called:
Craft Magazines Ltd
Details here:
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/945a1dda63dea9e9b5bed92...
Richard Rycroft (Kerrie’s Father) appears to be the owner and sole Director.

IF YOU GET A TIME OUT MESSAGE ON THIS LINK, just go to Companies House (www.Companieshouse.gov.uk) and click on the Section Find out about a Company, enter the name Craft Magazines Ltd in the box.

Craft Magazine Shop UK - Beware

Modern Quilting
Simply Sewing
Handmade Fashion
Simply Beautiful

The above titles were sold to Derek Barnes of Craft Magazine Shop. Simply Sewing is the new title of the former magazine Sew Hip published by All Craft Media (ACM). For more information, click.

Back from New Orleans

Once again, life has gotten in the way of blogging. But now that the conference has ended, I’m back.

New Orleans is an enchanting city of neighborhoods with distinct personalities and architecture as well as a cuisine and a personality all its own. I went to the French Quarter with its balconied streets, which make total sense considering the heat and was given a driving tour of the city by the manager of the conference venue. What as allowed to happen ’05 was criminal and the fact that more hasn’t been done assist the city and its residents to recover and restore remains criminal.

Despite having to focus on work the last couple of weeks, a lot has happened. The next couple of blog posts will be an attempt to catch up.

Me and my coworker at Preservation Hall

I always thought the balconies provided a place to sit outside in an urban setting, but they provie wonderful shade against the sun.

Update on Allman/Rycroft publications and activities:

SALE OF TITLES BY TAILOR MADE PUBLISHING - 1st JUNE 2012

On 1st June 2012, Craft Magazine Shop announced that they had bought from Tailor Made Publishing the titles Sew Hip, Modern Quilting, Handmade Fashion and Simply Beautiful. They also announced that they would be launching a new magazine, Handmade Weddings, at the end of June.

The announcement stated that the business was owned by Derek Barnes. However the staff would appear to be all members of the Allman/Rycroft family (including Kerrie). The telephone is answered by Shirley Rycroft, Kerrie’s mother, and it has been officially announced that Kerrie’s sister is also working there. It is not known who is Derek Barnes and his name has not appeared on any emails or announcements from this new business.

The domain name, www.craftmagazineshop.co.uk, was registered on 10th May 2012 by All Craft Media, ie AFTER ACM went into Administration. The website has not been updated since the initial announcement.

Tailor Made Publishing continues to own Yarnwise (formerly Knit), Inside Crochet and Handmade Living. The first issues from the new publishers are due out at the end of June.

FRP Advisory, the Administrators of All Craft Media (ACM) issued their report a few days ago.

US Olympic Committee and Knitters

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/after-ravelry-blasts-olympic-committee-learns-knitters-are-a-social-media-force/2012/06/29/gJQApl7SCW_story.html

Well, needless to say, despite the apology, I won’t be watching the Olympics. I will however be knitting as I came home to my kit of yarn from Colourmart put together for the Ravellenic Games.

Information

Sorry I've not updated since the weekend...life, you know, sometimes gets in the way.

ALL CRAFT MEDIA (Administration Details) Anybody who is owed money or goods, including advanced subscriptions for Magazines, sock, lace or crochet clubs should use this address:
The details of the Administrator are:
FRP Advisory
10 Furnival Street
London
EC4A 1YH In
Alistair Holt-Thomas
Tel: +44 (0)20 3005 4000
Fax: +44 (0)20 3005 4400

If you have submitted designs or have copyright/contract questions about published or unpublished designs, the address above is who you should contact.

If you regularly patronize a yarn or fabric shop, please let the shop owners know about the Administration as there are crafters and shopowners who are not on the Internet or Ravelry. UK newsagents and other shops who manage subscriptions, may also be unaware that ACM has gone into Administration. Passing the information and the Administrator contact details will assist them in responding to customer queries.

And the winner is....COMMUNITY

Everyone has lost. Designers, subscribers, writers, club members, advertisers, printers, contractors and employees... in short, anyone and everyone ACM touched has lost.

Some losses can be calculated in dollars, pounds, and euros. How does one price disillusion and disappointment or the hours spent making an idea into a creation,

Crocheters have lost the only UK-based print crochet publication. Knitters have lost a magazine which once showed amazing promise and introduced us to innovative designers featuring designs in a range of sizes; and, unlike other British craft magazines, regularly using models of colour to model those designs. Quilters and sewers have lost magazines featuring their craft.

Businesses aren't often successful; and failure, however, unpleasant is acceptable. What is unacceptable is the unwillingness to recognize or the total disregard for the community a business creates. The failure to recognize and respect the symbiotic interrelationship between customer and product, supplier and product and employee and the business owners is unforgiveable.

ACM is in Administration and it is still early days and much is still to be learned about what the final disposition will be of the titles ACM once published as well as what compensation, if any, can be given to thosse unpaid or unfulfilled. But what survives in the crafting community IS COMMUNITY.

Generous offers have come forth from suppliers, designers, dyers to make lace club and sock club members whole. Knitters and crocheters have offered postage support. Other publishers have reached out to unpaid and unpublished designers. We are even looking at ways to help employees who've lost their jobs.

If you need information or assistance, reach out to the communities in the list below:

The Sewing Directory
SewHappyGeek
Friends of the Group Once Known as... (you'll have to joined Ravelry to access information; but I will also publish the Administrator contact details as soon as we have them.)