Katharine Jewitt
Hi Katharine! Thanks so much for agreeing to be
interviewed. Can you tell us how you came to be editing craft magazines –
what’s your background?
I first started out in publishing when I was 18 and published
a community magazine whilst studying at university to help towards paying my
fees. It was delivered to 10,000 homes and businesses. Apart from my printer
and distributor, I was a one-woman band producing all the content, designing,
editing and selling advertising. I eventually sold the business after
graduating, as I started working abroad.
Since then I’ve been writing, editing and publishing for a
number of college and university courses. I write university degree courses in
a number of subjects. I have seven postgraduate degrees so it allows me to have
a varied portfolio of work in a range of subjects. I’m currently studying for
PhD so more books and articles are in the pipeline to be published.
What are your favourite ways to relax and do you have
time for crafts - if so, which ones?
In my spare time, I love travelling, gardening, playing the
piano, keeping fish. I go to classical
music concerts as much as possible and also play golf but haven’t worked beyond
a 9 hole pitch and putt. I enjoy hiking
and also supporting my football team Stoke City.
I’m always experimenting in a wide range of crafts. I love
trying new techniques. My favourites are cross stitch and knitting. I always
have knitting with me wherever I go. I
teach craft workshops in schools, businesses and prisons.
What do you love most about working in the craft
publishing industry?
By far, it is the craft community who are the most amazing
set of people you could ever wish to meet and keep me constantly inspired and
make my working days so enjoyable. Every day I receive inspirational stories by
email and see the most amazing creations and have interesting conversations
with crafters. I’m always in awe of the inspiring projects that come my way. I
love learning something new every day from the people I meet and enjoy the
ever-growing network of crafters. I involve as much craft and people as
possible in each issue of the magazine. I have lots of conversations during the
day about how best we can support an artist, a crafter, a craft supplier, a new
craft, the heritage of crafts that are worth cherishing. My work is very
rewarding and it is a real pleasure to meet so many lovely crafters every day
who are generous, sharing and extremely talented.
And is there anything you don’t like about your
job? Or any bits that are difficult in any way?
I love my work and am very passionate about what I do and in
supporting the craft community. The difficult bits would be not being able to
do more for the craft community, but that’s what makes my job so interesting,
because the craft community is never ending in its new ideas and creations.
What craft, if any, would you love to learn or develop
further?
I’d love to learn how to do stone carving. On my travels, I
enjoy exploring architecture and looking at gargoyles and the detailed carving
on cathedrals and churches. My first degree was in history and I love exploring
the history of places and its architecture.
What sort of things can we expect from Make and Craft
magazine?
Make and Craft magazine and website is a hub for the craft community packed with inspiration, lots of projects in a wide variety of
crafts. Make and Craft encourages crafters to expand their skills into a style
of living and makes craft accessible to all. There are plenty of regular
features including:
- going behind the scenes with artists and reviving traditional crafts worth cherishing
- Ambassador for Craft, Anthea Turner, will be sharing creative tricks and crafty tips in every issue
- craft swaps
- a book club
- news
- the best sites to visit
- products put to the test
- new tools and techniques
- events
- giveaways, competitions and lots more.
- plus each issue of the magazine contains a Kids' Craft Club magazine.
Thanks so much for your time Katharine! I can’t wait to see the
first issue - it sounds really exciting!
You'll find out more about Make and Craft magazine here - as well as a forum where you can join in and chat, information on how to be featured as an Artist Behind the Scenes, join a craft swap, a blog with projects, links, inspiration and ideas - and more. I'm expecting this to grow quite quickly, as I have experienced first-hand how supportive Katharine is of artists, designers and crafters in what she does.
digital subscription offer
Make and Craft launches on 12th October - don't miss it! Subscriptions start at just £1 for a 3-month digital subscription but there are lots of other offers too (and you can pay with PayPal, which I rather like).
subscription gift with issue one
9 comments:
Hello Wendy, Thank you so much for the interview and wonderful write-up. It is fantastic to be involved in "Handmade Harbour and I always love visiting for interesting reads and seeing your welcoming and fab handmade banner.
Hi Katharine. Thanks for popping in and your kind words! It was lovely to be able to interview you on here and I know people will be interested to read more about you. It's an exciting time for you and it's brilliant for me to be involved in a small way :-)
I enjoyed reading about your background Katharine and very much look forward to the new magazine that has a lot to offer the world of crafting. Your enthusiasm and love of craft makes you the perfect editor.
Great interview Wendy! It's fabulous to hear how someone as inspiring as Katharine started out. 7 postgraduate degrees?!!!! Blimey! I nearly had a breakdown after completing my first last year.
Wonderwoman!
x
Thanks for the interview. Does this mean Katharine won't be working for Popular Crafts anymore?
Thanks for a great interview! I agree with Claire, Katharine is wonderwoman! hee And very hardworking. I have really enjoyed reading more about her :)
A great interview, I write some tutorials for Katharine's magazines so am delighted to find out more about her.
Though I did have to read the bit about all her degrees twice as I thought I read it wrongly the first time!!
Such a great interview on Katharine - an amazing lady. I loved her work as the Editor of Popular Crafts and can't wait to see the first issue of Make & Craft Magazine.
A great interview, I'm off to check out your links :)
Jan x
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