Blueprint’s Swan Song
Well, I was very bummed to learn today that the current January/February issue of Blueprint magazine will be its last. There was some idiotic idea to fold Blueprint into Martha Stewart Weddings, which may be reconsidered, and they are going to keep up the Bluelines blog, but I’m bummed. This magazine was a little thin on content, but what was there was near perfection. I think I’d rather have a few very well written articles, beautifully photographed features and great recommendations than a whole bunch of mediocre ones.
Anyway, as New Year’s Day looms, I was thinking about getting organized like I do every year (and then I go on to fail miserably at it), and Sarah Humphreys, the Editor In Chief of Blueprint put it so well in her letter from the editor that I just had to share it with you in full. She really nails exactly how I am feeling about New Years resolutions and organizing and features about organizing. Here’s her letter:
When the subject of organizing first came up at a story meeting, I groaned. Or did I yawn? Probably both. because every January, the Conquer Your Clutter! pieces are as inevitable as new gym memberships. I’ve read them. I’ve written them. They have been done.
But still, this pesky organizing problem persists. In fact, we spent the rest of that meeting chattering about our own clutter issues. How, despite every best intention (not to mention the fact that we work for Martha Stewart!), we still can’t quite get it together.
And so Blueprint set out to tackle a topic that has been tackled many times in a way that it’s never been tackled. We unofficially dubbed the concept “Sexy Organizing” - which, while a bit icky, said it all. the ideas had to be strong, but also seductive. Not just a bunch of bins and tins (not that there’s anything wrong with them), but artful arrangements, customized compositions, and tongue-in-cheek touches. Solutions with soul, yours for the conquering, starting on page 88.
Sarah Humphrys
Editor in Chief, Blueprint Magazine
Sarah, I like your style. I hope to follow your career and I hope to be buying an even better magazine that has you in charge someday soon. By the way, if you’d like to put in your two cents about how and where Blueprint/Bluelines should continue, they are looking for your input here (scroll down to the post from December 19 2007).
Also, Bluelines has teamed up with Apartment Therapy for the January Jumpstart Project Contest. For more information on how to enter, click here.
December 30th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I know what you mean. Every year I mean to conquer all the junk in my house. Every year it just gets worse! One time I hired some ladies to help out. they did a great job, but to no avail. By the next year, all the junk had mysteriously crept back into the basement.
I think the best thing to do it just to sell the house with everything in it and start over. The good thing about our beach house (which I’m sitting in right now) is that we rent it, so we can’t pile up too much stuff. Also, there is only one little closet for our personal things. So, that keeps things down a lot.
I’ll leave you with this one theory of mine. It’s called The Lizard Theory. Lizards, apparently, grow to the size of their cage. So do we. You move into a larger house and your junk will increase in proportion to its size until all your closets are jammed and you have to move again.
Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Where did the article about The New York Times go? Did you get censored?
December 31st, 2007 at 7:48 pm
HI Emily, I don’t know! I guess I stepped over the line when I was trying to be cheeky! I haven’t heard anything, I just noticed it had disappeared yesterday!
Happy New Year!
Becky
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Jennifer, I love it, the lizard theory! So true! I moved into a bigger house, and it’s totally full already! My biggest downfall is collecting art; I run out of wall space before I even move in. I guess the answer is to be a master rotater! OK, I don’t think that’s even a word, but it’s what I need to become!
Whenever I want to get scared straight I am going to watch the Oprah about the hoarders who had 75 tons of trash and filled a 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse with things to sell!
Becky