Magazines well worth a mention

The Green Parent

I can't believe it's already been four years since I became a regular contributor to The Green Parent. I love coming up with projects for this magazine. Not only are Melissa and Jez (the editor and art director) fantastic to work with, the topics and themes are close to my heart – and I get loads of opportunities to work with my favourite tools, found objects and natural materials. 

The website states "The magazine is produced by a small team of passionate experts who live and breathe the positive message of the magazine." And I believe this is what makes the GP such a quality read. 

It's a brilliant magazine for ecologically minded families, pick it up at Sainsburys, Waitrose, WH Smith, or Boots or ask your newsagent for it. Check out their back issues here. If you can't get yourself a copy, their website and forums are brilliant too. In addition, check out the blog, I like this list of ways to celebrate national buy nothing day which is coming around again.

This next one is an e-mag, but I'm secretly hoping Action Pack will also be available in print one day. It's smart, creative and fun and nicely speaks to slightly older children as well as younger ones. Most kids mags seems to stop entertaining at around the 9 year old mark whereas Action Pack has loads to interest both my 10 and 13 year olds and that's a tall order.

Kathreen, invited me to take part in this latest issue and my helper and I loved every minute of jewellery making with sticks, we've been very into playing with drills lately. It was extra fun pouring through the latest issue and seeing two gorgeous projects from Margie too.

Another brilliant mag for children worth mentioning is Anorak. My two have now grown out of it but I highly recommend it for entertaining content and great, contemporary artwork. Update: Just found out Anorak is now available in French too.

Lastly (in this post), a new find from the newsagents. oh comely. I hope this one lasts a long, long time - I love it. It's hard to define, which can sometimes be a publications downfall, but it covers a wide spectrum of art in a friendly way. In their own words "It's a magazine that inspires people to be creative, talk to their neighbours and explore new things, rather than buy stuff or lose weight. Imagine sitting down with a cup of tea and a creative friend to hear all the strange things she says, all the curious stuff she does, and about the things she loves." 

Inside this mag you'll find musicians, illustrators, crafters, film reviews, social observations, recipes... see hard to define. I think it also speaks to a wide age range, not just 20 - 30 somethings. The fact that the cover always has a 20 something girl on the front cover is, in my opinion, the only fault. I say fault because I don't think it visually speaks to the casual magazine peruser about what's inside – I wouldn't want that to stop people picking it up. 

I don't buy many publications these days but these are all well worth the investment.

Happy Tuesday,

Jx

Comments

[Rachel]

congrats on your contribution to Action Pack :)

[tara]

What a great list of magazines. I have been eyeing Action Pack for awhile. I think it's time to take the plunge.

[Karen]

Joanie, what a fun list of mags, I never realized you were a contributor to The Green Parent! Can I find any of your projects on the website? (The magazine is unfortunately not at my local bookstore:)!) Thanks for your thoughtful comments btw on my blog, loved hearing from you. xo Karen

[Sonia]

oh yay, what fun & excitement to be part of the Action Pack with Margie ! I shall get myself (well, the boys, ahem) the whole of them !
I cherish the copy of the GP you gave me in July 2010. I will be looking at the other mags you've mentionned, they look totally great !
xoxo

[kaylovesvintage]

Action Pack sounds like fun...still have to find the Green Parot
and yes I love Oh Comley so much that I took a subscriptions..
Mollie makes I love also..

[Noa]

Geen parent in one of my favorite magazines and is particularly popular with the parents who visit my childrens shop called Lotti and Ted.