How I Got Published in Somerset Studio
I have been obsessed with Stampington and Company magazines forever! It all started in 2015 when I stumbled upon my first copy of GreenCraft. I was practically swooning over the drool-worthy projects and stunning photos! Right then and there, I knew I had to be a part of their creative world. It became my dream, to share my passions and creativity with the world and have my art grace their gorgeous pages!
With a bit of dedication and a dash of perseverance, I announced my debut in their GreenCraft Autumn 2018 issue, followed by an encore in the GreenCraft Summer 2021 issue, and an appearance in the Belle Armoire Jewelry Spring 2023 issue! Each one has been a amazing achievement worth celebrating.
Ever since I flipped through that first GreenCraft issue, I've been on a delightful adventure through their fabulous lineup of magazines. From Mingle to Artful Blogging, Bella Grace to In Her Studio (just to name a few) and oh, the inspiration is overflowing! Each publication sparks a whirlwind of creativity, fueling my artistic adventures. My passions may have changed along my journey, but my love for creating art grows, and I can’t wait to share my creations through submissions.
I’m beyond excited to announce that my latest mini-series officially landed in the Somerset Studio February issue this last week. Talk about a dream come true! I can’t even begin to express how happy it makes my heart to see my art gracing those gorgeous pages for all to enjoy. My submission dreams are far from over as I plan on pursuing them the rest of my art career, I simply can’t get enough!
In light of this latest release, I figured it’d be a blast to share my submission escapades, just in case you’ve got a similar dream cooking up!
My Journey
It all started when I snagged my first copy of Greencraft and immediately fell in love. This was when I dove headfirst into the magical world of upcycling right after my divorce. I’d already whipped up some adorable, reversible Pillowcase Tote bags and thought, "Why not send these beauties in for my first submission?" I was a total newbie, and boy, did I feel it! I spent months twiddling my thumbs, convinced they must've taken one look at my bags and thought, "Nope!"
Disappointing, but not the end of the world. I continued on my upcycling binge and put the submission behind me until a few months later when I got an email. GreenCraft was publishing my bags in a feature article! I was on cloud nine. My debut submission was a smash hit, and they picked me for publication! As soon as the magazine hit the shelves, I did a little happy dance and snatched up extra copies to send to my family and a handful of my besties.
Feeling motivated by success, I fired off another submission just weeks later! Honestly, though, I can’t even tell you what it was only that it was returned to me later without publication. That’s when I really got motivated and started deep diving into several issues of GreenCraft and really studying their unique style firsthand. No more tossing projects around all willy-nilly. I was going to be published again, and I had to get serious about it.
My next published creation was a quirky little paper basket, crafted from upcycled paper bags! But guess what? It only snagged one page and an itty-bitty snippet. And boy, was I blindsided! I had zero clue it was even picked for publication until it popped up in print months later. Which, if I’m being honest, felt like a bit of a letdown after my debut feature publication. I still cherish that publication and the opportunity it gave me, but oh boy, I was hell-bent on landing another feature.
After creating a beautiful pair of earrings from dried poppy pods, I thought, "Why not give this submission thing another whirl?" So, I sent them on their way to California crossing my fingers for another feature. A few months later, I got an email saying my earrings had made their way to Belle Armoire Jewelry, one of Stampington's other magazines. Guess what? They snagged another tiny one-page feature, even daintier than the last.
I was bouncing off the walls with excitement to be published again, and in a totally new magazine at that! But secretly, I was a tad bummed too. I was dreaming of a fabulous feature! So, there I was, after two one-pagers, diving back into their magazines on a mission to unravel the publication secrets. Stay tuned I’m sharing tips next week!
After a whole year of taking a break, I finally sent in another submission. During that time, my mixed media creations became the star of the show, and while I still adore upcycling, it’s taken a backseat. My latest submission? A trio of mini art series with a dozen pieces in total was chosen for publication.
The Lessons
I’ve learned so many things on this wild journey. Don’t forget, I’m dropping my top tips next week, but these gems need to be shared too…
It’s never too late to try something new.
Dream big and chase those dreams with all your passion.
Perserverance pays off.
Rejection is never the end.
The journey matters more than the outcome.
I’d love to know
What wild and wonderful dreams are you chasing this year? Share the details in the comments below!