Handmade Living

I normally keep things light hearted on my blog. I figure there are enough places to go to hear about the state of the world, I spin and knit as escapism, and I know many others do the same.
However, sometimes it's not right to keep quiet about things.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in my post about how I choose to run my business, a company called ACM (All Craft Media). They were publishers of various craft magazines, and since the time of my original post have now gone in to administration.
They didn't pay their designers, or their staff, or their printers. They didn't deliver goods paid for, and have now left subscribers out of pocket for magazines that will no longer be published.
ACM is what is know as a Phoenix company. It was set up after KAL Media went in to liquidation 12 months ago. KAL went under for the exact same reasons, not paying bills and invoices. The owner of KAL is Kerrie Allman, she set up a new company (with her husband as Director), bought the rights to continue using the magazine titles (Knit, Inside Crochet, Handmade Living and Sew Hip as well as a few others. She then continued to run the business, with much the same end result.
Less than 12 months after ACM took over from KAL the business has been forced to cease trading. An administrator has been appointed to try to pay some of the creditors, collect any money owed, and to wind up the business.
Kerrie Allman meanwhile has gone on to set up a new business, this time with her Dad (Richard Rycroft) as the director. She has apparently bought the rights to some of the magazine titles. The knitting community, thanks to Ravelry, has got wise to her behaviour so  Knit (which was to be renamed as Yarnwise), and Inside Crochet have been abandoned. It would seem that she has however bought the rights to continue using the Handmade Living (despite the fact that the Editor who made it a success was made redundant), Sew Me/Sew Hip, and Modern Quilting titles.


This is where you guys come in. Please tell a friend about this. If you know someone who sews, who isn't very internet savvy, who might buy one of these magazines, please tell them. If you know that your local fabric, or crafting shop had an advertisement in one of these titles, please tell them about what has happened. If you know someone who might be approached to write something for one of these magazines in the future, get them to go and read here. The track record of paying invoices speaks for itself.

ETA- It would since appear that Kerri Allman hasn't bought the rights to the titles...
However, everything else in this post remains true. Please keep an eye out for anything that might be associated with her, you may not get what you sign up for...

Further Information (21st May 2012) The titles Inside Crochet, Yarnwise (aka Knit), and Handmade Living have been purchased by Tailor Made Publishing. They are apparently keen to move the titles forward in an ethically sound manner.

STATEMENT FROM TAILOR MADE PUBLISHING - 21st MAY 2012

“The recently acquired titles Inside Crochet, Yarnwise and Handmade Living will be published by Tailor Made Publishing from issues 31, 50 and 14 respectively. 
Sew Hip, Modern Quilting, Handmade Fashion and Simply Beautiful magazines are up for sale.

Previously published issues will not be available for sale from Tailor Made Publishing. Subscriptions to Inside Crochet, Yarnwise and Handmade Living will be honoured.

We are delighted to announce that Zoe Clements is to take on the position of Editor of Yarnwise magazine and Charlotte Brett will be Editor of Handmade Living magazine. The Editor of Inside Crochet will be announced within the next few days.

Tim Harris 
Director - Tailor Made Publishing”