Hey Jodi! Thanks for chatting with us! So, we’re dying to know... What were you like as a kid? Did you always dream of becoming the editor of a great magazine?
As a kid, I was pretty much a nerd. No doubt about that. I played with my dolls just a few years longer than everyone else. And I loved to draw and sew and do crafts. At first I wanted to be a painter, then a fashion designer. My mom just found a tiny fashion magazine that I made as a kid on notebook paper—it’s only feature: “the latest fashions for waitress uniforms”. Random! I was obsessed with magazines, from Vogue to Sassy. But really all I wanted was any job that would sit me at a drafting table with a big set of markers. You know those giant desk sets of Prismacolors? I saw someone in a movie who had one. Years later, when I first started at Martha Stewart Living (our flagship magazine), I got a full set of markers for a project. When I set it down on my desk, my childhood vision came rushing back and I thought, “I’ve arrived!”

We've talked with other Editors-in-Chiefs, but you're the first one so far who works with content for such a young audience. How does that make your job different?
The biggest difference comes from the way we work here. I’m not your typical Editor. I was formerly the Deputy Craft Editor at Martha Stewart Living and then the Craft Editor of Kids. Now, as Editorial Director, I team up with Design Director Deb Bishop and Executive Editor Melissa Morgan. Together we come up with the story lineups and oversee the whole issue. But Deb and I will also produce a few stories in each issue ourselves so I still get to roll up my sleeves and do some crafts and styling. Melissa and her group are in charge of the words.

Regarding the audience age difference: from my previous experience working at Living it’s not all that different. We strive to come up with ideas that would engage and excite adults as well as children. We want to bring kids and their parents together. Things you do everyday—like making dinner—can be learning experiences. And fun too. Well…I guess that is a difference. Our projects must be particularly accessible. But we are always amazed that the constraint of accessibility is actually very inspiring. What can we make out of a toilet paper tube? Parents don’t necessarily have money or time to find special materials or ingredients so in each issue we include a story about a project using household materials like a cardboard box house or tin can robots

While we're certain each day is unique, can you tell us about a typical work day?
If I need some supplies, I’ll often do my shopping before work. If I need to do research or get inspiration, I might go to the library. There is time spent developing the crafts or projects, which could be anything from computer/inkjet crafts or knitting or sewing to testing science projects in our kitchen. I also answer emails from co-workers and occasionally readers. Deb, Melissa and I meet with all the teams who are producing each story to brainstorm ideas and how they should be shot. If I have an upcoming shoot, I will have to prop and figure out the set and get clothes for the kids. Then I’ll be on a shoot at our studios for a few days every month. After the shoot I will meet with a writer to explain the “how-to’s”. As the issue is closing, I read through all the instructions and text to make sure that they are accurate. And we have to list all the sources for the items pictured so the readers can find them. Phew! It’s a lot but I’m happy to always be learning. Each day is so different. In that way, working here is like being in school and I’m so grateful for that.

What we love about MSK is that it speaks not only to wee ones and their parents but anyone with an eye for great design and fun art projects. We bet you get a lot of love letters from children as well as adults! What are some things people ask / tell you?
Kids love to send pictures of their work and they are so proud to show us how they’ve added their own touch to the crafts or recipes in our magazine, and that makes me SO HAPPY. To create something with their hands is great for their self-esteem. We got an amazing letter from the teacher of a special-needs class who did leaf collages from one of our craft stories. She sent a picture of these beautiful kids with their artwork. It made my day.

The craft ideas in MSK are so wonderful and imaginative. How do you come with such amazing projects?
Most of the stylists and craft editors went to art school and we do our own artwork or crafts in our free time. Often, a story idea comes from an editor’s personal interest or experience. Our story about how to make a toy car garage from a cardboard box came from an editor who did that project with his nephew on a rainy day. Even a funny flea market find can spark a whole story. We found an old notebook with a button sewn to the cover and it inspired an article about office supply crafts. The fun is raiding the office supply stores, supermarkets and hardware stores to see the possibilities. We wound up making bubble wrap purses, key tag charm bracelets, and lots more.

Years ago, for a Halloween costume story, we decided to include only costumes that didn’t require sewing. The first idea was a witch made entirely out of black drawstring garbage bags. Cut the bottom off and they’re perfect no-sew skirts! While at the supermarket to get the bags, I was looking around and thinking, ’I know there’s more here for us’. I saw some white coffee filters and realized that they remind me of those ruffled collars and cuffs from Elizabethan times. So we made a whole costume out of coffee filters. I got married soon after that and Martha always gives me a hard time for not wearing it as my wedding dress! I kind of wish I did. It was amazing! We ended up with so many ideas from our trips to the supermarket that it inspired a whole other story about supermarket costumes, including a foil knight in shining armor and paper doily princesses. Sometimes the research for one article can spawn a whole new one.

A lot of the decorating ideas feature these great vintage finds. What are some of your fave places to shop for one-of-a-kind gems?
My husband and I were addicted to tag sales and estate sales; that is, before we had to make room for the baby. We used to go out to Long Island almost every weekend. Looking around people’s basements and attics gave me a voyeuristic thrill. I especially loved looking in their sewing rooms or drawers. I bought TONS of old craft magazines and books from the 50’s and 60’s. So inspiring. I really liked to see which pages were dog-eared and any projects they had made that they have around the house. Nowadays it’s Ebay all the way. I love the instant gratification of the “buy it now” auctions! In New York, I also love the dusty stores that still carry their old stock, like K Trimmings on Broadway. Great ribbons, buttons, and more. Or Gordon Novelty for party and costume supplies. Sadly, these types of stores are disappearing…

We love the child-friendly recipes in the magazine. Are they kid-tested?
Luckily, many of the people on our staff, including those who develop our recipes, are parents or aunts or uncles so we have a lot of in-house expertise and lots of young tasters. Our recipes are meant to appeal to the whole family—so adults have to like them too. I can pinch an extra inch thanks to all the taste-testing I’ve done over the years!

When you were young were there any foods you just would NOT tolerate?
I still don’t get lima beans. And to this day I haven’t eaten lamb after my brother told me that “lamb was lamb as in ‘Mary had a little lamb.’”

Whistle while you work... What music are you listening to these days?
These days? Ernie and Bert’s Greatest Hits and The Best of Sesame Street with my one and a half-year-old son… and loving it! The lyrics are smart and the melodies are great. There’s this duet with Grover and Madelaine Kahn that is sweet and makes me cry because I loved her so much. All of Dan Zanes kids CDs are great too. When I’m not listening to that, we have the latest AIR and I love that and their earlier CDs as well. And the not-so-new Belle and Sebastian. My all-time favorite band is The Jam.

How has your life and work changed now that you have a child of your own?
I am way more familiar with the early early morn then I ever was before. Who knew there were so many hours in the day before 8 am? My son is ready to take on the world at 5:30! At work, I try to be more focused so I can get it all done and get home to my son. I daydream about him when I’m at work and it’s fun to imagine doing all these projects with him when he gets a bit older. And I think that the projects that I create for the magazine have gotten simpler since I became a parent, knowing now what is realistic and doable.

Okay, Jodi... time for our SPEED ROUND!
FAVE COLOR: pink, always
FAVE CANDY: hmm…tough one. Kit Kats?
FAVE BOOK: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon
FAVE FOOD: pizza
FAVE MOVIE: Cinema Paradiso and It’s a Wonderful Life (I’m a sap!)

07/14/2004