Running a publication while a mom of three can be so chaotic. Emails get missed, lunches get skipped (mine, not the kids’), and deadlines are usually, eer, on the soft side. It’s been a while since I stopped from all the busyness of running a household and this publication to really reflect on and appreciate how we pull off this incredible indie mag. (Hint: huge kudos to our amazing art director, Elizabeth Haidle, and superstar publishing assistant, Claire Astrow.) Thanks to the talented and thoughtful ladies at Handmade Charlotte, one of my fave go-to craft blogs for family-friendly DIY projects—check out the adorableness of this and this—I had the chance to slow down and consider how Illustoria has changed, my favorite part of of the magazine-making process (hint: it’s not doing the books), and my own creative time with the kiddos. Here’s an excerpt, but I hope you’ll head to their blog to learn more about what happens behind the scenes and the labor of love that goes into making each issue of Illustoria.

xox

Excerpt from the Handmade Charlotte interview:

How do you pick the theme for each issue?

I am inspired by universal themes that we experience in life and literature. When I consider a theme I always think about how open-ended it is for interpretation. The more open-ended, inevitably the more varied and unexpected the contributions will be. I love the idea of readers discovering something new, being challenged to see things from a different perspective, and getting into worlds they haven’t experienced before. More specifically though, “Beginnings” was an obvious and apt theme for our premiere issue because it is so full of possibilities as we set out on this journey. The idea for “Canvas” was sparked by a love of art and paintings, “Outside-In” by fairytales and sculpture, “Grow” by nature and childhood, “Motion” by actions and the impact of our actions, “Symbols” by the way we make sense of the world around us. The hope is that every theme speaks to the curiosity and wonder of children and adults alike.

Read the full interview here.