Jennicakes' Interview with Natalie Zee Drieu

Natalie Zee Drieu is a woman who needs almost no introduction. As Associate Editor of CRAFT magazine, Natalie keeps the blog at Craftzine.com, as well as the super-stylish Coquette blog. She is a dedicated promoter of crafters everywhere, and a recipient of the Media Samplers we are so proud to send out every month! She just took a few minutes to chat with Jennicakes of Team Sampler about style, eco-crafting, and how a contribution can catch her eye. Enjoy!

Hi Natalie!

Hi Jennicakes!

How are you?

I am really good today. Drinking lemonade now. Yum!

Last night, I Googled you, and by the time I got to "natalie ze", Google was suggesting "Natalie Zee Drieu." So what's it like being that internet famous?

Haha, that's amazing! You know, it makes me feel old. I've been around this ol' Internet for a looooong time. I'm surprised that my new last name was suggested! That's kinda cool. People still call me Natalie Zee and that's ok becuase I do sometimes too. A new last name is fun but definitely a change of habit. Plus I had way too many nicknames - nat zee, nattyzee, zeebee. So I'll never get rid of the "Zee."

Yeah, I couldn't give up my crazy last name, either! So, you are almost all posts on the CRAFT blog, and you also keep the Coquette blog. Is that a ton of work?

Sure, you would think, but I am a total nerd so I'm usually always online and see cool things all the time that I want to share with everyone. With the CRAFT magazine blog, it's part of my day job so I love being able to find good projects, crafters to profile, or find fabrics, yarn, books, etc, and just tell everyone about it throughout the day. Coquette blog is my personal blog and I love fashion and technology so that's kinda my other outlet to share that. I try to post there at least once a day.

How do you see craft and fashion intersecting? You have such a great eye for both.

Oh, Merci! I see a lot of that movement happening in this arena and I can tell you also the fashion world is taking notice. Part of it is about people today wanting to convey their own individual style. We are overloaded with the same looks from chain stores and I think that people are looking to express themselves again through clothing. You'll also see big fashion houses like Chanel pick up the trends in crafting like quilting, patchwork, crochet looks --- like creating a high-style "handmade" look which of course costs a fortune. A lot of the new trends in fashion lately have been this crochet, knitted look which we can all replicate or make even better ourselves.

Are there any trends in crafting you've been noticing lately? Do you have a favorite?

Yes, I think one of the biggest recent trends is being eco-conscious. There's a lot of projects now on how to make things out of plastic grocery bags whether it's art or fusing it to make a more sturdy shopping bag. The whole sew/knit/crochet yourself a tote bag to carry your groceries is big. I also see a new trend in the old, like granny squares are big lately, and quilting, specifically smaller doll quilts are popular too. I can't say I have a favorite, that's like picking favorites among my kids (which I don't have any) but I could never really pick just one. I love all crafts.

Thanks for writing about The Sampler Box Repurpose initiative, by the way!

Of course. Glad to write about it!! Always on the radar to promote the Sampler when I can.

You've done an amazing job of covering a lot of repurposed and recycled projects on the CRAFT blog, too. Do you think makers and crafters are just generally more aware of things like waste reduction?

I think everyone is more aware of it now but us makers and crafters can use our skills to help share practical ideas which also happen to be pretty fun projects too!

Do you have any plans for recycling your own Sampler box?

Well since I'm in SF I just came over and got my goodies sans box...but if I had a box I would probably try and see if I could turn it into a fabric storage box.

Ha! That was my fault. If I had known we were going to do a contest, I would have been like, "Here, trick this out!"

No worries. I just laughed out loud. I had my tote bag so I just figured I'd drop it all in there and save you a box but sure, next Sampler, bring it on! I'd be happy to do something for fun.

Since you receive a Media Sampler, would you mind giving us a few hints on what kind of things you are looking for, or are likely to write about in Craft or online?

When I go through my media sampler I try to look out for things that can fall into any of these categories: unique, attractive, different, or just plain cute. I also try to look at stuff that crafters who I may have not heard about and help showcase their work. I love when the crafters put a little description about the item, maybe a little note on how it was made, and their business card. I file the ones I like into my binder I keep.

Awesome! Those are great tips. Thanks so much for talking to us, Natalie!

Cool! Glad to do so! I love the Sampler gals and what you are doing for the world of crafting.

Thanks! Any last words of wisdom for the Sampler community?

I hope more crafters will contribute to the Sampler! It's a great way for exposure, especially if you are just starting your business.

Aw! Thanks for the plug!

Of course! :)