Naomi Fujimoto is the senior editor at BeadStyle magazine and has been with the magazine since 2003. She is also the author of Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens published by Kalmach Books. As a career crafter who is well-entrenched in the crafting and publishing industry, I wanted to pick her brain about her work in the field of arts and crafts.

1) Okay, first I have to ask about your voyage from studying sociology in grad school to becoming a jewelry magazine editor. What made you decide to pursue such a different career path than what you originally intended? What was your first entry into the crafting career world, and how did you eventually end up at BeadStyle magazine?

I was studying sociology and really loved it, but I realized that becoming a professor wasn’t my goal. While I was in L.A., I took a jewelry class at Ritual Adornments, a bead store in Santa Monica. I was hooked! Designing is something of a puzzle for me, like beads are a mystery to be solved. Sure, there’s more than one answer, but it’s satisfying to take a strand of beads and put them together in a new way. I’ve grown up with crafts — I spent a lot of time with my two childhood friends making stuff in the basement, and my parents still have some of my childhood work on display, but I didn’t really think about making a career of it. I knew Linda Augsburg (BeadStyle’s Editor-at-Large) through the alumnae chapter of our college sorority, and she contacted me when BeadStyle was launching. That was over four years ago!

2) Other than Cool Jewels are there any other jewelry books you have written, and do you have any future books plans you can tell us about?

I haven’t written any other jewelry books, but I have a second proposal in the works — for a book of fast gemstone projects.

I’d like to do a cookbook someday, too.

3) Compared to editing a magazine, how do you like writing books? How different are they?

There are certain magazine skills that made doing the book easier, like meeting deadlines and being meticulous about jewelry design, photography, and writing. I really loved writing Cool Jewels, even though I felt a lot of pressure to complete it on time. I tend to work best with deadlines, and even though I got more time to write the book than we get to produce an issue, it’s still challenging to put together 40 projects. It’s been eye-opening to see how a book is truly a long-term goal — there’s marketing, appearances, and other things I do as an author that I don’t have to worry about with the mag.

4) How do designers get their designs into BeadStyle, and what do the editors of the magazine look for when they select items for publication?

We look for original designs that are easy to make. New (but simple) techniques are always good, too. On a personal note, I prefer when designers submit two or three designs that they feel represents their work, rather than sending a bunch of ideas. We like to see that designers understand the magazine and our audience. Probably the best way to submit designs is to email jpgs to editor@beadstylemag.com. You can also check beadstylemag.com for author guidelines. There’s a detailed section called “Submit Content to the Magazine.”

5) You also make and sell some of your jewelry, right? Where do you sell it and how would you describe your own personal taste when it comes to jewelry designs?

I did a lot more selling in the past, but I currently sell at Lovely, a salon in Milwaukee. My personal taste in jewelry is simple, simple, simple. I like clean designs. I do like asymmetrical stuff (an off-center pendant or mismatched earrings), but I’m careful about the proportions when I design pieces like that. It’s amazing how a necklace can look great on one person and not quite right on another. I love charm bracelets, but if I wear one, I keep the rest of my jewelry simple.

6) How do you approach jewelry designing? Do you sketch out designs first, or do you work more on the fly? What inspires you?

I like to start with the beads — I especially love gemstones, Lucite, and vintage chain. I’m fairly disciplined in my buying; I tend to avoid buying stuff if I don’t have some idea of how I want to use it. I sketch occasionally, but for me, it’s easier to work with the beads themselves, because that gives me a better sense of proportion and how things will fall. I pay attention to what jewelry people are wearing in movies and on TV. They wear great pieces on “Girlfriends” and “Greek.”

7) A lot of jewelry designers start off selling their jewelry before they realize there are other areas they can use their jewelry skills in, such as publishing. But, if someone wanted to get into the craft publishing industry, what is more important, crafting jewelry or experience in publishing?

That’s a tough question. I did the selling first, then the publishing. I can’t necessarily say one is more important than the other, but I do think that selling can get you a lot of valuable experience, like an understanding of what jewelry people like and what you’re competing with. If I wanted to break into publishing, I think I’d start with a pub like BeadStyle to learn about what it’s like to work with an editor and meet deadlines. Also, it’s good to pick up a few jewelry books and magazines to see what their approaches are: some are more instructional, some more inspirational, etc.

8) Finally, what advice would you give to someone interested in a career in crafts? Is this something you think needs a certain type of preparation for?

Look for ways to get your name out there. Become an active participant in an online craft community like Craftster. Start a blog. Donate some of your pieces to charity. I think it’s important to look at yourself as a brand: your business cards, your workmanship, your web site, these are all reflections of who you are. I’m also a huge fan of classes. Whether they’re writing or design classes, they help to spur creativity. Also, seek the top people in the field; it will help you develop standards for your own work.