It's Never Easy

Posted by Bluelines

With a heavy blog heart, we are saying goodbye today.

Bluelines is shutting down, but will remain here as an archive.

We want every reader to know that we have been thrilled to share with you all of the things we've loved,
things we've obsessed over,
and things that have inspired us in every way.

We hope you will stay in touch with us through our own blogs and sites.

Much love and best wishes to all.   

Comments

[Katy Ryan]

Best of luck to the Bluelines team. I can't believe the last link to Blueprint has disappeared, but I can only guess that it's been an absolute rollercoaster ride behind the scenes, and I want to thank each of the contributors for maintaining composure and providing innovative, inspiring blog posts that made my collection of Bloglines feeds that much more chic.

[Kim]

I've only recently discovered you but have had you subscribed to my reader. Sorry that you are going and thank you for all the inspiration. All the best.

[Gee]

A real shame the sites going. Dicovered your blog about a year agao and there are such clever ideas and styling tips - completely my taste. Good luck to you all :)

[Sarqah]

i felt like as long as this blog was around, there was a chance the blueprint mag would come back. thanks for having it.

i'm thoroughly upset the magazine disappeared, it was so much more forward-thinking than MSL. it left me feeling inspired instead of feeling inadequate like i do after reading too much martha.

good luck everyone. you'll be missed!

[Kate O'Neill]

Oh no! Cheers to all of you at Blueprint for your great work. Martha should know a "good thing" by now.

[Molly]

In the midst of all these negative comments, I'd like to say that some of us still love MSLO. And I must say that I'm a bit confused at the level of anger here! I'm also disappointed that Blueprint is gone because I really enjoyed it. And I, also, had just renewed my subscription. I did receive a refund, however, so in my experience MSLO customer service has been very adequate! The bottom line for me is that the disappointment over Blueprint hasn't kept me from thoroughly enjoying MSL, Martha's blog, and the tv show. I will remain a loyal reader.

[Laura Palucki Blake]

A friend of mine who is moving just came over last night to look through all the old Blueprints. They are a treasure trove of ideas not only for decorating, but organizing, entertaining, etc. Those back issues represent the way my friends and I want to live. It really was a fantastic magazine that spoke to a demographic that was looking for a modern, younger, fresher interpretation of MSL. Living is fine, but I would like those at MSLO to know that you missed an opportunity. My friends and I won't be subscribing to Living--it just is not a suitable replacement for Blueprint or Bluelines. For those of us in our 20's and 30's you just removed a link to your company that will not be easily replaced.

[Rachel]

Well that sure stinks. I'm sorry to see you go. My love for all the Blueprint and Blueprint staff. (And no love for MSLO.)

[Nicole]

Oh no :( I still dream that MSLO will get it's act together and put the magazine back into publication.

I hope all of the writers here find some place to showcase all of your creativity and originality.

[e]

Ugh.

I hope all the staff and contributors to Blueprint find jobs that value their work more than MSLO.

If anyone is forwarding this to the bigwigs at MSLO who jerked the readers and subscribers around (um, where's my refund check?): congratulations on cultivating the consumer loyalty of the younger set only to blow it so spectacularly. That's a blueprint for success indeed.

[Emily!]

Don't leave me again! First Blueprint, now this?!

I really enjoyed this blog and I am so sad to see it go. I'll miss you guys!

[Eleni]

The first time that something from Martha Stewart speaks to me and it's being taken away (again!)? Boo. Kudos on beautiful, inspiring posts and I'll miss Bluelines!

[Tracy]

Just another voice weighing in to say:

1. Cheers to the Bluelines posters and editors for giving it a go

2. Jeers to MSLO for what is essentially a perfect case study in how NOT to manage the user experience. You had a loyal following here among what is widely considered the most valuable demographic in publishing (new media or old), and handily blew it. To shutter a magazine or a blog is not news -- but to ignore the fact that the readers became a community, and identified with your brand -- without even trying to retain them! That shows a lot of ignorance in online community management.

Hope MSLO is happy with the boomer audience... they don't seem to care about anyone that comes after.

[elizabeth]

This sucks. A lot.

And I get to complain because I've already written my letter to Martha saying how much I'd connected with Blueprint and how I didn't much care for MSL as a replacement.

Why don't you all get together and GO TO OPRAH and pitch a new magazine?

[jennifer]

I agree with many that all of the contributers to this blog are terrific, as are their postings (and own blogs). It will make sad to see the blog close, but not nearly as upset as when the magazine was shut down. MSLO has been phoning it in for a LOOONG time with regards to Bluelines. If they had given the magazine the chance, budget, and attention it so well deserved we all wouldn't need to be mourning its demise right now. I thank all of the Bluelines mag and blog staff for bringing such loveliness into our lives and wish you all the best in your current and future endeavors.

[Kara]

The blog was kind of a let down, and I read a lot of the contributor's individual blogs so I am not directing any of my disappointment on them. I'm pretty disappointed in MSL, and I'm just not going to support it anymore for not having the creative wherewithal to think outside of Martha's little turquoise and cream box.

[sami k]

dammit, dammit, dammit.

i suppose it was inevitable, but i'm mighty displeased nonetheless. and since i've probably commented on this blog more than nearly anybody else, i suspect my displeasure is less than surprising, neh? still. i'm just... heartbroken again.

from the day i picked up a copy of blueprint on a whim at an airport newsstand, it's been by far and away my favourite publication; indeed, it was the only one in recent years i considered good enough to bother purchasing, and since the demise of the print publication i've been so happy to at least have had the blog and a handful of back issues to keep flipping though (and i still flip through them all). now, i don't know whether i'm more sad or more angry. i don't know whether i want to curl up and cry or track down whatever crazy person decided to take away our blueprint and get all fisticuffsy at them.

i'm going to miss you guys. i love you guys. it's not fair.

so, i guess, thanks for everything, it's been fun. i, for one, am going to miss you.

peace
sami

[Jasmine]

Seriously? First it's Blueprint magazine and now our Blueprint blog is going away too? Martha, this is NOT a "good thing". I vote to get rid of Body + Soul and to bring Blueprint back! I'm glad I saw it coming and ordered all the back issues.

[valerie]

good luck you guys and thank you so very much for sharing with us even after the sad loss of your magazine. your work is appreciated! the nasty comment-makers simply don't know how to appropriately express their feelings.
happy trails!

[GK]

I cannot believe this. BOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Sarah]

I am OUTRAGED! I will be contacting MSLO on Monday. There are no words to describe how superior Blueprint was and now to hear that our blog is gone too is simply maddening.

Best wishes for future endeavors!

[Nathan Michael]

i literally shed a single tear...

[shoppingsmycardio]

I'm so sorry to see the blog go...I really appreciate you all for trying to keep the feeling alive for so long.

I think it's time to re-order the premiere issue of Blueprint so I have a complete set (if I still can), and call it a fond farewell. I know those of us here that are writers will do our best to carry on the "chic in all things" standard that Blueprint set so well!

[becki]

um...maybe those who miss blueprint should express their anger directly to martha's attention, instead of toward these writers that just lost their last tie to the publication they poured their hearts into.

i too am really sad that blueprint is gone, and frustrated that it wasn't given a real chance to succeed at MSLO...but it's certainly not the fault of anyone writing bluelines. from what i saw, these writers were doing their best (likely with very limited resources) to maintain an experience we'd all enjoyed with blueprint.

i love the internet, but i hate that the anonymity makes people think it's okay to be so unnecessarily harsh.

[Patia]

The blog was nice and I will miss it. But there are a million home decor blogs out there. And there was only one Blueprint magazine, which I miss terribly.

Come to think of it, I haven't received any information about what will happen with the Blueprint subscription I had JUST renewed before it went belly-up.