Customer Reviews

ReadyMade

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

The magazine is hit or miss. Sometimes I'm like "Wow", other times I'm like "duh". They're about 1 "Wow" and 2 "duh"s for me, even though I bought a year subscription a little less than a year ago. [...]

My advice? Skim it on the newsstand and buy it if you see something compelling. The spirit of the magazine is awesome. The content of the magazine is usually OK, sometimes good, never awesome. If you see something you like, sort of like if you see a good recipe while browsing for cookbooks, pick it up.

[...]

SOMETIMES this magazine is full of so much awesomeness cover to cover. The projects are really cool and explained really well.

MOST of the time, however, this magazine is TOTALLY LAME. Most of the projects are made from junk and they look like they were made by a homeless person. "Oh, cool. You made a fruit bowl out of construction netting. What a neat and thrifty idea for a college student. Too bad you're 35 and haven't been in college in 12 years. You're apartment looks like a thrift store. No wonder you're still single."

If I have to read one more article about how Readymade has been a "green" magazine for x number of years before it got trendy I'm going to order 500 subscriptions and cut all of them up into tiny pieces and DUMP IT ALL IN THE OCEAN.

Most of the projects are made from modified IKEA products. Well, the closest IKEA is 4 hours away, and their shipping prices are through the roof. Thanks for that USELESS ARTICLE on how to make a (insert energy/water saving trendy thing here) out of a crappy bookcase.

Also, WHY ARE THERE ALBUM REVIEWS?!?!? AND CRAPPY ELITIST INDIE MUSIC AT THAT! PETER, BJORN, AND JOHN ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE MY ABILITY TO INSTALL A TRAP DOOR IN MY KITCHEN!!!

If pictures of highly-manicured but seemingly rough-hewn hipsters building trashy looking furniture from pre-built components is your thing, then you have found the ultimate magazine. If however, you want some real insight into, well anything, then look elsewhere.

Each month when my issue arrives I look through it, cover-to-cover for about 5 minutes (usually while sitting on the toilet), and then toss it in the recycling bin. I can not wait until my subscription expires.

Anyone who subscribes to this magazine will tell you that once you start, you can't stop. Filled with DIY projects, this magazine is the thing for any impoverished 20-something looking to fill their home with trendy, innovative, homemade stuff. In addition to the many projects which have ranged from sewing your own ties and skirts from old pillowcases to how to build a brick BBQ, the magazine also features articles on things like "how to seem like you read lots of newspapers" or "how to get on a TV game show". Once I get this magazine in my box, I can't put it down till I've read it cover to cover.

as an art student on a budget I love the Ikea like ideas in ReadyMage- everything from making a couch with turf to lights made out of trash cans- every month I am inspired although some ideas are slightly too complex for me (and my time limits)

Here's a magazine that speaks to the inner tinkerer. In spite of its title, it's not about things that are ready-made but about a willingness to make stuff. The spirit behind it is good and refreshing.
Unfortunately, the performance doesn't match the spirit. The projects are hokey and many of the ideas are embarrassingly banal. There's also not much in the way of instruction in basic skills.
So if you don't mind a low good idea/page ratio, by all means subscribe-maybe they'll grow into it.

This is the magazine for you!!! I just got my first issue and the projects were AWESOME! It ranged from no-brainer crafts that you can actually make money with, to home furnishing! Plus, it's up to date...not your grandma's or even your mother's craft book! I love this thing and I can't wait to get home and try the projects!!!

Do you remember when you were a kid and tv shows and classroom projects had you making art and useful items out of things like empty paper towel tubes and dry pasta? This magazine is like that, but only for grown ups. There are articles on artists, designers and people just looking to make better use of what we have around us. There are product reviews on practical things like vacume cleaners, because if you have to have one you want one that will last so that it stays out of the landfill. Most importantly there are the projects that center on making something cool or useful out of something you would likely throw away or how to get a lot of use out of a really small space. My favorite monthly feature is the "MacGyver" challenge where readers are invited to submit their ideas on what can be made with thinks like old blue jeans (oven mits), cds (a cool curtain), pens (flatware) and remotes (drawer pulls).

We live in a time where people are more concerned for the enviroment than ever, in the US things are costing quite a bit more than they did three years ago. Folks are making do with less because they have to and quite often because they want to. But we want to do it with a sense of style. And this magazine helps people do that. It helps people share their ideas. It puts out there a fresh look at old crafting mediums such as knitting and embroidery. And for folks who have something really beautiful and unique to sell this magazine offers a printed flea market.

If you are the sort of person who follows trends and can't fathom using furniture that was not featured in a catalog or a design magazine this magazine is not likely for you. But for everyone out there, like me, who wants to live really well while using less then you are going to have fun with this magazine.

Now if you will excuse me I need to go turn this cool, old, 1950's radio I picked up, into a retro docking station for my iPod.

This is a one of a kind publication! It's chock full of fun projects ranging from easy to high-tech -- with straight forward instructions and great photos and articles. It also has a shopping section full of groovy and unusual items. It's very inspirational and even if you never do any of the projects it's fun to read about them! This is a hip yet completely non-threatening magazine!

As an avid DIY junkie, and a thrify and eco-conscious consumer, I used to be a HUGE fan of readymade. i'm not sure what happened- change in editor or something (?)- but the last 3-4 issues (or so) have just been crap. i am definitely NOT renewing my subscription.

first off, the 'instructions' are useless- either too obvious, or too vague. for example, this issue features instructions for making herbal vinegar: put vinegar and "washed herbs of your choice" in a jar and shake. REALLY?!? there's a similar 'recipe' for homemade herbal tea (boil, strain, drink)... SERIOUSLY?!? a few more complex projects are useless in their vagueness: they have no diagrams, sometimes not even a picture.

as another reader mentioned, there has been a big increase in recipes and food articles (approaching, if not exceeding 50% of the magazine content). also, tons of space devoted to shopping guides for good cause and cool stuff small businesses (fine, but not really helping me do-it-myself), as well as what various 'stylish' people do in their homes or for work (great for them, not all that useful for me- more about nice vintage finds or inherited pieces, minimally about how-to).

this issue (roughly):
90 pages total=
13 pages of projects (generous estimate, most are part of a page)
13 pages of gift/ shopping ideas (not including ads)
18 pages food/ recipes
28 full page ads
10-15 pages of lifestyle type articles, on what hip folks are up to

i guess i'm back to the internet for my DIY projects fix.