We've enjoyed Covet Garden online for free since it launched, we'd love a print edition to put on our bookshelf, and we're happy to pay for it.

Sounds like the American public funding television begging, but with a print approach. Still sickening and ill informed !

Clearly, these folks have fallen in love with an idea, which can be lethal in any business, including publishing.
Also, someone commented that donor "get something..." Yeah, "donors will receive perks such as a copy of Covet Garden Home for a $30 donation, or for a $50 donation, a copy of Covet Garden Home plus a limited-edition totebag..." Are you serious? A limited edition tote bag!?
Ridiculous, and further proof that they've fallen in love with an idea. Period. No sustainable business plan there.

Sorry, Anonymous Publisher, but fortunately there are other ways to skin a cat these days. You likely can't run a business in the long term with crowd-sourced funding, but I doubt that's what this group has in mind. I see they're almost halfway to their goal now, so power to them.

To # 13. No, I am not familiar with this site. Why did I respond? Since you asked, I responded because as a publisher who is out battling every day to keep moving forward, I find their approach insulting. If they believe in the product, put up the money. Or if your product is that good, why would advertisers not flock to the table to support it? If so many people want it, where is their support a.k.a. dollars! Their approach of asking others to pay for their product is nothing less than begging. This business has enough challenges without such amateur behavior. YOU ASKED!

Covet Garden is run by three fantastically creative people, with a passion for art/decor/writing. I'm so happy my friends are trying to get a printed version published, and to boot, with each level, you GET something! I'm donating my time and illustration because I believe in what they are doing.

P.S.
Dear Anonymous:" I'm not familiar with the Covet Garden site,": If this is true, then why comment at all.

To Graham, Colleen and anotheranon, I'm sorry you see the earlier comments as anger, venom or animosity. I hope the comments were not meant to be such. Personally I found the belief that others should contribute funds so the publication can be produced to be odd, and yes, a bit insulting to publishers who are struggling in this economy. I'm not familiar with the Covet Garden site, but doubt it is much different from the average shelter sites. However, to expect the public to simply give them the money to print their magazine is 'unusual', and yes, perhaps a bit uninformed. I am proud to be in the publishing industry. After my many years, I suppose I found it a bit insulting that these ladies felt their site didn't need to follow the norm, and people should pay for their production. My business doesn't work that way. If they believe in their product, they should put up their money, or get the usual ad support. But hey, if it works, I tip my hat to them. I will also provide my address for future donations to my soon to be opened memorial spa bar and swimming pool.

I am embarrassed to be part of a community that would so quickly lash out only with the hope of bringing another editor/designer/journalist down. The pomposity of the hateful comments in almost comical, as though they know these women, their history and experience and are certain that they haven't been in the publishing industry collectively for 60+ years. The naivete that clouds the commenters ability to see that funders and investors are just that, whether big or small, suit wearing or not suit wearing and that all these women are doing is seeking investors in Covert Garden through IndieGoGo, rather than in a boardroom. No wonder we're sinking...

Each one of these women have worked in magazines and have several years experience under their belts. I'm sure they are aware of all the challenges faced. No doubt their readers will be very happy to see more of what they enjoy in a print edition.

OK, angry people, did you get it off your chests? These women have a rabid following and are taking a chance with a valid, sexy new funding model. Have you not read about the movie producers collecting millions for projects? Maybe there are enough people who are exhausted with the ridiculous houses no one can afford featured in the usual suspect mags who would pay a few bucks to see what a printed version of Covet Garden might look like. Maybe it won't work out in the long term, but so what? Ladies, don't listen to the haters!. Maybe if they were the amazing publishers they think are, they wouldn't be so bitter and they'd still have magazines to publish. (btw, I don't know these women well, but I know they must have at least 35 years of experience in creating design mags between them...)

I'm shocked by the anonymous animosity here. It's a great project by hard-working creatives and I enthusiastically support their efforts to reach their goal.

What's with all the venom? We've seen successful crowdsourcing for albums and major movies, why not magazines? I agree this would be an ill-advised and unsustainable model for an ongoing/monthly publication, but for a one-off sip project, why not? Nobody is prying the money from donor hands. And if the experiment fails, it fails. I don't see what's so insulting about this at all, good luck with the venture I say!

I'm not sure asking for money to put out a product is the same as begging (re: comment #2). After all, lots of startups now use crowdsourcing, and companies ask investors all the time to fund their projects. Plus, magazines regularly ask readers for money to fund their operations. We just use another name for it: yearly subscriptions. I'd rather see this magazine publish than one more mag whose business model is merely to trade advertising for editorial (yeah, auto and real estate magazines, I'm talking to you...)

Ya Right!! Go into publishing. How hard can it be? Anyone can print a magazine. Ladies, your attitude is beyond anything I've ever seen. Have you any idea how many seasoned, educated publishers have gone under? Do you have any idea what it takes to publish? You must have some knowledge of how ill advised what you are doing. There is no mention of any of you being willing to put your own money up to make it happen. Arrogant at best! C'mon in and be publishers. Your disrespect of what's involved in successful publishing deserves to be punished.

Well, this will be the acid test, won't it? If Covet Garden has enough bona-fide readers who are legitimately willing to foot the bill, then they're off to the races. If not, then they will quickly learn (1) they simply don't have as many readers as they thought, (2) their readers are much cheaper than they thought, and (3) that publishing a print magazine is serious business, and requires a professional approach to operate as a business - not as a "boy it would be fun to do this" venture funded by online begging. Good luck ladies, but I really have to wonder why they would want to compete on the cheap in what is already an overcrowded marketplace.

I can only hope his must be some kind of a joke. If not, all I can say to these ladies is to not waste their time or money. Enjoy what you've got. Stay out of the publishing world, or it will teach you a tough lesson. Yes, you have people, such as Kim, who say they look forward to a printed version. However, did you notice the lack of offering any money? Think about it.

I love Covet Garden and think this fan-based funding idea is great. Looking forward to seeing if Lynda, Jessica and Rhonda reach their goal.

Donations? Seriously? You need advertisers to create revenue, leave the begging to homeless people who really need the money. I'm disgusted.

Ladies, I applaud your passion, but I think you need to leave your personal feelings at the door.Publishing is a tough haul at the best of times. What you need is called advertising revenue. Donations? If there have been so many people asking for the issue, have them pay for it. Or would it be safe to say a few have mentioned it would be nice, and your love of your own digital product took over? I don't mean to be harsh, but I do find your approach slightly offensive to the design and sheler magazines who are out there battling to survive, issue after issue. What makes your DIGITAL site so good that it deserves this kind of support? If you are a successful digital property, I suggest you stick to what works.