International Zine Month

Its international zine month in July and you know what that means? FUN; tons of it.
Now, I figure since some of you may or may not know what this entails or what to get up to, fret not, I have looked it up and found some things everyone can do, BIG or small. I personally will be getting my hands dirty by making some zine t-shirts! I used to make personal t-shirts a few years ago with my own designs but I though I would come up with some groovy zine related designs and put them on a t-shirt or jumper. It’s fun if you like stencilling, or if you just like to use a paintbrush. The trick is to buy some fabric paint or if you can’t find some, go to your local art store, buy some normal acrylic paint and mix it with some textile medium that should be stocked there also.
With a little help from Alex Wrekk - the champion zeenster - on her site that is nicely named “international Zine Month” I have come up with an idea to also make some badges in participation with international zine month. I suggest that we gather together on a day in July at Sticky and come up with some rad badge ideas to make! Sound delightful?
If that’s not your thing maybe you can do something within your local library by starting a zine library - or donate to one already in existence - or holding a workshop, a zine reading or a zinefest.
Another thing Alex suggests is to write a letter to every zine you read. Now I believe if anyone’s collection of zines compares to mine, that is a lot of letters. But this isn’t a new idea for me, I’m sure you –like myself – write letters to zeensters all the time. But for international zine month I’m going to make it a goal to send more out nonetheless! Also trades! Don’t we love them? Trades are a brilliant idea to do in July – not to mention every month anyway- and maybe even meet someone new and awesome!
I don’t blog on my zine blog a lot but if you do have one, maybe try what I’m doing and post some zine reviews. It’s always nice to get your mind jogging on some vocabulary and zine-age.
If you are working on a new issue of your zine why not make it a goal to release it in July? I am currently working on my 8th issue of chasing hot air balloons and my 3rd issue of Scribbler, so I aim to have them out by July.
I got the idea of ‘crafternoons’ from Amber Forrester who makes the amazing culture slut and fight boredom zines. The idea is to get a bunch of friends together to be creative, cutting and pasting, making zines, making drawings and simply being creative and having fun, getting to know the art side of your friends. So do it! Whether it is double digits or just you and your best friend, either way you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself.
Something I like to make a habit of is leaving my ‘business’ cards at random places. My business card is basically a metlink card with my contact numbers and sites/email on it but fret not, someone may come across it and like my drawings, so it’s worth it! But in July I plan to do the same thing but with my zines. Think of it as an adventure, finding random places and leaving your mark of zine greatness.
Oh! And how could I forget the 24 hour zine thing! I will be participating, if you haven’t before it’s definitely worth getting into and creating a zine within 24 hours, winner.
That’s all of I’ve got planned for international zine month, what about you? Make a list or some goals and get them done within July. Try out some things I’ve discussed or put your own twist on them, any way to spread the lovely invention that is zines.

Peace,

Zine Reviews

I bought today Realia - a zine by hotrodlibrarian.

and must i say, it was a treat.

if you like libraries, this is the zine for you.

i bought this from sticky because it caught my attention from the word library.

annoying customers and librarian stores is what you will find in this little zine

it's worth the dollar fifty to get it!

BOO #4

WILL BE IN STICKY TOMORROW :)

Guys are mates, girls are love.

I identify as queer in order to rule out frustration. I used to be bisexual and actually dated a man for awhile last year. This brought on the idea that I may be pansexual as I was never sexually attracted to men but found some attraction in their personalities and physical features and somewhat what a man can offer a woman emotionally.

I think I was more comforted by the idea of men on a personal level and really finding out whether they are more than their re-productive organs.

I would still call myself pansexual but the relationship with this man did not end great due to me liking girls more than him.

So really, apart from confusion I would call myself a lesbian to prevent further hurt to a male, or plural.

From this understanding I try not to care too much for labels but I am aware that they can bring a lot of people clarity, pan sexuality especially.

I am intrigued by gender queer and transgender, or maybe I just find moustaches on women attractive. I am attracted to androgyny; particularly in women. The scotch drink or the suit and tie fashion – I dig it. I know I wouldn’t like to be a man; I am content in my womanhood. I suppose it’s rather the idea of playing a male role in a girl/girl relationship; cooking them dinner, taking care of them, comforting them, dominating in the bedroom, buying them flowers. I wouldn’t restrict all of these doings to the male role but I am just going on the traditional concepts and maybe that’s sparked from my interest in the 50’s conventional idea of the husband taking care of the wife. I don’t believe in the wife being constricted to the kitchen, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m simply saying I like the idea of the man taking care of the woman and seeing this played out in a lesbian relationship. Of course they are two different things. I guess I just like suiting up, slicking my hair back and being attracted to feminine women as well as the stereotypical dyke.

I would say the idea of gender transitioning is an interesting story in itself for me. Just like I find world war two and animals intriguing but obviously this is on another level to those things.
I would date a person who is transitioning and I accept it openly. I understand it can be confusing for people to recognise but that is why I learn about it as much as I can and try to make people comprehend it better and am all for supporting it in whatever way I can.

In short conclusion, I support and encourage anyone who may come across my words to pursue your instincts and heart. If it be someone struggling with their identity/sexuality or even curious. Don’t be afraid to be the you that YOU are; free and alive. Don’t be afraid and do what makes you happy. You only live once and there’s no point sitting back in fear watching your life roll on by without you. Be free and be proud! Seek these things out and learn for yourself about them, understand and educate yourself. There’s no harm in being curious and there’s nothing wrong with being unsure and confused. I believe our sexuality, our identities are a journey. One step at a time; this is an adventure and you’re in for the ride of your life.

I work on my novel everyday...

...and my mother tells me i have to put my stuff "out there".

well have you ever thought that i don't have anything to put out there?

i doubt it.

This is my "professional" blog i know but i thought i would comment on my mum's comments about zines.

She believes most of them are rot and quote, 'twitter on paper', which is absolute bollocks in my opinion.
we have to fight for our right to be creative for free!!

Apparently she doesnt believe anything is really worth working on unless you are getting widely recognised for it and/or recieving money for it.

this = bullshit.


i'd love to say it but it really is...

do zines for the sake of art,

for the sake of freedom of speech

for the sake of getting to know other people

for the sake of getting noticed even just a little bit

of having fun

of being creative

of letting loose!!!!

Zeenster are defenders of their art everyday and we should continue to defend and fight for the freedom of enjoying what we do, what we love doing, what shapes us and expresses us.

The end.

Tumbleweed Zine Issue 2

SO, one of my drawings is in the new Tumbleweed zine :P its the first drawing in this post. Clearly i didnt think it through and should have done a better job but hey, you can always try better next time. these drawings just above are from a couple of artists also featured in the issue.

You can check out their blogger, tumblr or like them on facebook :)

Think of Sparklers Think of clouds Think of fingers Clasped between another’s Think of how Think of when Think of heaven Think of bed This is that moment This is that how This is that heaven This is where you fell Between the cracks Through the clouds Past my fingers In the pits Life