Thanks to zine events, trades and a big order from Marching Stars, my intake of zines has been way above average lately. These are just some of my favourites that I think are worth looking at.

Enthusiasm – issues 1-3 (enthusiasm.zine@gmail.com) This zine is full of people talking about any subject they’re enthusiastic about, in various formats. The issues aren’t themed, so it’s easy to find something you’ll enjoy reading about. This zine does live up to it’s title, and you end up reading about things you think you’d never be interested just because of the passion the writers have for it.  My favourites:  Positivity – seven pretty awesome things that don’t usually come up in normal conversation, which includes Rolf Harris and just photocopied paper, “Lesbians like stationary, so you will have someone to go round Staples with for hours on end. Pens not penis!” and Favourite Historical Crazies.

Sugar Paper: 20 things to make and do -  issues 1-3 (Myspace) Each zine has 20 guides of things to do, mainly focussing on crafts but with a few other subjects thrown in too. Packed full and a great mix of cut + paste layout and some really sweet original drawings.

Fanzine Ynfytyn # 10 (Etsy) This is by my friend Emma, so admittedly I’m going to be a bit biased.  I always enjoy her zines but this issue is especially fun to read. It’s an in depth write up of her trip to Ireland with Dolly & the Clothespegs – an 11 piece country band of which her boyfriend and other friends are members. There’s lots of nice details about Ireland, as well as the logistics and quirks of travelling, gigging, and sharing accommodation with a large group.

Counting Crows (Etsy) An illustrated poem with a hell of a lot of crows. Unusual and well executed, I like.

& others I loved: Fight Boredom! issues 1 & 3 (Etsy), Arty issue 20 – England (website), Fever issue 2 (website), and the Telegram Ma’am/Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell split.

The return of my thursday themes is brought to you by me hunting through pages and pages of vintage searches on Etsy. Teal is great, I need more of this colour in my life.

Things:

1. (middle) Lunch Box and Thermos Set ($22) 2. (top left, clockwise) Diner Style Insulated Coffee Server ($11.50) 3. 3 Yards of Lace ($2.85) 4. Postage Stamps ($4.50) 5. Bon Appetit Mugs ($15) 6. Pint Sized Thermos ($12) 7. 50s phone ($45) 8. Sweet Sweet Syrup ($10) 9. Luggage Set ($38) 10. Book Metal Holders ($sold) 11. Mushroom and Dragonfly Mugs ($7) 12. owl weight balance ($16) 13. 1950s Plastic Refrigerator Set ($16)

Clothes:

1. 70s Short Sleeve Dainty Dress ($22) 2. 1980s Nautical dress ($56) 3. The Polka Dot Lace Dress ($38) 4. Green Sweater ($12) 5. 1960s Color Block Dress ($69) 6. Silk Wiggle Dress ($44) 7. Flirty 1980s Small Bow Handbag ($10) 8. Fleur De Lis Jewelry Case ($19) 9. 80s MOCK CROC Handbag Purse ($20)

SX-70 sonar / 600 / dirty rollers

The 2nd Brighton Zinefest started their 4 days of events yesterday. Tomorrow I’ll be taking part in the fair, taking along lots of zines and a few other small bits (stickers/postcards/badges/cookies) too. Along with the stallholders there’s a bunch of workshops going on, in things like guerilla gardening and zine making. It’s taking place at the Hanover Community (33 Southover Street Brighton, BN2 9UD) from 1:30 to 5:30pm.

Details of all their events on their website.

I finally got my act together and made a zine out of the month of polaroids I took every day back in April 2009 while I did my Forever Analog project.

They’re on Etsy for £4/$6.3, or you can contact me to buy directly from me.

Last week I took a short walk along the seafront and down the pier, before returning home. The pier at night is like something out of Scooby-Doo when it’s off season. Most things are closed and there’s not many people about, half the rides have had their insides taken away or are in pieces. The cheesy 70’s music can still be heard all the way down.

On Saturday the 13th I’ll be escaping from the seaside to do the Alternative Press Fair in London. Again I’ll be tabling with Emma, bringing along our zines and most probably cake too.  (facebook event page)

Afterwards we’ll also be attending Girl Germs at Camden Head, a ” grrrl-tastic night of music, zines, cakes and dancing” with zines from Vampire Sushi distro. (facebook event page)

Here’s the art book I bought way back in December.

The Ballad of Sexual Dependency by Nan Goldin. This has been on my wishlist since I saw her slideshow, Heartbeat, at the Barbican 2 years ago.

I’ll be at February’s Handmade Brighton with Emma again next weekend.

As an attempt to make the wishlist of books I have seem more doable, I’m letting myself buy an art book every month. Here’s what I bought in November:

Serious Drawings by Marc Johns

It’s basically a lovely big collection of previous posted drawings – but everything is much nicer to look at in print.