A while ago Hannah, the lovely creator of Paperbrains asked me if she could print some of my Polaroids in her 3rd issue. I’ve just received my copy and I couldn’t be more pleased. It’s “a self-published, independent zine that prints art, photography and writing from all over the world”, it’s been beautifully put together and features some incredibly talented people.

If you’d like to buy a copy, or would like to contribute to future issues, you can contact Hannah at paperbrains@googlemail.com

You can also find Paperbrains here: Etsy ♥ Facebook ♥ Tumblr ♥ Twitter

Here’s a bunch more zines I’ve liked lately.

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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 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.

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)

I’ve drawn an A-Z list of sweet things (and yes, there’s at least one for every letter).

Buy it here:  Folksy (UK) / Etsy (US)

Here’s a wee roundup of some zines I’ve received lately.

100 Things to Do + Dwellings series by Philippa Rice
available @ Folksy

100 Things to Do is a big illustrated list of fun suggestions. For example, #2 Draw a face on a boiled egg, #69 Make an indoor tent, and #87 Make a list of names you think would suit you. Her Dwellings zines (Eco, Futuristic and Inricate) are jam packed with incredibly detailed line drawings. They also each come with a card of things to find and tick off.

Silent Type by Strikethru
Volume 1 Issue 1

Described as “A retrotech journal”, A4 and in full colour, Silent type is a big, beautiful collection of typewriter based writing and images.  The collection of contributors explain why Old Things still have value much better than I ever could.

New York vs Portland, polaroids by somavenus
Issue 01: New York
available @ Etsy

Although a little on the small side, it’s been lovingly put together. Each photograph and piece of text has been printed on nice quality colour paper, and cut and stuck onto black card stock. It makes it feel like you’ve been sent a tiny personal photo album. (She also has a Portland issue for sale too)

The zine I’ve been making for my final project is finished and all 50 copies have been put together. Papercutting and hand drawn illustrations/text photocopied onto  thick cream paper, card covers in various colours and all hand bound (with a bit of help from the boy) with matching embroidery thread. These will be sold at the show and hopefuly online once that’s finished in a few weeks! More images here.

Back in February I went to the Brighton Zine fest. Saturday they had a bunch of workshops and film on, at The Cowley Club. Sunday at the West Hall Village Hall there were stall holders, bands playing outside, t-shirt printing, cotton candy machines.. I picked up a few things (above).

(No photos from the actual day, the hall was way too crowded to get a camera out!)

Favourite things I bought: “Iceland Imagined” and “Halcyon Days”, both by Kaye Blegvad

Screen printed t-shirts I did. How good is their illustration?