My dad bought me a Polaroid Pogo Two recently. Polaroid have been trying to push this as a digital version of their instant cameras since they ceased production of film, when really it’s a digital camera with a built in sticker printer, and there’s more to instant film than just the idea that you can hold the print in your hand straight away. So even though it’ll never be any kind of replacement (& I’d much prefer the production of some fully functional film for my SX-70), it’s fun in it’s own right for completely different purposes. I’ve been using it to quickly illustrate things in my diary & I’ve got some plans to do a bit of sticky public art.

Pros:

• Easy to use.
• There’s plenty of pre-set modes for different situations to help your photos come out a bit better.
• Some fun (even if a bit cheesy) settings, like colour tints and borders.
• It’s fairly small and light (285g).
• The prints are pretty cheap, if you buy the largest packs available (90) they work out at less than 15p each.
• You can use it to print out any digital image taken with any camera as long as you transfer it over to the camera and rename the file so it recognises it – the one of the dachshund in the above was done this way.
• It can double as a web-cam.

Cons:

• The internal memory is rather small, I find it fills up after about 4 photos, but it does take SD cards.
• Because there’s no viewfinder, only the screen to guide you when taking photos, it’s hard to see what you’re doing in harsh sunlight.
• The camera isn’t great quality (it reminds me of the first digital one I had – about 8 years ago), but it doesn’t really need to be for the size and purpose of the prints – you just won’t want to use it for anything you want to upload online or print larger. I’m not really used to not being able to have any control over things like focussing any more either so I have to make myself let go a little when using this.
• I’m uncertain as to how long the prints will last without fading – I couldn’t find any real numbers on this just some speculative ones that weren’t exactly high.

ps. Was this interesting to anyone? Should I write more things like this or just keep posting pictures?

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

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Today a copy of Pictorial Webster’s: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities was brought to me by Mr postman. It’s a visual reference guide with 1500+ 19th century engravings. The book itself is beautiful – as well as the contents. If you like vintage illustrations and imagery this is a must.

I know my posting has been a bit sparse of late. I’ve been busy preparing stock for the shop/fairs and hunting for a part-time second job. Here’s a few little things I’ve been meaning to update with:

♥ I’m now using Tumblr. Let me know if you have one too!

♥ I’ve also made a formspring account if you’d like to ask me anything.

♥ Dilys Treacle did a great write up of the fair I did in Sheffield a couple of months ago, Hello Amber and 365 zines have both reviewed one of my zines each, and Hello Bee and The Brighton Collective have written a bit about my work (ps. thank you).

While I was at my mum’s house I came across a tub of loads of novelty rubbers (or erasers, to avoid confusion for Americans). Apparently she bought them at a car boot sale years ago. There’s some really odd ones in here that just make my think “WHY!?”. I do love the stationary ones above though (the peg actually works like a normal one), the little record further down, and the detail in the cute wee pack of matches at the bottom.

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)

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.

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.

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)

I’ve recently joined the Etsy Polaroid team, which has really just given me more excuse to browse lovely photos all day long. If I had endless amounts of money to spend on prints, these would certainly be decorating my wall.

1. (middle) in teatro 5 original ($440) 2. Polka 6×6 print ($28) 3. Cupcakes of Happiness 8 x 8 print ($30) 4. Deer and Cupcake 6×6 print ($25) 5. Peach Jam 8×8 print ($30) 6. A Piece of Heaven 8×10 print ($25) 7. Homage 8×10 print ($35) 8. tiny christmas trees ltd. ed print ($75) 9. sunset from the bqe 10×10 print ($30) 10. She Brings Happiness 5×5 print ($20) 11. Pink and Milk 6×6 print ($22) 12. Botanical in Blue 8×8 print ($30) 13. little house in the wisteria 5×5 print ($8.50)