Here's another of my passions folks. Zines. I am a fully fledged zine maker. A zinester, to use the technical term. What is it about making zines I love? Well, it is the whole process. But the main main thing is that it is DIY publishing which means you only answer to yourself. You write, draw, play, create whatever it is that you want to. Totally and utterly authentic. Nobody else has any say, influence or sway over what you want to produce. What can be better than that? Well, making money out of it would be nice. But, that's never the starting point. You'd be sorely disappointed if it was. They are a labour of love. No, the starting point is 'I'm going to make this because I want/need to'.
It does, however, mean that sometimes we have to flog our creations. So, here's
a bundle of my five current zines. Each has a run of 1000. No more no less. And, I've put a SALE on. Normally $50 but I've knocked 20% off so until the end of the week they're just $40.
This is the perfect inspiration kit for anyone who loves drawing or just loves to look at drawings.
Molezine 2
A collection of some of the drawings from my travel themed Moleskine sketchbook. Limited stock.
How To Draw Like a Loon
Created with nothing but a four colour ballpoint. This zine is all about drawing and handwriting. Filled with lots of exercise for you to try. Including how to make a zine! Very limited stock.
An Idle Daydream
A zine that reviews my favourite (and not so favourite) pens. Also includes some of my favourite blog images from the last eight years.
How to Draw Like a Barmpot
Another tutorial zine. This one focuses on drawing with your imaginations. Includes lots of little exercises to get your imagination working.
The Daily Tamp
A tiny cut-out-and-make newspaper full of stories, film reviews, classified ads and all the usual features of a big full sized newspaper but just tiny.
If you'd like to purchase, or read more about this zine bundle you can do so
HERE. You will be supporting an artist to create more publications that you won't find on the supermarket shelves.
Many thanks for listening.
My new zine, The Tamp, now has an advert. yes, I've hit the big time. This minature zine is not only a tiny newspaper but also a puzzle. The puzzle is putting the thing together and specifically getting the pages in the correct order. It'll only make sense if they are in the right order. I say 'make sense'...
The newspaper has a tiny comic strip, a tiny film and book review, tiny classified ads. So, as the man says 'READ ALL ABOUT IT!'. Limited print run, get your copy
HERE.
My brand new zine is hot of the press and on sale. This cut out and put together tiny little newspaper is for sale
HERE.
Thanks for the interest in getting your own classified ad in my new zine. The spaces are now full. Sorry, if you didn't get one. You must be quicker next time!
This little zine (and I mean little) is probably (definitely) the most complicated layout I've ever worked with yet. It was born out of an idea I had when I saw some of the mini zines that people are making. I really wanted to have a go.
It also had to cheap to make. Very cheap. Basically, in true tradition of zine making, it had to be produced with a photocopier. A photocopier and a bucket load of creativity.
I spent my childhood making stuff like this; tiny little books. I haven't made anything on this scale since then. The pages are all double sided too, which complicates things further. It's been a concern, after doing all this work, that when it was all folded up and cut out it might not even work.
So, I crossed my fingers and had a trial run....and phew! It works. It actually seems to work.
I'm hoping it'll be for sale in a day or two. Please come back if you'd like a copy of my first tiny teeny weeny ziney.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased a copy of 'How to Draw Like a Loon' thus far. They are still available HERE, before Christmas, to those in the UK. I'll open that up to the 'rest of the world' after the holiday.
You know, I've come across many a learning curve since opening my little Etsy shop, a couple of years back, and especially since I started making and selling zines. One of those curves, that I am currently in the process of tackling, is how to keep the personal touch whilst running an efficient small business.
You see, the postage and packing of the last couple of zines was ridiculously time consuming. I didn't make things easy for myself. In fact I seemed to make them impossibly difficult. Some of you who follow my blog, and who have purchased my zines, may recall the 'Nut' envelope decorating debacle. Plus, you may remember the hand written teeny weeny pixie letters and gift tags that came with 'About A Book' zine and caused my last nervous breakdown.
To say those experiences were stressful is an great big understatement and I will not be going back there. Imagine hand decorating envelopes for over 250 zines. The scene below is just a glimpse into how that felt.
That HAD to change. Since then my friend has taken over the running of my shop and the mailing of zines. While this has meant that the orders are being sent out a day or two after they come in, the personal touch has been lost along the way. So, how do you do both? Is it possible to do both? I think so. And, have a few ideas on how to redress the balance. One is little limited edition compliment slips that change every so often, drawn especially to express my gratitude to you, like the one at the top of his post.
I hope these experiences of mine may be useful to you should you be considering zine making and opening up your own little Etsy shop.
And, finally another little plug for my new zine 'How to Draw Like a Loon'. The perfect stocking filler for anyone who loves to draw. Buy it HERE now.
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Boy, I hear you on the personal service through Etsy. One of the things that keeps me coming back to one Etsy seller is because of her hand written thank you notes, her personalized feedback messages, and the little tea bag that comes with every order.
I don't have time to hand write messages in my Etsy orders during the holiday season, but I do that other months along with a 10% code for their next purchase.
Maybe there's a way to photocopy a written note so it still looks original? ;-)
Hi Joni,
yeah, I've been there. It's just impossible to keep that up. That's pretty much the idea I've had with the compliment slips; I made the original drawing and am now photocopying them. Also, I think this works with the whole zine/photocopy vibe. Thanks for your comment. It's good to hear other people's experiences, and is why i felt I should make this post.
Cheers!
just amazing, I loooove your artworks!
I don't have time to hand write messages in my Etsy orders during the holiday season, but I do that other months along with a 10% code for their next purchase.Do best, no regret!moncler jackets good topic, I will concern on.
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Hi, I love your artwork. it is truly inspiring. The unfortunate fact is that it's been stolen by a girl on DeviantART:
http://missashford.deviantart.com/art/Thoughts-Of-Shoes-And-Doodles-273961880
After looking at her profile I thought she looked suspicious so I checked her pictures to see if they were theived, turns out, quite abit of them are.
I don't know whether you actually care about this or not I just thought that you'd like to know.
Thanks for reading.
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me.
Felicitaciones por este blog!!! Eres una de mis ilustradoras favoritas, Saludos desde Suramérica
Good work! I like this post.