{extra weekend goodness}

I have just listed these books/zines in my etsy. The doodle zine is $7 and the Leaf book is $15. If the doodle zine sells, i will print more as it is full of my illustrations, doodles, hand drawn typography, patterns, quick sketches and is a one of a kind so you will be getting a bargain! The leaf book is a one off and there will only be that one printed like that with those leaves in that order. Go and give my shop some love : ) (the images can be clicked to take you to the listings)

Thanks!

{WIP Wednesday}

A few small screen shots of my doodle zine i am working on to be ready for middle of September (which i will probably also put up for sale in my shop)

{WIP Wednesday}

todays doodles from my "spare time" during work experience...... these are destined to be part of my summer 09 handmade book/zine.

{new purchases}

I have recently had a mini spending spree on Etsy.
I bought this postcard print of a chubby sparrow by ChildlikeWisdom, i just love the simple neutral colours and composition of it!


I also bought this zine by pikaland that is about overcoming creative blocks.

{zine inspiration and ideas}

I would really like to create a zine over summer, as it will relate to my personal & university design practice alongside my dissertation. Small publications and handmade books are something that i find really interesting and creative and i love the qualities that they have. I think handmade publications have a special quality that is always a really original feeling and i find they always have really interesting, diverse content. I have made a tiny start on zine ideas by just writing down things that i would like to create a zine about. i am going to be on the lookout for ideas and inspiration everywhere! i downloaded kerri smiths "100 ideas" and i think by getting a start on these i will kick start my creativity and get my brain working creatively. I cant wait to have a finished product, all hand stitched by me and printed in full colour, or black and white.... i haven't decided yet, but i would like it to be slightly more substantial, in content, than a small leaflet and would like to include body copy text and illustrations. I would like to attempt a full double page spread too and include some kind of free poster or sticker set to go with it. I think this will be a project that will take a whole summer, researching, experimenting, testing, developing and eventually creating a final product. I would like to create this zine as a one off experiment and if i enjoy it, create a whole set or series of zines based on similar topics. I will need to gather all my text/body copy research and adapt and write it in my own words and as i think this is the thing that will prove the most difficult, it will take the longest time. Also i was thinking that if i created a zine based on a specific subject, and i wanted the illustrations a certain way, then i could contact some people i know to see if they would contribute their drawings to the zine. All this talk is making me excited to get it all started....who would have thought that i would like researching my dissertation topic so much and in such a way that i actually end up making my own zine! I have bought this DIY guide to zines and zine culture called "Stolen Sharpie Revolution" from brainscan on etsy and i hope that this will help me with my research and with creating my own zine! i can't wait for it to arrive so i can get my hands on it and get reading and creating!

{WIP Wednesday}

This week I have been avoiding my computer at all costs, sitting in the sun and generally relaxing. I think I need to start some of my own personal work to keep my design brain working. Whenever I need inspiration to start something creative, that is personal to me and not my university studies, I love to look at kerri smiths blog and her work to get me in the mood. I find her naive (in a good way), carefree attitude towards art and craft really invigorating and refreshing. Her work makes me feel like getting all my paints, camera and paper collection out and start to make something...anything!
Over the summer this year, I have decided to create a zine or a small handmade book, that will also relate nicely to my dissertation (of which the title is - "What is the value of handmade publications?") so this WIP post is really a WIP in my head....just thinking and getting the ball rolling with ideas. I have been researching all day and feel so inspired, I can't wait to start.