A Stack Of Zines - Mini Reviews

 

When I searched for zine reviews this week I came up pretty empty handed. I wish more places were out there were we can read zine reviews and submit our zines for review. I have often been scared to send in my zines because most reviews want a zine to fit into a category: per-zine, fictional, art/comic, review...The Stay At Home Girlfriend does not really fall into a category, it is a mixture of everything.The zines I seek out are usually of the same nature.

So to fill a void in zine reviews I will go through what I am currently reading or have read recently. I will try to do this as often as possible. I have linked places were you can pick up the zines/find more info yourself.

Mixed up: I bought this (well, actually Matt paid for it) when I was dropping of zines at Down at Lulus's a few weeks back. I picked it up because I am always looking for zines that deal with stuff like immigrants and race issues.I have not gotten through the whole zine but there are some good reads. 

Food Stamp Foodie #3: This is my favorite type of zine - one that mixes vegan foods/recipes and crafts! Each recipe/craft is done comic style and is easy to follow. From making scarves to making cold brew coffee this lil zine packs a DIY punch.

Basic Paper Airplane 7: I do not usually go gaga over per-zines unless I can relate to the topic or the voice/person behind the zine grabs me. BPA#7 is a small zine, that I finished in a few minutes on my way to the gym but it was a zine that had impact. Each page is prompted by what appears to be a random thought/memory and a story that follows. Quick little reads that may make you think of your own life or memories.

Crafty Cat Projects: Blanket

 

I love my baby-kitty blanket! 

I have tried my hand at making fleece tie blankets a few times over the years. Each time they come out lumpy. I always get fustrated - everyone can do these after all! After buying baby tuxedo cat print fleece to line Mar's vet carrier with - and it not working out I decided to make him a blanket.

I sat down with the kitty print fleece fabric and black fleece fabric feeling confident. After all I had a power chat session over lunch with my cousin who makes them all the time and the fabric department lady who even gave me a simple instruction sheet to follow. I got this! I cut off my corners, cut it into strips, tying it, moving Mar off it a few times, trying to keep the scissors away from him at one point...It still came out lumpy.

Once I put it down though, Mar walked up to it, sniffed it and flopped on top of it. Lesson learned: your cat-baby sees the love in handmade things even if they are not perfect! Mar loves his blanket and wherever you sit it down he flops onto it and falls asleep!

Look out for more cat crafts, CKD diet talk, and kitty videos coming in July! 

DIY Heart Tote

I was inspired by the DIY section in the current issue (Fed 13) of Foam magazine for this simple project. Instead of stamping a pair of jeans I had a blank canvas bag that was sitting in my craft pile waiting for some action. I also switched up using a cardboard cutout to a foam cutout for my shape since foam is easier to cut.

Supplies needed: canvas bag - washed, dried (no fabric softener), a sheet of craft foam, fabric paint, cardboard for stamp and a piece large enough to insert into bag, glue/tape and a few cotton swabs or a paint brush. Try to iron the bag out if you can. My attempt here was not great but once I inserted the cardboard in the bag it was smooth.

First cut out a shape with your foam.You can free hand it or draw then cut. I did a simple free hand heart. I cut out a small square of card board to use as my stamp backing and glued it down using basic kid's school glue. If you use glue it will need to try for a few hours. You can also use double sided tape or a glue dot to attach the foam to the cardboard.

Insert cardboard square the size of your bag into the bag. Smooth out the canvas. Apply fabric paint onto your stamp using a paint brush or cotton swabs if you are like me and cannot find your brush! Do not use a lot of paint, a nice even coat will be cool. Press the stamp onto the fabric with a steady hand for a few seconds and gently peel off. Continue doing that in a random or not so random pattern. Have fun! If your paint is not showing up enough or leaving gaps go over the area with the cotton swab/paint brush dipped in paint.


I will be using my new bag at the market tonight picking up some food! I try to use reusable bags as much as I can! The cuter the better! If the bag gets dirty  (which I wash my bags once a month) you just want to turn it inside out and wash it on a gentle cycle, maybe by itself the first time around....

Skeleton Christmas Ornaments

I bought some cute skeleton fabric recently and made Christmas ornaments with it! If you buy fabric with a print with large images you can easily turn the individual parts into ornaments. I just cut out a piece with a coordinating piece of eco-felt, blanket stitch them up with a ribbon looped at the top, stuff and finish sewing them up. Easy and not traditional at all!

Perler Beads

I have not picked up my case of Perler Beads since the holiday season. I challenged myself to come up with new patterns for for swapping over on Swap-Bot. I am also wrapping my mind around what I will create for a 8 - bit art show and concert my boyfriend is hosting this summer.



First up a dragonfly and little owls. I think the dragonfly looks like a cross between a bow and a dragonfly - maybe a dragonbow?


A closeup of one of the lil owls. I think these turned out cute! I am going to make more in different color combination!

These are out in the mail - hopefully not broken into pieces!

Sacramento Shows!

If you are in the Sacramento area this Saturday come out and check out these two events. My boyfriend and I will both be vending at the Sugar Plum Vegan/Never Felt Better event and my boyfriend's Lego sculptures will be at the Side Show Gallery!

[day 21] Post Craft Show Slow Down

I had a crazy busy weekend. We did Hand Born for the fourth year in a row - the biggest indie craft show in the area on Saturday night, 5 hours of selling, chatting, loud music and fun! My table set up this year was packed the night before so I did not stress.


I love crafting and baking - my dream is to open a cute lil vegan bakery/art space/retail shop/concert venue. Doing craft shows help me figure out business plans for the future and see what skills I need to improve on. I like promoting veganisim with yummy treats. One of my top sellers is my 'cakey moist brownie'...This year I made those and rice cereal treats. One lady bought a brownie even though she just bought food from the cafe after seeing my brownies. She ate my brownie first! Don't bother asking for my brownie recipe!



I sold out on a lot of things and have another show coming up in two weeks. I started making more stuff! I can't wait. While I am busy sewing and knitting my boyfriend will be busy editing a new music video he directed! He also has a gallery premier showing off his 8-bit work. I just started holiday shopping, and have lots of baking to do and holiday pictures of Mar to take. It is going to be a creative holiday this year!