Stealing Is Not Cool

Vegan Varg informed me that my zine Cemetery Gates is reviewed in the current issue of Slingshot. I was excited and nervous - because truth be told the zine community has not been kind to CG in the past. I found the review online and later in the week received a print issue of the zine in the mail.

If you cannot read the review in the photo::
Cemetery Gates #1  $6.50 ppd (???) PO Box 251 Modesto, CA 95353
This new publication looks at how people confront death and grief. The editor sets the context of why to do this and its quite touching. The bulk of the content are some written pieces and photos of cemeteries. The atmosphere of cemeteries is pretty hard to capture using photocopiers but there’s close to a dozen images here that you can take to the copy shop and use to make art with. (eggplant)

After reading the review I sat in my chair and had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I was angry, amused and disappointed. Basically eggplant says to steal my photos, my zine, my hard work and use them for whatever. Seriously? I know in the punk community/anarcho community stealing is seen as a F-you to capitalism - as long as you steal from the big guys. If you walk into any punk-radical store there is at least 5 signs saying not to steal from them - they are not the man. I always find that way of thinking stupid.When did stealing from small companies, zines, small business become cool?
I wrote to eggplant and basically he told me that I should be lucky to have been reviewed. Wow really? Also that by releasing my zine I put it out there for anyone to do as they wish with it. Seriously? When did zines become so cut & paste, like things you toss? I know among my zine friends we save our zines, organize them and hold onto them. They are not a big time publication to cut up and use for collage.

I want to put it out there that when I make a zine I do not expect to make much. When you buy a zine from me you are paying for the price of the copies I made, postage and future zine costs. If I have anything extra after that - well I have two cats who like to eat and I like a good beer now and then. The point is I make little $ off of my work. I spend months on a issue from photos, to setting up interviews and everything in between.
My zines are not art project material. I encourage people to share zines - mine included but above all turn friends onto zines and let them buy copies. Making zines is a passion that zine makers have. A passion that costs money and time. Zines are more than paper and staples. Support zine makers! Buy zines, encourage your favorite zine makers to make more zines.

I will be releasing Cemetery Gates 3 - in the next few weeks. Sneek-peek tid bit: there will be a color cover this time around! I have been getting positive feedback from the horror community and think I will stick with sending press samples out to them. Also I will put bold 'these are my photos' type wording in upcoming issues more prominently. Maybe a banner that reads: do not steal is in order?

Weekend Stuff - Halloween Meows

I tossed together a cat costume with stuff I had in my closet. Everyone needs a pair of cat ears in their closet!

Mady was a Death's Head Moth (as seen on Silence of the Lambs). She did not like the costume much so getting a good picture was rather hard but I tried! Matt gave me the idea when we spotted wings at pet store but they were like $25. I looked online - found a cheap pair and made a skull out of craft felt and attached it to the wings using double sided tape. This way come spring Mady can be a butterfly or something.

Mortis had a costume but it did not fit him well. So Matt snapped this photo of Mortis with a pumpkin. 

Besides being catty Matt and I munched on vegan pizza and ice cream and spent time watching spooky shows and movies. I had a few kids at the door I gave candy too but each time there was a knock the cats got scared so I turned off the lights. Low key but nice - a winner!

Crescent Mummy Wraps - Cute & Easy

Sometimes the most simplest food is the best. In this case mummy roll ups made with Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough, veggie dogs and a strip of Daiya cheeze tucked in. As you bake these you make a big ol' pot of vegan mac & cheeze, toss is some broccoli and get out the Sriracha and ketchup to make a dipping sauce. Once the mummy wraps are baked let them cool for a minute and dot Sriracha eyes onto them.
This meal has been so popular here and all the ingredients are on sale so we have been munching on mummies a lot lately. Plus it is a cute meal made without mad bento box skills. These do not take much time and effort. Wrapping is the hardest part and once you do one or two you get into a groove. A tip is to make sure you cut the strips right as you pop the can open. If the dough starts to loose it's refrigerated chill it becomes a bit gummy and harder to work with.


Inspiration came from here: www.pillsbury.com/.../crescent-mummy

Working On Cemetery Gates V3

Dublin, CA - Pioneer Cemetery & Heritage Park And Museum

Matt and I found ourselves In Dublin, CA over the weekend. After powering through a big bowl of vegan pho from Blossom Vegan we searched on our phones for a cemetery to explore. We came across the Pioneer Cemetery,  one that we had not visited before. After a few minutes in the car we found ourselves at the Dublin Harvest Festival. At first from the parking lot we thought Google let us down again but after walking around a tractor pull and kids playing in hay we came across the cemetery and it felt magical! 

 Tucked away from the road and among historical buildings sets this small cemetery. The big movers and shakers that built the town and their families are buried here. The fall leaves were scattered around, a tractor pull was driving through the cemetery road and the old equipment near the barn made me feel like I went back in time.

Matt and I even took a tour of the small museum built into what was I believe the original town church. What was cool about the museum was that they had a cemetery section. I found out about the angel above made from the finest Italian stone for a daughter gone to soon in the museum. After vandals destroyed the first one it was replaced. They have part of the first one under glass in the museum along with a headstone you can do a rubbing on and cemetery facts.

 

Piece of original angel behind glass in the museum.

 

The cemetery is great for a walk through tour were you are the guide. Like I said it is intimate in size but it has lots of character. Each historical family has a plaque with facts about their lives and deaths. It is very interesting to read each one and then look at the family stones. 

 

The leaves are falling. 

Matt being all nature-y. I got on the logs too but they were wobbly and my balance sucks. If I stayed on the logs longer this post might have ended with me reviewing the nearest hospital! But as you can see the cemetery is in the background. Families were walking through that day and people were having fun. We got there at the tail end of the event but I could tell it was a nice day. 

If you ever find yourself in Dublin, CA stop by the cemetery and the museum. There is vegan food near by and vegan options in the mall like a block away.

#OCDWEEK

I made a mini zine for International OCD Week I have had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder since I was young. In my late teens it got bad. For many years I felt ashamed of myself and even withdrew from interacting with people. I am learning now that I am okay, I am capable of love and recieving love as well.

You can get a copy of the mini zine by sending me a $1 through PayPal to cover shipping. Also if you order any issues of The Stay At Home Girlfriend this week you will receive one in your order.

Making zines has help me be brave - it has helped me let my voice shine. I started making vegan food zines but my writing could not be contained to recipes. I wanted to share with others that I have really dark periods in my life, I have thoughts I cannot control, that things fall apart around me but I try to put them back together and hold on. Everyday I wake up and say IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY in my head with as much enthusiasm as I can. Everyday I hope for the best.

Purple & Skulls

 

Tight details: Sugar skulls from Target. I am hanging out in the Catholic Mausoleum in San Joaquin Cemetery - my fave cemetery. Fast pic before the guards come - I just always wanted to shimmy up onto the podium there. I have this thing for Catholic churches and imagery.  I met up with an online friend to snap some photos, got some cool pics for an upcoming zine. Ragweed allergies and an empty stomach did nothing for my mood and energy level though.

Makeup if your into that: Too Faced Melted in Villain on my lips. I held off on buying this color for awhile but finally saw some swatches and needed to grab it!  My brows are a now discontinued Colourpop color that I am sad to see go because it is now my favorite brow color! I am in a dark purple mood - maybe it is my inner mood or the fall cold air I am starting to feel in my achy bones! Whatever I really like dark purple right now!