Zine Review: Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas

Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas
Nina Echozina
https://echopublishing.wordpress.com/

Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas is a full-colour A7 size zine about taking care of yourself during the holidays.

Okay, so it’s not Christmastime, but I think it’s useful for pretty much any group social occasion…

In this third issue in the series, Nina reminds the reader that their feelings are valid – especially during the holidays, which can be a provoking time for a number of reasons. Nina continues to give everything I could want and more in a self-care zine. We read about why the holidays can be hard, ideas for making a horrible family gathering less horrible, and more.

The fun inside bonuses when you unfold the zine even makes the zine itself a way to entertain yourself at the aforementioned horrible family gathering.

Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas has bit of a Christmas focus, but I love that so much of it can be applied to other holidays and/or family gatherings.

Definitely pick up this and the first two in the series as well.

Mini-Zine Review: Locket Zine

Locket Zine
Anna Gecko
https://www.instagram.com/oleandrsstudio/
https://oleandrsstudio.carrd.co/

Locket Zine is a tiny 3cm x 3cm zine in an actual locket full of lovely little positive statements.

I really want to get a chain for this not only because it’s small and will help me keep track of it but because it would be great to keep these little compliments close on the darker days.

Inside this little silver locket is a cut-to-fit accordion fold piece of notebook paper. Each page has a very short, nice thing that I think everyone would love to hear like “I’m really glad you’re here”.

This zine is fun in so many ways. Being small makes it cute, the accordion fold make sit feel like you’re opening a surprise, and the sentiments inside are so sweet and thoughtful. That it comes in a locket that you can wear around your neck just goes to show what fun things people can do with zines. I love this as an idea for a friend who is going through a hard time or to share important thoughts with someone you care about. Things you want them to always remember.

I have no idea if this was a one-off zine or if there were or are more available. If there are, pick one up and get a little sunshine in your life. And either way, try making one yourself as well. I think it’d make an awesome project.

Mini-Zine Review: It Loves to Happen

It Loves to Happen
True Zine Marin
https://www.instagram.com/truezinemarin/

It Loves to Happen is a full colour, super tiny 3cm x 4cm mini-comic about the beautiful evolution of a butterfly.

This little lovely is a completely wordless zine save for a little info about who made it and where the template for this tiny comic came from (http://bendependent.com/). (Thank you for that information!) Each tiny colourful page depicts one moment in time, and we travel with the butterfly from its itty bitty days all the way through until it emerges from its cocoon. So much life taking place on one small part of a small plant. I love it.

Maybe it’s the nature elements, maybe it’s the fact I like butterflies, maybe it’s because this mini is such an adorable size… Or all of the above! No matter where it lands, I love this itty bitty beauty. It’s sweet, it’s cute, I don’t have to think too hard, and it’s a wonderful little reminder to appreciate all the amazing things happening in nature.

If you can get your hands on a copy, pick it up.

Happy Mail Monday – Multi-Mini-Rant Edition

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El0z4H3mTn4&w=560&h=315]

Hello and welcome to another Happy Mail Monday where I share the awesome mail that has landed in my post box. I also occasionally go on tangents, rambles, and have rants as well.

I think perhaps I just needed to talk a bit this week.

Thank you so much for watching.

***

Awesome People/Places/Spaces Mentioned:

*Billy – https://www.patreon.com/iknowbilly

*Craig Five O’Clock Zines – https://www.instagram.com/fiveoclockzine/
** https://fiveoclockzine.bigcartel.com/

*Keith – https://www.floatationdevice.net/

*Superknova – https://superknova.bandcamp.com/

*Feral Publications – https://linktr.ee/FeralPublication

*Pocket Thoughts – https://www.instagram.com/_my_name_is_ryan_/

***

My PO Box:

Nyx
PO Box 378
Murray Bridge, SA 5253
Australia

***

You Can Find Me At:

seagreenzines@gmail.com

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/seagreenzines

Call for Submissions: Pre-Existing Zine

Pre-Existing

In a year still plagued by disease, those with chronic illnesses and other health conditions have faced blatant disregard for our lives and worth. PRE-EXISTING is a zine about living when others don’t care if you die.

*Deadline is March 31, 2021*

Submissions should be between 100-750 words. All conditions, from chronic illness, disability, & mental illness are welcome. Contributors will be paid $15 USD to be paid via PayPal or Venmo.

[Two stickers: one is a circle sticker of a rainbow. The other is a square sticker of a unicorn that says “Uni-Can”]

Send in email or as .doc file to: OleandrsStudio@gmail.com

Zine Review: Nightmare Before Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas
Mel Buttigieg
https://www.instagram.com/bleeder470/
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ZineGangDistro

Nightmare Before Christmas is a black and white A7 one-page mini fanzine for the Tim Burton classic ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’.

Mel uses the one-page mini to full fanzine potential with the combination of art and words dedicated to the awesome movie ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. When you open it up, you find Mel’s art of Jack, Zero, and more. When you fully unfold it, you find Mel’s writing about watching ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ for the first time, Tim Burton’s work, and more.

I really like this movie, which is absolutely why I picked up this mini. Mel’s art style is fun while staying true to the movie, and I enjoyed reading Mel’s story with and thoughts about the movie. (I wish I could remember the very first time I watched it.)

This mini is not only a lovely tribute to ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ but also a great mix of fanzine, perzine, and art zine.

Mini-Zine Review: Lost and Forgotten Words of Love

Lost and Forgotten Words of Love
October Stoner
https://www.stonerzines.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stonerzines/

Lost and Forgotten Words of Love is a US-sized, one page folded, black print on pink paper zine of lovely words about a person.

This will be a short and sweet review for a short and sweet zine.

Lost and Forgotten Words of Love is a collection of short expression of why October appreciates and unnamed person this mini seems to be dedicated to. Each page features a statement of appreciation with related doodles. From the person’s generosity to taste in moves, they are awesome in Stoner’s eyes.

This zine is a quick read but a touching one. I love the idea of appreciating someone so much you make a zine about them. I also loved the things Ocrober write about – for instance, how the person smells like basil.

This is a sweet smile of zine.

Mini-Zine Review: Witches’ Brew #1

Witches’ Brew #1
Echo Publishing
https://echopublishing.wordpress.com/

Witches Brew #1 is a full-colour A7 zine about Nina’s favourite herbs.

I couldn’t grow a weed in the most perfect summer, so I really admire people who have a green thumb or affinity for plant life.

Witches’ Brew opens right into the herbs, with each page featuring the herb’s name, a drawing of it, and a few thoughts from Nina like potential uses of the herb or how well it grows. The aesthetic inside matches the cover with the gorgeous green as the background and line drawings. I always go on about Nina’s handwriting, but she has an amazing balance of easy to read writing and small enough writing to pack in plenty of information.

Unfolding this little beauty reveals a simple, yummy-sounding recipe for thyme pasta as well as instructions on how to make a lavender bag.

I love learning new things, and mini-zines like this one are a lovely intro into various topics without being overwhelming. If you have any interest in herbs, definitely pick this one up.

PS. I’m excited to see the ‘#1’ on here too, implying a series to come.

Zine Review: The Psychology of Color!

The Psychology of Color! What do colors make us feel?
Mary
https://www.instagram.com/reflectivezines/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/reflectivezines

The Psychology of Color! is a full-colour US-sized one-page mini zine about what different colours can make you feel.

The Psychology of Color! is a pretty zine that makes me smile. I mean, I love colour, and this is a mini about colour. Mary gets right into things with each page featuring a single colour. A header, a brief list of feelings, and small drawings cover each colour.

This zine is like a first step intro into colour psychology, which is a huge, interesting subject. Like with many of their zines, I love that Mary has made another zine that serves as a great way to ‘dip your toes in’ with a given subject.

I like this mini a lot. It’s nice to look at, makes me smile, and has re-lit my interest in colour psychology. It’s definitely a bright and lovely zine for anyone’s collection.