A little time spent at the photocopier.

{From a soon to be new zine What Do You Think?}

I have been in a zine flurry these past two days and I have put together a whole new and unexpected, on my behalf, zine as the sun warmed my fingers on the keyboard and mouse in the morning, and as the cats slept soundly in the evening. I cast aside other to-dos and tasks, and settled down to tinker on a new zine called What Do You Think? Working on Three in the Kitchen, an oft talked about forthcoming zine by Louise, Shari and myself, clearly opened the door to the room in my head allocated to such things. I had intended to put the finishing touches on Three in the Kitchen and then head back to other things but that was not to be, and so, a new zine, in addition to Have Wheels, Will Go, is also calling to be completed and subsequently released into the wilderness. November is shaping up to be a three zine month and I couldn’t be happier.

I have returned from photocopying the A4 pages and I am hoping to eke out a little time to, with Louise, guillotine, assemble, glue and edition my new zine. It lies in a recycled box in the hallway just inside the front door and it is hankering to be completed. It sits in readiness alongside Three in the Kitchen; two neat blue boxes filled to capacity and ready to be transformed into folded, readable, distributed zines. Not quite Geppetto the woodcarver’s bench but exciting to me nonetheless.

Of greater excitement has been the arrival of what could only be described as a most generous parcel of delights from Andrea (Scout); one parcel strained to its papery seams containing a bounty so very overwhelming and very well timed.

Sitting just shy of the front door, I grinned from ear to ear as I opened this parcel. Cross-legged and surrounded by a haul of things recently carried inside and promptly dumped; a bag of new fabric Thelma’s stuffies from my Mum, a box of green to ripe mangoes, various grocery items in a yellow enviro sax bag and dvd returns; I sat and poured over the items one by one. Such treasures!

Included in the haul (for an itemised list is by far the easiest way to do it all justice) a handsome bundle of postcards including a Californian sea lion family, the winter herd in watery cave, a magnificent yellow chrysanthemum in full bloom, glorious tall trees in black and white, and a giant cactus too; Bestmaid needles replete with two kittens up to kitteny wrong doings in the sewing room, 100 assorted gold and silver eye needles with threader and all on coloured foil papers patterned with spider webs; a book of poems I have yet to read encased in its own beautiful hand-sewn book pocket abundant with birds high up in the treetops; magazines for when I have had my fill of Given Poems by Wendell Berry; fabric pieces tied up in ribbon; two notebooks, one olive the other white; Sukie sticky notes featuring woodland friends from squirrels to red foxes; and an alphabet card of a kite (awaiting a clear sky day).

A super and generous parcel of hoarded gems, wouldn’t you agree? Thank-you, once again, Andrea (xo).

And, one more before I head back to what it is I ought be doing (more on that later). From Hannah, my order of splendid gems which I thought you may also wish to see. They arrived sometime ago now but that polar bear and owl still make for a Friday afternoon showing. Today, according to my tee, I am a squirrel.

Zines and new collages I'll have for you over the weekend, I 'm sure. And should you feel like a wander, Louise & I have just finished our work on the new Imp gallery site... peruse it at your leisure here.

Happy Friday to you...

*** A little big favour to ask... ***

Comments

[Kylie]

you've had lots of lovely parcels of late, haven't you? I love the yellow chrysanthemum - reminds me of Buddha's one.

Hope all the 'zines go well - let me know if I can help sort, or staple, or such things!
k xo

[hrsj]

your active & bustling creativity is so exciting! :)

[lisa s]

treasures of all sorts
[i love photocopying]

the mum and the polar bear stand out as things i might have to steal from you if you were closer :)
xo

[andrea (scout)]

so happy that everything arrived safe and sound! believe me, i had just as much fun putting the parcel together. :) can't wait to see the zines!

xoxox

[charlotte]

I've voted too and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[karin]

The sea lions and the chrysanthemums are so good.

[kate]

What a wonderful package ... I love when you share these treats with us readers. The new zine will be good ...I love the photograph!

[cd&m]

The Zine sounds like a brilliant project can't wait to find out more.

[cruststation]

So many wonderful things to look forward to...lovely postal treats, love the finger puppets!! Of course, I'd be voting for your posters.

[renee]

the polar bear and owl finger puppets are wonderful! oh i ran across this the other day and thought of you...

http://www.lucymayschofield.co.uk/homepage.html

[gracia]

Hey there Kylie,
A little stitching and stapling is always required. I've made note of your generous offer so stay tuned for when it comes time to assemble that oft talked about car zine extravaganza. I'm thinking it'll have a lime green cover and be A5 in size with a hand-sewn spine... how do you fancy folding, sewing and editioning? It'll be an edition of at least a hundred so I fear we'll get through a few dvds as they play in the background of our home meets zine factory. Are you prepared for an entire Charlie Chan viewing... two box sets makes for allot of Mr Chan.

Hello HRSJ,
So glad you think so but it always, I suspect, looks a little busier than it actually is. In between all this clothes are washed, couscous is eaten with sultanas, floors are mopped, pets are fed and mail and orders are sent... all those everyday things not often mentioned.

Hey there Lisa,
Your comment made me smile... and just when are you coming over? Think of the trouble we could get up to! And the things we could create! See you at the photocopier, dear one.

Hi there Andrea,
Thank-you once again for all that you sent over... I have just posted two collages on two of your postcards. The seal cave was too hard to resist. I have the seals collecting treasure from the briny deep. If you look closely you will see the boots of fishermen who have met with a watery end and other trinkets worthy of a seal den. I am looking forward to sending a parcel your way soon, I just need to make like a seal and find a few discarded treasures.

Thanks ever so, Charlotte, I have my fingers crossed, too.

Aren't they just, Karin? I have that golden chrysanthemum postcard by the computer and I love it... one huge solitary bloom - perfect in every way.

The zine has since been finished, Kate. Two hundred pale yellow lemons have been cut and two feature on the spine of each zine tied on the thread on the spine. It's been smashing to work on this zine with Louise & Shari, and I am all the more keen to hop to work on the car zine also. September, November and sometime during winter always seem to be zine friendly months for me.

Thanks, CD&M, too. It's proven a fun project thus far, working on a food themed zine with two dear chums. Tinkering on my zine has also been enjoyable, and I very much hope you like it.

Thanks, CrustStation, thank-you. And aren't Hannah's finger puppets swell? Today I am an owl. Thursday I think I'll be the Tiger.

Thanks for the link, Renee, I am off to explore further... just as soon as I pull on my adventurer boots and untether my team of huskies.

see you,
g xo

P.S. Both zines will be available in both of our stores this coming Thursday.

[amisha]

so much postal joy! what a sweet parcel.
and three zines in november... fabulous!!
xox

[jenny]

aw, that polar bear is just TOO cute. :)

[julie]

Fab treasures - sorry for the late visit..loving the polar bear and owl finger-wear! xxx