Our August Catalog is a special one. Not only does it showcase our favorite fall styles, but it also includes interviews, styling tips, and inspiring imagery – which is why we like to call it the “Magalog.” Flipping through the pages of it made me think back to about a month ago when I was in New York, and spent the day browsing self-published works at a zine fair. Located on the top floor of a building in Koreatown, lights were low, music was playing, and authors set up their zines on covered pool tables. Each one I flipped through was unique. Some made sense, others didn’t. Some had words, and others let images tell the story. Filled with whatever the author desired, these self-published works that I spent hours flipping through left me inspired.
I often have the urge to create. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but it’s powerful, and one that I have to tend to.
I’ve gathered quite a collection of images over time – my own and imagery by others that inspire me. My job requires me to do so, and I’m left with is a folder on my computer titled, “Inspiration Tears.” When I get these creative urges, this folder is the first thing I think of. Rather then just having the pictures exist there, I like to actually put them to use. Making a Zine is a way that I can turn the digital images I normally look at on a computer screen into something that I can actually hold, flip through, and keep forever.
A lot of mom-and-pop bookstores have collections of self-published works that you can browse. The authors are normally local, and I like that you can get a taste at just how creative the people you share a city with are.
That inspiration folder on my desktop was getting pretty full, so this past weekend I gathered up some of my favorites images, and self-published something of my own.
I drew, I collaged, I painted, and I wrote. A jumble of mixed-mediums, each page is unique to itself. Call it a zine, call it a book, call it whatever…
A little piece of your imagination is binded in the pages, so it’s whatever you want it to be.
If you’ve never made anything like this before, give it a shot. It’s so much fun to get creative with it, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. This is such a fun way to look back on memories from the summer, or from a trip you’ve taken. Or it can be an exercise just to get some of those jumbled up thoughts out of your brain – the options are endless.
It’s all up to the author – you.
Have fun!
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These photos are absolutely amazing! I’ve always had the tendency to create too. Sometimes I do it inadvertently.
http://www.jeffreychung.net/blog
Love this! I’ve been meaning to bust out my paint and art supplies and start art journaling again. That’s what this reminds me of. I started Art Journaling in high school and it was such a great creative outlet and so cathartic, I highly recommend trying it!
– Megan
http://www.tbtblog.com
awesome idea! love the Head space zine!
I’d love to see the one you’ve created! My boyfriend has made a few of these and I love looking through them – I especially love when they are mixed media so you never know what the next page will hold!
xoxo Sara
http://www.restlessnomads.com
This is a great idea. Loved reading this post!
♡ TotallyRoisín | UK Fashion & Lifestyle Blog ♡
Love this !!❤️ How did you attach the pages?
gorgeous photos!
http://www.amoderngypsy.blogspot.com
Love!
http://www.iolablog.com/
I would totally encourage anyone who wants to get there writing out there to write zines! I used to run a feminist zine back in college as well as a zine with personal writings – both got bought by Columbia University for their permanent collection and I love that people will be able to enjoy them for years to come. Zines really helped me write when I was jaded from the internet.
http://northernrustication.blogspot.com
I really need to get back into journaling, all of those pages are so inspirational!
this is fantastic. I’ve never even heard of a zine, but this got me feeling creative and inspired. http://fleurs-de-liz.blogspot.ca
I love this idea.
– Christina http://www.cityloveee.blogspot.com
I’ve never heard of this before!
I completely absolutely relate to that feeling of needing to create. That powerful pull. That’s why I started my blog, in an attempt to become creatively fulfilled.
I’ve never heard of a Zine before, I’ll be sure to check it out. Thank you!
http://danidearest.wordpress.com/
I love this post and thanks so much for the inspiration. Now I can’t wait to create one and I will tell you how it is/goes as I am creating/finishing one. Thanks!
-Sarah
I love cutting images out of magazines, and saving Polaroids but I never knew what to do with them. Recently actually I made a zine about feminism, role models, things like that. It was really random, but I had a small accordion book kit I got from Paper Source, so I put it to use.
xostylestalker.com
Looks fantastic! There’s something to be said for finally getting digital images out in to real-time print :) I love making artists books. Amelia.x
I love pinterest, I just foud this wonderful diy. I’m gonna try it!
http://wildcity.etsy.com/
it’s really cool ! thanks for this post ✨
I love this post! Such an amazing idea, my pinterest is now full of your pictures!