Summer Vibes: Zine Reading List for Readers after New Adventures

As the season turns to summer, the mood arises for new adventures.

I've been taking lots of strolls through the park with my dog thinking of fun projects to try out. Our summer zine reading list shares some beautifully illustrated zines that will inspire you to slow down with some enjoyable activities that nurture your mind and body. 

Pick up a zine as your next read from these amazing zine-creators.  

 

1. Make Your Own Fun: A Zine About Making Zines

by Kristyna Baczynski

 

The world of self-publishing and the small press is thriving.

Having the freedom to make something and share your voice in the form of a zine or small publication is both important and empowering. In Make Your Own Fun, Kristyna, an avid zine maker, and award-winning illustrator, and has collated a tonne of great info on getting started with zine-making. From what zines are, how to deal with the blank page battle, zine ideas, how to make different zine formats, to getting your work out there! 

"You are going to create your own kind of zine. There are no rules so no judgments. Let that empower you. Just Make” — Kristyna Baczynski

I love that this how-to zine breaks down the process of zine-making into small steps.

This approach helps to eliminate any feeling of intimidation so you can enjoy the process and explore your ideas freely. There are lots of helpful illustrations to guide you through making choices at each step. It's the perfect zine read to get you started with your own zine-making! 

Make Your Own Fun is 20 pages, ½ size zine, 6 x 8 inches, handmade in the U.K.

 

2. Edible Gardening For Beginners: How to Start a Garden and Grow Your Own Food

by Rachel Zedd

 

There's something so rewarding about tending to plants that you can later harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

I've had varying success with vegetable gardening, but it's something I come back to every year and have aspirations to perfect. Edible Gardening for Beginners is a fantastic informative guide for getting started with vegetable gardening. It doesn't matter if you have a tiny balcony setup or an entire dedicated vegetable patch. This zine has something for everyone, from picking the right plants, understanding soil, to growing and troubleshooting your garden.

This zine has plenty of helpful tips you'll need along your gardening journey.  

One of the challenges I often encounter is knowing what my soil needs, how much water and what to do when little visitors like aphids visit the garden!! Edible gardening covers a lot of ground in an easy-to-understand and digestible way (pardon the pun)!

Edible Gardening for Beginners is a ½ size zine, 31 pages $4.95. 

 

3. Cats Claw Herbal: DIY Medicinal Skincare

by Heron Brae

When it comes to herbs, I'd always limited of their uses in cooking and tea.

My eyes opened to the world of topical salves after reading this zine. A salve is an ointment with an oil base that you can use for skin protection and healing.  Cat's Claw Herbal, is a pocket-sized instructions guide to making salves and the various herbs used to make them. The zine includes many captivating plant illustrations, plant facts, recipes, and stories. 

"I'm just crazy about plants, they're my secret love affairs." - Heron Brae

A couple of tools are needed to make salves, most of which you can fashion from the kitchen. But overall, the process to make salves is far simpler than I once envisioned—a perfect way to spend a Sunday.  

I love that Heron has handwritten much of this zine. It gives the feel of a pocketbook that one carries with them to scribble down fun concoctions and ideas as they arise. 

This zine has lots of helpful information if you're interested in exploring the world of making medicinal skincare salves. 

Cat's Claw Herbal is 32 pages, ¼ size zine, $3.00 

 

4. Summer Wild

by Kristyna Baczynski

In another amazing zine by Kristyna, we are continuing with our summer reading theme of exploring plants in all their wonder. 

Summer Wild is a beautiful risograph zine using purple and green soy-based inks. Risograph is a unique stencil duplicating process that is quite iconic in zine-making.  In this zine, Kristyna explores ten plant specimens with illustrations and interesting facts. This zine is a perfect example of why zines are excellent sources of information and artforms in their own right.

Just reading this zine brings a sense of calm and relaxation and a desire to get outdoors, forage for flowers, and explore the local plant life.  

A perfect zine for the aspiring botanist at heart! 

Summer Wild is 20 pages, ¼ size zine (4 x 6 inches), $7.35

 

What is your favorite zine to read this summer? Add it in the comments below :)

 

 

Image Credit: Angelique Downing