It’s been a busy couple of weeks for this panda and fetus – school has started again, we’ve been working on a couple of projects that will be revealed all in good time and we’ve received a good number of zine trades to brighten up our PO Box.

The first of these trades is from Amanda in Wollongong [as opposed to yours truly] who sent us her 24 hour zine July 25.

A visually clean-cut A6 black and white zine, it documents her activities on the 25th July 2009, as well as including flashbacks to what she has done on that day in previous years courtesy of some very diligent diary-keeping. It is sweet and personal without being angsty and was a lovely read from front to back. You can contact Amanda at meiow.meiow [at] gmail [dot] com.

The second trade was from Rachael in Perth who sent us issues #5 and #6 of her zine Love Like Pop.

Both were dense reads, a wonderful mix of graphics and text which included personal writings about her experience with racial identity and online dating, musings about music and joining a band, book and artist reviews and found objects and notes from the library at which she works. I really really enjoyed both of them, they were an interesting and poignant glimpse into someone else’s world which is exactly how I like my personal zines. Dare I say, Perth zinemakers are fast becoming my favourite zinemakers? Anyway, you can contact Rachael at rachaelk [at] gmail [dot] com or find her blog here.

AND THAT’S IT! Well, actually, there are more trades but we’re going to scan them so that you’re not subjected to my crappy photography skills.

x panda

by Tommy

Ok so its no secret I really like that bar on Graham and Metropolitan called Mother’s, formerly Mighty Diamond (that vegan caribbean place), owned by the same people who run Daddy’s (clever, no?). Sometimes my internet goes out, and although Mother’s doesn’t have WiFi, I can usually pick up a signal. Plus it has good burgers, sweet potato fries (my favorite) and the people who work there are total babes. Babia majoras major babes.

Anyway the last time I was there I traded a couple issues of birdsong #7 for Leslie Anne Mackenzie Stein’s Eye of the Majestic Creature, and I was not disappointed. There are a couple mini stories (one is about tree sex and the other is about drunkenness and alternative 20something family structures) and one longer narrative. The comic itself is drawn very well, and is a total left-field-wtf-lol-rotf-gut-buster. Although sometimes strange and almost magical (the main character’s father is a hippo, for example), its strangeness doesn’t overshadow what is a essentially a homecoming narrative. Those of us who moved away from home, and especially from rural to larger metropolitan areas, can probably all identify in some way with the character. Friends are still talking about stuff that happened in high school like it was the glory days. People are going to the same bars, doing the same things, looking the same (or slowly deteriorating). And also, when yr out with friends and someone is being ridiculous, you either ignore them, tell them off, or you go the fuck back to your apartment where your rainbow sherbet push pops live. You don’t owe anybody a damn thing. But when you’re out with family, suddenly there’s more responsibility– you can’t ignore them, you can’t walk out, you can’t tell them off.

SO, there’s awkward family-drama-dinners, step-moms, ruminations on black-outs (the drunk kind), drinking on planes, high school journal searching, re-discovering long forgotten childhood traumas. This comic has it all. It has a special significance for me because I, too, am going home (tomorrow, for Comic Con motherfuckers!). Make sure Brooklyn gets enough food and water while I’m gone.

And check out Eye of the Majestic Creature and Leslie’s Myspace.

(ps I don’t know if she remembers this but Paps and I totally made that “if we’re still single when we’re forty…” pact on Friday night outside of Bushwick Beauty Bar)

Ok, if you’re a zinemaker and/or zine enthusiast perhaps you’re familiar with the feeling that comes when, upon discovering zines for the first time, you are compelled to convince every person you have ever known to also make a zine. My favourite zines are personal zines and, like the writers I avidly follow because their personality comes through so strongly in their writing, there are similar ladies and gentlemen of my acquaintance for whom I feel the zine medium is particularly suited.

Tears in my Schooner: a guide on depressive aural indulgence by this years boy is the first zine by one such gentleman. At its simplest it is a compilation of the sixteen saddest songs in his life right now and why; a “manifesto for taking the time to fully indulge our emotions, both as a way through them and as a way of fully appreciating them.” And it is so beautifully laid out and the writing is so emotive and personal that I could rave about it all day. Suffice it to say that I’ve re-read it almost every day since I received it and probably will many many more times.

Hopefully there will be copies at Sticky [with mix cd attached] otherwise email thisyearsboy.zine [at] gmail [dot] com.

x panda

Dear readers,

This awesome package of zines from Nerf Jihad zines actually arrived on our figurative doorstep a while ago and have been sitting in our ‘To Blog’ pile for far too long. Matt has been writing Nerf Jihad since 2004 and is pretty well known round these parts. Each issue includes a mix of punk music/show reviews, some personal stories and, of course, his often suprisingly successful letter writing campaign to various celebrities, companies and government bodies. My personal favourite is the reply from Catriona Rowntree.

He’s up to issue 8 and can be found here. And can I just say extra kudos must be given for the Ghostbusters picture he included with the trades, absolutely made my afternoon.

x panda

Ok, I’ll be the first to admit it. The fetus and I have been getting so sandblasted lately with all these zine fairs and school work and chocolate holidays that we completely forgot to update about some of the excellent zine trades we have been receiving.

So, first things first.

Erik and Laura-Marie Magazine #44

This chunky A5 zine from Sacramento combines zine and book reviews with poetry, writings about religion and personal history. It was a lovely read and definitely inspired us to try and find some of the zines she talks about (especially since she mentions Katie Haegele who traded us White Elephants!) For more, click on her blog or email her at robotmad[at]gmail[dot]com.

Feels Like Friday #9

Another issue from Sydney zinester Ivana Stab! In her words, writings about “reality or lack thereof; boy(s); driving down the coast; identity through nationality; the usual”. As always, an awesome cut-and-paste perzine. Check out her blog or email ivanaforpresident[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Secret Diary of Imaginary Friends

This cute A5 art zine, courtesy of Dee Humidifier, is filled with black/white and coloured illustrations drawn over spring/summer 2008. To see more of Dee’s art check out We Make Zines and deviantART or email her at whatanarcissist[at]gmail[dot]com.

Fergus

We traded with Fergus after reading about her lovely zines on Flying Machine. These amazing, fabric covered A7 zines are packed full of alphabeticised goodness about clothes, favourite suburbs and more. Excellent for reading on buses, in bed or over tea. Find her on We Make Zines here.

And that’s all that’s fit to print. If you’d like to trade send your zine to PO Box 392 Newtown NSW 2042 Australia!

x Panda

That’s right its our 100th post, I guess that’s all I really need to say. Now on to business, we have got heaps of zine trades over the past week, but unfortunately I am not in possession of all them, so don’t feel slighted if I haven’t mentioned your zine, I will eventually.

Comparisons Between Humans & Robots

This zine by Susy Pow is exactly what the title suggests and it is a pleasant and reflective read. Susy runs Bird In the Hand Distro and you can also find her blog here. Lucky for all you online shopping savvy’s out there you can buy her zine here at her online distro shop. Susy is also hosting an event for Dave Roche when he comes to Sydney, so make sure you check that out too.

Green and Blue Rhymes

This zine is by Emma (one half of bowerbird blues) and it is refreshing mini zine bursting with clever poems and pictures. Emma has written many delightful zines such as SFY (sorry for yourself), One dollar zine, and also collaborated with Helen to make Cloud Television. If you were ever in need of a hug her zines would be the perfect substitute. You’ll be able to get yours hands on this zine by e-mailing Emma (emmazone[at]yahoo.com) or by hanging out until the Adelaide Zine Fair or the MCA Zine Fair.

She Loves Me Issue 2

We received two zines Andrew, a Canberra based zine maker. She Loves Me Issue 2 zine is a A-Z collaborative zine, filled with illustrations and photos. The other zine Andrew sent has a similar feel to She Loves Me but the artwork and photos are done solely by Andrew. You can find his blog here. (We didn’t receive a note or a return address so if you would like a trade back you’ll have to send us your details!)

That is it for zine trades for now
Fetus

We got an awesome zine trade from Zina Kook and Ms AM is all about living on Cleveland street in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale. This A5 colour zine is full of photos and hilarious musings of strange and wonderful things these two gals have seen while living this colourful street. 

Want to get your hands on a copy, e-mail Zina Kook  at kookzine[at]hotmail.com

Thanks for the trade ladies! We will send something back soon.

Want to trade? Send your zine to:
Tiny Paper Hearts
P.O. Box 392
Newtown, NSW, 2042
Australia

On a different note, we will be updating a lot this week with stuff that is coming up so keep your eye on our blog.
Tanks!
Fetus

Ok, so a morning spent sitting around in my pajamas eating oreos and soyaccino for breakfast [again] was perhaps not the best way to arrange to get to the bus stop in time to catch the bus to work today. But luckily I had a scant two minutes to spare so I ducked into the cold, dark room that houses our PO Box and prepared myself for the worst – junk mail and the faint stench of despair.

But despair not fair readers, we have received the loveliest zine trade from Emma over at Flying Machine.

Fairytales in the Supermarket is an A-Z of a decade of shitty jobs and whilst you know I’m the strong and silent type not usually prone to gush, I must make an exception in this case since it made me smile and wince in recognition the entire bus ride to my equally crappy job. El feto has not read it yet but since we’ve recently undergone radical medical treatement to combine our DNA I can confidently say that she gives it two thumbs up as well. Fine holiday fun.

That’s all kids,

Comrade Panda

I’ll tell you something for nothing, I’d forgotten we even had a mail box devoted to receiving zines. I think the heat has cooked my tiny brains. Anyhoo, listen to me as I tell you about Joshua Crowley’s new zine(s). Joshua is part of the super-zine-collab Cardboard Collective and those guys are always making stuff, but this time Joshua is stepping out on his own to bring you Life, Love and Death. This zine is broken up into 3 little zines, as you see below, about Life, Love and Death. Not only are these a great read they are packaged and put together in such a nifty clever way.

You’re wondering how to get your hands on these aren’t you? Well I would say scope out the next zine fair that happening around town.

Stay cool
Fetus

First zine trade of the year and its a gem!

Worn no. 7

Worn fashion journal is an amazing publication that is grown in Toronto. Worn is different from all the the magazines around as it doesn’t follow the trends of the season, instead it looks at fashion past, present and future.

Worn hasn’t missed the fact that there are scads of fashion magazines out there. But we feel something is missing: opinion and intelligent commentary that’s untainted by advertisers’ demands.

This issue has a article on the history of spandex, an informative piece on sunscreen and a good old fashioned Promenade!
Check out their website Worn Fashion Journal.

I can’t say my heart didn’t skip a little when I poured out the contents of the package from Popdrome Service, as group of three zinemakers from Japan. You can see below we got quite a good stash of zines AND these amazing little felt badges, two of which are not pictured since we are already wearing them everywhere.

Although the three zines are written in Japanese, it didn’t stop us from enjoying the flow of photos, drawings and comics and picking out the odd english word! And since it just so happens that I am able to read japanese in my dreams, I will decipher them later (ok, I can’t, but I have a brother who speaks japanese and we are going to enlist him to read them to us.)

If you want to trade with these awesome kids then you should either mosey on over to their WE MAKE ZINES page and send them a message or check out their website here.

That’s it! All people who have traded with us over the past weeks should be getting some zines in their letter box this week, sorry for being slow pokes.

Another week, another bundle of zines to devour.

Little Yellow Umbrella

A heart felt perzine written by The Lorax who writes about her memories of her father and a little umbrella he once bought her which remains a symbol and reminder of her relationship with her father. This is a very honest, bitter sweet little zine complete with drawings and nostalgic photos of her childhood.

Boring As Batshit

This zine was also sent by The Lorax who is one of the contributors of Boring as Batshit. This zine is by three Macquarie Uni students who joined together to make a zine about doodling. Check out their blog here.

Book Art

This art zine was sent to us by Emma Stronach and includes 16 colour pages of her original artworks. She uses a variety of materials to complete her collaged artworks and include reappropriated books and music text.
Like us she’s a bit of a craftster, check out her creatures at her etsy
and her blog here.

Thanks kids, a big bundle of trades are being sent right back at you this week!

We have been spoiled rotten with zine trades this week, here’s the a new batch of zines from zinemaker Missy Kulik. Missy is from Athens in Georgia, US. She writes and draws about imaginary sweets, her super cat Nilla, thrift store finds, dork lifestyle and more.

These zines are incredibly cute and so great to read, they just bring an enormous smile to your face. They are imaginative and clever with a comic style to them. Missy is also a crafty lady, you should check out her etsy, its full of badges, stickers, note pads, necklaces, and a mountain of zines she has made as well as her first self published book.

Missy reminds me so much of our own Miss Helen, I almost think their were twins separate at birth.

Also Missy is part of a gruesome crafting twosome much like Amanda and I. Check out these gals at their blog Rancho Cocoa.

Our mail box has been getting a healthy work out this past week and I’ve decided to take some time out from boiling water to write about two more zines that have arrived in our merry little land of zines.

Feels Like Friday #8 by Ivana Stab

What!? Issue 8 already, this kid puts us to shame with her constant zine making. From her blog:
Sixteen quarter-sized pages of angst about me, uni, me, employment, me, national identity, me, boy(s) & me. To get your hands on a copy, email ivanaforpresident[at]hotmail.com. It is $2 or a trade for your zine/a mixtape/something else.

I’ve been reading Ivana’s zines for a while now and they just seem to get better and better. Check out her blog Unclean, a libertine which she updates regularly.
Ivana is also one half of TEETH (the other half is Annie Ly).

Baboon Roars zine#2

The mysterious Baboon Roars zine has made another appearance in our PO box, this time with poetry, tales of snow, loneliness and more. We still don’t know the identity or identities of the zinemaker(s), which means we can’t send them anything back! Perhaps Baboon Roars will reveal themselves at a zine fair or picnic soon. I’ve drawn a picture of some grumps reading Baboon Roars zine below since we can’t trade you back.

Keep sending your zines!

Well we’ve been a bit slack on our zine trade blogging of late but we have been getting some great zines sent to us, local and international. Check them out below.

White Elephant was sent to us by Katie who runs a zine distro called The La la Theory. We first read one of Katies zines last year White Blackbirds which a friend got for us from Sticky, then we found Katie on We Make Zines so naturally we had to trade some zines with her.

White Elephants is all about the yard sales Katie and her mother visited during the spring and summer 2006, highlighting the treasures she found, the characters she met and much more. Amanda and I really enjoyed this zine because we both love that feeling of stumbling across treasures in other peoples ‘junk.’

Katie also has an Etsy where you can buy her zines. And I notice that she has made White Elephants 2, a zine about 2008 yard sales which we will have to get our hands on too!

Minutiae No. 1 – Rose City Summer Zine is by Sprouthead (Aijung) who lives in Portland. We actually bought this one of etsy, (which by the way has some many great zines on there.) This zine consists of beautiful illustration and little stories about the things the she saw during the summer and its a really refreshing zine.

Check out her lovely website here.

Raining in my room is a zine by a local zinemaker named Emma who blogs at Flying Machine.

The zine is about a day spent making a zine on a cold rainy day, listening to the Temptations as opposed to doing less appetizing things such as job hunting. The zine is filled with lovely cut and paste drawings, beautiful stories, and even talks about the no-eared cat that I also wrote about in my last zine.

Contact Emma at her blog or by writing to:
Flying Machine Zine Distribution
PO Box 4, Enmore Rd,
NSW, 2042,
Australia.

Thanks for all the trades!
And keep ‘em coming!

Dear readers,

Another zine trade from our friends over at Cardboard Collective! The fetus and I were checking our PO Box, resigned to the fact that we would only find junk mail and dust bunnies when lo and behold, we discovered an envelope stuffed with cardboard goodies. Each issue contained a double-sided fold-out A3 sheet with writings, collage, drawings and more from this talented bunch. To get in contact with them to contribute or trade email cardboardcollective[at]gmail.com

Thanks guys, a package is being sent out today!

If you would like to trade zines with Tiny Paper Hearts send your writings to:

PO Box 392
Newtown NSW 2042

x panda

This is just a few of the zines I’ve collected. I stupidly didn’t attend TINA last weekend and am now feeling like I have missed out… BIG TIME! Look at my addiction and pity me. I’m blatantly going to put it out there and say…

SWAP ZINES WITH ME!

If you would like to swap your zine or zines with KooK, visit the Contact page and email me your mailing address. I will gladly trade a copy of Kook Issue 1 and 2 while stocks last. Get in quick before I can’t find any more stashed somewhere strange in the house!

I just wanted to add my two cents to our experience at T.I.N.A. 2008. I have to say that it was one of the most friendliest, busiest zine fairs I’ve been to since we started last year and I was so glad that we swapped so many zines, with first timers and old hands alike (and a shout out to the lovely girl who traded our zines for a choc-mint vegan cupcake. Delicious!) . We got the inevitable question about ‘What are zines’ and I don’t know about the fetus but I was at a bit of a loss how to answer it. One of the most important parts of understanding zines is to first open and read them. When we got home from T.I.N.A. on Sunday night I couldn’t help but start reading the ones that we had traded, exhaustion be damned. There was an amazing mix – perzines, political zines, poems, comics, graphic zines, university publications and collective magazines. One of the best parts of trading zines is that a connection is formed between you and the writer/illustrator/poet, encouraging you to think about your own writing/drawing in a completely non-competitive way. Reading through these zines, I didn’t feel depressed about my own writing or intimidated by people who been making zines for longer – I felt motivated to improve my zines and happy in the knowledge that when I make the next issue there will be people willing to trade.

x panda

After only getting an hours sleep the night before T.I.N.A Zine Fair I’m pretty happy to be writing this blog the day after it, in bed, somewhat rested. The zine fair was pretty amazing, so many zines and zine makers! We had a really busy day and between Amanda and I we sold and traded over 100 zines! So thank you to all who came and traded and bought our zines it was a really great day.

If you would like to trade zines with us or write to us you can send mail to:
Tiny paper hearts
P.O. Box 392
NEWTOWN, 2042
NSW, AUSTRALIA

We got some new zine trades!

Choking on Sick Zine Issue #1

Two pages into this zine, after two rat references and a giant squid I was hooked! If you like bizarre, sadistic humour (thats a straight up compliment!) and hilarious drawings and musings to pass the time then you should get your hands on Choking on Sick Zine.

Check out Choking on Sick Myspace
Or contact: msb.lcs[at]gmail.com

The Peach Trees Fanzine, Don’t create, don’t rebel & Blixa: Spring

We received a bounty of juicy zines from Chiara in the mail. The Peach Trees Issue #5 is a fanzine complete with interviews & reviews of the band. Don’t Create, Don’t Rebel is also a fanzine covering lots of different bands, rants and raves and musings. And the last zine in the mix couldn’t have come at a better time and was a cute pocket sized zine about Spring, including spring wardrobe staples and a lovely spring inspired music mix. These zines have a really nice personal quality to them, cute drawings and were really enjoyable and easy to read.

Get in contact with Chiara for trades:
blixazines[at]hotmail.com
peachtreesfanzine[at]hotmail.com

Thanks for the zines and we will return some zines asap.

If you want to trade with us send mail to:
TINY PAPER HEARTS
P.O. Box 392
NEWTOWN, 2042, NSW, AU

- Fetus

We got a sweet little package from Dee Humidifier with two A5 b/w zines. The zines are a flourish a illustration, photography, mixtapes, band interviews, poetry and much more!


The first issue of the zine actually came with one of those fortune games we used to play when we were younger, naturally I couldn’t resist doing it and showing you all.

Looks like I’m having 5 kids to my cat!

Website:
www.myspace.com/deehumidifier
deehumidifier.deviantart.com

Thanks so much for sending your zines to us and we will be sending some to you soon!

Wanna trade with us?
Send your zines to:

Tiny Paper Hearts
P.O. Box 392
Newtown, 2042
Nsw, AUSTRALIA

Kook Zine: Issues 1 & 2

We received two delightful issues of Kook Zine in the mail this week. This zine was created by Zina kook and with its second issue Zina and the Kook team deliever a handsome glossy A4 zine complete with segments from the hilarious unknown chef Mandy Flombay, tanning tips and even a Kook Centrefold and much more.

Contact:
E-mail: kookzine[at]hotmail.com
Visit www.myspace.com/kookzine

Lolita Zine Issue 2

This gorgeous A5 loose leaf zine arrived to us from America from Jemnifur! Issue 2 of Lolita zine is all about pandas includes important topics such as panda fashion, food, make-up how to’s as well as a sweet coloured panda mask for all those who wish they could animorph into a panda. Check out Jemnifur’s blog which she updates regularly with craft and recipes! To get your hands on the zine check out her etsy online store, she also trades!

Yo ho diablo, here are some of the zines we have collected from this years zine fairs.

Cloud Television

This lovely little A6 zine is full of poetry by Emma Markala and and a mix of black/white and colour illustrations by Helen Nehill. They also have another collaboration called Dollar Zine

Contact:

emmazone [at] yahoo.com

h.nehill [at] hotmail.com

Check out Bower Bird Blues blog spot for more info.

Mixtape Baby

This serial A6 mixtape zine by Daniel is up to its second issue and includes guides on how to make mixtapes, a variety of themed mixtape lists and other musical musings. He also writes Sugar, Sugar with Annabelle – an A to Z of childhood foods.

Cardboard Collective

There are currently four issues of this A5 collaborative zine which is a mix of illustrations, writings, photos and more. Each issue has an individually stencilled cardboard cover to house its precious pages and it’s a really nice handmade touch.

Contact:

cardboardcollective [at] gmail.com

The Ghost of Soy Mocha and Friends

This once-off A5 zine written and illustrated by Ben is a collection of comic strips including the flava flav pigeon and Sonic in a way you’ve never seen before.

Contact:

gamon [at] hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/lilboidie

Spilled Ink

This gruesomely funny zine is mainly written and illustrated by Dom and Sebastian (with occasional guest stars), Spilled Ink is an A5 zine up to issue #4 and includes comic strips, illustrations and the occasional letter to Nat Bass. To check out more of their stuff click on their website for photo-comics, prints and collaborative folding men.

Contact:

cryingoverspilledink [at] hotmail.com

www.spilledink.com

Where to find?

Available at Paint it Black in Newtown and at your local Sydney zine fair.

Feels Like Friday

Written by Ivana Stab, Feels Like Friday is up to issue #6 and is an A6 perzine of both non-fiction writings that deal with suburban angst and issues of identity mixed in with carefully chosen song lyrics and non-fiction poetry and stories. She is also one half of TEETH with Annie Ly.
Contact:

ivanaforpresident [at] hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/ivanastab

>>END ZINE TRANSMISSION<<

That’s it for now. And if you are thinking “Damn, those bitches didn’t write about my zine!” never fear (and wash out your mouth with soap, potty mouth) because we will eventually get around to writing about all the zines we have collected this year.

Don’t forget to trade zines with us via snail mail:

Tiny Paper Hearts

P.O. Box 392

Newtown NSW 2042

Australia

First zine trade from the mysterious Baboon Roars! We really enjoyed this surprise zine in our PO Box, it had a really honest account of how the zine scene can be like for people like us who can find it a little overwhelming sometimes. This is the first issue of the zine and we hope to see more soon.

But… we aren’t sure whether the email address was cut off or if you would like to remain anonymous. If you would like a return package (i.e. some of our zines) or if you’d like your website/blog/etc linked on our blog please email us!

Keep the zines coming!