I’ve been thinking for years about writing a recipe book or starting a blog or publishing a poetry book or sending out mini monthly collage creative-dump zines to my friends via snail mail. I’m gonna try doing everything all of the above at the same time? And see what happens!
The only thing I knew for sure from the beginning was that I wanted a physical element – I wanted to create some sort of magazine/publication that I could distribute to friends, family, and my community. I appreciated the consistency and cleanness that designing something online and printing provided, but I liked the idea of a physical creation too much – something interactive you can really hold with your hands and feel where the tape holds everything together. (I also don’t have the funds for that!) So, if I was limited to only one creation, or maybe a few if I had enough supplies to recreate it, then I would need another way to distribute.
That’s where the idea of posting online really started coming into play. A blog would allow me to not only post my creations, but also speak to them. I could touch on the idea(s) behind them, as well as related content or ideas, and even link other resources/articles/books/songs/websites.
So, the plan was formed! Every month create one piece of physical mixed media (most likely a zine or scrapbook page) and at least one blog post (for sure one that relates to the physical media (with pictures of course!), potentially more depending on how soap boxy I’m feeling that month). Ideally each month will be connected somehow. I’m going to try to keep everything connected, but let’s be honest, this may very well just be stream of consciousness slush. Refined slush, but slush nonetheless. We shall see!
In all honesty, I’m figuring this out as I go, and maybe it will change along the way, but that’s okay! That’s what life does is change, and the best we can do is roll with it. So I’m rolling with this! And, in all honesty, I’m pretty frickin excited.
The main goal really is to push boundaries and f*** around and find out and have fun and create and do something with your hands and try things out even if they don’t work. And mixed media – taking random things that should probably be in a paper shredder and taping them to something else that should probably be in a recycling bin. Paint swatches, receipts, tea sachets, watercolor paper towels, torn book pages, magazine headers, political cartoons, polaroids, beads, wrapping paper, fabric, you name it. An amalgamation of found things.
Some of this will be for my community, be it local or digital, and some of this will simply be inspiration for those observing (sorry! I do wish to keep some things to myself/my loved ones, I’m sure you understand). Logistically it’s impossible to share everything with all of you. But I’m going to try my best!
If anyone besides me is in fact reading this (in which case hi!), then thank you for joining me on this journey. My goal is that you’ll get something out of this too. Or, at the very least, be entertained. Now, let’s do this thing!
Cheers!
Lacey
Amalgamation 