It's Zine Fest time!

Well, for about seven months straight I've devoted most of my "free time" to planning The Chicago Zine Fest, which takes place THIS FRIDAY and SATURDAY.

This year I'm a little less scared and just as excited about the weekend of festivities!

Check out this line up!

Then there is a super fun (in)Formal dance after party Saturday night in an outerspace theme.

These are the people I've been spending hours and hours with planning, fundraising, emailing, food making, errand running and just over all hanging out with

That's Ramsey, Jen, Me, Carrie and Johnny and NEIL is taking the picture--he's the one who gave us all kazoos.

They're all amazing and awesome.

This is the map I drew of Chicago for the program that will be at all the events Friday and Saturday:

For Zine Fest--Ramsey and myself are putting out a split comic with Liz Prince and Kettner. It's about OkCupid.

Here's a sneak peak of one of my comics:

So excited! Hope everyone gets here safe, thanks for all your support!

Go Dolphins.

Winter Hibernation

It's officially that part of winter where it feels like it's never going to end.

I did a really fun reading last weekend at The Beauty Bar which I forgot to post about, whoops. It was a reading series hosted by Two With Water a really awesome literary magazine my old roommate Amy helps run.

We sold out tables for the Zine Fest already! We are still trying to free up some space so there's a waiting list we're asking people to sign up to be on just in case! It's been kind of whirlwind response, which is so amazing.

Here's a flyer I made for an upcoming fundraiser event.

I'm very excited to be showing Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day, kind of a dream come true of mine.

The 64th st. print shop is coming along and we tested out working the smaller press last weekend and worked out some kinks. Tomorrow is a type sorting event that Clare organized. It will be nice to see who else is interested in the project and figure some things out.

Happy to be writing again, happy to be drawing.

Here's a comic about crushes, ah winter.

Turn and Face the Strange

Big News is registration for the Chicago Zine Fest is now open!

We're anticipating being able to sell out 100 tables this year--pretty crazy.

Also have some big name special guests including Aaron Cometbus, Al Burian, Cindy Crabb, Anne Elizabeth Moore, John Porcellino, Lilli Carre, Jeffrey Brown, and more!

It's going to be an awesome time!

Please visit our website and check out our new artwork done by the amazing Edie Fake

http://www.chicagozinefest.org/

I'm also taking on a new project down at the 64th Street Print Shop, which is basically an abandoned print shop funded by U of C that myself and 3 other girls from my letterpress class have decided to start up again. We went down last Wednesday to scope it out and do some cleaning. It's going to take a lot of work but I think we can get it up and running soon. Here's a photo Elizabeth snapped after moving all the drawers of type and stacking them in the shelving. Moving drawers of type around is definitely going to help my triceps!

I also became a very proud and happy Aunt the day after Thanksgiving.

Here's a comic about that..sort of...

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

End of November, already.

This past week was my last week of my letterpress class. The first day of class our teacher Pamela told us that a book for a final project was probably a little much to try for. Of course in my head I'm thinking, "Noooo problem!" I quickly discovered she was probably right. But none the less here it is--my tiny book final letterpress project:

I'm happy with how it came out. If you would like one, I'm selling them for two dollars. Please email me.

Also, the slug prints I posted before are now available on my fabulous etsy page!

Exciting Exciting News Part 1: Chicago Zine Fest has announced it's dates March 25th and 26th! and will happen at the Conoway Student Center at Columbia College again. I am so excited about the programming and actual event, I can't wait until March. I'll share information soon, just know it's going to be AWESOME.

And Exciting Exciting News Part 2: I'm going to be an aunt probably within this week!!! Here is a comic about it. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Staying in on a Friday Night

Spending the night in, catching up on so many projects and things I've wanted to do all week is nice. Not having my computer all week due to it breaking (again!) means lots of stuff to get done on the internets. Also, a new episode of Glee to watch! This is what I did while I watched Glee:

I've been meaning to have a tabling tablecloth for a long time now, but am always so behind before shows that I don't get around to it.

Tomorrow is the Milwaukee Zine Fest!!!

Come, if you are in the area!

My friend Shannon asked me to be a part of a "punk house" zine she's putting out specifically for the Milwaukee Zine Fest.

Here's my comic contribution:

Excited to see it all together!

Pressing it all Out

I've been taking a letterpress class for the first time ever, which has been so exciting and great! I totally love it and love the process of placing each letter and space into place.

Our first assignment was to do some wood type and metal type on one page with a quote or definition. I did a Frank O'Hara quote from my favorite poem of his "Having a Coke with You."

We also did images by doing linocuts and then setting them up on the printing press as well. This was my favorite thing we did and mostly what I'm doing for my big final project. I did a linocut of a page from my new mini-comic bananaslug! I will have some of these for sale in Milwaukee next weekend. I did 3 separate runs in three different colors.

As mentioned, next weekend already is the Milwaukee Zine Fest! Which holds a sentimental place in my heart since, not only was it my first zine fest I tabled at, it was also when we got the idea to start working on Chicago Zine Fest. Crazy it was only a year ago!

So I will be busy all weekend getting stuff made and put together for that.

Also, bananaslug! is up on my etsy now.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/leslieperrine

And here's a little comic I've had for a bit..