While poking around the Canzine vendors list, we were so exhilarated to see so many friends, new and old, signed up to table on the big day at the AGO on October 29th! One project that jumped out at us was Maybe Magick Zines, a project by Anne Marie Hood. What was so remarkable about them? Well, first of all, some of the zines are made of FELT! Yes, felt! You can imagine how we… felt! Ok, sorry. Anyway, Anne was kind enough to answer a few questions for us leading up to the zine fair.
1. Tell me about your zine distro/project/dreams. What are they all about, who are they for, and why did you start making them? Also tell me about making zines out of felt??
My Zine Dreams are to keep exploring unusual media mixtures and to use zine making to keep my eyes open. I started making things just a couple of years ago after taking a workshop at TCAF. I was terrified to even get in the line for the workshop!
But the instructor’s multimedia approach really inspired me to think in layers. My earliest pieces were a kind of journal of the week. The felt zine idea came from my love of literal humour. I had been reading a lot of perzines about feelings… then my dad got sick and I needed a way to process the experience. I’m planning a number of other felt zines. The next will be about the way flowers were used as a means to communicate emotions during Victorian times.
2. What’s your #1 survival tip for tabling at zine fairs?Since this is my first zine fest, I have no idea about surviving the tabling experience. Maybe I won’t!
3. Who are some other zine makers you are into or want to shout out?
I love Fiona Smyth’s work. And Y.O.U. Also the Toronto Zine Library has really helped me to see that everything has a place and a potential expression. I come from a background in dance and music where mistakes are a very bad thing. I love the zine world because here, mistakes can be the topic of choice!
Check out more from Maybe Magick Zines on their facebook page, and drop by Canzine to get your hands on these awesome zines!