Nicole’s post below just reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to post about. A small British press called godhaven ink has reissued Hot Pantz, the DIY gynecology zine that’s been on the bookshelf of every savvy riot wiccan and herbal grrrl since it was first published in 1994. If there was one object I’d like to place lovingly in the hands of every woman I meet, it’s this guide to, as the authors put it, “knowing more about your cunt than your doctor does”. With herbal recipes for everything from treating STIs to brewing aphrodesiacs, it’s a well-researched, clearly-written, non-condescending booklet that has helped me, at least, feel like my “area” isn’t a foreign country that I have to learn a whole new language to visit.

I know it seems a bit funny to have to order it from overseas, but if you know a better way to get it please let me know. Ever since my local women’s resource centre got turned into a bougie clothing boutique (they have a few Keepers and Luna pads crammed in the back, just to twist the knife a bit), I’m at a bit of a loss. In conclusion, if there is a space near you where you can buy this kind of stuff, for heaven’s sake support it. And spread the word.

Ring in the new year with some good ol’ fashioned zine making, care of Cheryl Dobinson!
When: Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm, February 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 weeks)
Where: This Ain’t the Rosedale Library, 483 Church Street, Toronto
Cost: $80 per person, $60 for students/seniors/underemployed

In the DIY (do-it-yourself) tradition, this 4 week course is your chance to learn how to make your own zine. Well cover what a zine is, things to consider when creating one, layout, copying and putting your zine together, and distribution. Well also use creative and hands-on activities to help us explore and experience the joy of zines. Participants can work on their own personal zine project throughout the course and/or contribute to a group zine we make together. Basic tools and materials will be provided.

Week 1: Introduction to zines (what is a zine? types of zines, tools of the trade)
Week 2: Starting your own zine (your vision + practical considerations, what goes into making a zine)
Week 3: Getting it on paper (laying it all out, creating your flats, copying tips and tricks)
Week 4: Finishing touches (assembly, binding techniques, distribution)

Cheryl Dobinson joined Torontos DIY scene in 2002 when she started publishing the bisexual womens zine The Fence. With a print run of 300, The Fence is widely distributed (for a zine!) in Canada, the US and internationally. Her other creative passions include writing poetry, making buttons and weaving sacred rituals. One of her current goals is to recruit as many people as possible into the DIY revolution.

To register, call 416-929-9912 or visit This Ain’t the Rosedale Library at 483 Church St. Enrolment is limited to 12 participants. We regret the space is not wheelchair accessible.

Payment must be made in advance. Courses are 50% refundable in cases of illness or emergency.

Just a quick blog entry to let you know about two great workshops that are happening at The Toronto Women’s Bookstore next month:

JANUARY 2007 courses @ TWB
1. Bisexuality: Exploring the Issues with Cheryl Dobinson (Mondays)
2. Anthology Incubator: From Pitch to Print with instructor-facilitator Anna Camilleri (Tuesdays)

I’m big fans of both women, and the work of each have had major effects on the redefinition of the feminist community at large. Camilleri has been involved in a variety of fab femme projects and produced some of the finest anthologies investigating the queer femme identity, including Red Light: Superheroes, Saints and Sluts and Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity - why not learn the ins and outs of creating an anthology from the best? Dobinson is a bisexual writer, researcher and advocate. In October 2003 she began co-facilitating “Fluid” - a new group for bisexual, bi-curious, pansexual, genderqueer, questioning and other queer youth who don’t fit neatly into categories, through Toronto’s Supporting Our Youth community development initiative.

While I’m here, I also thought I’d mention that feminist press McGilligan Books is back with a vengeance this season, with three fantastic new releases that continue its mandate. Of particular note is Tara-Michelle Ziniuk’s Emergency Contact…

“Emergency Contact reckons with social, political and cultural violations of the body familial dysfunction, mental illness, poverty, addiction, gender and sexual politics, and romance gone awry.”

‘Tis the season for gender and sexual politics…

I’m beginning to get a sneaking suspicion that posting on any event outside Toronto on this board might be a little academic, so let this be my attempt to woo readers from outside the Big Smoke, specifically those in Montreal and surrounding areas. This Saturday is the fifth annual Expozine, Montreal’s yearly fair of all things stapled, photocopied, folded, bound, silkscreened, glued, BeDazzled, beglittered, hand-tinted, and read all over. Take a look at the website for info on where and when, and also for details on the fifth anniversary party taking place the night of.

I’ve been tabling at Expozine since it began in 2002, and it never fails to blow my mind (and empty my pockets). Not that it’s all fun and games - as my friend Angie so rightly pointed out, the zine fair basically takes people who don’t generally like being around other humans (hence the time spent hunched over photocopiers and wielding x-acto knives with mind-boggling precision) and shoves them into a room together for eight hours straight. Needless to say, some chaos ensues. But there’s always some amazing gems to be found amidst the jostling shoulders and sweaty palms. I’ll get back to you soon with my findings. In the meantime - Montrealers, bonne chance et bonne fete. And Torontonians, eat your hearts out - and then go write a zine about it. I’ll traydja for it.

Shameless friend and contributor Suzanne Sutherland has been working with a crew of volunteers to organize the Toronto Zine Library, which finally has a home. The collection of around 300 zines will be housed at the Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Ave.), where volunteers will be on hand to serve as zine librarians on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. You can visit the library on other days, too. The library is interested in acquiring more zines and volunteers, so if you’d like to contribute to the collection or join the fun, get in touch: torontozinelibrary at hotmail dot com.

In other zine-related news, Shameless will be at Hotel Canzine, a massive festival of zine and alt culture, at the Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen St. W) on Sunday, Oct. 29. The fest runs from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m., and we’ll be selling cheap magazines, subscriptions and packages of back issues. Admission is $5 and includes the latest issue of Broken Pencil magazine. See you then!

In case you haven’t yet tried stencilling as per the instructions on pages 36-37 of the most recent issue of Shameless because you can’t find freezer paper, which is something we had trouble with when we did the photo shoot for the article (yes, those are my fingers tracing letters and using the stencil brush!), check out the Toronto Craft Alert’s Ask Crafty answers from September 8th.

PS - We’d love to hear how your stencilling turns out!

A “fad,” an “idle threat,” a “great way to overcome writers block” and “a trial by deadline.”

I have to go ahead and recommend the 3-day novel writing contest
(September 2 - 4) to anyone that wants to get it together to produce a book-length manuscript. The idea is that you and hundreds of other writers hide away for Labour Day weekend and produce a literary gem. The winner receives a publishing contract and the runner up, $500.

One year, many moons ago, I signed up to become a shut-in for a long weekend and managed to squeeze out over a hundred pages for submission. Mind you, it was over one hundred very bad pages, but a book nonetheless, and the makings of my first novel.

The website suggests: … Take three deep breaths. Guzzle coffee, black or with sugar. Don’t punish yourself. Do that on Tuesday. Get back to work. Take phone off hook. Pull drapes. If you feel lonely an outcast you are. That manuscript is now your only friend, the only one who cares. Finish it. Let it have a life, even if you don’t. Bravo.

This year the registrations a bit pricey at $50.00, but they do offer group rates if you manage to bring in some fellow writers to enjoy the reclusive revelry. Besides, theres no glaring need to pay the fee to write the novel- you can always forgo the competition completely, simply participate without registration and challenge yourself to complete the literary task at hand.