From the Compost Heap header. A pencil style illustration of a compost heap with flowers and plants growing around it. A bee buzzes by and a white rabbit hops by.

  • Playing with Color

    While I wait for more books from the printer I am having fun with September’s zine. This month’s zine is an exploration of form and color.

    I’ve had this idea of photographing color curated objects for a few years, but my lighting has never been good enough to fulfill the vision. This scanner can do it! So I started with a bag of blue and green toys that my kid and I curated together two winters ago. (Yes, two YEARS. Sometimes you have to wait until you have the right tools.)

    First, I played around with my new scanner. It is MUCH better at scanning detail from dimensional objects than my old one. (See above.)

    Then, I experimented with my circle punches.

    Working with a punch introduces some limitations – it will only reach so far into the paper. Because I want them to line up in a certain way I need to make mini zines. Which is fun since I usually make half sheet zines.

    Once I knew the size of the zine I made a little frame of paper so I could compose a specific design for each spread. I also quickly learned that scanning as you go is much better because you can see what you’re doing and adjust the layout from below.

    Arranging and scanning the blue spread took over an hour. Green and yellow were around 40 minutes each.

    (Zines are definitely not “worth it” for an hour to profit ratio. But they have been an incredible tool for my creativity and my mental health.)

    There are three more colors to go. Then I need to do a series of test prints to adjust the vibrancy and test assembly (extra tricky with the circle punches.)

    If you’d like a copy of this zine I’ll be making a VERY limited quantity.

    So let me know if you want one!

    Tiny green objects, buttons, beads, and toys in all different shades piled on top of each other. Lime green seahorse, green crayon, and Lucky Care Bear are prominent.

    Because these zines are taking extra time to create I’ll be selling them for $15 each.

    UNLESS you’re a member of Snail Mail Club who always get the best price (currently $5 a month).

    If you’d like to join just send me an email.

    Tiny yellow objects, buttons, beads, and toys in all different shades piled on top of each other. Wooden number 8 block, yellow dump truck, and Pikachu are prominent.

    I may also make postcards or art prints. Would anyone be interested in those?

    Let me know!

    Cheers,

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    Read more: Playing with Color

  • Our book has gone to print! 🚀

    The finalized files are officially uploaded to our book printers!

    So the book is… done??

    It doesn’t feel real to me yet.

    My hands are going to be full for the next week or two while I’m in fulfillment mode. We ran into some final challenges with our hardcover printer who removed the $5 USPS shipping option. 😭

    So our best option is now to bulk order 100+ books with Fed Ex delivery, pack, and ship them to you myself. This does mean I can add the signed bookplates and tuck the preorders perks in with your orders. But the downside is that it will take a bit longer for the books to reach you.*

    Once the hardcover preorders are done I’ll start on the paperbacks. We’re using Amazon for paperbacks to keep costs low and make these books as accessible as possible. But if you order through my website Amazon does not get a cut.

    I’m really keen for everyone to understand this.

    If you haven’t ordered yet you can find both hardcover and paperback in my shop.

    BUY THE BOOK

    ZINES!!!

    This month’s zines are a collaboration with Gracie Klumpp to go with our picture book How it Feels to Me.

    Snail mail subscribers will get two zines – one to keep and one to give away.

    JOIN SNAIL MAIL CLUB

    If you want a single zine I’m always happy to trade. There’s also a printable version alongside our printable worksheets for all ages. Please spread the word if you know any teachers. You don’t have to buy the book to use the worksheets (although we’d love if you did.)

    Thanks to everyone who preordered and helped bring this project to life.

    We’ll be sharing more about the creative process once the books are fulfilled.

    I’m also considering a slow paced book tour. If you think I should travel where you live please let me know! 🐌

    Cheers,

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    FOOTNOTES

    * Since the hardcover books now have to be shipped twice. First to me, then packed, labeled, and shipped again to you.

    Read more: Our book has gone to print! 🚀

  • Queer Joy 🏳️‍🌈

    I came out as queer and nonbinary in 2023.

    Since then the world has become a much scarier place for me and for my friends in the queer community. I’ll share some resources at the bottom of this post for allies to lend their support this month.

    But this post isn’t for the allies.

    Two round pins and one pink butterfly patch. The first pin says, "The future is inclusive" and shows a wave and sunrise in pride flag colors. The second says they/them and a flare of rainbow coming off the letters.

    This one is for the queers.

    I’m stepping out the comfort zone of educating others to revel in some queer joy.

    This month I made a very playful and joyous zine. It celebrates queer artists whose work has impacted me in a profound way.

    Here are links to everything I mentioned inside it.

    I still have a few zines.

    I’m having fun sprinkling in sparkly rainbow stickers and sequins.

    But no glitter, I promise.

    If you’d like one let me know.

    I love trades (snail mail for snail mail) or you can buy a copy for $5 via Venmo.

    Allies… we need you.

    Your support matters. There’s a lot of work to do for queer & transgender people to feel safe and have access to everything they need.

    Find a way to support the community this month & beyond.

    Educate yourself.

    Shop queer.

    Donate to a non profit.

    Two round pins. One is a black pin with rainbow text that says, "Yeah, rights." The second is a pride flag pin.

    That’s all for this month! I’ll be back with book updates next week.

    Cheers,

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S

    Read more: Queer Joy 🏳️‍🌈

  • Meander

    Over the last decade I have been neuroqueering my creative practice. Setting aside neurotypical, able bodied, and capitalist expectations for consistency, branding, and profit like the ill fitting shoes they are.*

    Looking back, the times in my life I was rigidly consistent I was run deeply outside my own capacity, which over time took a toll on my health (both mental and physical.)

    Allowing my creative projects to fluctuate with my capacity, as a chronically ill autistic caregiver means that they ebb & flow. Seasons when my time and energetic capacity expand so does my creative practice. When I am experiencing a pain flare or focusing on caregiving challenges my projects shift into dormancy or ideation.

    Having many different mediums means there is always something to fit my capacity.

    I NEED ART TO LIVE.

    Art is how I self regulate, how I co-regulate with my child, and how I process lived experience and the world around me.

    Without art I go to a dark place.

    For years, I had inflexible routines and self imposed deadlines that did not serve me. But the newly discovered fluidity of my creative ecosystem has allowed me to flourish in unexpected ways.

    This meander map is based on my 2025 Artist’s Log which tracked the time spent on each creative project over the course of the year.

    These undulating ribbons represent the four main streams of creativity I pursued in 2025.

    Zine shows a meander map of two overlapping lines in the form of a river both yellow and green. The lines ebb and flow across the folded page. Typed text reads Temporal analyisis meander map creative ecosystem Sarah Shotts 2025. The diagram is dated Jan to Dec from top to bottom. The horizontal scale is dormant, ideation, progress, and danger zone. Both meanders dance toward danger zone in autumn.

    Yellow: visual art

    Green: self publishing and writing

    Zine shows a meander map of two overlapping lines in the form of a river both purple and blue. The narrow lines ebb and flow. Typed text reads Temporal analyisis meander map creative ecosystem Sarah Shotts 2025. The diagram is dated Jan to Dec from top to bottom. The horizontal scale is dormant, ideation, progress, and danger zone. Blue dances close to danger zone in spring, but otherwise meanders are narrow and only reach the middle of the page.

    Blue: redesigning website & blogging

    Purple: zines

    The process of crafting these prints took several months. Calculating stats, making a graph, drafting the meanders, testing printmaking techniques, paper & inks, creating collagraph plates with unraveling cotton twine, and printing each plate onto wet paper using the Provisional Press.

    The prints were digitally combined for the zine cover and overlaid with a key on transparent vellum. This layer can be removed to display the zine as a diptych. The zine was hand typed on my 1950s Smith-Corona typewriter.

    The concept and color palette were inspired by the meander maps of geologist and cartographer Harold Fisk.

    The above text is from February’s zine. If you’d like a copy you can subscribe for $5 a month or buy a single zine in my shop.

    Here’s a peek at how the layers work together with the transparency.

    I’m also sending original prints to everyone on the $10 art collector tier.

    Here’s a peek at how the prints are coming out (ignore the buckled untrimmed paper). They will all be flattened, signed, and numbered. Each print is unique. Remaining prints will be added to my shop, and will be priced at $65.

    Collagraph print of a sage green river meander
    Collagraph print of a narrow blue river meander
    Collagraph print of a golden yellow river meander
    Collagraph print of a light purple river meander

    Collagraph is a printmaking process I learned in university. It feels good to return to it after so much time. I shared more about the process (along with a few other test prints) on the blog a few weeks ago.

    Test prints and collograph plates of a meandering river with blue ink

    Thank You

    To everyone who sent kind messages and preordered books after last week’s post about illustrating neurodivergence. Gracie & I really appreciate you and very excited to get this picture book into your hands.

    If you’d like to preorder a limited edition hardcover you can do so here.

    (Paperbacks will be coming soon at a lower price point.)

    In Case You Missed It

    If you’re having a hard time with the state of the world I wrote this for you a couple weeks ago.

    There’s some good in the world Mr. Frodo. ⛰️

    Thanks for being here and supporting my art.

    I appreciate you.

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    footnotes

    * Neuroqueering is used here as the verb meaning, “the practice of queering (subverting, defying, disrupting, liberating oneself from) neuronormativity and heteronormativity simultaneously” as coined by Nick Walker Ph. D.

    Read more: Meander

  • Zine & Art Unboxing

    Zines & Poetry Print from A. Wilder

    Art for Joy Club by Juliana Naufel & Caleb Novell

    Friendship & Ghost Zines from Hanna Keiner

    Oh Happy Dani Zines, Stickers & Mail Club

    Art & Zines from Jocelyn Mathewes

    Mail Blog by Cortney Cassidy

    Postcards for Rewilding the Artist Field Guide by Gaia Redgrave, “In this hands-on field guide, artist Gaia Redgrave shares her Rewilding Journey as a neurodivergent, disabled person.”

    Monarch Zine from Melissa Dettloff

    Micro Zines by Toaster Poster 15

    Type Zine from Mitchell Volk

    Open Call Zine from Impractical Labor in Service of the Speculative Arts (ILSSA)

    Michigan State University Star Charts

    Celebrating Slowness Newsletter Zine by Kelley Clink

    Newsletter by The Luddite Club

    Wizard Stickers by Blaise Bats

    Laurel Schwulst Sense to Sense Artist Book

    Read more: Zine & Art Unboxing

  • Boundaries Zine

    A few years ago I wrote a post about neurodivergent boundaries. I had the idea to type it up into a zine and ended up completely re-writing it. I’m making this one available as a digital download. Feel free to print copies and give them away (just don’t charge for them.)

    download

    If you’d prefer to buy a physical copy you can do so here or join my zine subscription before the end of November.

    Open airmail envelope with blue and green stripes
    Read more: Boundaries Zine

  • “How to Make a Zine” ✂️

    Black and white photograph of Make a Zine zine using vintage text and an illustrated pointing hand. Visible text reads: What is a zine? A zine is a handmade magazine. Usually about a specific topic. Say Something. Share it. You can share physical or digital copie. Post on a blog or make photocopies to trade or sell. Leave copies in little free libraries or send to zine archives.

    I made this zine for the NWA Maker Faire earlier this month. It’s a single sheet monochromatic zine that tells you how to get started if you’re brand new to zines.

    You can download a copy and print your own here.

    If you’d rather order a copy they are also stocked in my shop.

    August zine subscribers will be receiving a copy of How to Make a Zine along with September’s Hope zine. Thanks for your patience while I took compassionate leave last month.

    Read more: “How to Make a Zine” ✂️

  • Free Printable – “How to Make a Zine”

    Share far & wide to forge a new generation of zinesters.

    You’re free to share digitally or print your own copies to give away.

    Download

    This zine is designed to be printed double sided on US Letter paper and folded in half.

    Every printer is different so you’ll have to investigate how to print double sided on yours.

    If you’d rather order a copy from me I have several zines in my shop.

    Read more: Free Printable – “How to Make a Zine”

  • Hope Zine

    Thanks to everyone who contributed their art and words to this issue.

    Last month we had a death in the family and I took compassionate leave. I’ve been planning to do an annual collaborative zine so I opened up submissions to my newsletter subscribers.

    Artists are credited below. The cover photograph and stamped letters are my own.

    Half page zine with stamped letterpress title: Hope. A photograph of a delicate dried yellow leaf stem lays across the cover.
    Sunset watercolor painting with red, yellow and blue across from p poem. Sunset Walk To Holy Island After Megan Fernandes Late May. The damp North-East. Honeyed sun coming to rest along the sea bed. Sapphire skies impasto dried, supported by clustered clouds. Light curling around my heart, along with the galumping cries of grey seals gathering - gathering with light in my heart. dr.sheree mack

    dr. sheree mack (UK)

    livingwildstudios.com

    Nicole Madonna (Pennsylvania, USA)

    IG @nikkymadonna

    Illustration of a shovel hovering above ground with a red ribbow around it reads: Dig deep and trust there is something worth finding. Across the page is text: Growing up we always used to wish on seeds because when they blew in the wind they would go to the fairies to make the wish come true. At some point when I was little I thought the seeds were fairies. Either way, seeing them now still makes me feel hopeful because it feels like a chance for something new. And a colored pencil illustration of a closed dandelion seed head.

    Gracie Klumpp (Maine, USA)

    gracieklumpp.com

    Ashley Smart (San Francisco, CA)

    IG @questioninglines

    Blue and pink texture fill the left page in an abstract artwork. The right is a poem. The Table A woman puts her hopes on the table The horizon goes next to her keys A dash of lemon, a squeeze of lime A first German vowel She puts on the people she has loved The contours of a map On goes the pencils and books she used earlier in the day She catches a glimpse of the sun And that goes next to the warmth of the ocean current She puts on a bun and some honey Some fresh tea from the pot She sits next to a window, next to an oak tree Her hopes came back As the blackbird sings

    Emma Del Ray (South Carolina, USA)

    emmadelrey.substack.com

    Dionne Lackey (Edinburgh, Scotland)

    vivienstudio.blog

    Sticker laying on back of zine depicts a drawing of an inch worm. It says seasons change an inch at a time. The zine itself says Kindle Curiosity Zine. sarahshotts.com

    Devon Bennett (Colorado, USA)

    pencilsnparsley.com

    Because of the collaborative nature of this zine this is a limited run only available for zine subscribers during the month of September.

    It will not be added to my shop.

    Read more: Hope Zine

  • Maker Faire, Autism & New Books

    Maker Fair Check In

    Last weekend I ran a “Make a Zine” booth at the NWA Maker Faire.

    I brought supplies to make zines and also had a display of zines and books for sale. Lots of kids made zines! Three teens. One friend I invited.

    And one college student who made this zine. (I have permission to share.)

    Collaged zine cover reads A thousand miles from nowhere. Handwritten text with dates marked out in red are overlaid with a red flower in a vase surrouned by a handcut white border.
    Handwritten text reads: Ever since I started attending college I knew I didn't fit. I felt like a different species." A collage of bright yellow daisy type flowers is overlaid with a six petaled flower in a peach color. Handwritten text continues: Even now, teachers learning my face first feels like a confirmation, I trample through grass and mushrooms carving desire paths in my wake to get around people moving differently to me. A collage shows a path and yellow flowers, a cup of tea, and a tall glass window with lots of overlapping lines. Text continues: I'm always trying to make space. Space is glued in from a magazine. Writing continues: in a place not meant for me and for a goal I don't yet have. A gift tag is glued in: with love from blank to you. A math equation that means a line rising (I had to ask) points to the back cover.
    Back cover. Handwriting reads: But at the end of the day I sit in chemistry class with a friend. A black and white silhouette of a figure before a window is glued to the page and below it a rainbow.

    Thanks to everyone who dropped by my table.

    The whole event was a great experience.

    Full transparency: I didn’t make any money. I lost about $27 based on the table fee alone. But the money goes to a good cause. I’ll participate again next year.*

    The Autism Spectrum

    The zine that was picked up most often during the Maker Faire was my Spectrum zine about neurodivergence. While our goverment leaders are spreading such harmful misinformation about autism it feels more important than ever to do the opposite.

    You can read (and share) the blog version of the zine here.

    Two zines and magazine clippings on a wooden desk with scissors, gluestick and pencils. Both zines titles are cut out magazine letters: Chaos Gardening with leaf rubbings and Spectrum with a hand painted watercolor color wheel.

    I have a few misprints of my Spectrum zine printed on the wrong paper. Completely readable, but the images bleed through more than I like.

    If you would like to distribute Spectrum zines (either publicly or to friends and family) let me know and I’ll send you a stack of misprints for free.

    You can also browse my library of resources for autism & neurodivergence.

    Whatever our world leaders say we are NOT a horror show.

    Our brains are sensitive, but powerful when given needed supports.

    What is a zine?

    I made a special zine for this event (and September’s zine subscribers) called “How to Make a Zine”.

    And a brand new blog post called What is a Zine? where I share resources on making zines and a peek at my own zine collection.

    Read it here.

    Zine collection spread on table. Visible titles include: Offline, Taking Care of Yourself as an Artist Publisher, Practicing Microresistance in Conversations, Tea, Reality Has, Motherlore, etc. Zines are various sizes and colors. Many have black sharpie on white paper appearance. Others are typed. The most visible are a bright neon risograph texture of seaweed (on the artist publisher book) and a composition book style (the microaggressions book.) Links to each zine are listed below.

    New paperbacks!

    I’ve been working for months on a second edition of Discover Your Creative Ecosystem. And the Maker Faire moved up my timeline.

    This second edition has minor edits (most notably an expanded section about purpose), my new headshot, updated bio, and they/them pronouns.

    These paperbacks are printed by 48 Hour Books and live in my closet. They will each be packaged and mailed by me personally. So I’m happy to sign and personalize them if you like.

    Buy a copy here.

    They are $15 – which is the lowest my book has ever been available for purchase.

    Tap below to watch me flip through the spacious full color interior.

    If you’ve bought the original edition I’ll be sending an ebook version of the updated text soon.

    There was a printing issue with the hardcovers, but I should have those back in stock before the end of the month.

    I’ll be updating Self Publishing 101 soon. I’ve nearly finished testing several Amazon alternatives. They all have pros and cons so which printer is best for your book depends on your goals and budget.

    An invitation to draw together. 🍉

    I’m sending this email earlier than usual because there’s an event this week I want you to know about. Hanna Keiner and Logan Juliano, PhD are hosting a meditative drawing livestream on Thursday, September 11 called Where Do You Draw the Line?

    The event is free, but everyone will be invited to take action from my Palestine Advocacy page in lieu of payment. (There are many ways to make a difference even if you don’t have the budget to contribute financially.)

    I’m really grateful for my advocacy library to be used in this way.

    If you host a similar event or link to it please let me know.

    Ink drawing by Hanna Keiner. Sinuous lines that evoke smoke or waves.
    Image Credit: Hanna Keiner

    That’s all for this week.

    Take care of yourselves. I appreciate you.

    Sarah signed with a swoopy S
    FOOTNOTES

    * I enjoyed meeting the other vendors so much I’ve logged in to Instagram after 8 months off social media. I’d like to be able to more closely follow local events and those I met at NWA Maker Faire. This is a trial period to see if curation, boundaries, and tweaking advertisements can make it a more positive experience. I much prefer RSS, but when there is to RSS feed for certain groups and events I am just missing out.

    Read more: Maker Faire, Autism & New Books