Dear creative Reader

If you've followed my work for a while, you've probably seen little folded books appear here and there among my art journals. Zines have always been part of my creative practice. They have accompanied sketchbooks, seasonal projects, and botanical explorations for years, offering a different way to tell stories with paper.

Recently, I've found myself returning to them more intentionally, exploring new folds and creating floral zines that complement my art journals rather than replace them. Today, I thought I'd share a little more about why I love this format so much.

What exactly is a zine?

Traditionally, a zine is a small, handmade booklet created by folding, stapling, or stitching multiple sheets of paper together. Foldable books are often made from a single sheet of paper using clever folds (and sometimes a few cuts).

For me, though, there really isn't much of a distinction. Whether a little book is folded from one sheet or assembled from several pages, I simply think of it as a zine—a small, creative space for ideas, illustrations, writing, collage, and storytelling.

One of the things I love most about these miniature books is how approachable they feel. They invite experimentation without the pressure of filling a full journal spread, making them the perfect place to explore a single flower, a season, or a creative idea.

Exploring new folds

One of my favorite projects last year was creating ten floral zines alongside my 100 Days of Ink Flowers project. As I filled each one, I experimented with different folding structures and discovered how much the format itself could become part of the storytelling.

Because so many people were curious about the folds, I created two tutorial videos (Part 1 & Part 2) sharing ten different zine-folding techniques—five in each video. Each fold offers a completely different experience. Some unfold into large compositions, others reveal hidden pages, and some transform as you open them. It's amazing how much creativity can fit inside a single sheet of paper.

A complete floral zine tutorial

After sharing numerous folding ideas, I wanted to demonstrate how I create one of these little books from start to finish. In my latest tutorial, I make a floral zine inspired by magnolias, combining watercolor, collage, botanical imagery, and journal prompts into a miniature book. Rather than focusing only on the folding, I share my entire creative process—from planning the zine to finishing the pages.

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Whether you tuck your finished zine into an art journal, give it to a friend, or keep it as a tiny creative keepsake, I hope it inspires you to explore this wonderfully versatile format.

Thank you for being here and for following along with these floral explorations. I can't wait to share more zines with you in the future.

Until next time,