This is a collection of patterns that would make a great bandana. They will all likely end up on Spoonflower. So far, just the second below is available: Blue Bandana Dodo on Red.
Flying Dodo Magazine is a reminder to think about the world beyond the edges of your screen, to have a little giggle, and to simply play. Join me in focusing my scattered projects on my next hyperfixation. Each quarterly issue will have a main theme (that hyperfixation) that I will apply to all my crazy (scattered) ideas, techniques I want to try, classes I want to take.
What is more inspiring than the natural world? I live in a glorious area surrounded by nature. We’ve got trees over 40 feet tall, a couple of ponds, and frogs coming out our ears. In a good year. We have identified at least 100 different species of plants, gastropods, and insects. And I can see most of that from my couch.
Little Oddball Angie
After an ADHD diagnosis at the ripe age of 40, lots of things began to make sense. I want to try all the arts and do all the crafts and learn all the things. And I never finish any of it!
While that is not entirely true, I did realize that I had been using anxiety as a way to accomplish my goals. That is not a healthy adaptation. So after struggling for a few years to relearn how to use my brain efficiently, I came upon this idea for a magazine.
It makes sense. I have broad experience in publishing, from self-publishing to large press, and an MFA from The Center for Cartoon Studies. I currently do graphic design freelance for First Second (a Macmillan imprint and one of the largest comic publishers in the country), with whom I am also the author of Maker Comics: Live Sustainably (2022, art by Les McClaine). For three years, I was a project manager at Chelsea Green Publishing. I still do freelance proofreading for them, and now also for Norton. In addition to my many self-published comics and other works of fiction, I ran four successful volumes of the natural science comic anthology Awesome ‘Possum, which entailed contributor management, editing, layout, and Kickstarter management to fund creator payments and print costs. I love bringing books and their ilk to life.
Space for Creating
I currently live in Whatcom County with my partner Abe and our corgi, Dr. Wallace Goobers. While I technically have a studio, it is mainly a storage room-cum-office. My little buddy Wally insists that I work in the living room so he can sit near me, either looking out the window or curled up right next to me on the couch. Too bad he doesn’t like all the shows I watch or he would hang out with me even more.
I’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, want to share your own creations, or simply want to share your own fascinating knowledge on the topic, my inbox is always open. Feel free to reach out, and let’s start a conversation. Your stories and questions are what keep my enthusiasm bubbling, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Is there an artistic technique or medium you’re curious about? A piece of nature you want to know more about? Let me know. Maybe I’ll explore it.