Aug. 6, 2026 | Cupboard Monthly

Elle Estérre

Aug 6

2 min read

From one side, to another: alleyway adventures in Olympia, WA.

It's that time. The asphalt is cooking, the grass is dry and we can feel the grit of summer, digging in.

It squeaks between your teeth like sand: thrown-out shoulders, skinned knees, oozing blisters, hot pink skin. Rotting fish melt into the riverbank. Seaside dumpsters bake in the sun.

Evidence of fun, evidence of being alive.

Happenings about town.

Making Stuff

My latest obsession is bleach painting. Don't try this at home, friends. Or if you do, wear a gas mask.

I have no clue what I'm doing, but that's OK. Bleach painting takes practice. I dilute my bleach with water (about a 1:1 ratio) in a glass jar and paint with synthetic brushes on 100% cotton shirts, which I gather during my Goodwill crawls. It's always nice to spark new life into old stuff.

Beware: If you paint with natural fiber brushes, they will disintegrate in front of your eyes! I know this because I am a learn-by-doing type of person...

What designs should I bleach paint next?

Writing Stuff

Hot Lead is Dead, a local zine press ran by my good friend, Anne, made a splash at Seattle Zine Fest 2026!

We had a ball tabling at the event alongside over 100 other zine connoisseurs of all themes and genres. I chatted with fellow poets, publishers and zine lovers from far and wide as they stopped to admire our hard work.

Hot tip: Zine events aren't just for discovering new independent literature; You can also find wicked keychains, print art and stickers for sale from local creatives. Goodies galore!

Thank you to Seattle Zine Fest Founder Sophie Amity Debs for hosting such an inspiring community event, and to Anne for inviting us contributors to represent alongside you.

Check out Seattle Zine Fest on Instagram