iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Honestly feels good to get back to my scatterbrained roots ✨

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

In true indie comics fashion, I finished drawing it this morning at the motel, sped to a fedex, got to the show a smiiiidge late and have been folding them at my table ✌️

1180

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Once again I’m at a comics show (A2CAF SIP in Ann Arbor) and I’m just now saying anything about it. Also I made a foldy mini for the first time in… decades????

A black and white minicomic called How to Grow Carrots. It has a recipe on the reverse side!

1555

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

JRho @jrho.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

The most absolutely massive flex from the state fair exhibit. This quilt is made of 40 years of prize ribbons from various categories at the New Mexico State Fair won by Carol St. Clair Johnson. She also won a prize for this quilt.

Massive quilt made of prize ribbons in blue, red, yellow, and white

Center square of quilt made of yellow and red ribbons and yellow rosettes

Block of quilt made of blue, yellow, red, and white ribbons. Ribbons state the year. Some have the prize winning object written on in marker

Carol St. Clair Johnson
born 1954; resides Albuquerque, NM

O Fair New Mexico-41 Fair Years
2023
satin ribbons

After unexpectedly winning her first blue ribbon for a sewn cape in 1981, Carol St. Clair Johnson developed an enduring love for the New Mexico State Fair. The quilt Fair New Mexico-41 Fair Years incorporates more than six hundred of the ribbons she won at the fair every subsequent year except 2020 (when the fair was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic). Johnson earned ribbons for needlework, knitting, crochet, pies, cookies, cakes, canning, jewelry, flowers, vegetables, and potted plants. The title of the quilt is a reference to the state song, and the design places the state's Zia sun symbol at the center. The quilt earned Johnson yet another ribbon: Best in Category (miscellaneous quilt) at the 2023 New Mexico State Fair.

Courtesy of Carol St. Clair Johnson

6861112009

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Surprising no one, I am a long-time Vinnie Puh fan

0435

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

What kinda stuff have you been up to? (Plus bonus whorled milkweed)

120

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Oh y’know, so many plants! Here’s some pics from my personal lil restoration project

130

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Btw the drawings you showed me from your new project have been rotating in my brain for the last two weeks

120

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

John-Charles Holmes @sonic9jct.jctholmes.com · 07/08/2026

Hey Chicago folks-- looking for something fun to do this weekend? My taiko group, Ho Etsu, is gonna be performing at Midwest Buddhist Temple's Ginza Festival on Sat/Sun! Come watch and enjoy a ton of other cool performers and food out near Lincoln Park ✨ More details: ginzaholiday.com

14519

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Heyyyy I’ve got a spare ticket to the Hot Mulligan show tonight at Metro if anyone in Chicago is interested!

050

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Cathy G. Johnson🏴 @cathygjohn.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Artists at Silver Sprocket have released their statement. I've personally severed all ties to the publisher because my book had not been printed yet, but there are plenty of artists whose careers are more enmeshed. Please read the statement, share, and support. cartoonist.coop/sprocket-art...

3294141

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Also I’d imagine few people doing the work of hand-copying books loved doing that task?? If it was joyful I think we’d have a lot fewer jousting rabbits in the marginalia

050

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Omg I love it, I will take you for a little walk whenever you like 🙌

020

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

This legit just reminded me to take my anti-sleepiness meds 😅

010

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

My dad, a (now retired) lighting and sound guy, didn’t build lights out of old instant coffee cans in order to light the inside of a tiny submarine bc the regular motion picture lights were too big, so you could tell me that AI is “inevitable”

0445

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Louisa @louisathelast.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Cervical cancer gets the headlines because it’s the first one they proved was linked to HPV, but now we know it also causes really deadly head and neck cancers, anal cancer, and penile cancer. Every person, please get the vaccine

211711775

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Whaaaaaa amazing!! If you have a free moment and wanna grab a meal or coffee or somethin lemme know!

120

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

…can you show them how it smells like gross peanut butter 🤢

020

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Representative Ryan Clancy @ryanclancywi.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

It's really, really important to follow workers' leads during union campaigns. And Starbucks workers are asking you to stop buying from Starbucks. So stop buying Starbucks.

111545977

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Schera Wyss 💀 SLUG HUMAN @scherawyss.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

This might be one of the most insane scandals in game history When Pokemon Go players scan PokeStops, theyve been unknowingly building a detailed visual model of the world which is being sold to a military contractor to build a no-GPS positioning for the new generation of unmanned killing machines

Screenshot of the article
(I'm sorry I don't have time to type this whole thing as alt text my poor thumbs owww)

242125036540

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Dr. Damien P. Williams, dread portent down from a mountain cave @wolven.blacksky.app · 10/06/2026

New proposed rule from the Office of Management & Budget regarding all federal grantmaking, including but not limited to research funding. Most concerning, the proposed rule would prohibit using federal grant funds for any public communications or memberships that could be labelled "issue advocacy"…

federalregister.gov

Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance to improve government- wide policies and requirements related to the management of grants, co...

23317

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Obsessed with every tiny blocky building; probably full of wires or pipes or something but what if it was a little train house for ME

030

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I LOVE the Log Driver’s Waltz!! We somehow had several vhs tapes of NFB shorts when I was a kid, this was one of the favorites 💛

010

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I’ve honestly been using regular ol’ washi tape to label freezer stuff and so far it works fine 🤷🏻‍♀️

120

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

John-Charles you are so dang cool *_*

110

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Weakly high-fives you with a soil-covered hand

110

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

HR 2616, text below, just passed today in the House. Now it's time to call your Senators & tell them to vote NO ON HR 2616/S 2251 (and the very similar bills: HR 2617 & HR 7661 which aim to ban all trans books from every public school in the country!) www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

A BILL

To require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act ” or the “PROTECT Kids Act”.

SEC. 2. Parental consent requirement related to gender markers, pronouns, and preferred names on school forms and sex-based accommodations.

(a) Requirement.—As a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), a public school that receives funds under such Act shall obtain parental consent before changing a covered student’s—

(1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or

(2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.

(b) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) COVERED STUDENT.—The term “covered student” means a minor who is—

(A) an elementary school student; or

(B) a student in any of the middle grades.

(2) ESEA TERMS.—The terms “elementary school”, “middle grades”, and “parent” have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

1387427

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

🎃 Killy Witches 👻 @tillybridges.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

this was HR 2616 which also bans books by or about trans and nonbinary people from schools START CALLING YOUR SENATORS NOW CIS FRIENDS TRANS KIDS NEED YOU

2066324917

Reposted by Jessi Zabarsky

Comic Book Yeti 🎃 @comicbookyeti.com · 17/05/2026

For anyone interested, I just started a petition to get anything created using generative AI disqualified from Eisner Award consideration moving forward. Please consider signing and sharing. www.change.org/no-ai-at-the...

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

The other four siblings were fine and will be put back where they were so mom can find em! I really thought I’d missed my yearly bunny nest encounter, it just came later than usual 😅

Several tiny rabbits cuddled up in nest fluff, grass, and leaves

0260

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Lmao I arrive at the gardening volunteer event and IMMEDIATELY learn they found a nest of bb buns, one is injured, I drive it 40 min to the nearest wildlife rehab

A tiny bunny with its eyes still closed, nestled in leaves and nest fluff in a plastic dish

1320

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Ime it’s a lot of comics that are actually 18+ where they were originally posted, but with the Relevant Bits of the panels cropped/blurred/panels removed entirely :|

150

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Do note that I’m not too confident about shipping anywhere outside the US at the moment, but shopify doesn’t let you restrict where you ship to. So the option is there, it’s just like, real dang expensive :|

010

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

I’ve finally (FINALLY!!) updated my online shop!! Got the four Weekly Bun Life books on there, plus a Sweet Deal on all of em, plus Two of Us. hugbox.storenvy.com

A photo of five colorful self-published comic books, on a hand-sewn patchwork background

23611

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

This is what I sent, if you need ideas on what to say

Screenshot reading:

Hello,

I am a longtime Kickstarter user. I’ve backed projects here fairly regularly, and was part of an indie comics kickstarter about a decade ago. I want you to know that Kickstarter’s new policy banning sexually explicit content is misguided, overreaching, and frankly, insulting. It follows a recent trend of online spaces wanting to “sanitize” the work their users create, seeming to want to deny that a huge section of human art, culture, and behavior even exists. I’ve always seen Kickstarter as a place where weird, niche, and transgressive art can find a place, an audience, and support. If Kickstarter instead wants to pursue such a limiting and paternalistic approach, I don’t think I’ll be interested in using the platform anymore.

Thank you for your time,
Jessi Zabarsky

110349

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

This is a really great essay about children’s lit, and touches on (and goes further with) some of the things you may have heard me yell about at the CAKE panel I was on

063

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Just THINK about the rabid power of plant poachers turned on edible invasives *_* I pulled a wheelbarrow full from the lot I’m restoring but I knooow they’ll be back next year 😭

020

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Forget about ramps discourse, I want to get the ‘how do we convince the culinary world that garlic mustard is the hot new thing’ discourse going

2121

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

The hall is now a Little Chilly, the layers-wearers are vindicated. Out of towners are getting the full midwest weather experience ✨

040

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I honestly love how many Chicagoans absolutely REFUSE to take off their cute jackets/coats/cardigans in the toasty @cakechicago.bsky.social hall

2222

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Happy birthday!!! I hope it was the best gosh darn bowl of spaghetti!!

000

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I’ll be tabling at @cakechicago.bsky.social this weekend! I’ll have the 4th and final Weekly Bun Life book and I’ve finally reprinted Two of Us!! Plus I’ll be on a panel on Sunday about making comics for different age groups 🌱

Promo image for the CAKE indie comics show, including a photo of two little books I’ll have there

0278

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I love all your little drawings of yourself 💛

110

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

This doesn’t mean I’ll never make a Bun comic again, but I’ve got other stories and formats I’d like to focus on. Thank you for following along!

7550

Jessi Zabarsky @hugbox.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

It’s been months and she still won’t let me near the knife 😔 This marks four years worth of these comics! I’ve decided that it’s a good end point. I’ve gotten what I wanted out of these little comics, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them!

a four panel comic in yellow and brown, about growing too many zucchini and using too sharp of a knife

914018