Friday Favorites

+ My mom's collection of pink floral French faience (pictured above).
+ This monogram wreath.
+ This guy's blog. It's like a real life version of My Side of the Mountain.
+ Les Peaux des Lievres by Tricot Machine. The video is animated by over 700 knitted images!
(Thanks Becca, for the tip :)
+ Getting our inventory shelves organized.

the sycamore q+a {no.40}: Allison Chapman of Igloo Press

When we lived in Columbus, Ohio, I didn't know of any other working letterpress printers around other than the letterpress professor at Ohio State (Bob Tauber). So I was pretty excited when I found out that Allison Chapman of Igloo Press and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts would be moving to town. She's moved into a brand new studio space since we moved away, and from the looks of these photos, it looks awesome. In addition to selling her own line of letterpress paper goods and doing custom printing and binding jobs, Allison also teaches a series of workshops. If you're in the Columbus area, you really should go check out her studio and all she has to offer!


1) How did you become a letterpress printmaker?

I was very lucky that my granddad was a letterpress printer. As he wrote on his business cards, he operated a “private press for pleasure” as a hobby. I grew up helping with projects in his basement print shop and giving historical demonstrations. As a kid I thought I knew everything that he did. It wasn’t until college that I got serious about printmaking and letterpress.

After college I was thrilled to find the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and I worked there for over 10 years. I inherited my granddad’s printing equipment and started to do personal projects and job printing out of my home.

There was a lot of change for our family in 2008. We moved to Ohio and our second child was born. I am so happy that we have been able to settle into this community. I opened a new studio last month and have gotten a great response. I teach classes, have a retail component and complete my own work out of this lovely space.

2) What is inspiring you these days?

I am just loving working full-time in my new studio. This is the first time that I have devoted myself full-time to my own work. It is so satisfying to have an idea and be able to carry it through to completion. Some of the projects that I am working on are things that I have been thinking about for years.

As with any move, I have spent a lot of time going through boxes. I have a lot of print samples going back 40 years to when my granddad started printing. There are so many great pieces that have given me new ideas. I love reprinting the illustrations that I remember from my childhood.

I have always been drawn to 19th century “artistic printing” and I love the new book out by Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas. As I think about the greeting cards I want to make I am drawing from the Victorian tradition of paper toys. Currently, I am collaborating with Chandler O’Leary of Anagram Press on a line of holiday cards. They have an accordion fold surprise!


3) Tell us about something you've made or done lately.

I am in production on a series of journals with illustrated letterpress covers. They are sold individually or as a set of 4. The best part about buying all 4 is that the spines line up to create an illustration. Chandler also did the illustration for these books and they are just great. I love them.


4) Is there anything else we should know about you?

My whole family is bookish. My husband is a librarian. We have 2 kids and they both have ABC initials.

I love dachshunds, but won’t get another dog until the kids are older.

I like to listen to music from the 1930s and 1940s while I am working. It reminds me of printing with my granddad.


Thanks Allison!

Be sure and check out the Igloo Press webiste: www.iglooletterpress.com
And the Igloo Press Etsy shop: www.igloopress.etsy.com

sycamore street press: My Blog Turns 2!

Several years ago, my grandparents called me to ask if I'd look something up on the internet for them. As my grandfather started to spell out the url for me, "It's w, w, w, dot...", he was interrupted by my grandmother. After a muffled conversation between the two of them, my grandfather got back on the phone and said, "Your grandmother tells me that there are only two w's in the address. Just w, w, dot..."


I think I take after my grandparents in not being super internet/computer savvy. In fact, they are probably ahead of me in many respects. They joined Facebook a couple of years before I did. Yes... years.


Two years ago, the idea of starting a blog intimidated me. But, I had just moved to the other side of the country and figured it would be a good way to keep in touch with old friends and "meet" new people. It's also helped me to keep track of ideas, people, and places that inspire me, spread the word about Sycamore Street Press, keep a journal, have a creative outlet, and, of course, procrastinate other work.

Thank you everyone for your comments and interest over the past couple of years! I've really enjoyed our blogging interactions, and I hope it continues for a long time.

I put together a link list to some of my favorite entries:
+ My first entry ever. (my MFA show)
+ Yé Yé Sound and Style: Francoise Hardy
+ The Sycamore Q+A with Bert Teunissen
+ The NSS Report Part 1: The Booth
+ All About Hatch Show Print
+ New York, part 1
+ I Could Get Back Into This
+ Losing Touch
+ The Man I Call Morfar
+ Rooftop Gardens are My Favorite
+ The Letterpress Process

p.s. Aren't these clouds gorgeous! I just snapped these with my little point + shoot through the car window. No Photoshop editing either. The clouds were so stunning, it was impossible to take a bad shot.

looking lovely: Uppercase Magazine

Have you seen the latest issue of Uppercase Magazine? If you haven't heard of it, it's a Canadian design/art/culture magazine with beautiful layouts and a luxurious weight and feel. It's truly a labor of love for designer/publisher/shop + gallery owner Jan Vangool. I love it and want to support it, so we purchased a subscription and our very first print ad (in the current issue). It's exciting! You can buy it here, or from one of the shops listed here.

Uppercase Website
Uppercase Online Shop
Uppercase Blog

giveaway: New Limited Edition Print by Jamie Tallerico

If you are familiar with Sycamore Street Press, then you'll know that we collaborate with a different artist each month to bring you a limited edition letterpress print. We print one edition of 100 prints and that's it. We will never reprint them. They're available for individual purchase, or at a discount as part of a subscription. We call this project the Sycamore Club. Click here to see all the prints we've made for it so far.


This month's rodeo themed artwork is by the talented graphic designer, Jamie Tallerico. I love the subdued retro colors, and I can totally picture this print in a little boy's room, a home with vintage 50's inspired decor, a rustic cabin, etc.... Click here to find out more about the artist and the print, or to see more photos.

To enter the giveaway, comment below and tell me what you (or your kids) are going to be for Halloween. I'll choose a winner at random next Monday, November 2nd. (In case you are interested, I am going as Tonya Harding, and Kirk will be himself. He's not the costume type.)

sycamore street press: Baby Announcements

My friends Zuzanna and Keith Audette recently had a baby boy. Zu designed the announcement, did the monkey illustration, and took the photo of little Arthur. I hand lettered his name and Kirk and I printed the announcements on our press.



This announcement was designed by my friend and SSP collaborator, Stephanie Ford, for our friends Nikki and David Hudson, who had a little girl. I printed them on my trusty Vandercook.


I love how both of these announcements turned out. I've talked to Stephanie and Zu about it, and I think we'll include them in the Sycamore Street Press custom portfolio (which we are putting together slowly over time.) If anyone out there likes these designs and is interested in ordering baby announcements, email me: eva{at}sycamorestreetpress.com

looking lovely: Martha Stewart Stationery

I'm loving Martha Stewart's line of stationery for Crane's. There's an interview with her in the latest Stationery Trends Magazine. A Martha quote for all you stationers out there:

"In the the digital age, consumers are quite comfortable with written expression. After all, they are emailing, texting, and tweeting all day! Stationers must help them rediscover the value of printed communications by emphasizing how wonderfully thoughtful and memorable a beautiful invitation or thank -you note can be, especially in an era when communication is so often so fleeting. It's worth noting that consumers are increasingly interested in farming and crafting, and preparing artisanal foods. They are receptive to the idea that some things may take a little more time and effort, and yes, expense. But they are well worth it."


p.s. Martha also said that she had to pick a different career, she'd be a veterinarian/professor at a university.

image credit: Crane's

Friday Favorites

+ Heirloom grains and legumes from Anson Mills.
+ A vintage recipe box from All the luck in the world.
+ Le Manege Enchanté (thanks to Baptiste and Alison for figuring out the mystery of my mom's bowl.)
+ Wish I could get these pants for Kirk.
+ The slanted rectangles of afternoon light in our studio.

image credit: moxiee (isn't her photo beautiful?)

p.s. Head on over to Design Crush to enter a giveaway for our 2010 calendar.

the sycamore q+a {no. 39}: Roxy Marj

Mine and Roxy's lives intersected 10 years ago, when she opened a really cool vintage store/music venue in Provo called Sailor 9. Due to Provo's overzealous anti-music police force and some other extenuating circumstances, Sailor 9 had to close and Roxy moved to the Big Apple. We knew nothing of each other for the next decade until fate brought us together again this past summer. I'm so happy it did, because she is such a nice, talented, and interesting person. I love everything she makes, and I think you will, too.

1) How did you get into fashion design and illustration?

I got into illustration and fashion design naturally I guess….. drawing, painting, designing have never been something I struggled with growing up and knew that was the field I wanted to go into when I become an adult. <.> Growing up without a lot of money was eased with having a very creative mom who tried to make the best with what she had. I remember finally getting the confidence in my abilities as an artist when entering Junior high and being invited to friends birthday parties, getting only a couple dollars from my parents to get them something was so embarrassing at the time but also hearing my mom tell me, “well you can always make them something” The first real handmade present I made for my friend were four pairs of earrings and included was a cute handmade card and wrapping paper as well…I was sooooo nervous for her to open it in front of everyone for fear of what everyone would say but when she came to my present first came the compliments of the wrapping paper, then the card, then the earrings…everyone was oohing and ahhing over them and begging me to make them some… that night was a huge confidence builder for me. Thirteen years later I was entering my freshman year of college at Parsons School of Design to study fashion design. I was so excited and READY to be in school [I started school late : 24 yrs old] and could not wait to start studying fashion…however, once Sophomore year rolled around I realized that my real interest was in illustration. Rather than transferring out I decided to finish my degree in fashion and then if I was still interested in illustration once I graduated, then I would apply to grad schools for an M.F.A in illustration, all the while illustrating as much as possible on the side. Little by little my work has been getting noticed, thankfully and luckily I have awesome friends who have been super great about supporting me >>> just to name a few: Keith and Chris the owners over at fredflare.com [a company I freelance for from time to time] Jenny kwok, owner of cutxpaste.com, and now you [Eva] and kirk! Thanks guys!!!

2) What is inspiring you these days?

Right now I cannot get enough of old black and white photos, mainly ones of children, animals >>> goats and lambs especially and early 1900’s wedding photos. I am especially in love with the serious expressions that are captured in old photos….. Tasha Tudor is someone whom I have always loved and admired and I recently scored an awesome book at the thrift store about her crafting lifestyle titled “Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts” is such a terrific book, it will make you want to break out the knitting needles and cozy up next to the fire. In regards to fashion and what inspires me in that department is Amelia Earhart. What a lady, and a lady with such a subtle sense of panache… she was really innovative with styling and incorporating masculine pieces and making them feminine! Lastly, what I really love seeing above all, are couples who are totally in love with each other, especially if they are people I know! One of my favorite websites is oncewed.com 1. Because the weddings on there are so creative and visually stimulating and 2. it seems like every couple featured is totally head over heals in love with each other… It gives me the feeling that they will still feel the same way 10, 20 years from now… that makes me so happy! J

3) Tell us about something you've made or done lately

I recently made a quilt for myself with the design all hand painted. That design was copied from a little paper garland I made that hangs above my closet, where then the design for that was inspired by one of my books “Millions of Cats” written and illustrated by a favorite of mine, Wanda Gag. This quilt, which is one of my favorite things I have ever made so far has some special meaning to it. When moving out here to Salt Lake City a couple months ago from New York City, I was really struggling to find a job and had become quite discouraged with some of my recent life choices and was questioning why I even moved out to Utah etc….then some events changed my way of how I was looking at things and decided I had to stop focusing on what I didn’t have [a job] and focus on what I did/do have… 6 days later >>> Aug 8^th, I got a job! Nothing fabulous, nothing worth bragging about just a regular old fashioned job. To commemorate that happy day, I decided to make myself a quilt. One side I painted a pattern and the other I wrote a much longer version of the reason as to why the quilt was made. Mari, my sister who I live with right now suggested I leave the bottom half empty and in a year write where I am at, what I am doing etc… Love that idea! This quilt will definitely be an heirloom!

4) Is there anything else we should know about you?

This question cracks me up…when reading that, it reminds me of the scene in Goonies when Chunk <>rd grade….” And doesn’t realize they just want the quick and dirty of that night….:[) ohhh I laugh so hard at that scene!

So not to bore anyone with stories from 3^rd grade and up…here are some quick and dirty facts about me.

+ I am a VERY seasonal person, meaning that I don’t like hot drinks in the summer, I don’t like watching spring/summer movies in the fall & winter and vice versa, this goes for books and music, fabric etc.

+ I am a huge crybaby

+ I don’t like eating alone…that something I miss about living in New York, it felt like I was always eating with friends.

+ I love to hand write letters

And lastly:

+ I hope someday to have my own my own farm somewhere in the Northwest, where there you can find me working in my studio which will either be in a barn or shed, illustrating and creating one thing after the other.

>>> okay, I am done. <<< J

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Thanks Roxy!

I love that scene from the Goonies , by the way.:) Oh - and this week's q+a is a bit of a teaser. You see, Roxy is the artist for next month's Sycamore Club print. I've seen the drawing for it, and let me tell you, you are in for a treat!

Be sure and visit Roxy's blogs: romawinkel.blogspot.com and mansvolk.blogspot.com , and her shop: Romawinkel.etsy.com.

***Sorry for the weird formatting. Blogger is freaking out on me again!***

our little life: Birthday Gifts

A few of my birthday spoils: Russian candies, lychee tea, dangly green earrings, bath salts, tea towels, my mormor and morfar's Christmas tree garlands (Norwegian and Swedish flags) striped knee socks, handmade cards, Mary Tyler Moore season 5, a multicolored scarf, some money to go towards the DSLR we're saving up for, a mix CD....

Most importantly, I got lots of well wishes. Thank you everyone!


Kirk made some beautiful borsch to eat. It's one of my favorite foods.

looking lovely: Xavier Veilhan

I'm loving these shots that Todd Selby took of Xavier Veilhan's show at the Chateau de Versailles. If you're lucky enough to be in the Paris area between now and December 13th, you should check out the exhibition. Otherwise, you can see more photos over at the Selby, or buy the book over at Collette.

image credit: the Selby

our little life: Small Artists

We had a few little visitors not too long ago.


After they left, I found this birdie drawing in my purse with the note: "Open when we leave. Then please hang on wall."

I did so immediately along with the other two drawings that were left. They look great.


Sometimes I wish I could still draw the way I did as a 5 year old.

giveaway winner: #46 Veronica

Congratulations Veronica! We'll send you the Comfort and Joy letterpress card set as soon as you email me with your address: eva{at}sycamorestreetpress.com.

Thanks to everyone for participating.

looking lovely: My Grandma's Books

Except for the Edgar Allen Poe volume, these belonged to my grandmother, Janet Maude Hubertz Pollock. These books are such beautiful things to hold in your hands. And although most books aren't made this well anymore, I'd still prefer a even a cheap paperback over electronic devices. I kind of hate the idea of the Kindle. Maybe I'm old fashioned.

Friday Favorites

image credit: Superbomba

+ The L.A. Ladies' Choir
+ The Printmaking Bible
+ I get to see Kellie this weekend.
(She's been in Ecuador taking care of orphans.)
+ Amanda's trifle. (I'm hoping she'll give me the recipe!)
+ Satsuma Press

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for our letterpress holiday cards, or to take a look at the class we're offering.

the sycamore q+a {no.38}: Bert Teunissen

I came across the work of Bert Teunissen on the 20 x 200 website just last week, and I was immediately taken with it. His photographs remind me of the time I spent living in the Belgian countryside, and the lovely slanted afternoon light that would come through the windows as I chatted with friends and drank hot chocolate made from whole milk and dark chocolate bars.

Bert's work combines achingly beautiful imagery with truly compelling and relevant ideas. That's a rare combination.


His bio on the 20x200 website reads: "...Bert uses available daylight to photograph people in their kitchen, living room or bedroom. His photographs are a search for this specific quality of light and a way of living that has been around for centuries and that is disappearing from society fast, due to architectural changes but also because of new regulations in the EU and other parts of the world.

The light that is being used is the same that was used by the great Dutch masters like Vermeer and Pieter de Hoogh in their paintings. Bert's photographs have been related to the works of these painters ever since. "

Now, for the q&a:

1) How did you become a fine art photographer?

I don't really know how; it just happened after I got fed up with the commercial work. That appeared to be too limited, too much of a one way street and not lasting. All of a sudden I remembered why I had become a photographer in the first place and one day I promised myself to do it differently. I started making personal work again and Domestic Landscapes saw it's first international exhibition in 1999 (Odense, Denmark). After that everything came into a rapid flow and in 2007 my book was published by Aperture.

2) What have you been working on lately?

Since my book was published and profoundly reviewed by major international papers (The Independent, The New York Times, The Int. Herald tribune etc.) It was sold out the very same year and I started concentrating on the second part: Eastern Europe. Since then I have visited 4 countries and before the end of 2011 I must have finished the rest of that area. The entire archive can be found on www.bertteunissen.com


3) What has been inspiring you lately?

I don't know exactly but I think you can say everything that comes out in an original way. That could be recently made work or even old work that I've never seen before. Recent examples are: Paulo Ventura, Jasper de Beijer, Emo Verkerk, Marcel Van Eeden.

4)Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?

Like I said I will be busy finishing the Domestic Landscapes Project in Europe.

Besides that I also slowly start showing the other layers that I have been building in this project. The archive of the interiors is one thing, but I also made Travelogs; very personal interpretations of the trips I had to make in order to get the interior-series. You can imagine that for every country that I have to go to, I meet a lot of people, get thousands of impressions and hear a lot of stories. All that material I translate into small photo-diaries which I call Travelogs. These are small book in black & white containing pictures that show my personal state of mind during that trip. Included are also some stories that I learned along the way. So far I have produced about 15 of these Travelogs and last year I started showing them. To introduce these Travelogs I produced one myself called ON THE ROAD. This one shows about 65 pictures of roads photographed through my wind screen all over Europe while I was travelling. Right now we are working on getting the first 10 editions published as a box containing 10 separate little Travelogs. The publisher is very enthousiastic about the concept and we're looking into the numbers and see how and where we can produce them.

Also included in the project is a large collection of items that I have gathered throughout the years from the places that I have visited. These items will also be included in the next publication.

At last there are also little video stills that I have started to make since 2007. This is still in a very early stage, but they will be visible in time.

5) Is there anything else we would be interested to know about you?

I have no idea unless you mean things like: happily married with Noor with whom I have 2 beautiful girls Sophie and Cato. Everybody is very artistic and busy taking pictures, painting, drawing, filming, etc.

I love to cook and to swim.

..................................................................................................
Thanks Bert!

I just have to add one thing. I almost didn't even ask Bert to do this interview because I thought someone as successful and well regarded as he is in the art world wouldn't have the time, patience, or desire to be involved with my little blog. Imagine my surprise and delight when he gladly answered my email and all my questions -- all within 24 hours!

So don't just sit there. Take a look at his website, buy one of his prints, or order his book.

image credits: Bert Teunnissen