Five New Year Favorites ///// Caroline

It's that time... New Year's is here and I would like to share a few of my favorite things with you.

So what's topping my list this year? Well, as any family holiday around my house- let's start off with something bubbly. 

1. Champagne Saucer Glasses

Yes, these squatty flutes caught my eye in an episode of HBO's Boardwalk Empire and I'm obsessed.  Www.wineware.co.uk has a great selection as seen in the picture above.

2. Cracker Caddy

http://madisonavegifts.com

Keep it simple. Don't worry about the crackers scattering everywhere! Put them in this Cracker Caddy and your cheese plate will look wonderful no matter how many (or how few) crackers are left!

3. Not sure to do with everything leftover?

My new inspiration for sandwiches, welcome to http://scanwiches.com. Great look- great taste and a way to get you out of your usual leftovers.

4.  Bring in the New Year with Style

www.tiarasandfascinators.com

You can find them everywhere now, but they can be an affordable way to spice up any black dress you have for New Years.  Start the New Year off right, wear that old black dress but bring it to life with a Fascinator! I know I am!

5. Just in case

http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/wine/sofia/mini

As always, something will go wrong, so don't worry. These little guys can help you out at a moments notice without having to do any extra dishes.  The Francis Ford Coppola winery really won me over when they put delicious sparkling in a can and gave you a bendable straw to go with it. Heaven on earth friends! And it's so discreet.. some people may just think you're having a soda. Or as they say, "you can take it anywhere- anytime you feel like sparkling." 

OoOOooo.. now that we've kicked off the holiday, I'm off to California with the family for the holidays!

Love love love!
Caroline

our little life: Christmas

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! We've been having a wonderful time with our family members from near and far. It's great seeing how they all love her (almost) as much as Kirk and I do. 

At the same time, it's been stressful since we found out last week that Ingrid hadn't been gaining weight and (at five weeks old) still wasn't up to her birth weight. I'm going in this afternoon to see if all the pumping, more frequent and careful feedings, supplementing, prayers, herbal remedies, etc... have paid off. Everything else in my life has pretty much been on hold while we work to fatten up our sweet little girl.

Ingrid with her adoring 3 year old cousin (above) and her equally adoring great-granny and great-papa (below).

at the table: Cheese Biscuits

Contributor post by Caroline Rosen

Friends,

You're welcome. Why you ask? Because this EXTREMELY simple recipe is about to make your kitchen a destination around the block, no matter where you live. This simple recipe, from our one and only Ruth, is a MUST to have in your repertoire. These are the tastiest, easiest little cheese biscuits you've ever tried!

Ruth's

Ingredients:
2 cups self rising flour
2 sticks butter (melted)
1 cup sour cream
1/2- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
pinch of salt

Making them:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
Combine all ingredients in a bowl
In a greased or sprayed MINI muffin pan place a dallop in each  hole
Put in the oven for 12-14 minutes

TAH DAH!! These little treats are like fluffy cheese straws/ biscuits. Feel free to add things to them as well, if you like a little bite, why not throw in some jalepenos.

Trick- make the dough ahead if you have guests coming in for the weekend, put it in a ziploc bag and throw it in the fridge and just pull it out in the mornings when you are ready to make them!

Such a great trick to make such a tasty treat! Thanks mom!

At the table: Raclette

Contributor post by Stacey Foster of Verla Ivans and Love Independent

There's always a lot of traditions that are enjoyed over the holidays and one of my favorite is our annual raclette party. Raclette is a type of Swiss cheese that historically was carried by cow herders who would place a rock near the campfire and melt the cheese on the rock, then pour it over bread. Modernly, there are several types of electric raclette machines available. Guests gather around the table and the raclette machine sits in the center, surrounded by plates of foods and cheeses. Recipes typically call for a variety of meats, such as prosciutto or capicola, vegetables, like green peppers, mushrooms and onions as well as a good helping of boiled small potatoes and slices of French bread. Everyone places their choice of grillables on the top of the raclette machine and a slice of the cheese in a little tray that goes under the raclette machine. Once things are cooked and the cheese is melted, the food goes on your plate and the cheese is poured over it. You can also try other cheeses that melt well, such as Gruyère, Appenzeller, Emmentaler and Morbier. There's no limit to what works for a raclette party, if it sounds good, it probably will be! If your holiday calendar isn't full yet, I highly suggest inviting everyone over for a raclette night!

Thanks for spending your time with me here the last few days! I wish the Sycamore Street Press family and friends all the very best and happy holidays!

Cheese image by farlane and Raclette image

Five Favorites ///// Roxy

Hi, I'm Roxy. I've just finished up writing a thesis on How To Make A Band Dangerously Cool, I love letterpress, and I've lived in Italy with my big kahuna for over 7 years. Recently, I discovered the very cool Sycamore Street Blog, and am really happy to make new letterpress friends. 

Alright then, I decided to group my 5 favorites into what makes up "la mia cultura". Technology, music, food, ideas, art and design are all a part of what makes up my culture (and maybe yours too).

So without further ado, here are my 5 (culture) favorites:

G4 | Hot Rod

It made the transatlantic trip with me all the way from Austin, Texas.

Rock-n-Roll | It's a bonus, dare I say,  to anyone's day.

Of course there's jazz, blues and many more to add to this list.

Food | Eating it and cooking it

Has the awesome power to conjure good feelings and bring people together.

Concept | The world of ideas

It is an integral part of a (good) finished product. 

Art & Design | Go hand in hand

They come along for the ride in almost everything I do.

looking lovely: Pillow Talk

Contributor post by Stacey of Love Independent and Verla Ivans

We always end up spending a lot of our vacation time around the holidays gathered in the living room, lounging on couches and just catching up.  So it seems to me that there's no better place in the house to spruce up before everyone arrives than the couch!  A few pillows can liven up a space and add a comfortable and inviting atmosphere with almost no effort on your part, which is perfect for making the busy season a touch more special and a little less stressful.

Top row: Ikat Patterned Muslin by Midwest Modern Home, Cicada Wing Pattern by CraftChi, Chair Back Print by Soap Studiooos.    Middle Row:  Summer in the City (with hand painted sun!) by AnnilyGreen, Aquarium by Zen Threads, Aztec Print by Leah Duncan.   Bottom row: Felt Applique Fawn by Esberts Collection, Hand Embroidered Blue Stripe by MaDahms, Winter Garden Hand Crocheted Doily by Tuuni.

our little life: 4 Weeks With Ingrid

Hello everyone! It's Eva. Ingrid has already been here a month! It's been a blur of round-the-clock feedings, dirty diapers, laundry, pumping.... and getting to know our beautiful little girl. Kirk and I love her more and more every day! She's really starting to be more communicative with those adorable baby "talking" noises and her expressive face. And it makes me so happy that she recognizes me now and knows that I'm her mama... or at least the person who feeds her. :)

But I'm still figuring out how anyone with a baby gets anything else done. It's a huge job just keeping a tiny, helpless human alive. Sometimes I find it hard to even shower or eat... let alone do any work. At this point I can't imagine how people with multiple children do it! I wish that I had a real maternity leave so I could devote all my time and attention to little Ingrid for these first few months... although I know in the long run I'll be grateful for the flexibility of being self-employed.

Thank you to all our family, friends, and blog contributors who have been such a big help with welcoming Ingrid into the world. Kirk and I appreciate it so much!

Five Favorites ///// Love Independent

top left and right: Aleksey Shirokov right photo by Alyssa Nicol bottom left: Mare Zepeda from Neither Snow

Hi! My name is Stacey and I'm thrilled to be here blogging for you while Eva is tending to the new little one! I am also in the Salt Lake area, as a recent transplant from Los Angeles. While I was there, I worked for a jewelry designer and also for a stationery shop, which is when I developed my love of letterpress and came across the talented work of Sycamore Street Press. You can also find me writing over on my blog, Love Independent or browse my wares at my shop, Verla Ivans.

Five of my favorite things:

Getting letters and sending letters. Especially when they include calligraphy. It's said that everyone's favorite word is their own name and I think this can also translate to the written word. Receiving a letter or card or invitaiton that includes a beautifully addressed envelope, with your name scrawled ever so delicately across the front, instantly gives the recipient a connection of care with the sender. These letters are opened carefully, read repeatedly and responded to with the heart. I have had the pleasure to work time and again with one of the calligraphers pictured above, Aleksey Shirokov. He, like all calligraphers, is a gifted artist and he always showed up with a genuine smile (and often on roller skates!)

1. Babette World 2. Kowtow 3. Ana Montiel 4. Rocks and Minerals
 

I am also fond of gems. I love that minerals are popping up everywhere lately, from jewelry and art to tees and more. Natural beauty in a raw form, simple and mesmorizing.

It's probably just the little bit of Cherokee running in my blood, but I often find myself drawn to teepees. And almost any use of feathers, like this collar by Yes Vincent.



Anytime I come across a piece of furniture in an antique shop that has lots of little drawers, I cannot be pulled away without peeking inside at least a few of them and doing some mental furniture rearranging to fit it in with my current floor plan.



My newest favorite thing to be added to my wishlist are these silk scarves. The first one by Maria Alexandra Vettese is a replica print of the Maine skyscape and the other by Merel Karhof is a pattern created from photographing the water color at the same spot along the Venice canals daily.

I hope you've enjoyed my favorite five and I look forward to posting the next couple of days!

Five Favorites ///// Ripe Today

Hi Sycamore Street Press fans! I'm Jennifer, you can visit me at my blog RipeToday or stop by my shop Lit photography. Cheers to baby Ingrid and thanks, Eva, for this fun assignment I really enjoyed it.

1. Sebastiaan Bremmer :: This spellbinding Dutch artist paints directly onto photographs with brilliant results. Check out his site for some stunning black&white projects.

2. Jan Vormann :: Dispatchwork is just one of the clever projects fueled by this artist. I love guerilla art and the way it captures the imaginations of unrelated people all over the world. I may have to start carrying legos in my pockets.

3. Rachel Bee Porter :: It's one thing to be able to capture beautiful images through a lens, it's another thing to so skillfully subvert a paradigm. How many of you have fantasized about this very thing while viewing a too perfectly styled food editorial? Hurry go see the rest of them!

4.Siren Elise Wilhelmsen :: When mon amie directed me to this 365 Knitting Clock, I fell right in love. It's not enough that it's so minimal and handy, knitting a scarf in a year. This Norwegian artist has deconstructed the timepiece to expose the minutiae of time's passing. It's just so cool!  and way heavier than it first appears.

5. Stereopark? :: I've never really been sure how to credit this video. The song is Coldplay's Strawberry Swing. I blogged this last year and when I watched it, I was genuinely floored by it's splendor. I still am. This goes so far beyond stop action film, it's genius! 

Friday Favorites

Contributor post from Sharon McMullen of Remnants.

There's something about the holidays and all this Ohio snow (already!!!) that get me into a nesting kind of mood. For my last contributor post for Sycamore Street Press, I've gathered some of my favorite decor and cookie ideas that I'll be trying in the next few weeks to make this wintery season merry and bright. Here they are:

1. Holiday Cheer Book Wreath on Homemade By Jill

2. Glittering Landscape on Apartment Therapy

3. A Fresh White Christmas Tree from Vanessa and Valentine

4. Melted Snowman Cookies from Crazy Domestic

5. Branched Card Holder via here

6. DIY Fabric Garland on Once Wed

Thank you all for letting me share my inspirations on the beloved Sycamore Street Press blog this week and maybe I can come back for baby number two! (hint hint ;)

Have a happy weekend and happy holidays!

style snapshot: Pretty Ladies

I find it appropriate since I've recently found myself working in fashion for The Limited that a little styling post was in order. I've always been interested in styling, pretty much because I'm so terrible at it and envy those that have a gift for putting an outfit together. I've found my saving grace from four women in particular and their fashion blogs. Their talent in putting interesting, fun outfits that I, too, can put together all by myself like a big girl has helped me look much more put together than normal. So today I thought I'd share these pretty ladies with you so that if you're as stylishly challenged (or just as talented), you can enjoy some fun fashion finds.

Lucy Laucht (shown above) I love Lucy's ability to find a ridiculously bright necklace or fur shawl and make it into an outfit I want to be my own. Plus, her skirt collection is amazing!

Kendi Everyday A girl who moved to a small town shows that she's still a stylish city girl in her daily posts. I've been following her combinations and love her diagrams of what she got where. Super helpful when I need to find an inexpensive t-shirt or really want that pair of boots she has on!

Cupcakes & Cashmere Emily shares her funky, hippy and rockstar style along with recipes and decorating tips. I love her fun use of jackets with 4" black heels and the little details like a headband that change an entire outfit.

The Daybook Syd shows off her fun belted looks while her hubby lovingly photographs. Her blog is full of great ideas and funny stories and her spunky photography.

I love following these women and their blogs and how they help me reinvent my wardrobe every day. Thanks, ladies!

Contributor post by Sharon McMullen of Remnants

looking lovely: Books! Books! Books!

I've always been attracting to a good-lookin' book cover and have been really inspired by these in particular by Whites Books, shown above. I love the simple title at the bottom and the bold illustration style with a subtle color palette. Another great book resource is the Book Cover Archive, which I find myself spending a lot of time on. Pages and pages of book covers will keep you looking for hours!

Contributor post by Sharon McMullen of Remnants

looking lovely: Dana Tanamachi's Chalk Type

Contributor post by Sharon McMullen of Remnants

I'm so in love with Dana Tanamachi's chalk type that's been floating all over the internet lately. I love seeing it half finished, too, as you can see in the bottom picture. Dana currently works for Louise Fili (a phenomenal designer with a hand for vintage type) and you can definitely see her influence in Dana's detail and finesse. You can see more of Dana's portfolio and more chalk type drawings here.

Five Favorites ///// Sharon McMullen / Remnants

Hi Sycamore Street Press readers! I'm Sharon McMullen and I'm a graphic designer, lover of tactile design and your guest contributor this week! A little about me: I work full time as a graphic designer for The Limited and in my down-time I post my inspirations and writings on my blog, Remnants, and work on my paper line, Paper Remnants. I couldn't be more excited for Eva and Kirk and their dearest new Ingrid and I'm honored to share some of my inspirations with you this week. First off I wanted to share the five places I find inspiration when I need a good boost of motivation.

1. Textiles and pattern I have a pretty large collection of patterned vintage fabric and I pulled out a few of my favorites to share with you. For me, when I go to a fabric store (or better yet, a thrift store or vintage store with a fabric section) my mind goes crazy with ideas. Walking through the aisles I get so many ideas for color, texture, combinations and everything in between. I take a swatch or buy a small bit and that way I can get that same feeling anytime I want and when I need it the most.

2. Vintage Ephemera This goes along with the vintage fabric above, but I love looking through old photos, letters and paper remnants from the past. Created mostly by hand, these pieces are handwritten or typed and some have such illustrative designs I stare for hours wondering how it was created. Two of my favorite resources are Agence Eureka (the left image) and The Biggert Collection (on the right). They are so chock-full of great pieces, it's definitely worth taking a look.

3. Designers Doing Great Things This may sound vague, but I find so much motivation and excitement for what I do from designers out in the world doing great things. There are days you question if you chose the right path and I make sure to visit two places in particular when I feel this way: The 99 Percent and Debbie Millman's Design Matters podcasts. The 99 Percent is full of videos, quotes, articles, pretty much anywhere you click you'll find something great. I have also learned a great deal from Debbie Millman's Design Matters series in which she interviews designers, authors, illustrators, thinkers, all out in the world creating great things. Both of these keep me motivated and loving what I do.

4. Spaces I take any chance I can to look at interior design portfolios because I love the inspiration that comes from a space that's made your own. Jeffers Design Group is so stunning in their use of photography and design in the homes they create, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with ideas when I flip through their portfolio.

And finally, 5. The Outdoors I know it seems obvious and somewhat silly, but when I get stuck in a rut I go for a walk, take a drive, whatever I can do to step away at look at what's around me. More often than not I find something in nature or driving around my neighborhood that sparks a new idea or solves a problem that I'm stuck on. And hey, it's free! (These beautiful photos are from FutureAncient on Flickr.)
Well, I'm really excited to come back again and share more inspirations and finds with you this week. Thanks for reading my 5 favorites and I'll see you tomorrow!

at the table: Making Marshmallows

Contributor Post by Natalia Anderson of Life I love You and Make Monthly

I don’t know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods but where I live winter is kicking in full force. In our house snowfall equals homemade marshmallows (with a little hot chocolate on the side).

In tribute to that chill in the air, I thought I’d share a simple how-to for the perfect fatty marshmallow. My recipe/instructions are slightly adapted from one I got from Martha.

You Will Need:

Two 8 inch square baking pans

Plastic wrap

Nonstick cooking spray

3 packages unflavored gelatin (1/4 oz packs)

½ cold water

2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cups corn syrup

¼ tsp coarse salt

¾ tsp peppermint or 1 tsp vanilla extract

Confectioners’ sugar

Step 1:

Line two 8 inch baking pans with plastic wrap leaving a 2-inch overhang on all side. Spray wrap with cooking spray and set aside.

Step 2:

In a mixing bowl or electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over ½ cup cold water and let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, boil sugar, corn syrup and ¼ cup water in a saucepan. Boil rapidly for 1 minute and remove from heat. Slowly add hot syrup to gelatin bowl with mixer on high speed. Add salt and mix for 12 minutes.

Step 3:

Add extract to marshmallow and mix well. You will be dividing the mixture into 2 different pans so you may opt to make 2 different flavors with the one recipe by subtracting half of the mix and adding it to another bowl as well as halving the extract measurements. Pour and spread mixture into baking pans evenly. Spray two sheets of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place the wet side down on top of the marshmallows while flattening the marshmallows with your hands over the plastic wrap. Let stand about 2 hours.

Step 4:

To remove marshmallows from pan, tip upside down and let them fall out. Discard the plastic wrap and cut the marshmallow block on a confectioners’ sugar coated cutting board using a sharp knife that has been doused with cooking spray. Make 3 slices across both sides of pan to yield 16 square marshmallows per pan. Coat marshmallow squares in a bowl of confectioners’ sugar so they are not sticky.

Step 5:

Now put that in your hot cocoa and drink it! Or…perhaps you’re more of the giving type and you’d like to divvy out this squishy treat to all your friends and neighbors? No prob, grab some tissue paper a little bakers twine, a tag to indicate flavor and you’re good to go—a holiday gift that will be loved by all. Oh, and don’t forget to add the hot chocolate!

Enjoy.