This blog has been in very capable hands over the past couple of months -- thanks to all my lovely contributors -- but it's time I get back to it, don't you think? As much as I love spending time with the adorable little squish ball that is my baby, I have to admit that I've missed blogging!
But Ingrid and I are still trying to figure out this thing called nursing, I still have a million boxes to unpack from our move, and oh yeah -- I still have a business to run and everything that goes along with that. So although I am back to the blog, I will have to take it slower than before. I will have less time to spend on it, but I want to maintain (and even improve) the quality of my content, which means fewer entries.
And this is where you, my lovely readers, come in.
If I have to cut back on the blog, I need to know what to cut, and what to leave. Part of what I love about blogging, is my interaction with all of you. I don't want to lose that. So please let me know what you love most about this blog, and what you could leave behind. Be kind, but be honest. It's true that this blog is a labor of love, so of course I'll still follow my heart (and my gut) when it comes to deciding what to post. But I really value your input as well!
If you are new to the blog, or need a refresher, click on the below categories to get an idea for the sort of content I've posted in the past. Then, if you are so inclined, please leave a comment with some advice on what you'd like to see more of, and what you'd like to leave less of.
I'd love it if you could go into more detail than just listing category names. Be specific! In fact, maybe something you'd like to see more of doesn't even fit into one of the categories. That's fine! I'd just love your honest opinion. Maybe you'd like to see more of my own photos. Or maybe you prefer photos I curate from around the web. Maybe you'd like to hear more about the behind the scenes of our small letterpress business. Or maybe you're a bit tired of hearing about Sycamore Street Press. Maybe you love the personal entries, or maybe you skip right over them for the interior design related posts. More text? Less text? I could go on and on... Whatever the case, please let me know!
Now, here's where the bribe comes in. I'll draw a name at random from the list of comments next Friday, February 4th, and announce it here on the blog. The winner will get $75 in credit from the Sycamore Street Press shop!
- sycamore street press (211)
- looking lovely (126)
- our little life (122)
- the sycamore q+a (65)
- on the road (62)
- giveaway (50)
- sound + vision (43)
- friday favorites (42)
- the month of paper (37)
- national stationery show (26)
- style snapshot (25)
- at the table (18)
- quote of the week (12)
- sycamore classes (12)
- our place (7)
- yé yé sound + style (4)
Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful responses. Thank you to all of the fantastic contributors who have been helping out these past couple of months. And thanks to everyone who has ever taken a moment to stop by my little blog!
28 comments:
I love so many things about your blog it's hard to say what to leave out. Of course I love the personal side and seeing how your life is going. I also love when you feature young artists and craftman. Are you still doing monthly printing another artists image? I forgot what it was called. I liked that! It's allgood stuff though. Good luck!
i'd love to see more about your life, because i'm a total blog voyeur. i could just drive up more and see how your life is doing too.
weren't you thinking of doing more fashion spotlights?
i have always liked your format, even as you changed, so i would be happy with whatever you decided to do.
I've missed you! I am sorry things are going rough with the nursing. It can be a major bummer--but so wonderful when it all clicks. I can totally see myself being the weirdo that nurses her toddler (if he let me). I love the personal entries with photos of your babe and things you are doing. I also like your posts about the shows you go to and all the set up and things involved as well as your favorite artists at the shows.
I also love your posts about your interior decorating and other images you find.
The personal and Sycamore news must stay! It is so great to know what your up to and see all the new goodies. Everything else is just cake. Glad your back, looking forward to keeping up with you and your sweet Ingrid!
I have to agree with Amanda. I love to see the posts about your little life and I love the Sycamore Street Press news. Please don't cut those! Living in Little Rock, this is the best way I have to see what you are liking, doing, making, etc. I like to see your take on style and art. xoxo
i really love your photos and the snippets from your life. i think they really make your shop come alive to people who love letterpress (like me!) and make your products more personal.
i also like your 'five favorites' posts. they're always so varied and interesting.
i'd love to see more of your letterpress work and maybe some of what goes on behind the scenes to inspire and create the things you make.
I'm going to add the same sentiment here- I think the behind the scenes Sycamore Street and personal 'our little life' stuff is what I'm interested in, although I did really love your q & a's of other artists and find your 'looking lovely' section inspiring too.
I'm a fan of the behind the scenes, looking lovely and our little life posts. It's nice to have you back in action.
I love the behind the scenes too. And shop updates.
And I wanted to also say that I LOVE my alphabet print.
I love reading about what's going on in your life and seeing your own photos. It's so fun to hear what your currents favorites are and see how Ingrid is growing. Of course I love to hear what's new in the shop, and I also like seeing photos of your favorites in design and fashion. Good luck with the nursing! Our number three has done great, but I remember the first time around being so hard!
the "our little life" posts are definitely my favorites, but I like the "looking lovely" ones as well. Glad to see you'll be posting again!
welcome back, mamma! like most of the others, i love those little peeks into your life - because our written correspondence has somewhat slowed (but still going strong!) over the years, i love having this place to pop in and see how you are all getting along. and of course, i've always loved your style and design sentiments, so i love those posts about things you've seen / or like around the place.
and yes! more eva photos. i miss them. x
You have the best taste! - So I really loved seeing your home renovation/design ideas and inspiration as well as your spotlights of other artists and designers.
Personally I would love to see more about letterpress and the ins and outs of your shop and how you work. I also enjoy your posts about things you enjoy across the web. There is nothing better than a steady stream of inspiration from someone who has a great eye.
Behind the scenes stuff and personal photos are always wonderful.
sounds like i'm with everyone else... the blog-stalker in me loves the personal posts [esp posts about baby ingrid!], and the stationery fan in me loves to see the behind-the-scenes stuff -- the basics of your studio, how you design things, the physical art of letterpress, etc. it's so fascinating to see how it all turns out! [maybe i should come visit sometime for a studio spotlight/ stationery place post...jack & ingrid could have a play date :) ]
keep up the great work! :)
Thanks Eva! Kudos to the work you and Sycamore Street do. Love those inside studio peeks:)
Cashmere @ Outblush.com
As an editor for an online personal shopping blog, gotta say, I love the simplistic layout and straightforward navigation. Great for quickly clicking around and getting exactly where I want. The old-timey print aesthetic is clutch, man. On-trend, and in my opinion, timeless. I would like full-frontal, in focus pictures of pieces though. Craftspeople on the DIY revolution train love laying things out at quirky angles and snapping an attractive artsy shot as the primary image, but in my world obscuring a product doesn't fly. An image should concisely convey the true sense of a product, so when I feature it, people get it and are more likely to buy. Don't get me wrong, the quality and resolution of your images are fantastic, and that's much appreciated; all too often, I find my myself wishing for a clear cut marketing style image. Your work is amazing though. I love the drawing style and embossing. Lovely.
I love it all! But more specifically love the behind the scenes type posts and about your life. I love it when self employed families or individuals let you peek in to the day to day work and life.
Thanks so much to everyone who has commented so far. Keep 'em coming! This is really helping. A lot of people are saying thy really like the personal side of things, and that's good, because the post I put up today is about as personal as it gets!
Amanda from Outblush -- that's aweseome how specific you were. I've actually been wanting to take all new photos of my products, and have been wondering the look I want to go for. I was leaning towards a really simple, straightforward look with just a plain white background, and your comment is making me think that that is the right direction.
Anyways, thanks again to everyone who has commented so far. I'd love the feedback to keep coming...
I love your blog, and how you can find style and beauty and inspiration in so many different things. I wouldn't know what to cut, either. Maybe you should cut back on how often you do it, not on what you do. Je t'aime.
Since I am a letterpress printer too, my 2 cents is "behind the scenes",yes, yes, yes!
Tail Wags,
~moose
I love reading "Our Little Life" posts. They always make me smile and it gives Sycamore Street Press such a beautiful, realistic face to go with its unique product.
Friday Favorite are one of my favorites too, as is quote of the week. (for some reason I really love a good quote) The links and ideas that you are currently loving are always fun to check out.
I love luv luv the posts about the stationary shows, your booth and the highlights of the show. AND the "Our place" It's really been fun to see your transformation of your home/studio. I totally dig it.
I have wished so many times that I could actually visit your studio and see you guys at work. Maybe a category about the "ins and outs of Letterpress" or "Letterpress 101" or "did you know" I don't know about anyone else but I think it's such a beautiful process and would love to hear about the "journey" of a print. Like when you did this post: http://www.sycamorestreetpress.com/2010/11/sycamore-street-press-behind-scenes-of.html--
about the calendar. Love it.
Good luck with the juggle of work/baby. So hard sometimes:)
Missed you while you were out.
Love the blog.
Best wishes.
Ok-here goes. I think of myself as a somewhat artistic person with unique interests, talents and photography skills. In reality, I am not, so I just look at your blog and . . . voila, I am able to get a good dose of those things. So when my artistic side is screaming for some input, I can just look at SSP and feel much better.
Friday Favorites is MY favorite, and I would love to see more behind the scenes of SSP. Guest posts give the blog a nice twist. Love the music you share. I could do without the fashion, but that is because I have no fashion sense, but a girl can dream right? :)
Kudos to you!
I think "Hello, I'm Emily Clare" said it perfectly. So my vote is with what she said!
It's hard to single out which blog posts I get the most excited about. Obviously this is a blog for your press and it's why I started reading so I think those are important, and I love the ones about the stationery shows and all your merch and new products. My heart goes pitter patter over your quote illustrations, things that inspire you, and post about your little life.
Basically, I am a fan of all that you post about. I'm a big fan of the "behind the scenes". And, I love the posts on real life stuff, where you talk about being pregnant and showing pictures of your renovations.
Basically, I think you're doing awesome and I'd bet that most of us will love whatever YOU LOVE to post about.
best,
melis
Malinovka is the winner! (email me to claim your prize)
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to make a thoughtful comment. It's much appreciated!
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