Sycamore Street Press: 03.2011

sycamore street press ///// Coming Soon...

Although we're taking a break from the National Stationery Show in NYC this year, we're still coming up with pretty (we hope!) new letterpress goods for 2011. Steph, Amy, Kris, and I have been hard at work on the designs, and Kirk is up to his armpits in printing. It's an exciting time of year. I can't wait to show you all the new things!

Click here to see our booth at last year's show.
And here for the year before that (our debut).

p.s. You could win a letterpress print over on our Facebook page.

sound + vision ///// Scrap & Spunk Mix

The songs on this mix are the kind that make you jump up and down in a stifling basement on a Midwestern summer's night. I really wanted to put Jawbreaker's Kiss the Bottle on there, too, but for some reason 8 tracks wouldn't let me upload it.

///// Scrap & Spunk //////

1. Honky Tonk Women ///// Ike & Tina Turner
2. Big Dipper ///// Built to Spill
3. Holland, 1945 ///// Neutral Milk Hotel
4. Ever Fallen In Love? ///// The Buzzcocks
5. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker [Original ABC Single Version] ///// The Ramones
6. Love And Hate ///// The Crabs
7. Future Nun ///// The Boy Who Could Fly
8. Living Life ///// Daniel Johnston
9. Ten Things ///// Paul Baribeau
10. Tally Ho ///// The Clean
11. Is This Love? ////// Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Listen to it here.

p.s. I just realized that my friends Claire and Amanda introduced me to over half of the bands on this mix. Thanks gals.

style snapshot ///// Mormon Fashion Bloggers

image ///// Kristine. or Polly

I knew that that a whole world of Mormon mommy bloggers existed. (Design Mom, Nie Nie, etc...) But I had no idea there was a whole community of Mormon fashion bloggers! This fact was brought to my attention just last week when I saw an image from The Daybook on Cup of Jo and decided to follow the link. Did you know about this phenomenon? Am I just behind the times?

In any case, I'm loving these girls' style... It's not always easy to dress modestly without looking dowdy. But instead they look pretty and demure. Nicely done. Now I just need to find a fashion blogger who looks this good while camouflaging a post-baby tummy.

image ///// Kristine. or Polly

image ///// I'm Clothed Much

image ///// The Daybook

looking lovely ///// Bonjour Hello

Thanks to Abby, I just discovered Michelle Gow's gorgeous photographs. See more on her flickr stream, "Bonjour Hello".

This dog looks a little familiar, doesn't he?

Friday Favorites

Home of Bonnee Sharp in Rue Magazine ///// Photography: Steve Wrubel ///// Styling: Jenny O'Connor

a few of my current favorites /////

+ fun decor ideas out of Rue Magazine

+ Nico singing Femme Fatale

+ the way my little one looks up at me, smiles, and coos

+ LMNOP online magazine (via momfilter)

+ homemade breakfast sandwiches

+ I want to go to there

Interior design: Kriste Michelini ///// Rue Magazine ///// Photography: Sean Dagen

our place ///// Corners of My Home

Things are still getting slowly organized around here. I'm trying to focus on the little vignettes here and there that I like, rather than get overwhelmed by the somewhat chaotic whole.

credits: top photo: paper dolls thanks to Becca, 2nd photo: socks by Trumpette, 3rd photo: linoprinter thanks to Nikki, 5th photo: photo frame by Junky Heirloom.

looking lovely ///// Bash, Please in Rue Magazine

The newest issue of Rue Magazine is pretty great! But I can't help but love the spread of Bash, Please the best. (Photography ///// Laure Joliet)

wrapped up in books ///// Seasons by Blexbolex

Ingrid and I have been enjoying Seasons by Blexbolex thanks to a little friend.

giving back ///// Hearts + Hands for Japan

HEARTS + HANDS is a community effort organized by Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press. What has happened and is happening in Japan is heartbreaking – and we believe there are ways, both big and small, to help. This is what we are able to do – from the heart, made by our hands.

In 48 hours, fifty independent artists and studios (including Sycamore Street Press) have agreed to donate prizes for the raffle – and that list is still growing. Raffle tickets are for sale now at www.heartsandhandsforjapan.blogspot.com for $10 each.

100% of the proceeds from the HEARTS + HANDS raffle will be donated to relief efforts in Japan in the aftermath of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.

Please help spread the word!

style snapshot ///// Of Another Fashion

Image ///// Ansel Adams via Of Another Fashion

Have you seen the beautiful & important new blog called Of Another Fashion? I read about it over on Margaret's blog, and I've already spent every spare minute today immersed in it. According to its author, Minh Ha T. Phan, It's an "archive of the... too often ignored fashion histories of U.S. women of color".

Ms. Phan is accepting more photos and stories for the archive. Margaret is going to submit photos of her mother. I think I'll submit photos of my great grandmother. How about you?

Image ///// Shukla Reyes via Of Another Fashion

Image ///// The Black History Album via Of Another Fashion

style snapshot ///// Stuart & Wright

Shoes by NDC at Stuart & Wright

I found some beautiful shoes over at Stuart & Wright. And how great is the display/styling?!

Shoes by Rachel Comey at Stuart & Wright

on the road ///// I Had a Farm in Africa...

Film still via TMDb

Out of Africa is one of those hauntingly beautiful movies you can't get out of your head. Ever since seeing it (and reading Beryl Markham's West With the Night) I've wanted to travel to the countryside of East Africa. And I wouldn't mind staying in this tree house hotel...

Film still via TMDb

image ///// Ngong House

p.s. Design*Sponge did a "living in" column on Out of Africa a while back. So lovely...

Japan On My Mind

The art workshop put on by Sunshine to you and Hello Sandwich looks like it was a happy, creative affair. See more photos and read the whole story over on Hello Sandwich.
....................................................................................................................................................................

It seems crazy that one day, people were going about their normal business, putting on workshops like this one, and the next day a wall of water was sweeping across the Japanese coast, and quake after quake made the earth crack and shake. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. One of my cousins and one of my best friends live in the affected area. They are both safe, but there are many who are not so fortunate. The American Red Cross is taking donations for the relief effort, and I heard that Lady Gaga is even selling bracelets to raise funds. How else can we help?

Friday Favorites

image ///// Angela Liguori

A few of my current favorites /////

+ this italian cotton ribbon is so much prettier than that plastic-y kind that you curl

+ the sound of this experimental folk band reminds me of Ohio somehow

+ fun lo-fi camera app (you don't need an iPhone for this one!) via Poppytalk via Camilla Engman

+ I just started this workout earlier this week, and it's kicking my butt! Next, I want to try the one (also by Tracy) that GP coincidentally talked about on Goop this week.

+ Get a pretty new thing and help a family adopt by participating in this auction. Our La Vie en Rose print and Bonjour Frenchie print are there along with lots more fantastic handmade goodies. Hurry -- it ends tomorrow!

+ this chic little book

looking lovely ///// Celebrities Playing Tennis

Did you know that my sister Caroline and I lived, breathed, ate, and slept tennis while we were growing up? We'd often play at 6 in the morning, and then another 3 - 4 hours after classes let out. In the summer, and on Saturdays during the school year, we'd be at the courts all day long. We were on the high school team and traveled to USTA regional tournaments, chasing the rankings.

Caroline ended up going to nationals, and tennis paid her way through college. She was a natural, and had a real passion for the sport. But I mostly played for the camaraderie and the stubborn desire to keep up with my little sister. By the end of high school, I'd burned out. I said no to the chance to play college ball, and never really looked back.

These photos from old issues of Life Magazine are making me feel a bit nostalgic, though...

Images / Life