Sycamore Street Press by guest Eva Jorgensen

Sycamore Street Press

Sycamore Street Press got its start a couple of years ago on the brick paved Sycamore Street in Columbus, Ohio. We moved to Columbus so that Kirk could study Slavic Linguistics at Ohio State, and I tried unsuccessfully to find a teaching position. Looking around for something else to do with my degree, I started getting serious about printing on the vintage Vandercook letterpress sitting in our dining room (while also juggling a job in a stationery shop). Soon I began collaborating with some of my graphic designer friends, and Kirk would help whenever he had time.

Sycamore Street Press

Fast forward a year and a half: I had quit my retail gig, we’d schlepped our paper goods to about a dozen craft fairs, shown in the National Stationery Show, spent many late nights printing, and met a lot of great people along the way. Around that time, Kirk finished up his degree at OSU, and instead of looking for a job elsewhere, we decided that he would join Sycamore Street Press full time. We made the move back to Utah, and set up shop in Heber City.

Sycamore Street Press is divided up into 5 collections/projects:

Sycamore Street Press

I make the hand drawn illustrations for the {Folk} collection.

Sycamore Street Press

Amy Shaffer and Kristin Mills write and design the {Lark} collection.

Sycamore Street Press

Stephanie Ford designs the {Pop} collection.

Sycamore Street Press

Each month, we ask a different artist to collaborate with us on a limited edition letterpress print. They create the artwork, and then we print them and sell them. We call this project the Sycamore Club. The prints above are by Jamie Tallerico, Michéle Brummer-Everett, Kari Jorgensen, and Kirk Jorgensen (clockwise from top left).

Sycamore Street Press

Although we don’t have an official “custom collection” yet, we've done quite a bit of custom letterpress printing and design for clients. The designs above are by Zuzanna Audette (with hand lettering by me), Kristin Mills, Stephanie Ford, and Kristin Mills (with hand drawn map and hand lettering by me.) (clockwise from top left).

Sycamore Street Press

Please stop by my blog sometime for more letterpress goodness, giveaways, artist interviews, and more : http://evajorgensen.blogspot.com/

Or take a look at our website / shop / twitter / facebook / flickr

Thank you to everyone for stopping by, and thanks especially to Rachel for having me over! I hope you all have a great weekend! -- Eva

14 comments:

Eva / Sycamore Street Press said...

Oops! I forgot to give credit for the top photo to Christine Pollock, and the second photo down to Zuzanna Audette. The painting in second photo down is by Chelsea Hertford Taylor. Those are some talented ladies, and I don't want to leave them out!

Thanks again Rachel! It's been such an honor to be a part of your blog this week!

Saltina said...

Great back story, very inspiring. Love your work and collaborations!

Hena Tayeb said...

love you work.

Mlle Paradis said...

What a great story. Congratulations. It's nice that you're able to mix it up and bring different people in. Good luck!

Joanna said...

Such an interesting and inspiring story! I'm a huge fan of the Lark collection (which, incidentally, is the name of my blog). I snapped up that "woot woot" card when I saw it recently since I'm so fond of owls and I don't quite know why. Perhaps because they represent learning and wisdom and are also a touch scary, which makes them so fascinating!

Thrush Vintage said...

What a nice back story, and I absolutely love the studio space.

Anonymous said...

really adorable work! I especially love the owl piece. great.

WRISTIELOVE said...

thanks for sharing your story! great studio!

sana

Mary Grace Thomas @ Test of Time said...

So glad to know about Sycamore Street Press...I love sending hand-written notes and their cards are just beautiful...

Alice Q. Foodie said...

I was just about to do a post about them, and then this showed up in my reader! Got xmas cards from them last year and LOVED them - just bought the peacock print, and was contemplating the fortune tellers for party favors. Love love love and fun to hear it from the source!

leni said...

I'm on a mission to create the Ultimate Happy Playlist. Please help me out by letting me know what song instantly makes you happy when you hear it!

http://leni.typepad.com/life/2009/11/on-a-mission-i-need-your-help-please.html.html

Unknown said...

that wall color in the last photo is GREAT--what IS that??!!

Eva / Sycamore Street Press said...

Those are foam core walls we had at the National Stationery Show in pantone # 424.

Brenda said...

I've admired your work on Etsy for quite aome time now so it is great to learn more about you and to see that you have a blog. I'll be bookmarking it immediately. Love the name of your company... German Village is such an inspiring place!

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