We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. It’s all about making a good impression. And just in time for the card-crazy season ahead, Eva Jorgensen of Sycamore Street Press is squeezing in two more Beginning Letterpress Classes this very Saturday!

On November 28, head to Heber and get impressed by letterpress. In four hours, you’ll learn the jist of this cool, ages-old printing method, and leave with your own set of 50 handprinted, made-by-you holiday cards plus envelopes and liners.

The class size is limited to ten, which means you need to sign up soon. (Like, today or maybe tomorrow.) It also means you won’t get stuck staring at the tall guy’s back.

Register by sending an e-mail to eva (at) sycamorestreetpress.com.

{Impressed?}

Beginning Letterpress Class
With Eva Jorgensen
November 28, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 – 7 p.m.
Sycamore Street Press Studio
Heber, Utah
$50 class fee, plus $45 materials fee
www.sycamorestreetpress.com
www.sycamorestreetclasses.blogspot.com

As far as the upcoming holiday season is concerned, you should be all about making a good impression. Lucky for you, letterpress wiz Eva Jorgenson of Sycamore Street Press is heading up a Beginning Letterpress Class just in time for the gift-and-card-crazy season.

On November 14, you can head to her charming studio in Heber and pick up the whosits and whatsits of this thing they call the letterpress. In four hours, you’ll learn the jist of this cool, ages-old printing method, and leave with your own set of handprinted, made-by-you holiday cards.

Not one for rubbing shoulders or staring at the back of the tall guy’s head? Have no fear. This class is limited to ten, so you’ll be able to see all and do all your heart desires. Register by sending an e-mail to eva (at) sycamorestreetpress.com by November 9, 2009.

{Good Impression}

Beginning Letterpress Class
With Eva Jorgensen
November 14, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sycamore Street Press Studio
Heber, Utah
$50 class fee, plus $45 materials fee
www.sycamorestreetpress.com
www.sycamorestreetclasses.blogspot.com

What do you get when you put a perpetual student, recreational aide, waitress, artist, nanny, sandwich-maker, college art instructor and library worker together? Before you get too creative, we’ll tell you. You would get Utah printmaker Eva Jorgensen, the undoubtedly well-rounded mastermind behind uber loved (and deserving) Sycamore Steet Press.

The now-Heber-based letterpress studio is known foremost in the stationery and blogging communities for bringing together true artistic style and cheeky expressions, but also for taking colorful and inventive illustrations to the press—giving any and all access to a really cool print or two from any number of artists.

Our girl Eva, who received a BFA from Brigham Young University and an MFA from the University of Utah, didn’t uncover her love (or talent) for letterpress until she gave Frosty Darling’s stationery rack a gander and thought to herself, “I could do that.”

And how! She and husband Kirk head up Sycamore Street with help from Stephanie Ford, Kristin Mills, Amy Shaffer, Natasha Wheeler and a slew of guest designers. If you want a full run of the gamut, try a membership with the Sycamore Club. Otherwise, get started at her site, Etsy shop, or blog.

Welcome back the land of the Best Snow on Earth, Eva! And now YHO gets the skinny….

Name: Eva Jorgensen

Occupation: Owner/Designer/Printer for an independent letterpress studio

When I grow up, I want to be: What I am now. Only I’d like to add mother, photographer and heirloom gardener to the list.

The best thing about growing up in Utah was: Family and friends

If/when I have 24 hours in Utah, I always:

• Float down the Provo River
• Go to the old school photobooth at Kmart in Orem
• Shop at D.I., Savers or Thriftown
• Check out the zine collection and art exhibit at the SLC Main Library
• Eat dinner at Mazza in SLC, followed by a shake at Dairy Keen in Heber
• See Ok Ikumi and The Boy Who Could Fly

Utah has the best: MLS soccer team, Real Salt Lake!

Now I live in: Heber, Utah

Heber has the best: Clear blue skies

If I could be anywhere right now, it would be: A sandy beach in the Greek Isles

Five hearts:

• Junky Heirloom (the owners/designers Amy and Kristin also design the “Lark” line for Sycamore Street Press)
• Salty caramel ice cream from Jeni’s
• The Simply Radiant blog (Stephanie also designs the “Pop” line for Sycamore Street Press)
• The Clumsy Bird Flickr photostream
• The view of Timp from our studio windows

Five hates:

• Getting out of bed
• Strawberry milk
• Humid summers/humid winters
• Arguing over politics
• The idea of making phone calls (once I’m actually on the phone, I’m alright)

I can’t live without my: To do list

The last party I went to was: Our friends’ wedding at the Columbus Athletic Club

And I wore: A 1950′s-style dress with a mess of pearls and chains hanging from my neck

Favorite product on your site: Kirk’s “Bon Appetit” print for the Sycamore Club

Favorite product on earth: Swedish Hasbeen’s Jodhpur boots

Napkins were made for wiping your mouth and preventing water rings, not passing on your contact info. Ick. Who wants to tuck that old thang in their purse or coatpocket?

Next time you’re at lunch and run into a friend of a friend who know this guy who knows this girl that’s an up-and-comer in the business you wanna be in, don’t even think of reaching for the napkin. You’re a class act, and you know better.

Instead, make an impression and pass along your digits and ‘dresses with these cool letterpressed business cards from Salt Lake’s own Mandate Press. These hip cards come in six customizable designs and are printed on true white durable 110-lb. paper (the kind with the rough texture you like to run your fingers over) in statement-making black ink.

Super sleuths will swoon over the super sleek Secret Agent. Or you might try unleashing your inner superstar (on paper) with the Rockstar. You can keep it cheery with the ironically-named Femme Fatale, or make more mateys with our favorite, the Pirate. You can see all six designs from the Mandate Press here.

A run of 250 cards will cost you less than $100, and custom jobs are available via this link. Rather than plug your digits into her cellie or Berry, your gal might opt to pin your card on the walls of cubicle. Or maybe even hang it on her fridge. And that’s just where you want to be.

YHO Deal: Enter coupon code “heartout” at checkout and you’ll get 10% off your order!

{Pass It On}

Customizable Letterpressed Business Cards
The Mandate Press
1-888-373-7274
print@themandatepress.com
www.themandatepress.com
Get 10% off when you enter “heartout” at checkout

Check out the letterpress goods of local lady Karisa Winkel. Though each has no-doubt been tailored to her clients’ wants and needs, we love that her designs are colorful and classy with a nice tough of unexpected fashion-forwardness.

Commissioned invitations like “Emily” from her wedding collection are case-in-point. Also check out the unusual and artsy appeal of “Andolyn.” Another great example? Be sure to check out the “Kerilyn.”

Karisa Winkel Designs also do personal stationery, die-cutting, corner-rounding and other fancy things. Check out the list of services here.

Just because we can’t pronounce it doesn’t mean we can’t love Athenaeum Press.

Salt Lake letterpresser Peder Singleton is keeping it real and keeping it local—and we feel a sort of affinity with him because he has the same fascination with antiquated structures and old signage that we do.

And he’s doing that old stuff a service that we applaud. Singleton is preserving bits and pieces of Salt Lake on paper, giving them new light with mixed ink and lead type. His latest undertaking is to complete a print of each letter in the alphabet, each pulled from dated business signs around the valley—the kind that would flicker with neon light or hum at night.

We also love Singleton for admitting “The [letterpress] machines alone were amongst the sexiest things I had ever seen.” Sometimes, you just know. So Singleton did, and luckily, we can all have a piece of his art. Check out his online store here. You can learn more about his process here.