Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Sycamore, available exclusively at Coroco Coffee.
15 oz ceramic mugMicrowave safeDishwasher safe
Community
Sycamore is a proud county-seat community known for its courthouse square, Victorian homes, and traditions that bring neighbors together. The historic downtown, Pumpkin Festival, local museum, and Spartan spirit create a hometown character residents recognize and visitors are happy to discover.
The collaboration
Sycamore holds memories from several important seasons of my life. I attended church there while studying at Northern Illinois University, and after graduation and marriage, my husband and I lived in Sycamore for a little over a year. Those early years of marriage brought friendships and a lasting affection for the community.
We loved the Pumpkin Festival and even participated in the Pumpkin Run. One especially sweet memory reaches back to college, when my husband and I spent our first one-on-one time together taking a break from finals and playing with puppies at a Sycamore pet store.
I created the mug as a passion project because I wanted something meaningful to give friends. Karen at Coroco Coffee was excited to carry it, and collaborating with her has been wonderful. She later began carrying the St. Charles Mug at Coroco’s St. Charles location as well.
The story behind the mug
Inside the illustration
The historic DeKalb County Courthouse stands on West State Street in Sycamore, the county seat.
Sycamore’s Pumpkin Festival grew from Wally Thurow’s 1956 front-yard display into a town-wide celebration centered on decorated pumpkins.
The Sycamore History Museum evolved into the DeKalb County History Center in 2018, continuing its work at historic Engh Farm.
The Spartan mascot unites Sycamore’s public schools, sports teams, students, and graduates under one community identity.
Journal · Behind the drawing
Church, college memories, and local landmarks meet in this drawing.
Read the story
