Product Enhancements

Marbled Paper Lantern Box

Top: closed box; Bottom: open box

I rarely miss the chance to take a workshop from instructor, Steve Pittelkow when he is in town teaching at Asheville BookWorks. He is an amazing marbler and wonderful teacher. I especially recommend his multi-day classes where you spend a day or two creating papers and then another day building a box or book using those papers.

The Lantern Box project was the first project where I designed a sheet of marbled paper specifically for the box. I wanted the inside and outside of the box to be covered using one piece of paper which would flow together, but have distinctly different colors. I used a freehand technique to pull the marbling ink into the flowing shapes I desired vs. using a combing technique to make a specific pattern.

The box itself was an interesting one to make. It is a double walled hexagon shape with curved exterior walls and straight interior ones. It is actually not as crazy hard as it looks, but like all boxes I’ve made cutting carefully and patience in the assembly is needed. The end result is colorful and remarkably sturdy.

Essential Journeys Bicycle Jersey

Short sleeve and sleeveless examples of the Essential Journeys Bicycle Jersey. Photo by rebecca d'angelo, courtesy Essential Journeys.

Kimberly, owner of Essential Journeys, is an avid bicyclist. When she isn’t making her wonderful soaps she is usually out on the road with a group of friends riding around Asheville, or off leading a group of bicyclists on an Alaskan adventure.

So to combine her two passions she asked me to design a bicycle jersey that would be fun, colorful and promote Essential Journeys.

We started with the base art from label designs for the floral pattern on the front and sleeves. We made one sleeve green and one purple – why not, much more interesting then both the same.

On the back we used her biking diva logo and added bright sun rays behind her. The back pocket list her product lines and of course the website URL. Another fun feature of the jerseys are words up the sides: “Soap Pedaler” and “Petroleum Free.”

The jerseys are offered in short sleeve and sleeveless options in cuts for both women and men. For information on ordering, visit Essential Journeys online shop: Bicycle section where you can order jerseys as well as matching arm warmers.