Handmade Album Packaging from Portland, Oregon

Who says that only lunch can come in a brown paper bag?
We've been creating boutique album packaging for local musicians utilizing paper lunch bags since 2008. There are several noteworthy highlights to this unique packaging.



First, it's completely plastic free, so the entire thing can be recycled. Second, holding one of our matchbook style album packages is like holding a piece of art in your hands, it just feels good. Third, because the packaging is completely handmade we can't offer quantity breaks, but we can (and do) offer them with no minimum order.
(Image: Justin Potts / Mysterious Dot. Art, layout & design by justin potts.)



This is perfect for new bands, youth bands and small scale projects looking to produce affordable small run albums – usually from 50-200 pieces. We also offer simple, customized items such as lyric sheets and band stickers.
(Image: Mistral / Promontory with music sheet insert. Packaging by infinity arts.)




We've created packaging for local indie bands in a wide range of genres - rock, metal, rap, blues and folk. We're enthusiastic about music of all kinds and the art that goes with it.
(Image: Portland band Alligator Vs Crocodile took one look at our pkg and and thought, "Hand Puppet!" Pkg by infinity arts.)


Matchbook style album packaging provides musicians with 4 panels in which to display art, conceptual ideas, information, credits and song titles – plenty of space to visually complete a musical masterpiece.

(Image: Raise the Bridges / Fuel for Recreation...our first! Art, design and pkg by justin potts.)

In addition to album packaging, we also offer in-house art and design services. This is true whether you go with our handmade packaging or you prefer digipak or jewel case packaging from another company – we have experience designing for both.

(Image: CC Crowe & the Crowtones / 8-panel digipak + booklet. Art and layout design by justin potts of infinity arts.)

We encourage the use of client-provided art. So if a band already has art for the album, we give layout specs and just take the files straight to production. To see more images and art, check out the album packaging slide show on our website.

(Image: Plum Sutra / A Natural History of Lemurs - packaging by infinity arts.)

Mixed Media Collages Utilize Recycled Wood Cutting Boards

The Bird Women are a mixed media series I've been working on since 2007. I love to read books about cultural history. I'm the nerdy one who reads all of the references at the back to find out what I want to read next. This is how I first came across Riane Eisler's book, The Chalice and the Blade. This book was like mana for me. It spoke to me, expressing many of my feelings and clarifying historical truths about what it means to be a woman.

From The Chalice and the Blade, I discovered another remarkable woman, Marija Gimbutas, an archeologist born in Lithuania and educated in Germany. She emigrated to the U.S. In 1949 and taught first at Harvard, then at UCLA. Her books, The Language of the Goddess and The Civilization of the Goddess are fascinating accounts of prehistoric Old Europe, outlining societies that were both matriarchal and egalitarian. Much of the archetypal symbols found in these books have made their way into my goddess collage art.

In addition to reading, I'm also a huge fan of a beautiful cutting board. Bamboo is my favorite material, but I'm also instantly hooked by cutting boards that mix dark and light woods. Mmmm - makes the food taste better when it's chopped on a beautiful board by an appreciative cook.

So where does a cutting board go when its utilitarian life comes to an end? I hope it's coming to me to be recycled! I loved the concept from Daniel Quinn's Ishmael books that humanity's big troubles began with the locking up and control of the food by a few.

As for the goddess worshiping cultures, with their nurturing, life sustaining and honoring ways....their time was clearly the time before the food was locked up. So, what better background to use as the foundation for representing this time in history than a well-used cutting board?

As happens with art, these Bird Women collages have taken on a life of their own. They seem to have a story to tell. The story is told in short snippets and alluring phrases that hopefully cause the observer to either say 'amen!' or 'I never thought about it that way before'. I've attempted to restore something of the sacredness and reverence for life that these early cultures embodied, while highlighting the importance of storytelling to ancient and modern cultures all over the planet.

I'm not overly focused on selling the collages at the moment, but there are 10 listed in my bird women etsy store, if you'd like to see them. I'm also listing a few art prints of the original pen, ink and watercolor drawings and prints of the Bird Woman Coloring Book. Enjoy!

Music Based Art for the Artful Musician

Back in early 2011 two longtime friends who live across the country from each other got together over the phone and brainstormed a joint artistic endeavor. Justin Potts and Tom Meyers met in high school where one was obsessed with drawing and the other with the darkroom. The common passions that brought them together and keep them close are making art and making music. They named the venture Artful Musician, a small business focusing on art prints that cater to other lovers of art and music. You can find their 'sister' Etsy shops by following the links below. (click on individual images for specific pricing information.)

Tom's Etsy shop, www.artfulmusicianny.etsy.com, features a gorgeous array of music inspired art prints based on Tom's original photography and polaroid transfer art.

He captures the vintage artistry of brands like Fender, Vox, Marshall, Gibson, Orange and Moog. A range of musical gear is represented: microphones, headphones, speakers, amplifiers as well as guitar, bass, drums, band and classical instruments.

Fine art prints are available as 11x14, 8x10 or 5x7, as well as ACEO print packs of 10...all at extremely affordable prices.

Justin's Etsy shop, www.artfulmusician.etsy.com, features art prints based primarily on photo collage, though his watercolor and ink drawings make appearances, too.

Justin's detailed and dreamy musical collages are created from original drawings, paintings, old photographs and other imagery. They're filled with guitars, drums, bass, piano, harp, choirs and composers.

This musical art is available as 11x14, 8x10 or 5x7 prints. You can also choose from several music themed sticker sets. Justin's shop also features his beautiful altered guitars and art-ified drum heads.

Nature Inspired Art Clock Commissions

One rewarding aspect of making art clocks over the years is the opportunity to design and create clocks on commission. For about 7 years I've been working with L'Attitude Gallery in Boston to create custom wall clocks for the Boston Children's Hospital. I've made giant dragonflies, an airplane, a sailboat, a giant crab, three horizontal cityscape clocks and, more recently, I created several “Ode to Trees” block clocks.

“Ode to Trees 2” is a 30-inch-long wall clock rendered in various shades of orange and green. Two whimsical trees painted on 3” square blocks make up the center of the clock body. A whole lot of love goes into these clocks. The tree designs are carefully drawn in black marker, then painted with layers of color washes to create a surreal environment. Contemporary numbers are drawn on the clock face in gold paint marker. The clocks feature an open window near the bottom that houses a swinging pendulum. Black and gold scalloped patterns decorate every circle opening.

The inspiration for the 'Ode' clocks comes from my love of nature, particularly trees. I live in a place (Portland, Oregon, USA) where trees are abundant. All kinds of trees. Walking around (and around) my neighborhood with our border collie pup, I have plenty of opportunities to take notice of the variety of trees that grow and thrive here. A mild climate paired with steady rainfall make for a very happy tree community. Towering heritage elms overhang the width of a street, creating forever shade. Delicate Japanese maples provide the focal point for many a landscape. Not to mention the wide variety of pine trees...

Of course, one thing always leads to another, and at the start of 2012 I found myself 'branching out', if you will. I was commissioned to create a wall clock in the Ode style, but with whimsical flowers instead of trees. The challenge with custom work is usually the color palette and this project was no different. The intended room was a nursery and images of art on the walls and a rug were my starting point – and the Ode to Trees design, of course. In the end I came up with these fun, stylized flower designs, complete with a butterfly on one stem. I chose a mountain motif for the flowers' backdrop and a sunset for the sky. And so, the “Ode to Flowers (numero uno)” was born!

Etsy: Do It Yourself @ the Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland

Tonight is First Thursday and the perfect time to check out the Etsy: DIY exhibit in the Community Showcase at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the Pearl District. This exhibition will be on display in The Lab from now until March 6, which means you can go check it out the First Thursday in March as well!

Justin, Jonah and I were fortunate to be included amongst other Portland-based Etsy crafters with two of our DIY iron-on art transfers. Jonah, who is 9-years-old, has sold his art on etsy for 2 years and Justin and I are honored to have our iron-on sit next to his in the case.


We hope to post more videos/photos once we get a chance to see it ourselves.
We'd like to thank Kat Perez for highlighting etsy crafters and putting together such a lovely exhibit.

Monsters, Gift Bags & Patches - Recycled, Upcycled at The Village Art Show

The Village, a non-profit promoting the sharing of art and culture, and also a spin off on Northwest Share, is holding its first ever art show this Saturday, August 15 from 2 to 6 pm at 4144 SE 60th Ave, next to Coffee Lovers.



Because we live so close, Jonah and I thought it would be fun to participate in this free community event, meet a few artists and art lovers (as well as coffee lovers, right?) and share some of our newest creations.



I'll be offering a selection of one-of-a-kind embroidered patches that make use of fabric scraps and garage sale embroidery floss.





Jonah will be offering his practically famous DIY monster iron-ons, monster cards and a selection of his watercolor art.




Last but not least, my reusable cloth gift bags will be available for sale. They come in several sizes and all sorts of fun materials from sample upholstery to upcycled scraps from my grandma!

The Seven Virtues...

Justin is showing his work at a sweet little coffee shop on NE Glisan (and 59th Ave) in Portland called 7 Virtues. You can stop in for coffee and a bakery treat, enjoy the mystical back wall mural by Kelsey, friendly barista and resident artist, lounge on the comfy couches or bring your crumb-crunchers to the child's play area in the back. Whatever you do, just look up at the walls and gaze in wonder at the beautiful collages and paintings by Justin Potts. If you are so inclined, confer with the baristas and claim one of these fine pieces for your own! Justin's work will show until mid-September!
Here's a peak:

That's me in the bottom right corner, stirring up a lethal concoction of half-and-half and decaf americano....lethal.

The collage display.

The paintings.

Justin and Jonah (goofing off) enjoying hot chocolate and a cup of Joe.

Being the multi-talented man that he is, the counter at 7 Virtues also holds a display of Justin's cd, Eohippus, and a selection of his original art cards.

Dave and Kai demonstrating how to use the toys in the kiddie section.

Justin and Mary in front of Kelsey's enchanting mural.

Eco Dolls, Eco-Friendly, EcoLeeko

As some of you may know, over the last year, Justin and I have dedicated ourselves to the concept of "Going Green". With that in mind, I have begun seeking out other artists who are passionate about sustainability and picking their brains to find new solutions to old problems (namely waste and replacing earth "unfriendly" materials with friendlier ones).

[Monkeeko plush doll / $40]

EcoLeeko is owned and operated by fabulous fiber artist, Suzanne Lappan. I have known Suzanne for almost 10 years and in that time I have been lucky enough to lay my eyes on her many beautiful creations, from intricate art quilts, to sequined peacock art dolls, to these lovely, earth-friendly plushie toys for children and babes.

[PlatyWoo plush doll / $40]

Suzanne begins with sustainable (read: bamboo fabric), organic fabrics (read: cotton grown without pesticides), which are then hand-dyed, stuffed with such strange and foreign-sounding things as kapok fiber, walnut shells, and buckwheat hulls, embellished with soy/wool blend yarn, and lovingly sewn together one-by-one. She has carefully researched and found each piece of her process to make toys that are as friendly as possible to the environment and to the children who will love them.

[Waddle plush doll / $40]

The dolls really speak for themselves, but what I'm most interested in, is the materials, meticulously chosen by Sue for their eco-friendliness and sustainability, that go into making them. So, I decided to get Sue's eco-thoughts about making eco-friendly products.

[Ellybo plush doll / $40]

My interview with Suzanne:

How far do you think it is necessary to take the idea of offering completely earth-friendly and sustainable products?

For Me personally with Ecoleeko, I feel it's extremely important. Everyone who makes anything has to decide for themselves how to make what they do and if earth friendly materials are necessary or even feasible for them. For example, if you work with metal or photography, I don't know if you really have many choices..As far as Ecoleeko products, I want to offer items made with all natural materials and want to educate people as consumers about textiles and the materials that are used in products they buy. I made it my pledge to use no plastic based inks, no manmade fibers, no polyester thread or notions, and there are plenty of alternatives out there. I only use natural fibers, organic cotton thread, hemp or soy yarn and only use 100% recycled paper for hangtags or correspondence. I also recently acquired recycled tissue and biodegradable cotton paper curling ribbon.

[Ladybug crib rattle / $16]

What sacrifices do you make, as an artist/business woman, to bring people handmade, eco-friendly products?

I guess you sacrifice ease of buying any supplies! I can't just go to the store and buy fabric or thread. I basically need to seek out any materials I use from the web. Everything I use I had to find first by researching out materials and finding a supplier. Anyone who makes anything handmade can tell you that you feel like you sacrifice a lot of extra time and money to do what you love to do. I guess it's just something you accept. You also sacrifice limiting your market. Some people don't really recognize the difference between a non organic cotton doll made in a factory to an organic cotton doll handmade by one person. I feel that can change by educating people about what they buy, what it's made from and where it comes from.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to making eco-friendly products?

Really, again, I think it's the lack of education as a consumer buying a product that is made of polyester, stuffed with plastic, sewn with polyester, printed with plastic, with plastic bead filling and plastic eyes vs. an all natural handmade item. When someone sees a factory made product for 30$ cheaper than the organic, they feel like: 'what's the point in spending more?' The biggest obstacle is probably the price of an item made in a factory vs. an item I hand make and the lack of knowledge about what items are made from and how. That's probably true for anyone making anything earth friendly or anything handmade for that matter! The need to explain your materials and why you use them is crucial for your product and for people to learn about them. I know some people say the cost of materials is an obstacle, but I found that once you find your materials, it is possible to do it all eco friendly and not spend a fortune. If you are dedicated, you can find a way.

[Snail crib rattle / $16]

How transparent should a company who claims to be eco-friendly be about the sources of their materials and how do you think this information affects your customer's buying decisions?

I feel a company should be totally honest about what they use. I'm an open book with everything I use and want it to be that way. I try my best and know I will continue to get better. It's important for me but I can't speak for other companies. I would like to think any company who makes eco friendly anything would be honest and outright about their materials and practices. I love it when customers remark on why they purchased or how they feel about it. It's good to see people thinking about what they are buying and what it's made of.

[Seahorse crib rattle / $16]

Do you think people are more likely to buy a product that claims to be earth-friendly, organic, etc., over a product that is merely handmade?

I don't know if there is really any competition between the two. You can buy a factory made eco friendly bamboo bike but there may not be a "handmade" counterpoint to choose from. It's all about what you are looking for. My dolls are handmade, just the same as any other handmade doll. They just happen to be made out of natural materials, which is important to a growing number of people now, which is good for the environment and the human race at large!

Do you have any more ideas for Ecoleeko in the works?

I do and they go on and on..I have to reel my imagination in and start out with just a few ideas to stay sane. I just started to make organic cotton terry bath mittens for kids. I hope to post them on my site next week.

And, voila! Here they are:

[AliEco / alligator terry bath buddy hand mitten / $14]

[Flipeco / dolphin terry bath buddy hand mitten / $14]

[Solar / polar bear terry bath buddy hand mitten / $14]

[Ippo / hippo terry bath buddy hand mitten / $14]

Why do you love dolls so much (just for fun!)?

'Cause I'm sick! Ha! I don't know, my aunt made me a life-size doll when I was young, my first grade teacher invited us all to her house and she had a whole room full of old dolls, I loved to play with barbies when I was little, I started collecting old dolls and doll heads, I have a thing for all kinds of faces, in ceramics, drawing...it goes on and on... I guess for me they take on a life of their own...ok, I'm not crazy...but they do seem to become their own thing. It can be pretty powerful for a child or anyone who's open to it. Dolls can be friends, security, comfort, sculpture, art or decoration...just to name a few...ok, maybe I am crazy!!!

I definitely don't think she's crazy and I'm so inspired by her dedication to offering handmade products that are as earth-friendly as possible. You can read more about the materials she uses and why she chooses them here. More about Suzanne: She was recently interviewed by a wonderful "green" blog called Recycle Your Day (read it!) and her art dolls have also been featured in Art Doll Quarterly magazine.
You can find Suzanne's plush dolls, rattles and bath mits at: ecoleeko.com / ecoleeko.etsy.com and her wonderful art quilts and art dolls at: mishmoshart.com

The Wedding Gift Clock

I know it's been a little while since I've posted, but don't think I haven't been working, and then some....we recently moved (that's mostly the work I was referring to...) back to the east side of Portland, which I am very happy about. I miss the tall, tall trees and the acre for Jonah (our 8 yr. old son) to romp in, but being able to walk and bike to virtually everything has us revisiting the idea of giving up our vehicle - that and the $4.33 per gallon of gasoline!
I wanted to show off my latest earth-friendly clock design. It is another tall one - 6" x 24" - and it was made as a gift for friends of ours who got married in April. I always like making something new for somebody and then offering it as part of my line. So, in the spirit of the rest of my earth-friendly wall clock designs, here is the "Rising Song Long" in barn red and pumpkin orange! (Oh, and it'll be available on our website soon!)

"Rising Song Long" pendulum wall clock [barn red/pumpkin orange/taupe] / 6" x 24" / $115

...and, a close-up...