When Tinselbox invited me to be their featured artist for April, I knew instantly that it would be a special project. The timing couldn’t have been more serendipitous. With Earth Day just around the corner, we had the perfect opportunity to merge creativity with care for the planet in a way that felt truly meaningful. Tinselbox has built its name on curating beautifully intentional gift boxes that go beyond the expected. Each box is crafted like a small celebration, a love letter to artistry, wonder, and thoughtfulness. They don’t just send products; they send experiences that surprise and inspire their subscribers each month.
As someone who values conscious creativity and functional beauty, collaborating with Tinselbox felt like an extension of my philosophy. I’ve always believed that art can be more than aesthetic can be useful, sustainable, and carry deeper emotional resonance. That’s exactly what we set out to accomplish with this project. Our goal wasn’t to create another disposable keepsake. We wanted something lasting. Something you’d carry, reuse, and cherish. That’s how the "Treat Yo Self" reusable tote bag came to life. From concept to creation, it was built with sustainability in mind and a dose of joyful personality.
This tote wasn’t just another canvas bag. It was designed to be an everyday companion, locally printed by Seen Merch in Kansas Citymasters of their craft who bring creative visions to life with eco-conscious printing methods. The design itself blends whimsy and wit with a gentle reminder: treat yourself kindly, treat the planet kindly. It’s practical enough for groceries, charming enough for farmer’s market strolls, and resilient enough for daily errands. What I love most is that it doesn’t scream "eco-product." It simply whispers intention through its form and function. It invites you to live with awareness while still having fun, which is at the heart of mindful gifting.
Being part of this collaboration made me realize just how powerful small objects can be when they’re infused with thought, story, and soul. It’s easy to forget, in our age of instant gratification, that beauty and utility can live side by side. This project reawakened that understanding in me, and it reminded me why I choose to create the way I do.
Earth Day Inspiration in Every Detail
The April Tinselbox wasn’t just about featuring an artist or highlighting a product. It was about curating an entire experience that reflected the essence of Earth Dayquiet reflection, renewed connection, and joyful stewardship of the natural world. The team behind the box thoughtfully selected each piece to weave a narrative around growth, gratitude, and conscious living. And the result was nothing short of magical.
Opening this box was like unwrapping a spring morning. You could sense the careful hands and curious minds that had come together to create it. Nestled alongside the "Treat Yo Self" tote was an array of delightful surprises, each chosen not just for its charm, but for its alignment with values that honor the Earth. One of the standout inclusions was a set of die-cut seed boxes containing mint, tomatoes, and chives. These weren’t just any seed packets. Each came with biodegradable starter pots, inviting recipients to get their hands in the soil and begin their own mini gardens. It wasn’t about gardening expertise; it was about participation in planting literal seeds of change, and watching something grow from your care.
Another gem inside the box was a journal, cleverly repurposed from a discarded library book. Its cover carried the wear and warmth of many hands before, and its new blank pages offered fresh beginnings. To me, that journal symbolized transformation. What was once cast aside became a space for dreaming again. That’s a metaphor I carry into my own artistic the idea that we can reimagine and revive what already exists, giving it a new voice and new purpose.
Completing the box were Earth Day-inspired stationery pieces, delicately designed with spring motifs and soft, inviting textures. These weren’t just for writingthey were for reconnecting. Whether penning a note to a friend, jotting down a moment of gratitude, or sketching the first green bud outside your window, these pieces were invitations to slow down and notice. That, to me, is the soul of sustainable creativity. It doesn’t shout. It listens. It nudges. It reflects.
What struck me most was how these seemingly small items formed such a cohesive whole. They didn’t feel random or commercially bundled. Instead, they felt like chapters of the same story one building on the next to create a moment that lingered long after the box was opened. For someone like me, who is surrounded by art daily, this box still managed to surprise me. It wasn’t just about the aesthetics. It was about encouraging a mindset shift. A gentle redirection back to intention, back to delight, and back to the Earth beneath our feet.
Mindful Living Through Meaningful Design
What this collaboration reinforced for me is that sustainable gifting is far more than a trend. It’s a meaningful cultural shift toward valuing the story behind the item, the hand that made it, and the intention it carries into the world. In a time when mass production often overshadows originality, thoughtful design becomes an act of resistance and also a form of celebration. It affirms that beauty can have purpose, and that art can be a vehicle for values without compromising joy.
Tinselbox’s approach is a testament to how brands can lead with heart and still deliver exceptional product experiences. They aren’t just in the business of selling things. They’re in the business of storytelling, of connecting people with pieces that matter. That’s why I was so proud to be part of this Earth Day offering. It allowed me to contribute to something bigger than myself. To use my creativity not just to make, but to give. And to do so in a way that felt aligned with my beliefs and aspirations as an artist and human being.
The "Treat Yo Self" tote has since become a favorite among those who received it. Not because it’s flashy or exclusive, but because it carries a feeling. A feeling of celebration, of awareness, of playful responsibility. It proves that sustainability doesn’t have to feel austere. It can be colorful, expressive, and full of personality. And perhaps most importantly, it can be an invitation for others to start small, to make one conscious choice at a time, and to feel good about those choices.
As we continue to seek more meaningful ways to connect, both with ourselves and with others, I believe these kinds of collaborations offer a glimpse into what the future of gifting can look like. Gifting that tells a story. Gifting that celebrates care, creativity, and connection. Gifting that lasts longer than the packaging and extends into how we live our daily lives.
This experience has left a deep imprint on me. It reminded me that my role as a creator doesn’t stop at the canvas. It extends into how my work lives in the worldwhat it supports, what it inspires, and how it makes others feel. Art has the power to influence habits, to spark dialogue, and to build bridges. And when paired with values like sustainability and mindfulness, it becomes more than decoration. It becomes a catalyst for positive change.
This is the kind of work I want to keep doing. Work that blends purpose with beauty, that bridges design and impact, and that reaches people in ways that linger. I’m so grateful to Tinselbox for giving me the space to contribute to this vision and to everyone who embraced this collaboration with such enthusiasm and heart. It’s proof that when creativity is guided by intention, it becomes something truly transformative. Not just for the recipient, but for the maker as well.
A Creative Journey Rooted in Purpose and Planet
Designing for Earth Day isn't simply about crafting something beautiful. It’s about making something meaningfulsomething that speaks both to the spirit of celebration and the urgency of environmental responsibility. When I began designing the "Treat Yo Self" tote bag, I knew this project would require more than just surface-level appeal. It needed depth, humor, charm, and intention. It had to feel like a giftnot just to the recipient, but to the planet.
The phrase that became the heart of the design, "Treat Yo Self," surfaced early during my brainstorming. It made me smile the moment it appeared on the page, nestled between doodles and half-sketched florals. What I loved about it was the duality. On one hand, it’s playful nod to self-love and small indulgences. On the other, in the context of Earth Day, it transforms into a larger mantra. Treat yourself kindly, yes, but also treat your world with care. It’s a call to action tucked inside a wink.
With Earth Day as our guiding star, I wanted the design to feel fresh and uplifting, but also timeless. I didn’t want this to be a seasonal item, used once and forgotten. I envisioned it being carried to the market in July, packed for beach trips in August, and slung over shoulders during winter errands. It had to outlive the holiday and exist as a daily reminder that conscious living doesn’t have an expiration date.
Sketch after sketch, I explored motifs that felt celebratory yet grounded. Sunbursts, botanicals, geometric vines, and illustrated seeds danced around the hand-lettered phrase until the composition finally clicked. What emerged was more than a graphic was a message in motion. Something that could inspire not only joy, but reflection.
The physical manifestation of this design was entrusted to Seen Merch, a gem of a local print shop known for their artisanal approach to screenprinting. Their commitment to sustainable practices and their love for the process aligned perfectly with the vision of this project. Printing the totes on natural cotton canvas brought everything full circle. The texture, the neutrality, the feel of the fabric in your hands of it worked in harmony with the ethos behind the piece. And the fact that the entire production happened just blocks away from my studio infused the project with a kind of hometown magic.
There’s something quietly powerful about watching your art be made by human hands, right where you live. Every tote that rolled off the press felt slightly different from the one before, like no two were entirely alike. Each was a snowflake of ink and fiber, an embodiment of analog creativity in an increasingly digital world.
What started as a single design turned into a way to marry aesthetic delight with environmental advocacy. That’s the sweet spot where purpose-driven design lives. And Earth Day gave me the perfect canvas on which to paint that intention.
Crafting a Box That Tells a Story of Regeneration
The tote bag was just the beginning. When it came time to curate the rest of the Earth Day-inspired box, the same values guided every choice. It wasn’t enough for the items to be sustainable; they also needed to tell a story. I wanted each piece to feel like an invitation entry point into a more intentional way of living.
One standout item was a journal repurposed from an old library book. The idea alone felt rich with poetry. Books that once lived lives on shelves, handled by generations of curious readers, were now being transformed into vessels for new stories. As someone who holds a deep reverence for both storytelling and sustainability, this felt like a love letter in object form.
The textures of the journalfaintly aged paper, a whisper of an old spineadded character that new notebooks simply don’t have. Each one bore the echo of a previous life. And what could be more sustainable than taking what already exists and giving it a new purpose? This is the heart of circular design. It’s about honoring the past while making space for the future. It’s about refusing to accept that just because something has been used, it has no value left to offer.
These small choices accumulate meaning. They shape our daily rituals. And they shift our definition of what it means for something to be beautiful. Beauty isn’t just about flawless surfaces. Sometimes it’s about the patina, the imperfections, the history etched into the materials we hold.
Alongside the journal, the seed kits offered another layer of engagement. At first glance, they were just petite die-cut boxes. But on closer inspection, they revealed themselves to be miniature greenhousesclever, compact portals into nature. Each one contained seeds for mint, chives, or tomatoes. Not flashy plants, but humble, grounding ones. The kind that thrive on a sunny kitchen sill or a tiny balcony.
What I loved most about these seed kits was their ability to bridge worlds. Even the most urban-dwelling recipient could feel connected to something green, something alive. They offered a sensory experience thrill of watching something sprout, the scent of fresh herbs, and the joy of plucking a tomato grown with your own hands.
That’s the quiet revolution of sustainable design. It invites participation. It doesn’t just sit pretty on a shelf; it draws you in. It asks you to engage, to care, to act. And it does so without preaching, just by offering moments of beauty and simplicity.
Designing Beyond the Moment: Why Earth Day Lives On
While the tote bag and curated items were created for an Earth Day collaboration, their impact reaches far beyond a single date on the calendar. Earth Day may be an annual event, but the principles it celebratesstewardship, appreciation, and regeneration relevant every single day. Designing for this holiday reminded me that objects can be more than objects. They can be teachers, reminders, and companions on the path to a more thoughtful life.
In every project I take on, I try to ask the same core questions. What does this item make someone feel? Does it add to the noise, or does it offer clarity? Can it live a long, useful life? Will it spark joy and also provoke reflection? With the Earth Day box, the answer to all those questions felt like a resounding yes.
The act of creating with sustainability in mind is both a challenge and a gift. It forces you to be more deliberate, to slow down, to seek out partners and processes that align with your values. It’s a rejection of the fast, the cheap, and the disposable in favor of the enduring, the ethical, and the artful.
This mindset carries into everything from the materials you choose to the way you package your products to the story you tell around them. Every decision becomes an opportunity to affirm your commitment not only to design but to doing better by the planet. And when your audience senses that, when they feel that intentionality radiating from every piece, something extraordinary happens. They engage differently. They treasure what they receive. They carry that ethos forward in their own lives.
What continues to move me about Earth Day is its layered nature. It is a celebration of awe, but also a call to action. It honors the wild beauty of the planet while reminding us how precarious that beauty is. It’s both joy and responsibility braided together. And creating for it means holding those two truths at once.
When I hold the "Treat Yo Self" tote or flip through one of the repurposed journals, I don’t just see products. I see stories waiting to unfold. I see the quiet revolution of slow design. I see a reminder that we have the power to shape our world not just through protest or policy, but through the things we choose to make, share, and love.
Art That Moves With Us: Everyday Objects, Extraordinary Impact
There’s something profoundly meaningful about creating art that blends seamlessly into the patterns of daily life. Art doesn’t always need to hang on a wall or be framed under glass to be valuable. In fact, some of the most powerful expressions of creativity are the ones that move with those that accompany our errands, hold our essentials, or remind us to smile during otherwise ordinary moments.
That’s why I’ve always been drawn to items that serve both form and function. Tote bags, in particular, hold a special place in my creative process. They’re more than just utility items. They’re traveling canvases, companions on grocery runs, visits to the library, and strolls through the farmer’s market. They become part of someone’s rhythm, part of their visual language. And when they’re designed with care, they inject small doses of joy into daily routines.
The "Treat Yo Self" tote, created in collaboration with Tinselbox for their Earth Day collection, was intentionally crafted to embody this ethos. It’s bold and playful, sturdy and practical. It’s not something to be tucked away and used only on special occasions. It’s meant to be grabbed on the way out the door, filled with books or snacks or flowers, and taken along on real-life adventures. Its very existence is a celebration of the everyday.
There’s real beauty in that kind of art that is democratic, approachable, and alive in motion. It doesn’t require an explanation. It just is. And that simplicity, that direct connection to someone's lived experience, can be more impactful than the most carefully lit gallery show. When someone picks up a tote that makes them smile, they’re not just carrying a bag. They’re carrying intention, joy, and a little piece of an artist’s world.
Earth-Inspired Creativity: When Nature Becomes the Muse
Working on the Earth Day collection with Tinselbox deepened my understanding of how natural elements and thoughtful design can intersect in rich, meaningful ways. Their curated boxes aren’t just gift sets; they’re sensory experiences. Each item is chosen not only for how it looks, but for how it feels, smells, and even sounds. There’s a story in every texture, every tone, every corner of the box.
Earth Day, through the lens of Tinselbox, transformed from a holiday into a living narrative. Their curation brought together elements of folklore, sustainability, and seasonal reverence. One of the standout inclusions for me was the seed box. It wasn’t just an object was an invitation. A symbol. Something to be opened slowly and considered carefully.
Planting seeds is one of those rare acts that grounds you in the now while connecting you to the future. It’s deeply symbolic. You press a tiny object into soil, not knowing whether it will sprout or thrive, but you do it anyway. You do it with hope. With patience. With trust in something larger than yourself. And in a world that constantly demands speed, that asks for immediate returns and fast outcomes, this act of slowing down to nurture growth is radical and restorative.
The seed box wasn’t just about gardening. It was about mindfulness. About acknowledging the cycles of nature and our place within them. About remembering that even the smallest, quietest actions can carry immense meaning. And it perfectly complemented the spirit of the tote bag designed not to be admired from a distance, but to be held, used, and lived with.
That same philosophy appeared in another beautiful addition to the Earth Day box: the upcycled library journal. This object exemplified everything I love about circular design. It honored the past while making space for new beginnings. Pages that once cataloged knowledge now stood ready to hold new stories, sketches, thoughts, and dreams. There’s something profoundly moving about writing your present onto the pages of someone else’s past. It creates a continuous reminder that we’re part of something ongoing, layered, and interconnected.
Every aspect of these pieces reinforced a slower, more deliberate approach to living. They weren’t flashy. They didn’t demand attention. Instead, they invited it quietly, asking you to pause, to notice, to engage. They made you want to wonder where something came from, how it was made, and what role it might play in your story. And that’s the magic of thoughtful curation. It turns everyday objects into conversation starters, memory holders, and soulful companions.
Rituals of Reverence: Where Creativity, Reflection, and Nature Meet
As I created for this project, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own connection to nature, not in a general sense, but in the specific ways the natural world informs my artistic process. The hikes I take, often with no clear destination in mind, leave impressions that linger in my palette choices. The color of a lichen-covered stone, the contrast between bark and sky, the soft blur of sunset over water, things find their way into my brushwork almost unconsciously.
Even the textures I reach for in my design work are often echoes of the natural world. The veining of leaves, the pattern of wind across tall grass, and the dappled light through these become lines and shapes in my compositions. They’re not literal representations, but rather emotional transcriptions. They’re how I remember the feeling of being outdoors, of being small but connected, of breathing deeply and noticing the details. That spirit lives in my studio, in every tool and choice I make.
And that’s why this Earth Day collaboration felt so personal. It reminded me that design is more than aesthetic sensory. It’s spiritual. When you create something to ground someone, to delight them in their routines, you’re offering more than just a product. You’re offering presence.
That presence carries through in the ritual of journaling. When someone opens the library journal and begins to write, they’re entering into a dialogue with themselves, with the object, with the history behind it. Journaling is one of the most quietly revolutionary acts we can do. It says: My thoughts matter. My voice matters. This moment is worth preserving. And when that ritual is supported by an object that itself has been reclaimed, it becomes even more profound. You’re not just writingyou’re continuing a legacy.
Tinselbox doesn’t just send boxes. They send invitations to notice, to connect, to appreciate. Every item they include asks a question: How can you engage more meaningfully with your life? How can you slow down just enough to let wonder in? That’s a question I find myself asking more and more as both an artist and a person.
Creating for Earth Day with this team reminded me that creativity isn’t always about producing. Sometimes it’s about pausing. Listening. Observing. It’s about the way a breeze can clear your mind and make space for new ideas. It’s about the stillness that lets color and form emerge more clearly. It’s about honoring the rituals of movement, of making, of tending that tether us to the world around us.
And when the things we create leave our hands and enter someone else’s storywhen a tote is carried, when seeds are planted, when pages are, that’s when the creative circle completes. That’s when art stops being a finished product and becomes a living experience.
Honoring Earth Day Through Artistic Collaboration
Being chosen as the featured artist for Tinselbox’s Earth Day collection was more than a professional milestone was a deeply personal experience rooted in shared values and creative purpose. This collaboration wasn’t simply about placing my artwork in a curated box; it was about allying with a community that believes in the emotional resonance of handmade goods and the power of storytelling through design.
Earth Day, to me, is never just a date on the calendar. It’s an annual invitation to reflect on our interconnectedness, a reminder of the quiet miracles unfolding around us every day. The budding of a flower, the cycle of rain, the steady hum of life beneath our feet are not background details; they are the narrative of our world. Participating in this project gave me the chance to respond to that narrative, not just with sentiment, but with something tangible. I wanted to create a piece that felt joyful and empowering, yet rooted in intention.
The tote bag I designed for this Earth Day box became a vessel for that vision. It was more than a reusable accessory was a functional artwork, a portable piece of self-expression, and a daily companion that invited both mindfulness and celebration. I envisioned it accompanying someone to the farmer’s market or library, catching glimpses of sunshine, holding flowers and books and stories. It was designed with care, to live not just in closets but in rituals, not just in moments but in memories.
What made this project truly special was how it encouraged every creator involved to contribute their voice in harmony. It wasn’t just about one item standing out. It was about how each object played a part in a larger symphony of craftsmanship and care. This kind of curation makes a box more than a collection of things, becoming an experience. From the delicately crafted seed boxes to the soulful upcycled journals, each element was infused with thought and heart. It all came together in a way that invited pause and presence.
A Shared Language of Craft, Creativity, and Intention
What I found most enriching about working with Tinselbox was the sense of creative kinship. They don’t just source productsthey cultivate relationships. There is an unspoken understanding that artistry is not just about aesthetics; it’s about emotion, impact, and intention. With every collaboration, they nurture a community of makers who value slow creation and lasting beauty. That ethos resonated deeply with me.
It was in that spirit of collaboration that our Earth Day box truly came alive. The seed boxes weren’t merely a nod to sustainability; they were an invitation to participate in nature’s rhythm. The stationery wasn’t just cuteit was an extension of meaningful communication, reminding us that words matter when they’re written by hand. The upcycled journal wasn’t a trend was a declaration that second lives are worth celebrating. Even the packaging spoke its poetry, thoughtfully constructed to feel like a discovery rather than a delivery.
When the box arrived in someone’s hands, it wasn’t just opened was unveiled. That ceremonial feel didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of many makers speaking a shared language of care, a language built from threads of intention and woven together with heart. To see my tote bag living among these items was incredibly fulfilling. Each piece amplified the others, and in doing so, created a fuller story than any of us could have told alone.
In an industry often driven by speed and spectacle, this box stood out for its sincerity. It didn’t scream for attention whispered. It invited reflection rather than reaction. That quiet confidence, that grounding presence, is something I strive for in all my work. Beauty can be radical when it comes from a place of truth. Art can be a soft rebellion, a means of choosing presence over consumption, care over convenience.
For me, this collaboration reminded me that creativity thrives not in isolation, but in communion. When artists, curators, and conscious consumers come together with a shared vision, the result is more than beautiful. It’s transformative. It’s enduring. And it’s real.
Where Art Lives: In Soil, In Ritual, In Community
Looking back, I realize that this Earth Day box was not only a highlight of my creative yearit was a reaffirmation of why I create. Art has never just been about putting pigment to paper or ink to cloth. It’s about forming connections. It’s about offering something that lives beyond the moment of its making. This project was a reminder that art is not confined to gallery walls or digital feeds. It’s not only for exhibitions or online launches. It lives in what we touch, in how we live, and in what we choose to honor in our everyday routines.
This tote was my small offering, but the magic was in how it was received and surrounded. The other items in the box were its co-conspirators, turning the unboxing into a ritual of discovery. Every time someone reached for their journal or planted a seed or carried the tote into their daily lives, a quiet ripple began. That ripple is the true reward. It means the work spoke. It resonated. It connected. And in those connections, change begins.
There is a deep satisfaction in knowing that something I created didn’t just decorate a space, but participated in someone’s day. Maybe it held produce for a family dinner. Maybe it carried supplies to a community garden. Maybe it simply made someone smile on a morning commute. These are the subtle, luminous ways that art moves through the world. Not with fanfare, but with feeling.
As I look ahead, this collaboration becomes a touchstone point I can return to when I feel disconnected from purpose. It reminds me that the most meaningful work often comes when you align with people who value depth over drama, care over speed, and community over competition. Tinselbox and their Earth Day celebration gave me that space, and for that, I’m endlessly grateful.
Art made with intention is never wasted. It carries energy. It carries stories. And sometimes, it plants seedsliteral and metaphorical bloom in ways we may never fully see. But we can trust that they do. In the soil. In shared hands. In the rituals that bring beauty into being again and again. This collaboration was proof of that. A reminder that when we create with care and offer it with heart, something lasting takes root.
Conclusion
This collaboration with Tinselbox for their Earth Day box was more than a creative opportunity was a profound reminder of why I make art in the first place. At its heart, this experience celebrated the beauty of connection: between artist and audience, between object and purpose, and between individual action and collective impact. It showed me that art doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Sometimes, it’s in the soft the thoughtful packaging, the intentional design, the lovingly handwritten notes that the deepest resonance is found.
As an artist, moments like these affirm the power of creating with purpose. When creativity meets community, the result is far more than a product; it becomes a movement, however quiet or subtle. It becomes a call to slow down, to care more deeply, and to live with greater intention. That is the legacy I hope to carry forward: one where artistry is woven into daily life, not just admired but experienced. Where every tote bag, seed packet, and journal holds meaning far beyond its material. And where collaborations like this serve as gentle reminders that beauty, when rooted in sincerity and shared values, truly has the power to plant change.
