My name is Jody Swanson. I am the artist and herb-enthusiast behind Alice Projects, my ever-evolving studio.

I have lived on the Oregon Coast for nearly 25 years. In 2020 I started Alice Projects, through which I create hand-carved block print cards inspired by the animals and plants of the Oregon Coast. I also craft my own herbal tea blends. I use my artwork as the packaging, uniting everything under the Alice Projects name. It is all part of the same vision - a way to honor, learn from, and be nourished by the world around us.

Every block for every card or package of tea I make is carved and printed by hand on my small press. The more I create, the more I learn and hope to improve in both the carving and the printing of blocks. Every block I make is based on something from nature. I believe everything in nature is threaded together like a fabric and every piece is important. I think it needs to be documented through art as a reminder of what is all around us and to not take it for granted.

The teas I make also reflect the importance of nature. Each tea was blended thoughtfully with a focus on wellness. As I learn more about herbs and herbalism, I continue to hone the current blends and create new blends of tea.

It’s a never-ending process of learning and changing. The collections of teas & block prints both reflect the fluidity of the process. As new blocks are carved or new tea blends are made, the older ones fade away.