I am Diane Harrison who is the started all this crazy business we do. From our original shop, Center Ring Design, I started doing shirt designs, logo and brochure work. From there, pottery became my focus which also lead to my husband, Russ, doing sculpture. Russ has a couple of art degrees and has been doing anything creative from paint to woodworking but currently works in the telecommunications field. I do have other "jobs" too - Berryville town councilor for Ward 2, on the board and help run a malamute rescue, CHAAMP, with three other hard working ladies. We opened our shop in our home addition a few years ago with the Artisan Trail. This gave Russ the opportunity to showcase his painting skills too - mine is reserved for wall painting in the addition and our very old home. Finding a need to have products that people would have to return for - you can only have so many bowls, I took my love of nature, and natural cleaning products, and dove into soap making. We developed two lines. Touched by Nature Soaps now includes, lotions, shampoo and conditioner bars, bath bombs, scrubs, facial products, and the beginning of some home cleaning products in addition to our soaps which have evolved into our final recipe choice during these past few months. Skegg for Men is our men's line of soaps, beard products, shaving products, lotions, and coming in November, shampoos and conditioners. These scents are named after Viking gods and parts of nature. Russ and our son Liam (a VCU Art School Junior), were helpful in developing the scents and product testing. Russ designed the logo and name which means 'Beard'. Center Ring Design has also developed more items. To go along with the Skegg line Russ makes Viking traditional items including drinking horns, leather pouches, and runes. Russ also loves to work in wood and has made sustainable growth food boards and some live edge tables. We will have wood ornaments this year for the holidays. Since I broke my elbow in July, my pottery is somewhat limited this fall, but hopefully, I will return to it this winter. Due to COVID, we had to shut our doors to our shop since it is our home and our place we make our soap and body products. This also meant that all of the shows we did were also closed. BUT.... we have a location for our items that we just got going this October. We are continuing to fill it with new items and will be offering give boxes for the holidays. Our website store(s) offer people the chance to buy on line and do porch pick up or to have items shipped. Our location to shop in person is at 401 E Main Street, Berryville at the Hip and Humble Interiors shop - an awesome place that is so fun. We will also be looking at other locations for our soap and body products to go into. Our hours at Hip and Humble are Fri-Sun 10-6. We can also meet you there other days by appointment.
What is the most gratifying part of making your work?
I think that for both of us, it is the feedback and pleasure it gives people. People love Russ's paintings and his use of color. For me, it is the scents I use in the products and the way they work.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. I adopted a tag line for Touched by Nature from Vincent Van Goph that says - "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere". Our world is our biggest inspiration for everything we do whether in art or humanitarian ways.
Where is your studio/work space?
We live in a 130 year old house in Berryville, Virginia. We built an addition about seven years ago - 3 floors. The top is Russ' office for his 'real' job in telecommunications, my office for doing all the web and creative design work, a studio that is now taken over by a CNC machine and 3D printer but also serves as a paint studio. Main floor is the soaping area. It also is where we package and ship and I do heat press and cutting for shirts (another new adventure). The basement level is the messy place... pottery and sculpture work take place there. And yes... there are days that this all overruns into the main house, but that is now getting less and less.
Describe yourself in 5 words:
Russ - curious analytical artistic logical absurd
Diane - creative determined caring dreamer doer
See more of Diane and Russ Harrison's work at www.centerringdesign.com and www.touchedbynaturesoaps.com. You can also find their pop up shop in Berryville, VA at Hip & Humble.
I think that for both of us, it is the feedback and pleasure it gives people. People love Russ's paintings and his use of color. For me, it is the scents I use in the products and the way they work.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. I adopted a tag line for Touched by Nature from Vincent Van Goph that says - "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere". Our world is our biggest inspiration for everything we do whether in art or humanitarian ways.
Where is your studio/work space?
We live in a 130 year old house in Berryville, Virginia. We built an addition about seven years ago - 3 floors. The top is Russ' office for his 'real' job in telecommunications, my office for doing all the web and creative design work, a studio that is now taken over by a CNC machine and 3D printer but also serves as a paint studio. Main floor is the soaping area. It also is where we package and ship and I do heat press and cutting for shirts (another new adventure). The basement level is the messy place... pottery and sculpture work take place there. And yes... there are days that this all overruns into the main house, but that is now getting less and less.
Describe yourself in 5 words:
Russ - curious analytical artistic logical absurd
Diane - creative determined caring dreamer doer
See more of Diane and Russ Harrison's work at www.centerringdesign.com and www.touchedbynaturesoaps.com. You can also find their pop up shop in Berryville, VA at Hip & Humble.
RSS Feed
