In Washington’s San Juan Islands, two beloved local businesses—Lopez Island Creamery and Slow Loris—have come together to create a delicious mix of ice cream and eye-catching, hand-drawn packaging.
In this Q&A, we talk to Lopez Island Creamery’s Alex Thieman and Slow Loris’ Jessica Lynch dive into the collaboration that merges Lopez Island Creamery’s passion for high-quality ice cream with Slow Loris’s distinctive artistic style.
Lopez Island Creamery: From Local Beginnings to Regional Success
Q: For those who don’t know you, who is Lopez Island Creamery?
A: “Lopez Island Creamery is a local ice cream manufacturer that prides itself on high-quality ingredients, sustainable practices, and maintaining a positive work environment for its employees. Although we operate two retail ice cream shops, the majority of our business is wholesale ice cream production, which we supply to regional restaurants and grocery stores.”
“We’ve become known for our commitment to creating exceptional ice cream, but more than that, we are a company rooted in our community, and we believe in the importance of supporting local businesses, agriculture, and now, local artists.”
Q: Can you share the story behind Lopez Island Creamery? How did it all begin?
A: “Lopez Island Creamery’s story began in 1994 on Washington State’s picturesque Lopez Island. At the time, the company was a small operation, selling ice cream primarily to farmers’ markets, restaurants, and grocery stores throughout the San Juan Islands. Over the years, we’ve grown significantly, having built five different factories along the way. Today, we manufacture out of a 17,000-square-foot, solar-powered facility in Anacortes, WA—the port to Lopez Island.
Even though we’ve expanded, we’ve always stayed true to our roots, focusing on quality over quantity and keeping our local identity strong. Every scoop of our ice cream is made with care, and we always keep in mind the community that made our success possible.”
Q: How has the company evolved since its inception? What milestones are you most proud of?
A: “Although we’ve seen significant growth in recent years—today, we can produce in three days what would have taken us a whole year ten years ago—we are most proud of our ability to maintain our commitment to excellent quality, food safety, and company culture despite this growth.
One of our greatest accomplishments has been creating an environment where employees feel valued and part of something bigger than just making ice cream. We often tell new hires that working here is not like working at a large company. Everyone plays an important role in our success, and we celebrate that as often as possible.”
Q: What role does the local community play in your business operations? How do you engage with the community beyond selling ice cream?
A: “Our connection to the local community is one of the most important aspects of our business. Not only do we participate in local events and donate to regional organizations, but we are also proud to be an employer that offers competitive wages and a positive work environment.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that Lopez Island Creamery isn’t just a place to work; it’s a place where people can come and make a difference in each other’s lives. We’re all about fostering relationships—both inside and outside the company.”
Q: Can you share any memorable stories from customers that have shaped your business philosophy?
A: “One of my favorite stories is from a customer who once sent us a formal complaint about our ice cream sandwiches. They said our ice cream was so good that it completely overshadowed the handmade cookies that they loved. It’s hard to beat that as a complaint!”
Slow Loris: Bringing Art to Ice Cream
Q: What inspired Slow Loris to collaborate with Lopez Island Creamery?
A: “Well, aside from already loving their ice cream, Alex, the owner of Lopez Island Creamery, reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in illustrating their new pint designs. It was a quick and easy yes! I had admired their business for a long time, and the chance to work with another local company I respected was too good to pass up.”
Q: Can you describe the design process for the pint packaging? How did you incorporate your signature style into this project?
A: “I provide the illustrations, while Lopez Island Creamery works with a graphic designer who does the layout and design. For this project, besides the flavor illustrations, I redrew their current logo and the flavor names in a font that matched their brand but gave it a more hand-drawn quality. I also created a diagram of the ice cream-making process that is now printed large on their factory wall, where they sell cones.”
Q: What was the most exciting or challenging part of designing for an ice cream brand?
A: “One of the most challenging parts was drawing certain elements that are hard to illustrate—like cookie dough balls or piles of chocolate chunks. It’s surprisingly difficult to make them look both delicious and recognizable. They can end up looking like something else entirely if you’re not careful! It was a true test of my skills, but one I really enjoyed.”
Q: What message or feeling do you want consumers to get when they see the new pint designs?
A: “I hope that when people see the new pint designs, they’ll feel a connection to something local, authentic, and delicious. I want them to feel like what’s inside the pint is 100% local, and I hope it makes them want to take it home, read the packaging like a cereal box, and enjoy every spoonful.”
The Collaboration in Action
Q: Why did Lopez Island Creamery partner with Slow Loris for their pint designs?
A: “We’ve long admired Jessica and Slow Loris’s artwork—it has such a distinct, handmade style. After going through several rebrands and not finding the right fit, I realized that if we’re committed to using local ingredients, why not add local artists to the list too? Jessica’s art is so authentically human and hand-drawn, which is rare in a world full of automation and technology. Her style fit perfectly with the kind of business we are and the values we hold.”
Q: Can you tell us about the seasonal flavors featured with the new designs?
A: “We have two new seasonal flavors that Jessica designed for us: Pumpkin for October-November and Peppermint for November-December. Every time we ask Jessica to create something, she nails it immediately. Her ability to capture the essence of each flavor is truly impressive.”
Q: Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from the collaboration process?
A: “One memorable story is from the opening of our new ice cream shop back on Lopez Island last summer. We realized the morning of the grand opening that we weren’t going to get a shipment of Lopez Island t-shirts we had ordered. I called Arlo from Slow Loris in a panic, and they told us they had extra stock at their studio on Guemes Island. We quickly took a boat to Guemes, beached it near the shore, and someone from their team met us with boxes of t-shirts and hats. We made it back just in time to open the doors to our shop. We’ll always be grateful for their help in that moment of chaos!”
Creative Vision and Community Ties
Q: How does this collaboration align with Slow Loris’s broader artistic vision or mission?
A: “Working with other small businesses that we admire and respect is a huge part of what Slow Loris is about. Collaborating with Lopez Island Creamery felt like a natural fit. We’re both committed to the local community, and it’s been a joy to work with another company that shares our values.”
Q: What inspired each of your designs for the Lopez Island Creamery pints?
A: “The designs were largely inspired by real-life objects. Alex would send me pictures or ideas of how he wanted certain items, like chocolate chunks or strawberries, to look, and I’d find the real-life versions to draw from. I love doing ink paintings with color, so drawing these elements has been a lot of fun. My personal favorites so far have been the Strawberry and Blackberry illustrations.”
Where to Find
If you’re eager to try Lopez Island Creamery’s delicious ice cream and see Slow Loris’s artwork up close, you’re in luck! Their pints, featuring these beautiful new designs, can be found at many grocery stores throughout the Northwest, including Metropolitan Market, PCC, Whole Foods, Safeway, Fred Meyers, and more. Be sure to check them out, support local businesses, and enjoy both the flavors and the art! You can also check out their Find Our Ice Cream Guide!
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The collaboration between Lopez Island Creamery and Slow Loris combines the best of both worlds—delicious, high-quality ice cream and authentic artwork. This project celebrates the creativity, community, and passion that both businesses bring to their work, and we’re excited to share it with the world.