Beehive Co-op is local by design.

Meet our bloggers!

Viviana Campbell
Owner, Beehive Co-op Atlanta, llc

Viviana Campbell brings a vibrant professional background to her role as owner of Beehive Co-op's flagship Atlanta retail store. Campbell purchased Beehive Co-op Atlanta in October 2007 to foster Beehive’s mission – to nurture the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of emerging local designers and artists – in Atlanta and the Southeast. Her 10 years of corporate marketing, event planning, and business development experience were honed at Delta Air Lines and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Campbell applies a keen eye for design, a passion for art, and knack for business to curate an exceptional selection of professionally handcrafted fashion, accessories, art and home decor at Beehive Atlanta. A loyal customer of Beehive since it was opened in 2004, Campbell always envisioned owning her own boutique and plans to continue cultivating Beehive Atlanta as a regional epicenter for the most exciting emerging local designers and artists.

Malene Davis
Owner, iram-inal designs

www.iraminal.com

Malene "Lani" Davis is the designer and co-owner of her jewelry business, iram-inal designs. Both she, and her sister, Mari, jointly conceive and design their intricate, large-stone woven, semi-precious pieces out of their home studios in Atlanta, Georgia and St. Louis, Missouri. Originally trained in the field of law, Malene began making jewelry as a way to maintain her creative side in a decidedly busy, professional life. Eventually, her love of all things handmade won her over, and with the help of her sister, iram-inal designs was born. A proud Beehiver since 2007, the sisters now sell their jewelry in boutiques and galleries around America.

Petra Geiger
President & Founder, Beehive Industries, llc

Petra Geiger grew up in a family that was equal parts entrepreneurial and artistic, and she learned how to sew and craft at an early age from her mother. She received a bachelor of arts degree in Mass Communication from Tulane University and a bachelor of fine arts in graphic design from California College of the Arts. Petra spend 10 years honing her design, marketing and branding skills before launching Beehive Industries with a line of original stationery. Geiger and Relaford relocated their family to Atlanta in 2001 and quickly added a handmade line of handbags and other new products to the mix, which they started selling at local seasonal markets. They soon met other designers who shared their frustration at the lack of viable retail opportunities and the idea for Beehive Co-op was born.

Kristina Hjelsand
Principal, Kitchen Communications

www.kitchencommunications.net

Kristina Hjelsand is founder of Kitchen Communications, a brand communications consultancy that specializes in artisanal products. She loves helping her clients publicize their businesses, talking shop with other entrepreneurs, baking chocolate desserts and watching 1970s era Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma. She also blogs at http:////kitchen.typepad.com.

Erica Jong
Owner, Sweet T Baby

www.sweettbaby.com

Avid crafter and mother of two, Erica Jong created Sweet T Baby, her own line of eco aware childrens wear in Atlanta, GA. Erica's commitment to her community and the environment guides both her business practices and life at home. Every day presents a new challenge to make life healthier for her family and Erica thrives on learning and sharing new ways to be GREEN!

Amy McClure
Owner, Olaria Studio

www.olariastudio.com

Hi! I'm Amy McClure is the owner/designer of Olaria Studio. Olaria simply means pottery in Portuguese, which I kind of speak after having spent some time in Brazil after college. I create all the pieces that you see on this site by hand. I learned this particular skill at the University of Montevallo (near Birmingham, Alabama) and have since developed into more of a jewelry-maker of sorts, even though I enjoy a lot of mediums such as graphic design and printmaking...as well becoming a more recent afficionado of letterpress & metalsmithing. I’ve started using some printmaking & graphic design elements to give my work a playfulness as well, bringing a little bit of modernity to the traditional expectations of works in clay.

Currently, I like to incorporate the use of found objects to embellish the formal qualities of my work such as texture, color & design. Keeping an eye toward function & quality is also an important part of the creative process for me.I use mid to high-fire clay & glazes, which offer me a range of finishes & natural variations. I use an array of slips, stains, glazes, underglazes, & even a few overglazes to create my work.

What inspires me is thinking about things being beautiful in their everyday place, like within the art nouveau movement. Things had functionality & encompassed a lot of different mediums. There was a touch of femininity & natural elements that were used in the most unexpected places.

Karen Meyers
Owner, Karen Meyers Handbags

www.karenmeyers.net

Karen Meyers bought her first sewing machine in 7^th grade with hard earned babysitting money and has been creating with fabric ever since. One degree in Fabric Design, a husband, 2 sons, 5 sailboats (ever increasing in size) and 17 years professional sewing experience LATER, she started her line of one of a kind handmade handbags and accessories in 2007 to indulge her creative side. Dabbling with vintage, recycled and just simply beautiful fabrics keeps her busy and happy.

Heather Swanepoel
Owner, Rinse Handmade Soap Co.

www.rinsesoap.com

Heather is the founder & formulator of Rinse Bath & Body based in Woodstock, GA, just north of Atlanta. Rinse was founded in 2003 and has quickly developed into a popular brand for salons, spas, discerning boutiques and of course b&b fans around the world. Rinse features delectable products made with good for the skin exotic oils and butters. All of Rinse’s products are still produced in small batches to ensure the quality and freshness of each product. Rinse’s products are never tested on animals… only dirty humans.

Heather enjoys scouting Indie finds a.k.a. shopping, (which can now thankfully be considered research); having impromptu CEO Roundtables with other designers and small business owners (which makes her feel as if she's not the "only one"); and yes, she still enjoys peddling her wares at markets & shows (which she thinks is a key to Rinse’s success).

When she’s not working on growing Rinse (and even sometimes when she is,) Heather enjoys being mom to Teagan, a very active 3 year old little boy; the wife of ever-supporting husband, Damyn (also known as Rinse’s heavy lifter) and is in the constant struggle of a work-life balance.

LynnTennille
Owner, Sage Saks
www.sagesaks.com

Lynn Tennille, the owner and designer behind Atlanta's much loved Sage Saks is the quintessential entrepreneur. Not only does she design, fabricate and run her thriving handmade handbag company but additionally she has recently launched a photography business as well. With years of experience under her belt, Lynn is always focused on the future whether it be the creation of a new silhouette for her handbag line or tweaking and updating her website. It's Lynn's attention to detail that makes her a successful designer and her energy and commitment are unparalleled.

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