Journal 2026 January

A pen and ink self portrait with honey infused watercolors.

It's a new year and new things are happening around here at Red Bee.

After 25 years of beekeeping and honey making, I am returning to my roots of being a maker. Many of you may not be aware that before I made honey, I made art. I graduated from The School of Visual Arts in NYC and had a busy career as an illustrator and product designer. My art graced clothing in Macy's department store on 34th street, the cover of Women's Wear daily and dozens of stationary products. I spent a fair amount of time working in China developing giftware and holiday products. It was a thrilling time to travel for business and experience a different culture. Eventually, I left NYC to return to my home state Connecticut and was introduced to beekeeping through a neighbor. Ask any beekeeper about their honeybees and they will tell you bees changed my life! For me it changed my relationship with the natural world which surrounded my new home, a red cottage in the country. After bees, I got chickens and planted an edible garden, and began crafting beeswax candles, honey soap and harvesting my own honey. Red Bee got attention in the beekeeping community and I landed on the cover of The American Bee Journal with my designs. Soon, Williams Sonoma called with orders of honey and gift boxes. I designed 3 DIY kits to make soap. lip balm and candles. I also was working on my honey sommelier certification in Italy and in between writing 4 books. Wholesale followed and eventually burnout. I was juggling too many hats and felt scattered across too many interest. It was not sustainable and I unplugged after my 4th book.

After covid, much decluttering my brain and environment, I am slowly finding myself and some much needed clarity in creating again. During covid, during that time I had the opportunity to experiment making art again. I was smitten and the creative bug bit hard. This month I am taking a the plunge to rebrand Red Bee Honey into Red Bee Studio. It took courage to do this and risk confusing my followers however, it feels right. Red Bee studio encompasses all I do, yes I will still be making honey and crafting all the beeswax lip balms, candles and soaps but now art and designs will be woven in between all that sticky honey. I've been making botanical prints from plants I foraged on my property then turning them into notecards, wrapping paper and journals for writing or painting. It's a thrill to see the finished products and a bigger thrill when someone actually likes or purchases it. I hope you will still follow along with me on this new chapter of my life, I still will be offering all my bee and honey products, nothing will change except there will be more creativity on display for your viewing pleasure.

Happy 2026 everyone! Carla Marina

My studio set up in the honey house barn at Red Bee. Prints hang on the wall to inspire me.

Foraged flowers and leaves from my property that are pressed and dried then used to make prints.