Bee Joyful Shop

General information

I was raised in a cabin deep in the forest near Allegan, Michigan. My parents were big believers in being Earth-friendly, self-sufficient, and living simply, so my roots in sustainability run deep.

We were “off the grid,” meaning no electricity and no running water. I learned a lot about being resourceful. When you grow up without modern amenities, you discover your true creativity -- something that I’m thankful has stuck with me through the years.

Fast forward to today. As a single mom, raising five children, I no longer live in a cabin in the woods, and we have electricity, but the same lessons about creativity that I learned from a simple childhood lives on. Sustainability, being Earth-friendly, leaving things better than how you found them, are all lessons I’m teaching my children, whom, by the way, are active participants in the Shop.

I may not wear my faith on my sleeve, but I do take words of encouragement from the Bible. One verse that has resonated in my life over and over, that I think about often, in good times and bad, is Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” To me, that verse encourages us to always be joyful, no matter your situation. “Bee Joyful” isn’t just a company name, it’s a mindset, a way of thinking, and a way of living at peace.

What is now “Bee Joyful Shop” started as a simple idea. Creating and using sustainable, Earth-friendly materials to store food, instead of harmful plastic wraps, isn’t new. In fact, my grandmother used beeswax wraps as a way of sealing food long before plastic wrap was invented.

I thought that what would be a good thing for my family might be something my friends and neighbors would want to use too. After a little research, a few notes, and a trip to the fabric store, I made my first wraps. They worked just like I thought! Soon after, I opened my Etsy shop, not knowing if anyone would be interested in buying them.

Four months later, Bee Joyful Shop proudly sources beeswax from a local, generational beekeeper, making each piece by hand, using fabrics made in the USA. We strive to keep packaging material to a minimum, using 100% recycled materials. Our goal is to be a zero waste business.

From simple beginnings a few short months ago, our wraps have been sold all over the world. Our three pack combo bee pattern and flower pattern have been our best sellers. Customers also love our specially themed lunch packs, like Star Wars, Marvel and Wonder Woman. We take special orders. If you have a theme or pattern in mind, let us know and we’ll do our best to create it just for you. We also do bulk orders with special pricing for stores.

Bee Joyful Shop is proud to be a family business, helping people make Earth friendly, sustainable choices, founded on the principle of being joyful in your circumstances.