Meet Alena

Thanks for checking out my design studio, Alena Botanica. 

I started this creative journey out of a 300 sf studio space in a historic building on Railroad Street in Waterbury, Vermont in 2008. It was a time of community, craft beer, gardens and cold snowy nights that fueled my design work and helped me connect to a world of artisans, plant people and makers. Before social media, I found innovation in my own head, in real life collaboration and on the road traveling to botanical gardens, art galleries and creative hubs in far off places. 


From photography and landscape design, to perfume and apparel design, now to a passion for drinkware, custom curation and lifestyle products, my desire to create beautiful products that inspire connections to the natural world, ourselves and our communities never ceases.



On November 8, 2017, 2 days after my 45th birthday, I decided to quit drinking alcohol. It turned my world upside down and much of art and connection tied to the craft beer industry fizzled up in a moment's time.

I had to reinvent myself.

In 2018, I started making mocktails and designing drinkware to help me stay sober. I wanted a place at the bar and to be included, even though I was not getting drunk.

Little did I know this pivot would take off, become a trend and now be a part of the zeitgeist. I started a little movement and the rest is history. After decades of change, growth and constant pivots, I now understand that is just what the artist does. We take breaks, we make new things, we change our brand colors, we do what we want to express ourselves. If any part of what I do, make, say or express resonates with you, my work is done. 

Thanks for being a part of the journey, please email me anytime to connect or collaborate. All are welcome at my bar and in my garden. Soon, Alena