Artistree Co-op is a gift boutique and art gallery that carries a unique collection of handcrafted, locally made art, jewelry, and gifts. Artistree is located in the College Park neighborhood of Orlando, in the same building as Infusion Tea. The other pages of this website talk about our artists and designers, as well as the products we carry. Here, we’d like to tell you a little about how we got started….

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In 2004, Infusion Tea opened its doors in a tiny storefront on Edgewater Drive in College Park. Infusion was the brainchild of Christina and Brad Cowherd, both fresh from a tour of duty in the Peace Corps in Guatemala. They had decided they wanted to re-create, in their hometown of Orlando, the feeling of neighborliness and community they found came so naturally in Guatemala. Infusion quickly developed a following for its creative vegetarian food and extensive array of teas from around the world.

By 2007, Infusion had outgrown its space and so moved into a new and much larger building a few doors down. Brad and Christina—along with friend Myra—decided to build on the original idea of fostering community by bringing in local artisans and offering them shelf space on which to sell their wares. Thus Cottage Industry Co-op was born; it opened for business in July 2007.

In the two years that followed, more and more artists and designers joined the co-op, and the shop began sponsoring special events such as arts and craft shows, art demonstrations, and live music. The co-op developed a loyal base of customers who enjoyed not only supporting a locally owned business but also discovering locally crafted, unique gifts for themselves and their friends and family.

Increasingly, the artists and designers themselves took responsibility for the shop’s day-to-day operations, and by the summer of 2009, several of the artists began talking about buying the business. In September 2009, jewelry designer Elena Kegler and potter Lynne Martin purchased Cottage Industry from Brad and Christina.

As part of the transition to new ownership, Elena and Lynne decided—after much soul-searching and discussion—to change the name of the shop to Artistree Co-op. They wanted a name that emphasized “art,” which is at the core of everything the co-op does. They also liked the idea of a “tree” with many branches, representing each of the local artists and designers who are such a vital part of the business.

Though now operating under a new name and with new owners, much about the shop remains the same. Artistree Co-op continues to share space with the wonderful Infusion Tea, and continues to sponsor special events featuring handcrafted art and local musicians. The co-op also still carries a fabulous array of handcrafted, locally made art, jewelry, pottery, baby gear, purses and totes, greeting cards, bath and body products, and more. And, perhaps most important, Artistree remains committed to Brad and Christina’s original vision of supporting and promoting a sense of community—among customers and artists alike.

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So…that’s our story! If you are already a customer, we want to thank you for your support over the last couple of years. You have made our success possible. If you haven’t yet been to the shop, we hope you’ll stop by soon! We look forward to meeting you.