North Georgia Canopy Tours, LLC

Handmade items always have a special quality about them. But add in beautiful materials, vibrant colors, and chic metallics, and you’ve got a dream come true for many. That’s exactly how I’d describe the handmade accessories brand, (r-ki-tekt). Designed and crafted by local artisan Kel Cadet, (r-ki-tekt) is truly a unique line of goods. The brand came about after Kel graduated from SCAD right here in Atlanta. “I have always been interested in designing and creating fashion accessories,” she says. “Shortly after I birthed my daughter in 2008, I went through a period of not knowing who I was from a stylistic perspective. I also didn’t have the time to primp like I once did. I decided to create dual functioning accessories (brooch/hair combs).” And (r-ki-tekt) was born. From colorful jewelry to card carriers, hair accessories and custom measure velvet belts, (r-ki-tekt) has the accessories sect covered. Kel says she prefers not to “put limitations on the materials I use to produce the accessories. I definitely feel more fulfilled when there is a hint of the unexpected.” She has even used plumbing hardware in a previous collection. In addition to family life and the necessity to provide, being born and raised in Atlanta has also had an impact on (r-ki-tekt) and the direction the brand has taken. “I am so excited to be apart of this growing and thriving hub. From working with the Indie Craft Experience to attending events held by CAMP to sponsoring workshops like The BrandMarket Workshop and to simply hanging out with other like-minded creatives, I can feel the pot brewing and bubbling over for the creative community in Atlanta. There is only greatness ahead,” Kel excitedly shares. And she’s right. The creatives in Atlanta are just getting started. With more and more festivals, craft shows and get-togethers arising every year, there’s always something to look forward to. Stay tuned to Groupon Atlanta’s Style & Beauty City Guide to keep you updated on all those events, as well as more Local Crafters. Shop (r-ki-tekt) online at Kel’s Etsy shoppe and at Shop SCAD in Savannah & Baba Souk in Canada. Kel says she also plans to expand to more brick & mortars in 2014, so keep a look out for these festive accessories around Atlanta. Photos by Johnny Cheng Photography.

Here in Atlanta, the creative community thrives on the support of each other. Not only do creative entrepreneurs and makers promote each other, but they also help each other make sales and long lasting customers. Atlanta is a unique city in that sense. It’s not a competition; it’s a community. And when it comes to shopping, what’s better than something that no one else will have? The following are three community-driven creative spaces open to the public for shopping and inspiration. The Beehive Located in Edgewood, The Beehive is unique in concept. The store opened in 2004 as the first ever co-op concept boutique in Atlanta. The idea is that designers and creators rent space in the store in exchange for a high commission on their sales. What I find extra special about The Beehive is that the designers/creators can work in the store for eight hours per month for a discounted rental rate, creating an even bigger sense of community. In addition to a wide selection of locally handcrafted goods, The Beehive also offers creative classes on site. The options include sewing, jewelry making, knitting and crochet, photography, screen-printing and more. And if you’d like to get your kiddos started in the crafting world young, they also offer kids craft classes. Young Blood Boutique and Gallery As the name reveals, Youngblood is more than just a boutique; it is a gallery of art and local beauty. A local establishment for 15 years, Young Blood boutique is very well known in Atlanta. In fact, in 2012 the original owners made the decision to close Young Blood. But local Atlantans Rebecca Hanna and Jessie White wouldn’t let that happen and bought the beloved Young Blood Boutique and Gallery in January 2013 “with the spirit of the founding principles in mind and the goal of presenting a curated collection of the country's most inspired and highly crafted art and goods.” The shop and gallery houses art and handcrafted goods from all over the country, but has a strong focus on the local Atlanta creative community. In addition to offering creative a space to sell their goods, Young Blood also regularly holds local events both on site and off, enriching the creative community that loves the well-known boutique and gallery. Pop Marché at Paris on Ponce Although it is more of a huge warehouse made up of boutiques, Paris on Ponce is certainly a great place to shop for locally made goods. The 46,000 square foot warehouse is a great place to spend the day perusing both handmade items and carefully curated vintage collectibles. With everything from clothing to furniture, Paris on Ponce is a go-to for many Atlanta locals. Within Paris on Ponce, you will find Pop Marché, “a chic and unique collection of boutiques, representing several dozen independent curators, collectors, and designers.” These Atlanta-based boutique owners work hard to curate—and sometimes create—the perfect collections for Pop Marché shoppers. An added plus: Paris on Ponce is located on the Beltline, making it the perfect stop on a leisurely Atlanta walk. They also welcome events and photo shoots to be held in their Moulin Rouge-esque Ballroom.

There’s nothing better than finding that perfect item and paying close to nothing for it - even if it’s been used before. Sifting through piles of clothes and cracked china is part of the fun when it comes to shopping second-hand stores. Atlanta has no shortage of thrift stores. The city has everything from grungy, warehouse stores to curated, second-hand shops. Here are the ones worth visiting: Second Life is located in downtown Avondale Estates in a huge, yet very well organized, 5,000 square foot building. It sells housewares and clothes and the owners recently opened up a second furniture store across the parking lot. Stop by the main store and stock up on glassware and great everyday dishes. If you’re looking for a classic coffee table or quirky couch, head across the parking lot to the secondary store. Bonus: a portion of every purchase benefits homeless dogs and cats. Last Chance Thrift has four locations in Atlanta and no thrift store list would be complete without a mention of LC. This chain of stores is the “grungy, warehouse stores” I mentioned at the beginning of this article. LC is the type of store you visit again and again and then finally find the perfect white, porcelain cat that you’ve been looking for your mantle. Or if you’re looking for giant t-shirts to make t-shirt scarves during a crafternoon project, LC is the place for you. The prices are the lowest you’ll find anywhere. Take a drive out to the suburbs and mine the Goodwill at Northlake. True story: my sister bought a Bottega Veneta purse at this location for $1.50. Enough said. In the same vein, you can also find some decent designer items at the Goodwill on Roswell Road. Finders Keepers is by far the best second-hand shop(s) in Atlanta. There are four locations each with a different focus: fashions, boutique, menswear, and furnishings. These aren’t thrift stores, they’re second-hand stores, which means the prices aren’t the lowest in town. Nevertheless, you’ll still find great deals in these well-curated stores. The fashion shop carries brands like Banana Republic and J. Crew while the boutique in Decatur has designer items by the likes of Roberto Cavalli and Derek Lam. The furnishing shop carries a mix of traditional and mid-century items and rotates its inventory regularly. Lucky Exchange has been an Atlanta favorite second-hand shop for years. It’s located in Midtown in a tiny storefront right next to Papis. The inventory is well organized and refreshed frequently. The men’s section has army surplus shirts and brands like Original Penguin. The women’s section has plenty of fun, vintage-y party dresses and funky jewelry. Head to the back of the store for the clearance and sales items first. Honorable Mention: Rag-o-Rama and Buffalo Exchange offer secondhand clothing for the Urban Outfitters set. The prices are reasonable, but more expensive than thrift stores and Lucky Exchange.