Michelle Allen, Margi Hershey & Megan Rozek

May 2026 Issue

by Lesley Kyle
Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

 

Michelle Allen arrived in the Lowcountry in August 1990. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, Michelle left her homeland just one year out of high school. With an adventurous spirit, she set out for Paris to embark on the next phase of her life. She was soon reminded of the language barrier and needed to pivot. Michelle had just enough money to buy a ticket to the U.S. but never intended to move here. She began working in a restaurant, married, and in 1999, her daughter, Megan, was born.

Michelle hails from a creative family, beginning with her grandmother. Her mom, Margarette (Margi), sews, paints with acrylics and oils, knits, and enjoys wood carving, as well. “My mom is an incredibly talented artist who will try any and every available art activity,” said Michelle. “She is entirely self-taught, and there is no artistic endeavor she will not try.”

Margi also grew up in South Africa and has lived in the United States for 20 years. “I have done so many different forms of art from a young age: from sewing my own clothes, playing music, gardening, and painting in all mediums, including canvas and wood. Living here in the Lowcountry has made for an easy subject to go by!” Oyster shells and the marsh are Margi’s favorite forms of inspiration.


Michelle started a handbag business when Megan was a baby. “I never intended to start a business,” Michelle said. “This was a hobby that turned into a business.” The high cost of labor in the U.S. and marketing products to consumers before the internet age made manufacturing and sales a real challenge, especially while caring for a baby. She appeared on QVC, the multimedia retailer and television network, with her Queen Bee Handbags but felt unprepared for that television experience, “I’m a quiet person who was like a deer in headlights on that show.” Feeling overwhelmed, after eight years, Michelle decided to pack it in and closed the business.


Ten years ago, Michelle launched another creative business: Michelle Allen Designs. She did decoupage, worked with shells and ceramics, and also made soft goods like napkins and bags that were manufactured in India. By 2024, the business had tremendously grown, and Michelle decided it was time to step away. Megan had worked closely with her mom for seven years and took over the business, changing its name to TenTwentySix Designs (tentwentysixdesigns.com).

“I enjoyed every moment of working with my mom for so long,” said Megan. “I started with her part-time, and when I moved to full-time a couple of years later, I never looked back. We grew even closer and would talk and laugh all day!” 

These three generations of exquisitely talented women remain a close-knit family. “Megan and I now talk most days on the phone,” said Michelle. “I talk to my mom daily, too. She’s great at giving advice and helping me with decisions.”

Michelle and Megan enjoy a special mother/daughter relationship. Among many cherished family memories are the trips they have taken to South Africa. During their first adventure, Megan was just 15, and she saw a completely different world. Mother and daughter went on safari and encountered impoverished towns along the way. “This was a real eye-opener for Megan,” said Michelle. “People there are very friendly and down to earth, but the lifestyle is quite different from our lives on Hilton Head.” Megan enjoyed the opportunities to connect with family, too. “It was everything to me,” she recalled. “Being older on this last trip, I was able to really grow a bond with my family there, and that was very special to me.”


After leaving the business collaboration to Megan in 2024, Michelle first thought she was finished working. Several months later she grew bored, so now she enjoys working part-time at Coastal Exchange in Bluffton. She also has discovered a new art form that keeps her happy and busy. She uses fabrics, vintage postcards, and frames that she turns into art, makes shell sculptures, and is learning to make lampshades. “It is difficult for me to not be constantly busy making and creating,” said Michelle.  “I love the process.”

Margi continues to paint. “I am currently working on a large 4’x6’ painting of oyster shells in a bowl. For me, there are no rules; I am never tied down and have my own style.”

Megan feels especially fortunate to share her creative talents and passion with her mother and grandmother. “I’ve learned everything from them,” Megan exclaimed. “My mom taught me everything I know about creating items from existing materials like shells, clay, and wood.”

These women have supported each other through generational inspiration, creative freedom, and love. This is a true legacy filled with color, creativity, and craft—the exact definition of “the beauty of us.”