Once Upon A Time....Chantel's Originals was located at 4210 Altruria Rd

The first 20 years of my married life were spent moving throughout the U.S. and overseas.  During those years I continued to create and sell my art, but it wasn't until September of 2006 that I was finally able to stay in one place long enough to open a business of my own.  If I were to be completely honest however, opening a business was the last thing I wanted to do.  After all, anytime you take a risk there is a chance of failure.  I didn't mind failure in my private life, but the idea of a public failure did not appeal to me at all.  Having considered this, I made up my mind that opening a business was not going to be in my future.  Yet here I was preparing to do just that.  Why???  The answer was simple.  I knew without a single doubt that God was calling me to take a risk and open "Chantel's Originals".

On September 28th of 2006 "Chantel's Originals" opened it's doors for the first time.  Everything in this shop had been either hand painted or created by me.  It is hard to remember all of the items that I carried, because there were so many.  I had original art, and handpainted furniture, along with t-shirts, vases, candleholders, totes, journals, clocks, and the list could go on and on.  Many of the pieces were created using a special decoupage process that I had developed.  One of the reasons that I loved "Chantel's Originals", was that it provided the money that I needed to continue painting portraits without charge for families who had lost a child.  For a while the store was very successful and I was very happy!!!  The Commercial Appeal, along with several other local newspapers, wrote numerous stories about "Chantel's Originals".  I was so grateful that God had called me to move out of my comfort zone.

Then everything changed.  The economy went bad.  I continued to pour everything I had into the business, but it wasn't enough.  The money was still going out, through the "portrait gifts", but there wasn't enough money coming back in.  And then, one day I knew without a doubt that God was telling me the time had come to close the shop.  I did not want to listen.  I fought against what I knew I was supposed to do.  I sat in a dark closet and wept!!!  But in March of 2009 I closed the doors of "Chantel's Originals".  Looking back, I am not sure how I made it through those very dark days.  Not wanting to let go of so many items that were precious to me, I created a home studio that was absolutely stunning.  The problem was that I didn't have the heart to do anything with it.  God had asked me for the ultimate sacrifice, and I had given it to Him, but it wasn't with a joyful heart.  I didn't have any heart at all.  I began to grieve the loss of the shop in a way that I cannot explain.  I know it was just a business, but I had poured my heart and soul into that business.  I could not seem to separate myself from the loss of the shop.  As far as I was concerned, I was lost too.  I hid from people because I could not bear to talk.  I cried so much, that there were no tears left.  What was I without my art?  What would I do with myself?

Somewhere in the darkness God came to me.  He wrapped me in His arms and held me.  He took away the anger and the bitterness, and He gave me joy instead.  He restored my heart to me.  And miracles of miracles, "Chantel's Originals" was not lost!!!  The business continued out of my home studio.  Not only did it continue, but it grew and was more successful than it had ever been!!!  Opportunities rose up before me that left me speechless.  It has been amazing to watch my business, and myself grow!!!  I have truly been blessed.  I have just one regret....I wish that I had trusted God and given my sacrifice with a joyful heart.  I love the verse in the Bible where King David says that he will not give the Lord his God a sacrifice that has cost him nothing.