Chantel Gonzalez
Introducing Florida based crafts persona, and founder of Creative & Kind, Chantel Gonzalez. She talks about her passion, inspiration and her heart for people! Check out her interview on this CR8VSPOT highlight.
CR8VSPOT: Tell us about yourself.
Chantel Gonzalez: Hey! I’m Chantel, I currently live and work in the sunshine state and I love making things with my hands! I am a freelance creative; In 2014, my hashtag #creativeandkind became a brand for me. I have stories for days and love sharing my stories! I wish I could sit with everyone reading this, but we can be Insta friends! I promise to send you snail mail.
—“There is no end or limits or boundaries to what we get to do.”
CR8VSPOT: How did you discover your crafting gift?
CG: My parents loved taking us to museums, art shows, and craft fairs. I learned early on that crafting or creating was something that I loved, but it wasn’t until my teenage years that I actually started cultivating and investing in that gift.
In high school, people started asking me to make things for them and I think I sold my first piece of art or craft in my freshman year of high school! I was always book smart in school but I loved to identify myself as creative. I feel like I have recently found my style and I have loved being able to make things that look like me or sound like me or feel like me. This is also funny because my parents aren’t the most creative but they always allowed creativity in our home: they were the type of parents that let us plant jelly beans to harvest lollipops.
CR8VSPOT: How challenging has it been getting to where you are today?
CG: In my early years as a creative, I had to work on getting to find my own form of creative expression and the kind of craft I wanted to do. Instead of just doing whatever I was asked to, I figured I had to invest in crafting, and discover what being creative meant for me. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I was fully confident in my gift.
CR8VSPOT: What do you do for inspiration?
CG: I find inspiration from nature. I feel like I can imagine so clearly what I should put my hands to. I also find inspiration in hearing other people’s stories and being able to pray through a color scheme, verse, or song that breathes life into what they’re going through when I’m working on a piece for them.
CR8VSPOT: What’s your favorite part of being a creative?
CG: As creatives, I love that our hands can make something tangible that inspires someone or makes their day! There is no end or limits or boundaries to what we get to do. No medium or craft is off-limits for me!
Counselors, coaches, and speakers get to impact lives through their words, musicians have their microphones and stages. For me, my crafts are my words and my stage. Getting to hear the impacting stories that come from the end-users of my pieces makes it all worth it, and it’s actually my Big WHY!
I craft and create pieces that can serve to create lasting heartfelt memories on people. I have so many stories from newlywed couples, families with newborns, and many other people who have used my pieces!
—“For me, my crafts are my words and my stage.”
CR8VSPOT: What’s the most difficult part of your creativity? Do you get stuck in the line of creating stuff?
CG: Sometimes, I feel like I get stuck in comparison. It can be easy for me to measure my work, talent, or craft to someone else’s and it can easily keep me from creating. There have been days where I chose not to create simply because it didn’t look or sound like anyone else’s. But, hello Chantel, it shouldn’t!
CR8VSPOT: In what ways has the pandemic affected your creativity?
CG: This season has been such a test of my peace and mental health. There are so many things going on and sometimes it feels as though sitting at my desk and crafting is not a good use of my time. But, in reality, it’s been quite the opposite! This pandemic has been a gift to me. It helped me learn to push through limiting mindsets and roadblocks and I have seen amazing outcomes as a result of pushing through!
Many great things have come up for my brand through this pandemic. I have received the most orders which have also been highly impacting. All of which happened simply because I pushed through!
CR8VSPOT: Would you like to share some of the projects you are working on right now?
CG: Personalized hand lettering art pieces, decals made from photos for personalized items like coffee mugs, tumblers, wall hangings, and this one is pretty amazing…shoes!! And…in honor of “the most wonderful time of the year!” I’m also making personalized Christmas ornaments.
I recently got the opportunity to make some pieces for a ladies’ event. This is the first event of its kind, and I am honored that I get to create for it. The theme is “Better Together”. I was commissioned to pray through a piece of art that would remind the attendees of the importance of community. One of the ladies at the event who received one of my pieces told me the piece she received will help keep a lasting memory of the impact and experience she had at the event.
—“It helped me learn to push through limiting mindsets and roadblocks and I have seen amazing outcomes as a result of pushing through!”
CR8VSPOT: Is there something you’re excited about learning next and is there a long-term challenge you are considering tackling?
CG: I am excited about opening a shop and promoting my craft. I am looking forward to this coming year with lots of expectation, I believe there will be many opportunities for “Creative and Kind” and I will break out of past limits and grow my brand in ways beyond my wildest dreams!
CR8VSPOT: There must be a project that you have always dreamed of doing. What is it?
CG: A dream creative project would be fully overseeing the designs for a big (possibly nationwide/global) event or conference that expands the reach on the impact of the impact I am making on people! I would also want to mentor other people in creativity and crafting as well.
Also, I always tell people that I’m going to write a book someday. I have so many stories that I would love to share with the world simply to encourage others. I can imagine beautiful pages and sweet words. Not for my gain, but to give away what I so graciously have been given. If you’re reading this, feel free to hold me accountable!
CR8V SPOT: Chantel’s favorites!
Design Software: Procreate Drawing
Color: Yellow
City: Dallas, Texas
Inspiration: Nature
Achilles’ heel and turn off: Creatives using other people’s work to copy instead of using it for inspiration.
To see more of Chantel’s work and place orders for personalized craft pieces, visit her online shop and her Instagram page
