We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carsen Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Carsen, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive in knowing that I serve a limitless God in terms of CREATIVITY! The God that made everything around us or the people that made certain things (buildings, airplanes, etc.) breath lives in me! So just as He is creative, I am as well. I always pray over my business and ask God for different products or ways to make things that others don’t! Not saying that no one else has created what I have, but to do something different and appealing to others that will keep clients for years to come and so far it has worked!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Carsen Johnson, owner and head designer at EKKLESIA ELEGANCE CUSTOM BOUTIQUE, we’re located in Muscle Shoals, AL. I’ve been married to my biggest supporter, Jamey Johnson for 7 years and together we have 4 children: Eugenia Rucker(Ian), Ci’Lah and Micah Stewart and Leilani Johnson. Our oldest daughter and son in love have blessed us with 3 beautiful grandchildren: Elijah, India and Ivy Rucker. At EKKLESIA MINISTRIES in Sheffield Alabama I am a youth pastor along with my husband and also the intercessory prayer leader for our online campus. Our Pastors and spiritual parents are Dr. Apostle Kobee and Pastor Katenia Fitzgerald, it’s because of their obedience to God, leadership, support and love that EKKLESIA ELEGANCE CUSTOM BOUTIQUE is in operation today!
I LOVE FASHION! When I was a little girl I remember sitting in front of the TV and watching award shows and drawing the beautiful gowns that the actresses wore on the red carpet. My grandmother and my mother wore the most beautiful clothing when I was growing up. My grandmother had a classic style and wore the prettiest suits and fur coats. My mother’s style is classic yet whimsical, she looks so put together when she gets dressed. I call them my STYLE INSPIRATIONS!
In 2018, I was suffering from postpartum depression and broke my ankle. Life would never be the same for me. It took 6 months for me to recover from that injury. When I did recover, I started making T-shirts for my church. One day I had to go to the supply store and that day, the trajectory of my life changed forever.
While I was in the store I stopped on the jewelry bead aisle. I’ve always loved jewelry and accessories. I thought about how pretty the beads were, but also about how hard it must be to make jewelry. I started to walk away from the wall, but I turned around and looked at it again and God said “IT’S IN YOUR HANDS.” I said, “God I can’t make jewelry.” And He said it again, “IT’S IN YOUR HANDS.” I said, “OK God.”
I picked up 2 booklets on how to make jewelry, went home and called my husband and let him know of my experience at the store. He said without hesitation, “how much do you need to get started?” I gave him a figure, went back to the store and bought supplies. When I returned home I got on YouTube and learned how to make jewelry in 1 to 2 days! The same week, one day he came home from work and said God told him to tell me to name each piece by color and the spirit of God and pray over them according to its name! So everyone that wears them will be blessed. I said, “Ok.”
The following Sunday I wore a set of jewelry to church that I had made. I was used to getting compliments on clothing and accessories, but this Sunday I didn’t. I thought it was odd and maybe it was not as pretty as I felt like it was. At the end of my Pastor’s message, he started admonishing the women in our congregation that their wealth was in their hands! I couldn’t hardly contain myself while he was speaking so I got his attention and gave everyone my testimony about what God had said to me in the store. My Spiritual father bought that same set from me in the service and gave it to my spiritual mother because she said she liked it. The same day I took orders after church that lasted for 2 weeks!
June 1st 2019, EKKLESIA ELEGANCE “JEWELRY AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE” was born! A few months after that I was asked by 2 of my friends Ronald and Renee Nelson that work in local establishments to display jewelry for sale. KUSTOM KUTZ BARBER SHOP and THE LONDON SHOP would give me my 1st big push to expose my talents to the community! I sold out of jewelry on numerous occasions. I’m so grateful for them!
Local exposure came to an end at those establishments when the pandemic hit in March of 2020. My husband and I chose for me to stay-at-home and continue my business while he went out to work every day. I had to rely on social media for exposure for my business. God still allowed it to flourish. I had a desire to branch out into other products. I was still making T shirts as well, but because it was my heart’s desire to have a BOUTIQUE, I decided to take a leap of faith on another product.
By the fall I had done my 1st interview with VoyageLA for making custom jewelry by hand for the whole family. I was still deciding on my next product, when I came across a video on YouTube. The video was someone embellishing CONVERSE tennis shoes. I had a red pair that I had stopped wearing and decided to try and embellish them. My next product became known as BEAUTIFUL FEET EDITION KICKS. O TASTE AND SEE JEWELRY MUGS, fabric jewelry and custom fashion glasses would follow. I now had enough products to call my business a BOUTIQUE!
An array of other products followed. The next year, I was interviewed by Ladeana Chisum, a radio personality from Waukegan, Illinois on her radio talk show, RADICAL LIFE with COACH “L”. In May of 2022, my business would shift again! I had a brick and mortar fall in my lap! In October, I was invited to be featured in an INTERNATIONAL magazine (THE HOINSER GROUP) QUEENS EDITION, celebrating women in business from around the globe that was published in over 200 countries around the world! November 12th we had a GRAND OPENING for EKKLESIA ELEGANCE CUSTOM BOUTIQUE!! My little girl dreams were coming true!
This new venture has given me opportunity to give exposure to other business owners as well. Just like my friends had done for me, I wanted to do the same for someone else. Kiya Casey is an upcoming talent with EVERYTHING TIE DYE!! KIYA’S TIE DYED COLLECTION(Facebook page) is featured in our store! Everything from socks, to whole outfits are being TIE DYED!! Angie Vann with THE FLAVOR STUDIO is a “Jack of All Trades.” Angie has a baking company(under ther same umbrella), caters parties and also makes ALL NATURAL hand made soaps! Her SOAPS are on display at our store! You can actually see the ingredients in some of them! They smell great and leave you feeling refreshed!
I’m so EXCITED about this new phase in business! We’re always coming up with new products! Our newest drop is an embellished leather jacket, called “THE GENERAL’S JACKET”, I’m in complete love with it!! It’s something totally different for this area! I’m always praying and asking God for new and different ideas! What makes us different is that EVERYTHING IS DONE BY HAND! And that speaks to our great attention to detail! We hope all our clients can feel and see the care we put in our products!!
This summer we have a VERY SPECIAL photoshoot coming up for our 1st FALL/ WINTER HOLIDAY LOOKBOOK! I’M VERY EXCITED about this venture! It will show EKKLESIA ELEGANCE CUSTOM BOUTIQUE in a whole other light!
I’m a testament that if you believe God and walk in faith that all things are possible and I hope my story inspires others to keep pushing towards their dreams!!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities for me are to know my craft, produce quality products and NEVER EVER GIVE UP OR QUIT! You have to research and know about your craft, don’t be afraid to ask questions or to take time to research about pricing. ALWAYS PUT OUT QUALITY WORK! YOU WILL BE KNOWN FOR IT! IT PAYS OFF!! Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart! STAY THE COURSE AND STICK WITH IT! With the help of God you can do it!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been to be patient! I’m one of these people that want to get things done right now then and I had to wait almost 6 months before I could work on my store. By the time I finally started working on it, it was almost completely furnished for FREE! I was so glad that I remained patient and waited on GOD’S timing because it is truly everything!
Contact Info:
- Facebook: EKKLESIA ELEGANCE CUSTOM BOUTIQUE and Carsen Johnson
Image Credits
Carsen Johnson and Tina Goodloe
