Her Story Touched My Heart

It’s Not Where You Start…
By Jahzara


I am not easily impressed however a few months ago I saw one of Klaire Russell’s hand-crafted purses and was taken aback. She had hand-crafted a purse with the Greek letters for Delta Sigma Theta. Immediately, I wanted one with my Greek letters, Zeta Phi Beta. I contacted Klaire and she agreed to design purses for Jahzara. We chatted at length and her story was equally impressive. I would like to share it with you. I want you to garnish from Klaire Russell’s story that it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s about where you finish.
At the age of seventeen, Klaire was married and by the time she was twenty-two years old she had three children. In addition to being controlling, her husband was physically and verbally abusive to her. Although, he was controlling he did allow her to obtain two Associates Degrees. As time went on, Klaire realized that she could no longer stay with him for the children, but she needed to leave for safety and sanity.
It seemed that when she left him things were looking up for her. Klaire had been on welfare most of her marriage and lived in the ‘hood. God blessed her with a job that paid a salary of $50,000 a year and she was able to move into a beautiful home. For seven years, she would work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Working these grueling hours would eventually take a toll on Klaire’s body. By 2004, Klaire’s body was under such duress that she could no longer work. She stated, “I was so sick that somedays, I couldn’t get up. I gained 70 pounds and had to walk with a cane. At times I lost consciousness.”
Klaire’s job observed the decline in her body, but believed that it was slothfulness and fired her. When Klaire lost her job she lost everything. Klaire lost her income, her home, and self worth. Times had gotten so hard that she and her children were living out of her car.
Klaire suffered from depression and wanted her life to end. She didn’t understand why she was suffering such distress. Klaire even questioned God about her current suffering. On December 31, 2006, Klaire awakened in a hospital room. On her way to the restroom, she saw an angel. Scared, Klaire retreated under the covers, but often peeked from under the covers to see the angel lifting her hands above her head and down top her waist. Klaire called her mother the next day to tell her mother about the experience. Her mother who is also a minister told Klaire that the angel’s presence was God’s way of telling Klaire that everything would be okay and Klaire did not need to worry.
Klaire’s life would turn the moment a nurse gave her 7 colored pieces of paper and 7 oil crayons to take her mind off of things. Klaire was not interested but took the items and placed them under her pillow, where they would remain for the next 7 days until she was released to go home.
On January 7, 2007, Klaire left the hospital and took her youngest daughter to the art store. Klaire states that she felt bad for having missed New Year’s with her daughter and wanted to make it up to her, so she took her daughter to the art store. Upon entering the art store, Klaire’s youngest daughter announced that they were going to paint. Klaire said, “No, we’re not.” They argued back and forth for the next 10 minutes. Klaire gave in and selected 7 paints, 7 brushes, a wooden stool, and a wooden birdhouse. Later that evening, Klaire would watch her daughter paint the stool. Klaire recalls staring and watching her daughter. Her daughter coaxed her, “ Please paint, Mom, it will make you feel better.” Klaire sat and stared at her wooden birdhouse for 15 minutes.
Fifteen minutes later, Klaire had finished something she had never imagined she would do. She had painted her first wooden birdhouse. It sold for $85. Since that day, January 7, 2007, Klaire has painted over 1300 pieces and sold all but thirty. Klaire has had radio and television appearances.
Klaire’s has no formal art training, yet her first canvas painting sold for $50, her second painting sold for $200. All of Klaire’s works are individualized, one-of-a-kinds, as she is unable to duplicate her own work. Klaire’s work is 3D and 360 degree art.which means it looks like it is coming at you or going in. Any direction that you turn the painting, yields a new picture.
These days, there is no limit to Klaire’s success. An upscale art gallery in Toledo, Ohio called The 20 North Art Gallery is now carrying her work. Her paintings are selling for $700, purses $300, Sun Parasols - $100. Jack Ford, former Mayor of Toledo, who also is an African-American has a show co-hosted with his wife. The name of the show is Coffee With the Fords. Mr. Ford personally picked out two of Klaire's paintings and they will be featured on the show, the weekend of July 19 and July 26. Klaire will also be painting live humans of canvas July 17 at The Truth Gallery.

To have Klaire custom design artwork for you or your business contact her at 419-340-3391, KSTAR132@yahoo.com or KSTAR@myspace.com.

ABOUT JAHZARA

Jahzara is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Authors for Charity. She is the author of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore. Jahzara is also a certified Clinical Massage Therapist, Lifestyle Entrepreneur with Soul Purpose, and the owner of Tranquil Moments LLC publishing company that also specializes in health and wellness. To learn more about Jahzara visit her at www.jahzarawrites.com.