We recently connected with Daynell Marbury and have shared our conversation below.

Daynell, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was deeply personal and life-changing. It all started with the unexpected loss of my best friend, Jamila Chantille. Grief was overwhelming, and I needed something to help me process it. That’s when I discovered resin art.

At first, I was just experimenting—creating ashtrays, home décor pieces, and customized keychains. It was a creative escape, something that gave me a sense of control during a time when everything felt uncertain. As I kept creating, I found joy in making personalized pieces for others, seeing how small, customized keepsakes could bring happiness to people’s lives.

Then, I came across flower preservation, and everything changed. I realized that resin wasn’t just a medium for décor—it could be used to preserve memories. The first time I encapsulated a flower, I felt an emotional connection I hadn’t experienced before. That’s when I knew this was more than just a creative outlet; it was my purpose.

I shifted my focus to preserving sentimental keepsakes—wedding bouquets, funeral flowers, and other cherished mementos. This passion led to the creation of HelloBoutiq, and eventually, Chantille’s Forever Florals, named in honor of my best friend.

Now, every piece I create isn’t just about art—it’s about storytelling, healing, and connection. Through my work, I help people hold onto their most cherished moments, ensuring that love and memories last forever.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Meet Daynell Marbury: The Heart Behind Chantille’s Forever Florals & HelloBoutiq

I’m Daynell Marbury, the owner and creative force behind Chantille’s Forever Florals and HelloBoutiq. My journey into resin artistry wasn’t something I planned—it was something I felt. It all started as a personal creative outlet after the loss of my best friend, Jamila. Grief left me searching for a way to hold onto memories, and that’s when I discovered resin.

At first, I experimented with making ashtrays, home décor items, and customized keychains. I loved the process of creating something unique, but as I kept exploring, I realized I could do something even more meaningful—preserve memories. That’s when I shifted my focus to flower preservation, transforming sentimental items like wedding bouquets and funeral flowers into lasting keepsakes.

What I Offer & The Problems I Solve
Through Chantille’s Forever Florals, I help people preserve and cherish life’s most significant moments. Whether it’s encapsulating flowers from a wedding, funeral, or another special event, I create resin art that holds deep emotional meaning. My work allows people to keep tangible memories of their loved ones and life’s milestones forever.

With HelloBoutiq, I continue to offer creative resin-based home décor, trays, coasters, and custom jewelry, blending art with functionality. These pieces bring unique beauty into everyday spaces while also offering personalized touches for those looking for something special.

One of the biggest challenges people face when it comes to keepsakes is finding a way to preserve fleeting moments. Fresh flowers wilt, objects age, and memories fade—but through my work, I help clients turn those moments into lasting art. Whether it’s preserving a piece of a loved one’s story or creating a customized gift, my goal is to provide something truly irreplaceable.

What Sets Me Apart
What makes my work different is the level of care and emotional depth I pour into each piece. I don’t just make resin art—I create pieces that tell a story. Every flower, every item encapsulated in resin has meaning, and I take pride in working closely with my clients to bring their memories to life in a way that feels personal and heartfelt.

I also bring a deep sense of authenticity to my brand. This business isn’t just about selling products—it’s about honoring the past, celebrating love, and helping people find comfort through art. Chantille’s Forever Florals is named after my best friend because this work is, at its core, about love and remembrance.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of how my work has touched people’s lives. Seeing the emotional reactions of my clients—whether it’s someone holding onto a preserved wedding bouquet or a family member receiving a keepsake with their loved one’s funeral flowers—reminds me why I do this. It’s about connection, storytelling, and creating something meaningful.

Being selected for Handmade Arcade’s 2025 BIPOC Maker Accelerator Program has also been a huge milestone, as it provides me with even more opportunities to grow and share my craft with a wider audience.

What I Want People to Know
I want potential clients and followers to know that my work is personal, intentional, and created with love. Whether you’re looking for a unique keepsake, a heartfelt gift, or a custom resin art piece, I’m here to help you preserve what matters most.

At Chantille’s Forever Florals, every piece is more than just resin and flowers—it’s a tangible memory, a story, a piece of someone’s heart.

If you have something meaningful you want to preserve, let’s create something special together.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I’ve made in my business journey was transitioning from HelloBoutiq to Chantille’s Forever Florals. When I first started HelloBoutiq, I was creating a variety of resin-based items—home décor, trays, keychains, and jewelry. It was a creative space where I could experiment, and while I loved the artistic freedom, I realized that my true passion was in preserving memories through resin.

As I began working more with flower preservation—encapsulating wedding bouquets, funeral flowers, and sentimental keepsakes—I saw a shift in my business. The name HelloBoutiq no longer fully represented what I was offering. My work wasn’t just about creating trendy resin pieces—it was about helping people hold onto meaningful moments.

That’s when I decided to pivot and launch Chantille’s Forever Florals, named in honor of my late best friend, Jamila Chantille. This transition allowed me to align my brand more closely with my purpose—creating heartfelt keepsakes that preserve memories in a tangible, lasting way.

Pivoting wasn’t easy. I had to rethink branding, update my messaging, and introduce my audience to a more refined focus. But making this shift was the best decision for my business because it gave me the space to do what I truly love: helping people cherish their most important moments through resin art.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One of the biggest misconceptions about being a creative entrepreneur is that it’s just about making things. Many people assume that if you’re good at your craft, success will naturally follow. But in reality, being a creative business owner is about so much more than the art itself—it’s about storytelling, problem-solving, and constantly evolving.

For me, transitioning from making general resin décor with HelloBoutiq to focusing on sentimental preservation with Chantille’s Forever Florals wasn’t just a business move—it was an emotional and deeply personal shift. Creativity isn’t just about producing something visually appealing; it’s about connecting with people, understanding their stories, and creating something that holds meaning beyond aesthetics.

Another thing non-creatives might not realize is how much time, energy, and heart goes into each piece. The work I do isn’t mass-produced. Every preserved bouquet, every memorial keepsake, and every resin creation I craft carries a piece of someone’s story. I take my time to ensure that these memories are honored with care, which means I’m not just pouring resin—I’m preserving emotions, milestones, and legacies.

Additionally, the business side of creativity is a constant challenge. People often think, “You love what you do, so it must be easy!” But turning passion into a business requires learning marketing, pricing, customer service, branding, and financial management—all while staying inspired and innovating. Creativity isn’t just about making—it’s about sustaining.

I think the most important insight I can share is this: Creative work is work. It takes skill, dedication, and resilience. Just because something is beautiful or heartfelt doesn’t mean it was easy to create. Behind every successful creative entrepreneur is a person who has invested countless hours, faced self-doubt, and learned to navigate both artistry and business.

So for anyone who has a creative friend, family member, or small business they admire—support them, share their work, and recognize that what they do is more than just a craft. It’s a passion, a business, and a deeply personal journey all in one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cforeverflorals.com / https://helloboutiq.com
• Instagram: @chantillesforeverflorals / @hello.boutiq
• Facebook: Chantille’s Forever Florals / HelloBoutiq
• Other: The social media pages and website for Chantille’s Forever Florals are currently under construction. They should be up and running in the coming weeks.

Image Credits

Daynell Marbury