We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robin Spinelli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robin below.

Robin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Gracie’s story begins at a feed store where she was left by her Momma. One day, a kind farmer adopts her to live on his farm. She can still remember the farmer’s gentle hand reaching into the worn wooden box as He chose her; and the bumpity ride home in the farmer’s old green truck with Champ the dog. Well, I know it might SEEM obvious how Gracie got her name, but the story of how it all happened is nothing short of a miracle because it happened as I was crying out to God on my 50th birthday about my identity and purpose. You see, I was still grieving my birth mom, who left when I was three. God came and unfolded a love story in language I could understand. Our dog began to bark and I ran outside to find our smallest chick, Gracie being pecked by the other hens. Our dog interrupted it. Once Gracie was safe, I drove to the feedstore for medicine to treat her wounds. A customer overheard me telling the sales clerk what happened and he put a spray in my hand and told me it would “protect her” from the other hens. I went home and sprayed Gracie with the medicated spray. As it dried, Gracie’s feathers were BRIGHT PURPLE. In the story, Gracie has a dream where Champ breaks off hurtful words and He blesses her with words that bring healing, speak identity and fill her with joy. When she awakens, Gracie is transformed with a crown and purple feathers! As Gracie healed, something else was evident because she knew WHOM she belonged to. Champ and Gracie become fast friends. Ms. Bossy Pants sees Gracie’s BEAUTY FOR ASHES and she wants that too! Gracie forgives Ms. Bossy Pants and everyone is reconciled back into the family. As I watched this miracle unfold, I began seeing myself as Gracie, Father God as the farmer, Jesus as my Champion and Holy Spirit as the revelator of creativity and poetic storytelling with the healing power to REVEAL the MASTER STORYTELLER. With a face like a flint and my eyes on the target, I began to write the tale of a purple chicken. In the deep blue waters of the Spirit, I felt an oasis of grace and a deep, deep joy. Like a purple popsicle, I felt refreshed and sensed the Lord would use Gracie the Purple Chicken to melt the hearts of those who had grown hard with RAYS of His SONSHINE. Gracie was anointed ROYALTY (purple) to share the Father’s Love.

The name for my story and the name of my mission has always been FAITH is a precious gift from FATHER GOD by GRACE, not works (Ephesians 2:8-10 TPT); and the color Purple immediately spoke to me of a ROYAL MANTLE of being God’s chosen treasure (1 Peter 2:9 TPT).

Last summer, I wrote a second book, ADOPTED and LOVED (available on Amazon.com), I wrote about Gracie being taken back in time and being able to forgive her birth mom. This was a powerful moment for me. In love and with some trepidation, I found an address online and mailed both books to my birth mom in September 2022. On April 21, 2023, my birth Mom contacted me through Gracie’s Instagram Account to tell me she had received my Gracie new-book package safely and that she was compelled to make Jesus her LORD and Savior. I wept and wept- tears of joy!

A dear friend recently reminded me to look around and see the tree I planted; to “step back” and see the orchard that God has grown; and to “pick the fruit” and just stay encouraged…”you’ve got something the body of Christ needs to hear and God gave that word to you. SPEAK THE WORD. WRITE THE WORD. It might have been percolating for some time and it’s coming time to release it. Just remember your job is to plant that mustard seed …plant that one seed and have faith. God will do the impossible if you have faith. (Mark 4: 26-29).

Robin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

This summer, my dream to bring the story of Gracie the Purple Chicken to life is being realized by having the first episode entitled, “Gracie Finds a Home” animated by Brainy Pixel Productions, a Christian Animation Studio (https://brainypixel.com/). Release for this project is expected around August 1, 2023.

I am also working on writing more adventures of Gracie the Purple Chicken based on my visit to Israel last January 2023. I’m hoping to go back with an organization that works with young people to promote peace. Another dream is to have my stories translated into Arabic and Hebrew.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is for all children to know they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and loved beyond measure. Perhaps lessons from my youth and experiences as a Registered Nurse have touched my heart with compassion for children who experience adverse life events early in life. I believe one caring person can make a difference in the life of a child.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Like WAVES from heaven, the Lord uses creativity, artistic poetry and story-telling gifts to REVEAL THE MASTER STORYTELLER and that makes me so happy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://graciethepurplechicken.com/
• Instagram: @graciethepurplechicken
• Facebook: @graciethepurplechicken
• Other: I hope to have a you tube channel and or podcast at some point. The animated version of “Gracie Finds a Home” is expected August 1, 2023 and I will announce it on Facebook and Instagram.

Image Credits
Personal photos taken by Robin Spinelli