Take a stroll through downtown La Salle, and you will see a diverse mix of places to eat and shop, but there is one store that is definitely more unusual than the rest and that is by design. Chaos and Curiosities is a haven for creepy oddities, macabre artisan crafts, and esoteric collectibles. Created by Haley Burch and Karli Sarver, this unique boutique invites customers to explore shelves filled with the unconventional, such as coffin nails in glass vials, taxidermied mammals, mummified chameleons, butterflies suspended in bell jars, zombie-like stuffed animals, and even jewelry crafted from animal bones and glittering crystals.

“We cater to odd and whimsical and kind of weird art,” said Haley with a smile. “We’ve got about thirty-five local artists that make all things that are strange, odd, fantastic and fun!

“I think weird can be embraced in retail, because it speaks to everyone differently,” observed Haley describing what makes the business so unique. “A lot of people look at what we have in here, like bones and think, ‘Oh, gross.’ You know, dead remains. We’re like, ‘It’s beautiful.’ A lot of our artists take those things and they turn them into something beautiful. So, it’s all getting essentially a second chance.”

A curious start

Karli and Haley’s journey into the world of oddities began long before they opened their store. Both came from creative backgrounds where making things by hand was second nature.

“We both come from crafty families,” Karli recalled. “I think both of us are always making new things or looking to create new things ever since we were younger.”

Their shared love for the strange and spooky only deepened their friendship.

“We’ve known each other for probably, what, 14 years?” said Karli looking over at Haley. “Our houses are decorated like this. We both have a very similar taste in weird and spooky.

“We started making things for our friends who were like, ‘Oh, I want one of those. Where can I get that?’ And a lot of times when we see things like that, and we’re like, ‘We can make it!’”

Eager to share their creations with a wider audience, they began selling at local markets.

“We started doing farmer’s markets and craft shows and things of that nature,” said Haley.

“The Dalzell Farmers Market asked if we wanted to come make things for their market in October,” Karli chimed in. “I was like, ‘Oh cool, we can make Halloween things.’ Everyone else had cupcakes and vegetables and things like that. We’re like, ‘We’re going to make weird skeletons and bathtubs,’ and that kind of grew from there.”

They said their macabre crafts did not seem to be compatible with traditional market fare.

“A lot of times when we brought the bone art and some of the things we make, it didn’t really fit with all the other crafters that were there,” Haley explained. “They were selling big Christmas bows and Santa-themed things, and we have bloody dolls and things with bones on them.”

Realizing they were not alone, they decided to create a space where fellow unconventional artists could thrive.

“We realized that there were other artists that kind of felt the same way,” Haley said. “So, when we decided to do this, we’re like, ‘Let’s have a space where everyone can have their art, regardless of what kind of weirdness it has.’”

Chaos and Curiosities originally opened at a smaller location in September 2023, in the nearby town of Peru. The response was overwhelming.

“We had a ton of support from our followers and from the community,” exclaimed Karli. “But it was a much smaller space. We realized very quickly that we outgrew that space almost immediately.”

Encouraged by fellow small business owners, they set their sights on downtown La Salle.

“We had known a couple other small business owners from La Salle,” Karli explained. “They had mentioned a lot of events downtown and just the amount of support from the community around the small businesses in La Salle. So when we had the opportunity to look at a commercial space in town, we jumped on it.”

By Spring 2024, Haley and Karli moved their unique store to its present location on First Street in downtown La Salle.

Bringing strange to Main Street

For Karli and Haley, their brick-and-mortar shop isn’t just a store. They think is should be an experience for people who visit and even a gathering place for like-minded creators.

“All of our artists here are not only from Illinois, they’re mostly local. They live 15 minutes away,” said Haley. “They come down to the store once a week to hang out, to restock. We talk to almost all of them on a weekly basis.”

“Having our own space allows us to showcase the type of art we love,” Karli added, “It creates a sense of community for artists who make weird, eccentric pieces. This gives them a home for their work when other, more traditional stores might not.”

“A lot of our family members, whether it’s cousins, aunts, or moms, have their art in here as well,” Haley jumped in with a smile. “Both of our families are very creative. They love it, and they’ve been 100% supportive.”

Walking into Chaos and Curiosities isn’t like browsing a typical store. It’s an adventure, sometimes feeling like you’re also in an odd museum.

“Our customers definitely come in looking for an experience,” said Haley. “When you come in here, that’s what you get. You’re not going to find a lot of this stuff on Amazon. It’s handmade jewelry you can’t get anywhere else. It’s art made from bones found in the backwoods. You just can’t see things like this in person by looking online.

“People can expect to find something for anyone, from their grandmother to their weird aunt,” Haley laughed. “We cover all the bases. You can get coffee and tea, stickers, beautiful jewelry, but then we also have things like pigs’ feet in jars.”

“We’ve got brains in jars, diaphanized specimens, crystal jewelry, porcupine earrings,” Karli jumped in. “I mean, you can find literally anything from plushies, incense, and everything in between. In fact, diaphanized specimens are among our best selling items.”

Diaphanization is a fascinating artistic technique that renders animal specimens transparent while staining their bones and cartilage in vivid dyes. Each piece can take six months to a year to create.

And if the oddities weren’t enough, the shop also has two resident snakes, Beetlejuice and Lydia, slithering around in a glass cage at the store as their unofficial mascots.

Celebrating weird year-round

“There’s not a lot of stores like ours because it’s a different market,” Karli admitted. “Sometimes it can be a tricky slope to navigate, but we definitely embrace it. It’s really rewarding, especially for our clientele, to know this is a safe space to shop for weird things.”

Haley recalled customer reactions when they first opened.

“We’ve had people come in and say, ‘Wow, you guys go all out for Halloween?’ And we’re like, ‘No, this is how it looks all year.’ They’re shocked and say ‘Really? I love this stuff! I’ve never been to a place that has these things year-round!’ It’s always exciting when people discover us and get just as excited as we are,” said Haley.

“We want to show people that it’s okay to have weird, eccentric art,” piped in Karli. “You can have vintage taxidermy next to crystal jewelry, and they can exist together. It makes for a really beautiful showcase. We’re not trying to fit in. We’re just different.”

Haley and Karli work hard to keep their business fresh for customers and wanting to make sure there is always something new to see and experience when wondering around the shop.

“We’re always changing things,” explained Haley. We’re like, ‘Maybe that cabinet would look better on the other side or let’s add some pictures.’ It’s kind of fun.”

“I think it’s important to stay fresh and be different, to cater to our guests’ needs,” retorted Karli. “Customers are always coming up with new things that they need, want, or they’re looking for as gifts or for themselves. Listening to them is really important to us.”

“Our regular customers definitely try to keep us on our toes,” interjected Haley. “We have the same people that come in and they get a lot of the same products, but they’re always like, ‘What if you did this instead?’”

The move to downtown La Salle has been a game-changer for the business.

“The foot traffic here is great,” said Haley. “We get people killing time who wander in, and they’re either our kind of shoppers who say ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool and weird; I love it!’. Or they walk in, say ‘Okay?’ and walk right out. Which is fine! We’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and we’re not aiming to be.”

“We’re super excited to be part of La Salle. Moving here was probably one of the best decisions we’ve ever made,” added Karli. “I think it works because there’s nothing like this around us. For people who appreciate this kind of art, they don’t have to drive two hours to Chicago to find it. We’re right here! ”

Making weird work

Chaos and Curiosities is a passion that bleeds into every aspect of Karli and Haley’s lives.

“What we want people to know about retail is that it’s not just full-time; it’s all the time, twenty-four seven,” exclaimed Karli with excitement in her voice. “It’s also how we feed our families and help our artists create extra income. This is more than just a job to us. It’s a lifestyle. It’s about creativity and the things we love and hold dear.”

“If we can make a weird space work here, it shows others they can do it too no matter what their business model might be,” added Haley with a determined tone.

Launching Chaos and Curiosities was never a solo endeavor. Haley and Karli credit their success with support from many others in the community.

“We couldn’t have done this without help from everyone else,” Haley reflected. “If you’re looking to open a retail space, I’d definitely say to reach out and network as much as you can. It makes a huge difference.”

“Also, do your research,” piped in Karli. “There aren’t always enough resources readily available for new business owners. We really had to dig deep to figure out licensing, regulations, and all the logistical stuff we didn’t learn in school. Reach out to your community and other business owners. They’ll help you navigate what you should and shouldn’t be doing.”

Oh, weird is wonderful!

For Karli and Haley, Chaos and Curiosities is become more than just a store. It’s a meeting ground for kindred spirits.

“We just love meeting people from all over the United States who come into our little weird corner of the world,” shared Karli with a big grin. “People trust us to bring them quality products and to curate items that resonate with them. That trust means everything.”

“This space gives us the freedom to make whatever we find fun and exciting,” added Haley with a chuckle “There are no boundaries to what we can do here. We get to follow our inspiration wherever it leads.”

“I think that’s part of why we created this space,” said Karli jumping in with energy in her voice. “We wanted an outlet for complete creative freedom, for us and for our artists. We don’t want bland or vanilla. We want flavor, spice, and personality. That freedom to embrace the weird and spooky is what makes this place special.”