Customers who visit Alda's LLC online will find that the company was closed after 18 years in business.

Company founder Alda Ellis, who is well-known in the Christian gift world, spoke with Inspirational Gift Trends Bulletin for the first time about the July 2007 closure: " (My husband) Buddy and I sold the store rather quietly about 18 months ago, before the economy went bottoms up. We remained active in it until December 2008 and then we were out. At the time we sold, I was gone and on the road more than I was ever home, and I missed home! Since Buddy and I rarely traveled together, I missed him too, for the business had just grown to be all-encompassing. Three trips to China and one to India in less than a year made for an easy decision.

"At the time when we sold, we were at the top of our game, and God spoke to my heart and told me to sell it. I know some would have thought we were crazy at the time, but look at what God knew and we didn't. He so takes care of us!"

The company was sold to Birmingham, Ala.-based Hoffman Media, which owns Cooking With Paula Deen, Southern Lady and TeaTime magazines.

The Ellises' new venture, Alda's Magnolia Hill, is a 31-acre countryside retreat and turn-of-the-century wedding venue in Little Rock, Ark.

Although Ellis said she will miss her customers, she is enjoying her home-based business. "Since I love entertaining, opening up the estate for weddings and parties is a perfect answer to prayer," she said. "I was praying for ‘joy' back in my life, and God granted me the desire of my heart."