Interview with PieceMaker, Kelly, from Seaside Glass Works

I'm so excited to introduce you to Kelly, from Seaside Glass Works! Kelly is so talented, and always working on custom mosaic orders. You can see LOTS more of her work, or email her any questions about custom orders, through her etsy shop.

What's your real name? How did you come up with your shop name?

My real name is Kelly Harris. I'd been trying to figure out a shop name for a while - and it came to me pretty easily once we moved to the beach! I wish I had a more clever story for the way it came about!

How long have you been creating mosaics? What was your first piece?

I've been creating mosaics for about 10 years now. My first piece was a mirror that I did in a stained glass class I took in college. It was a bunch of ladybugs, flowers & vines with the words "love", "joy" & "happiness" mixed in. I still have it, though it's currently sitting in the garage waiting for me to find the perfect place to hang it! I first started perfecting the candle holders & vases that I currently sell in my shop once I moved to California and didn't have money to buy birthday gifts for my friends - I realized I could just make them something cool instead! When I see my first pieces nowadays I cringe a little bit - too much grout, not clean enough, etc. - but I'm glad to see that my friends still cherish them and like the fact that they're my "early works". :)

What other art do you do, if any?

I'm really good at lettering (I was a sign-maker at Trader Joe's for three years), so I do a lot of odd jobs at work when they need a sign or nice lettering for one thing or another. I also scrapbook (when I have time) and knit baby blankets for my friends when they have kids. :) Some folks would only count that stuff as "crafts", but I certainly consider it art!!

Have you participated in any shows, gotten cool recognition for your work, or any other personal achievement you want to share with us?

I haven't really been a part of any shows or won any prizes for my work, but I have been featured on the front page of a website for interior design called DesignStyleGuide.net and have been commissioned to make multiple mosaic candle holders for weddings and such. I've also been featured in a few random blogs here and there!

What would be your dream to mosaic? ... a building? .... a town mural? ...etc.

I've never actually thought about what a dream to mosaic would be - but I think it would be crazy fun to do a bench in my town or make a bunch of fun cafe table tops for one of the cute cafes nearby. Since it's so hard for me to find a bunch of space to do anything crazy big, currently I don't have dreams of large scale things - but one day maybe it'll happen!!

Is being an artist your full-time job?

I WISH being an artist was my full-time job! I currently work about 60 hours a week in television (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) and it's hard to find as much time to play with artsy things as I'd like.

Tell us about your family or your daily life or about the area where you live.

I live right off the shore of the Pacific Ocean in a little town called Redondo Beach, California with my boyfriend Charlie. We have a cute little one-bedroom apartment which is a 30-second walk to the beach and a 5-minute walk to grocery stores, restaurants, our favorite bars, shops, etc. We have two adorable little hamsters and love to spend the weekends with friends, either BBQ-ing or just hanging out while the guys play music. I love to ride my bike to the nearby pier and one of my favorite sounds in the world is listening to the ocean while I fall asleep!

What are some of your favorite things about being part of the PieceMaker group?

What I love about the PieceMaker group is that everyone is so friendly and just accepts you right away. I found an instant support group of women - even though (in my case) I haven't ever met any of them! It's so nice to form friendships with people who have the same passions you do - who can give you positive feedback and inspire you to go bigger and better with each project!

Please head over to Seaside Glass Works and check out Kelly's other 45 beautiful mosaics that she has for sale! - and come back to the PieceMaker blog to meet another PieceMaker next week!