Life and Work with Jacqui Ridley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqui Ridley.

Jacqui, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Always having the entrepreneurial spirit, I opened my own highly successful Bakery Cafe. After 16 years, I began backing off slightly from the grueling hours to restart my passion for creating mosaic art. That was where my heart was and I knew in time that the inspiration of making mosaic pieces for others would be a rewarding way to spend my time.

So, I decided to sell my bakery and begin to do what I really Love. In 2004, after I sold this cafe, I devoted my time creating mosaics of all kinds all the while trying to find my own voice. As I have always been drawn to modern quilters such as Paula Nadelstern, Ricky Tim’s and Kaffee Fassett and embroidery artists such as Young Yang Chung, I began reinterpreting their ability to create with fabric and thread, images that employed tiny pieces of glass, beads, metals a, paper and even fabric. One piece that was particularly inspiring to me was a quilt Paula Nadekstern created titled “Shards”. I loved the intricate design and wanted to see if I could capture in a glass what she had in the fabric. I contacted Paula to ask permission to recreate it. She gave the go ahead and I was on my way. The moment I saw the quilt in a glass, it changed everything. The jewel-like design of the quilt that combined with the intricate look of embroidery was what I wanted to explore in my Mosaics.
I have found my voice and want to continue to keep growing as an artist.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Anything that is worth doing can be hard but if you believe in what you are doing and don’t give up it will be worth all the challenges you might face.

It’s important to run your own race and not to compare yourself to others. Keep learning and experimenting until you find your own unique voice then get out there and show everyone what you create. It just takes one person who falls in love with your work to give you the confidence to keep going. As they say, “if you do what you love the money will follow”.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Glimmer Glass Mosaics – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think what sets me apart is the mixed media I use in my Mosaics. I incorporate beautiful fabrics, handmade papers, metal, precious stones, crystals, beads, glass and my own invention called GlamGrout which adds sparkle and texture to my work .

I have recently started selling this new product on Etsy and so far, has been well received by artists.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My Dad instilled in me this – “What you don’t know today you will know tomorrow. So figure it out.” Whenever I feel like, I can’t do something or think I am not capable I think of those words and keep going. When I received my first architectural installation I almost turned it down because I had never done a permanent install and thought it would be to overwhelming and really did not know where to start. But when my Dad once again said those words, I proceeded to figure it out. That one installation has lead to numerous other projects.

Contact Info:

• Address: 34718 N 22nd Lane,Phoenix,Az 85086
• Website: glimmerglassmosaics.com
• Phone: 248-709-1912
• Email: glimmerglassmosaics@gmail.com
• Instagram: Glimmerglassmosaics
• Facebook: Glimmerglassmosaics.facebook.com

Image Credit:
Tina Greggo

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