MY MOSAIC ALCOVE
When I was a sophomore in high school—my year of pouting and temper—my parents opened a mosaic store called Mosaic Alcove.
They poured their talents into that little shop. My dad was an exceptional craftsman and artist. He built all the store’s display cases, created beautiful mosaic tables for customers, crafted wall plaques as mosaic bases, and designed striking pieces for commissions. He had a gracious, easy way with people—warm, welcoming, and genuine.
My mother was a brilliant businesswoman. She managed the store’s operations, kept the books, designed and completed mosaics, fulfilled orders, and developed some of the first-ever mosaic kits. She also loved teaching and chatting with the people who attended their in-store classes.
I’ve inherited the scrapbook she kept during those years—filled with photos taken by my dad on his Brownie camera (he later became a professional photographer, though you wouldn’t guess it from those early shots). The scrapbook holds newspaper clippings about the store, information about the kits, instructional sheets, and pages of my dad’s intricate designs. It’s become a treasured resource and inspiration as my own love for mosaics has deepened over the years.
There was a wave of excitement around mosaic art in the late ’50s and early ’60s, and my parents were riding its crest. They hosted special evening lectures with artists like Joseph Young and others who were making waves in the art world. Mom would bring supplies and designs to women’s groups around the area, teaching mosaics and spreading the word about the store. I remember the constant buzz—new ideas, business strategies, the next creative venture always just around the corner.
As my mother once said, “This is the only store in the Los Angeles area catering solely to the glass-design hobbyist. Mosaic tile is now accepted as a form of home decoration and has become an interesting and satisfying hobby.”
This little mosaic bug was the first piece I ever made. Max carved the design into a piece of scrap wood—and once I added the mosaic, something clicked. That’s when the love of mosaic art truly captured me.
