Meet Lindsey Glass | Silversmith, Lapidary, & Rockhound

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsey Glass and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsey, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before starting my own business I was a microbiologist and had worked for a couple different companies testing food, water, and other products before they were released to the public for consumption. On a couple occasions I was presented with questionable practices from my superiors which ultimately lead to me leaving those companies. The more I searched for a new job as a microbiologist the more it lead me to my decision that I wanted to work for myself. As a hobby during this time I taught myself how to silversmith and do my own lapidary using the awesome semi-precious minerals I was finding on my adventures around the LA area. I fell in love with silversmithing and being creative. I started Silver and Slag to start selling my creations but never dreamed it would eventually become my career. The excitement I get with each idea, creation, and sale is immeasurable and lets me know that I definitely made the right decision to start my own business and work for myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have actually never come across another artist that does quite what I do. I go out into the mountains, deserts, beaches, and foothills in and around LA county and rock hound the coolest agates, jaspers, fossils, opals, and quartz. I take them home, cut them, hand polish them into gorgeous cabs, and silversmith them into California nature inspired wearable artwork. I have been obsessed with nature my entire life and created an outlet to recreate the beauty of nature in a unique way. After high school I got my Bachelor’s degree in Biology and decided to become a microbiologist. While searching for a new job, I rekindled my love for nature and fully transcribed that into my artwork. My first challenge I faced was mental. I had a lot of trouble admitting to myself that I was now an artist even though I had worked my entire life to become a scientist. After far too long, I finally realized how proud I was in my work and how proud I was of myself. That changed everything. From that moment on my artwork began to flourish. I began answering the question, “What do you do?” with “I’m a silversmith and lapidary” instead of with “I’m a microbiologist and silversmith” when people would ask. I’m so proud of all of my accomplishments and who I have become. My brand, Silver and Slag, is only me; I find every single stone, I cab each one, I do all of my own silverwork (nothing is cast), and I do everything on the business side of things as well.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would break things up by areas to visit and by how much we wanted to be around large groups of people. I always take people to Santa Monica Pier and ride the ferris wheel and Venice to people watch, shop, and eat at sidewalk cafe. I feel like those are the quintessential touristly LA stops. One day we would drive out to the desert to visit one of my top rockhouning spots and stop at Charlie Brown Farms in Littlerock on Pearblossom Hwy to pick up some amazing snacks for our drive and some BBQ for lunch. Another day we would take a scenic drive through Santa Paula to Ojai. We would first go past Ojai to Sespe Creek or to Wheeler Gorge to relax in nature and see some beautiful things and then go back into Ojai. We would walk around downtown Ojai, visiting the various small artsy shops and galleries, do some oil, vinegar, and wine tasting, and then eat dinner at either Deer Lodge, Topa Topa Brewery, Rotie’s, or Ojai Pizza. I also love taking visitors to Ventura Pier to eat at Eric Ericssons Fish Co and then rockhound on the beach next to the pier or go to Ventura Harbor to get ice cream at Coastal Cone and eat at Brophy Bros. I would also take them into the mountains while they were here. We would either go explore the San Gabriel Mountains and visit various campgrounds that I love and do some hiking and exploring or go into Los Padres National Forest and take them on some of my favorite off road trails and have dinner at a restaurant in Pine Mountain Club. I love a good adventure day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Merritt, deserves so much recognition in my success. Sometimes I still can’t believe he has said yes to going on some of the adventures I’ve presented to him. Many times I’ve said things like, “Hey! I found this random off road trail in the middle of nowhere… If we follow it for at least a couple hours back to this area where we won’t see or hear any signs of human life for a few days we can camp there and find the coolest, most beautiful agates ever!! Can we do it?” Somehow he almost always agrees! He was also so supportive and encouraging as I was teaching myself how to silversmith and lapidary and start my own business. I can’t imagine trying to do any of this on my own without him by my side.

Website: https://www.SilverandSlag.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Silver_and_Slag

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/silverandslag

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Silver_and_Slag