Meet Chelsea Brewer | Stained Glass Artist

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

Hi Chelsea, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

For the first several years I really pushed myself to be in the studio as much as I possibly could; lots of late nights, a few overnighters where I was awake 30+ hours to meet deadlines to then drive and set-up for markets and work all day. Not only was I sleep deprived, but my work was sub-par, and the stress and overexertion had detrimental effects on my physical and mental health.

That’s something I’ll never do again.

Nowadays, I make a conscious effort in taking time off and resting. Checking out of the studio at a specific time helps, as well as asking others for help when I need it. Getting a full night’s sleep is key and basically doing anything I love outside of the studio are very important to me now. All of the intentional downtime refills my tank so when I am working I notice I’m more alert and present. I actually make better work because of it.

How do I think about balance?
I try not to beat myself up if I end up prioritizing work-life over personal-life and vice versa. There’s no “perfect” balance anyway, but I find scheduling downtime and honoring myself by sticking to the plan as best as I can feels pretty good.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My dad started his own business when he was fifty years old. And it was seeing my parents carve out their own path as successful small business owners that, at a young age, really showed me, I can make a living doing whatever I wanted to do, whenever I wanted to. So, when I was thirty-four I moved from L.A. back to my hometown, took a stained glass class, and instantly fell in love with it. I bought all the tools I needed for a humble at home “studio” (let’s be honest, it was a small table in my parents garage, above the dog kennel, next to the washer and dryer) and started making my own designs and sharing my finished projects on social media. I wasn’t intending on selling anything initially, I was just a person proud of what I was making and sharing it with friends and family. But once strangers and shops started contacting me for work I knew I was making something they wanted, and that there was a real market for a modern take on traditional stained glass craft. So, I had to give the “stained glass as a business” idea a real shot.
It hasn’t ever been easy though. I basically learned the business side of things as I went along, scrambling to make my first website and line sheet, trying to keep up with orders while juggling other jobs. Now, I have systems in place and dedicated space to make it easier on myself but I didn’t really know what or how to do these things until they presented themselves.
I do think moving from my hometown to where I am now gave me the opportunity to explore the business idea full-time because the cost of living here makes it feel more achievable than it may feel in other areas. It’s definitely more affordable here.
But I still feel like I overcome different challenges every day and I’m always learning from them. It’s about progress not perfection, right?
What I get most excited about is experimenting, playing in the studio, and sharing the stained glass process with others through my workshops. I like guiding people through the process and seeing how proud they are with their finished projects. It’s very empowering to learn a skill, do what it takes to see it through, and walk away with your own finished project PLUS a new appreciation for the craft.

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?
Visalia is a small town and conveniently located to many things.

I would take them for coffee and breakfast at Component Coffee Lab. We’d check out local breweries, eat at Sushi Kuu, and Pita Kabob, swim in Lake Kaweah, go for a hike in the foothills of Sequoia National Park (it’s only 40 minutes from town), and head to a show and grab drinks at Cellar Door later because there’s always a great band in town or good music playing (Visalia is half way between L.A. and SF so bands frequently stop here to play). Then, we’d head west to spend a day (or two?) wine tasting in Paso Robles and maybe head to San Luis Obispo for good food and an overnight stay.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My dad, Uncle Mike, my glass mentor John, and anyone who has ever purchased my work and/or attended my workshops and supported me through the years. Thank you!

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Website: brewerandmarr.com

Instagram: @brewer.and.marr

Image Credits
Photos of me in the studio: Jacki Potorke. Photos of stained glass: Chelsea Brewer