Today we’d like to introduce you to Sky Grant.
Hi Sky, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I fell in love with stained glass when my mom and I went to a shop when I was little, maybe 5 years old. It was so beautiful and I was mesmerized by all the colors and flowers and shapes. That was my first experience with stained glass and I will forever remember that.
My family has always been artistic, mostly painting, drawing and creating things in some way. In early 2021, I rediscovered stained glass and was immediately obsessed. All the glass to be discovered, drawing patterns, and learning the tricks of the trade from other wonderful artists. Creating stained glass art is very hands on and labor intensive. One completed piece can take many hours or days. Ive spent 6 months on a piece before. I purchased all the beautiful glass I could find over the next 3 years and thought of myself as a dragon and the glass was my hoard of gold. Some glass was so pretty, I couldn’t bring myself to cut it and use any of it in my pieces.
I have always loved glitter and figured out how to incorporate both into my art by creating my potion bottles with flowing glitter inside. I opened myself up to accept commissions and eventually purchased a kiln to expand my glass art even further.
In 2024, I found myself as a single mom and the breadwinner to take care of my 3 kids and my mom. I had a full time job waitressing but we needed a little more to make ends meet and not lose our home. I looked around and decided to share some of my dragon hoard of glass with other artists and sell online. I listed a few pieces and was surprised when they sold out. I was getting messages asking for more glass and I got to a point where, what I had left, I couldn’t bring myself to sell. I wanted to keep some for myself too.
My dear friend, Leslye, who has been in the glass business for many years, took me under her wing and helped me learn to identify glass, introduced me to suppliers and where to get shipping supplies. Her love and support helped me immensely and I have the upmost love, respect and appreciation for her.
Purchasing my first crate of glass was nerve wrecking. I almost didn’t do it. What if I spent this money and then couldnt pay my mortgage? What if none of it sells? My oldest son walked through the kitchen as I was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the total for this crate of glass that I had spent hours picking out and I told him how I was feeling. He said “go for it, Mom. Nothing you want is on this side of fear.”
I thought about that for a few more minutes and clicked purchase.
I wrapped up orders on the floor of my living room for almost a year before I moved my growing business into my garage with the help of my now boyfriend, Kerry. He designed and built enough shelves for me to store and organize all the glass. I was still working full time and would pack orders or cut down new glass before work and do the same after a 10 hour shift. Kerry would show his support by going out after work and making a stack of boxes for me or cut down cardboard to make it easier once I got home to pack orders. I cried when I reached my first thousand sales. I was overwhelmed at the love, support and acceptance I felt from the stained glass community and my family. I still get teary eyed. I currently have over nine thousand sales.
I am still creating art and am constantly adding new items for other artists too.
I’m currently working on pet memorial necklaces and am excited to help those whom have lost their fur babies to keep them close to their hearts.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been completely smooth.
Learning to balance 2 and 3 jobs at once was a major struggle and when you’re working every single day, long days, you do get exhausted. Some days it was hard to pull myself out of bed to do anything. My family would remind me that I am allowed to have a day to rest. To which I would usually roll my eyes and eventually get up and pack orders, draw something. Goals don’t complete themselves and I always feel like I need to be doing more.
My biggest overall obstacle is being unable to drive due to an eye condition. Creating a business in my home was always been something I had in the back of my mind as a dream and by happy accident, and a little help, I made that a reality.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I believe most people know me through my Etsy and Facebook selling glass sheets and stained glass supplies to other artists around the country. So many of them have been with me from the beginning when art was my main focus and have continued to follow me as I grow.
It is a toss up between the owl I did as a commission and my glitter bottles. I would say out of everything I have created, the glitter bottles were the most difficult. I am most proud of both of those pieces.
I am very driven and goal oriented.
Also, I strive to ensure that my customers are taken care of. I adore them and love to see what they create with the glass they recieve from me. Instead of having scrap boxes available to purchase, I love to include a freebie piece of glass whenever I’ve had a sheet break. A little thank you to show my appreciation.
I dont feel like I have a specialty yet. I am hoping once I launch my pet memorial necklaces that that will become my specialty, but who knows.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I have had to learn to rest and how to ask for help.
I never feel like I should be resting but rest and relaxation is very important. I try very hard to make sure I spend quality time with my family and ensure they feel loved and supported too. Balance.
I have pushed myself very hard to be where I am now and I wouldn’t be here without some help along the way. Both of the wonderful people I have mentioned, Leslye and Kerry, will both tell you that they did nothing. They pointed in the direction I needed to go and I did it all but I wouldn’t be here without their love and support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://turnaroundglass.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turn_around_glass_studios?igsh=NXpxdnk0NWMxdDk0
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dw9iGb9YH/
Image Credits
Sky Grant
