In March 2024, Carmen’s brother invited her to Piece by Piece. “I finally made it,” she says. “Here I am today, trying to learn more every single day.”
Two years later, Carmen M. is a certified Piece by Piece artist with her own collection in the shop: four one-of-a-kind mosaics, made from new and recycled glass and ceramics.
Carmen studied in Mexico and built a career of her own, working as a self-employed sales representative and in the transportation department at AltaMed. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children, a family of five that, in her words, has “accomplished goals together as a team.”
Asked what she is most proud of, Carmen named three things: “becoming independent, successfully supporting my children through their education, and becoming an artisan.”
Since that first visit, she has kept coming back. What brings her to the studio every week is simple. “In every class, I learn something new,” she says, “which is useful for applying those techniques to new works or projects.”
Ask Carmen what creating mosaics has added to her life, and the answer arrives as a list: “Confidence, consistency, implementation of new techniques, motivation to keep taking on more projects, and mutual support among peers.”
It is a fitting list for someone whose guiding belief is that anything can be achieved with love, consistency, and perseverance. “Life inspires me,” she says.
She is also quick to credit the people around her. In every class she has taken, Carmen has completed her work successfully, and she says she is “so proud of my instructors and teachers.”
Carmen’s favorite subjects are the ones she keeps returning to. “I love the flowers, animals, and landscapes I’ve created,” she says, “and I know I’ve successfully done the work. I also know there is still so much more left to create, and I enjoy it so much.”
Piece by Piece is an employment social enterprise, not just a marketplace. Artists are trained through free mosaic workshops, and their work is sold directly through the Piece by Piece shop. Buying one of Carmen’s pieces directly supports her as an artist and she earns an income through her own creativity.
Learn more about Carmen on her artist page.
Please consider supporting the free Piece by Piece mosaic workshops. A donation helps train the next artist who walks in the door. Donate Today!
Carmen ended her interview with a message for everyone who supports the studio: “Thank you for existing and for supporting us at Piece by Piece.” The thanks go both ways.