Some people guard their china for dear life. Others smash it to pieces - in the name of art. Robin Oldham and Tracy Graivier Bell, owners of Smashing Times® in North Dallas, provide a way to salvage broken bits of treasure and shape them into something beautiful and distinctive. The mosaic studio's three-fold concept - a gallery for local artists working in the medium, custom design showroom and walk-in craft studio - brings together clients with varying needs but a common interest in using mosaic art to beautify their environments.
The gallery provides an outlet for local mosaic artists to display their unique home furnishing and accessories: table tops, birdbaths, lamps, vases and mirror frames. Oldham and Bell display their own work, although they both admit, "We're not doing as much as we'd like. The shop keeps us pretty busy."
Custom work is the second tier of the concept, and one they are concentrating on expanding. For instance, the two women can recycle your broken china, pottery, ceramic tile and glass and create a custom piece to suit your specific wish. Or bring in a swatch of fabric and they will help you concept a piece to complement it. They also design and install mosaic kitchen counters and fireplaces and are happy to collaborate with builders, renovation contractors, architects and interior designers. Currently listed as suppliers of "Mosaic" in the American Society of Interior Designers directory, they're bulking up that part of their work.
The third part of the concept involves helping individuals and groups learn how to do mosaic work. All ages are welcome at Smashing Times®, where instruction is offered from beginning to advanced levels. Novices start with simpler pieces such as vases, candle holders, flowerpots, coasters, frames and trivets; it's a popular venue for birthday parties. Advanced students can get help when needed to make a concept reality. All pieces are tumbled, a process that removes sharp edges.
If you'd rather mess up your own home than their studio, Oldham and Bell sell mosaic kits and supplies, including cracked glass (already put through the tumbler) in one pound bags and broken china and ceramics.
Oldham, whose big brother is fashion designer Todd Oldham, and bell have business and service-oriented backgrounds. Oldham has a degree in social work and Bell has a degree in teaching the hearing-impaired, plus they share a similar work ethic. It has proved the perfect combination for starting their own business. "Just do whatever you have to do," says Oldham. "And do it cheap," they say in unison.
Future business plans for Smashing Times® include developing a Web site through which to sell custom works and supplies, in addition to establishing franchises. Smashing Times franchises already are slated to open in Portland, Ore., Florida, Chicago and St. Louis. The partners have a new store planned for Plano, which they will probably franchise, as well.
- By Erin L. Wade
