Meet Mandy Yates | Artist

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

Hi Mandy, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Fall, 2016, I was in school at the time. I had gone back at 34 because I came to a point in life, where I was trying to figure out what direction I was going in and what I was supposed to do. At the time, I was going for Occupational Therapy, and school took up pretty much all of my time. I wasn’t working, income was low and Christmas time came around. I had to figure out something to make as gifts because I didn’t have time, money, or much energy at that point. I had some stained glass supplies already from dabbling around with it a year or so prior, and the idea came to make some stepping stones. I picked up a few concrete pavers from the local garden center, created a few designs (mostly butterfly’s) with stained glass then attached those to the pavers and grouted them in. Fast forward a few months, my friend, posted the ones I gave her on Facebook, which prompted my first order from someone. Then, shortly after, I accidentally figured out I was capable of making patterns using an electronic drawing tablet I had in a drawer and never used. I actually tried to sell it before and I guess there was a reason I was meant to hang onto it. I was involved in dog rescue, and a fellow volunteer asked if I could make a stone for one of the dogs in our rescue. Hank was his name, and he had a rough life prior to rescue, and ended up with cancer, which was taking him fast. I took a picture of him and sat down and surprised myself with a stained glass pattern that looked just like him. I got the stone done, and that his how the memorials began. I named my business The Stoned Butterfly in tribute to the ones that started it all, and butterfly’s are symbolic for loved ones who have passed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Since I launched my business in 2017, I have grown into more of a memorial service. I can do anything custom, but people come to me because I am able to capture the essence of their loved one in stained glass and create an artistic tribute that will last, and can be displayed anywhere, indoors and out. Things haven’t been easy, but I was fortunate to have marketing and branding knowledge to help me grow and put myself out there. I had to overcome my fear of being in front of the camera and allow people to know me as a person, not just my work. I was also fortunate to have several years of customer service experience under my belt, which allowed me to handle that aspect of the job well also. I feel very fortunate to have been led to do this for people as well as those who are no longer here in the physical world.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Ms. Stinson, my college digital arts professor, who was the first person to tell me I was talented and also give me creative freedom in her class, so that I was able to figure out what I was capable of. Also, shoutout to all of my dog rescue friends for being my first customers and continuing to share my work and support me over the years. I must also thank my family for all of their support and encouragement, I couldn’t have made this business possible without my other half, Jerrod.

Website: www.thestonedbutterfly.com

Other: Glassgirl44 on TikTok