Mixed Up Mosaics
www.mixed-upmosaics.com

"Allison and I have lived parallel lives on opposite coasts," says Lesley Provenzano of her partner Allison Goldenstein. Before the two came together to launch Mixed-Up Mosaics in 1995. Lesley had been cultivating her artistic vision in Roslyn, New York while Allison did the same in La Jolla, California. The girls, who met while vacationing in the Hamptons, found in each other not only a mutual creative soul, but also a kindred entrepreneurial spirit.

Lesley, a graduate of St. Johns School of Business, already had a successful jewelry venture and restaurant (California Burrito) under her belt. When she wasn't selling jewelry to the likes of The Pointer Sisters and Sally Jesse Raphael, Lesley dabbled in mosaics in her spare time, creating unique tabletops and mirrors for her restaurant.

A California native, Allison studied fiber design at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and went on to advance her studies at The Fashion Institute of Technology, where she graduated in fashion design and went on to create her own line of colorful and fun clothing that were the rage with the young and hip social set.

In the summer of 1995, while sharing a house in the Hamptons, Allison discovered Lesley's unique hobby and together they soon began collaborating on various projects, incorporating Lesley's unique glass technique and Allison's outrageously colorful sense of style. By the fall of 1995 they formed a partnership and opened their first studio/showroom in New York City where they began creating some of the most unique glass mosaics for walls, pools, floors etc. It wasn't long before the word spread about Allison and Lesley's Mixed-Up Mosaics that were popping up across the country, in residential and commercial spaces, that not only were their works being sought out by Architects and Designers but galleries began commissioning the girls to create mosaic murals for solo shows throughout the world.

Soon, Lesley and Allison found themselves creating mosaics for Burger King, ESPN Zone, Mohegan Sun Casino, Emeril's restaurants, Aladin Hotel & Casino, MGM Casino, and many more high profile spaces throughout the world including the Carribean and Europe.

In 2000, Allison & Lesley wanted to expand their creative business, so a mosaic tile line sold by the square foot was created. It enabled the girls to create their custom designed artwork in any size and ship their work all over the world without ever having to travel to every job site. The tile line elevated their business to a whole new level, and 10 styles were developed specifically for the tile line. Now the girls are able to create their magnificent custom designs in any colors, and ship directly to the customer for their contractor to install.

"We thrive on crazy requests from customers. From the sets of the show Sex & The City, to the bottoms of olympic size swimming pools for Casino's, no job is too big for us. We custom design glass mosaics for any space that can be imagined. We are known for our colorful and wild creations but we also have done the most conservative commercial and residential spaces like La Costa Resort & Spa and Canyon Ranch in Miami." says Allison. Mixed-Up Mosaics was formed out of a mutual hobby by Allison and Lesley. Allison has been the PR powerhouse for Mixed-Up Mosaics, while Lesley has been the driving sales force. Together they have created a dream come true company

The two girls who look as coiffed as the ladies who lunch, love working on commercial job sites. They arrive on site ready to work, wearing their custom designed pink and orange hard hats adorned with swarovski crystals, and Pucci-like outfits. They work side by side on scaffolding with construction workers on the projects. "When we first began our business I was so timid about working on the construction sites. We would walk onto the site and the workers would become silent. The workers would just stare at us like we were very out of place. It was a bit unwelcoming at first, but now we have become something of an anomolie. Being two flamboyent women on site, it wasn't always easy for us to be taken seriously on the big job sites with the construction workers, but we have proved ourselves to the biggest architects and designers in the world, that women too can be construction workers by day and fashionistas by night. Now even the construction workers have a respect for having 2 women working side by side with them in what WAS an all man's world.

Together they have created a dream-come-true company.