Hi. My name is Kathy Mazur. I retired from Highmark in April
2015 after 20 years of working there as a web and UX designer. I wanted to do
something that was more creative and not corporate, so I found an old canvas
and played with some spray paint to create a fall leaf design. It came out even
better than I expected, so I started creating more artwork.
How did you come up with your business name?
I don't really have a business name, but I sign my pieces with Kathy M. Since my maiden name began with an O, I was called Kathy O as I was growing up. A friend of mine started calling me Kathy M after I was married. It continued the same theme, so now that's my signature.
Where do you live?
I've lived in the North Side for six years and love it there.
Before that, I lived in Murrysville while raising my kids.
Who’s in your family?
My husband is Cole. We've been married for 14 years. I have two
grown children, Devin and Dani, who both live in Pittsburgh. I love having them
nearby.
If you could sit down and talk to any person, living or dead who would it be, and why?
I can't pick just one! So, one
is my grandmother who I miss a lot and sometimes "feel" her around
me. I want to ask her what it's like on the other side. Number two is going to
sound cliche, but it's Jesus. I want to know the secret to why we are here.
Number three is Andy Warhol. He seemed like a very interesting person and he's
a Pittsburgher.
What inspires you?
People who are happy for who
they are, not because of what they have.
What is your favorite item you make for Boutique 208 and why?
So far, I've only made spray paint art, so I guess that's my
favorite! In particular, my favorite is the long canvas of birch trees.
What is your favorite item at Boutique 208 that’s not one of your own and why?
I've only worked there one day so far, so I really need to look
around more. I saw several things that I thought were amazing and want to buy.
What advice can you offer to someone who would like to start selling their handmade creations?
Be confident in your abilities. I was nervous about asking to
sell my items in a shop, so my husband sent a picture of one of my pieces to a
shop owner without telling her who did it. She loved it, wanted to see more,
and then took a bunch into her shop to sell. That gave me a boost of
confidence, so I stopped in at Boutique 208 to ask if I could sell items there,
too. And, now, here we are!
