Did you ever wonder why Mizz Mozaic is spelled with Z's instead of S's? Well, it certainly wasn't because I wanted to make it easy on myself. Or make SEO a breeze for my website or social media. Don't even ask how anyone who actually searches for mosaics & spells it the proper way even finds me on the interwebs! The moment I decided to spell the most essential part of my business unconventionally, I knew it was going to present me with some challenges. But I was never one to shy away from an obstacle or conform to societal norms SO…
...rewind to my childhood. My Grandma & Grandpa Zappie owned a gas station right next door to my house. My Grandpa was a mechanic & my Grandma worked as the bookkeeper (she had more than one job, btw, I guess that's where I get it from!) I LOVED visiting the gas station, especially when my Gram would let me play with the cash register. This was only on special occasions. I was obsessed with pushing buttons & pulling the lever down on the old-timey register that made the cash drawer pop open. (Picture me, that little girl in the pic who stuck her finger in her Grandpa's b-day cake & got caught! You can imagine how persistent I would be. If they would let me do this once, I would ask to do it all day lol!) Ahhh, my Grandparents. They had the patience of a saint when I was around!
To this day, I have the fondest memories of Zappie's Kendall Station, the relationships my Gram & Gramp formed in the community AND the generosity they shared with their customers. And even though the dressy pic of them looks really sweet, I always LOVED seeing them in their work clothes. That's how I saw them as a kid & how I remember them. Always working hard. Every. Single. Day.
There were so many things I admired about them working as a team. But I especially LOVED that my Gram would get out from behind the register & pump gas for her customers. This wasn’t very common, especially for women back then. I always thought it was SO COOL that she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. I admire a work ethic like that more than ANYTHING!
Naming my business was a cinch. Yes, I did a web search & the name Miss Mosaic (spelled with S’s- BORING (& common!)) was already taken, but that was inconsequential. I had no intention of ever spelling it with S's. Mizz Mozaic just felt right. There was no question I was going to add Z's for obvious reasons - as a tribute to my Grandma & Grandpa!
The black and white photo of my Gram in the patchwork jacket was taken years after the gas station closed by one of our talented photographer neighbors name Leon Winkowski. I always adored this pic & wanted to share it with you. So, now you know about the Z's. Stay tuned for my next blog post to learn - why Mizz?!?