We were lucky to catch up with Meaghan Beech recently and have shared our conversation below.

Meaghan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I went through the motions of going to college, getting a degree, and eventually landing my first ever “big girl job” in the fall of 2021. It was a sales job at a Fortune 500 company—Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. I thought, this is it, this is the dream! I’ll probably put in my time and stay here until I’m old and ready to retire.

About a year in, I picked up stained glass mostly as a hobby. I’d always loved making things, but up to that point it was mostly crocheting scarves or doing cross-stitch. In my head, I wanted something with more “instant gratification”—which is pretty funny, considering stained glass is anything but instant.

Pretty quickly, though, I fell in love with the art. At the same time, I started to despise my career more and more. It felt robotic, like I was just a number at the company. I think so many Americans are wired to believe the formula of go to college, get the career, start a family is the norm. So when it didn’t feel right, I thought maybe I was the problem—that something was wrong with me for not fitting into the corporate mold.

By the fall of ’23, I’d had enough. I was tired. The job wasn’t getting better. I always describe it as “soul-sucking.” No shade to the company—it just made me realize that sitting behind a desk 40 hours a week wasn’t my dream, it was someone else’s. I had a lot of little ah-ha moments and signs leading up to my decision to quit, but one day I just woke up and decided enough was enough. A 9–5 job will always be there waiting, but the chance to chase my dreams might not. I put in my two weeks, walked away, and I haven’t looked back since!

Meaghan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Yes! So I’m a fully self-taught stained glass artist based in Northeast Ohio. Honestly, I never imagined stained glass would be something I’d want to learn. But I remember being mesmerized as a kid by the beauty and intricate details of stained glass church windows.

Before I picked up the craft, I started noticing more “new-age” stained glass pieces—things you wouldn’t expect, like an eggplant emoji ornament (so specific, I know). That made me think, wow, that’s interesting! I wonder how hard it is to do stained glass? I watched a YouTube video, bought a starter kit, and the rest is history.

I now draw up all my own patterns, which I think really sets me apart. My work is often inspired by the natural beauty of Northeast Ohio, local flora and fauna, and the bold style of neo-traditional tattoos.

One of my favorite things to create are custom pet portraits. Often these are for pets who have passed on, and it means so much to me when people trust me to make a memorial piece of their beloved companion. It’s an honor to create something so personal and lasting, and I’m really proud that my art can bring comfort and joy in that way.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

SHOP SMALL, SHOP SMALL, SHOP SMALL!

But seriously—especially around the holidays and during gift-giving seasons—please keep small businesses in mind. I promise you, Target and Amazon don’t need your business, but artists and other small business owners truly do!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I tell everyone I can to chase their dreams and focus on what truly makes them happy. I often share my own experience of quitting my job to follow my passion, and how it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. My hope is that by sharing my story, I can inspire others to be bold in pursuing their own dreams too!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frecklesandflux.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frecklesandflux/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frecklesandflux/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@frecklesandflux

Image Credits

Professional photos courtesy of Wendy Waldrop