Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, Santa Barbara

Once a costumer for TV shows including House and Weeds, Tami Macala switched careers midstream when she discovered the art of creating mosaics, according to a Santa Barbara Sentinel profile. She started mosaicking everything from fireplaces to fountains, eventually landing high-profile projects at the Florida Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Arby’s restaurants.

After more than a decade of working as a professional mosaic artist, Tami opened the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art (SBSMA). At the school, Tami and guest artists from near and far teach how to trick out tables with colorful shingles, coax gently luminous Mexican smalti into intricate patterns, or fuse glass for even more complex designs. Students can pick up tools and tiles at the SBSMA supply store and drop by during lab hours to work on independent projects.