Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Alexander.
Hi Jenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Around 2010, I lost my job. With it, I lost what felt like a second family and the security of a steady income. I grieved both. It wasn’t just about a paycheck, it was about losing a place where I belonged and a version of myself I thought was permanent.
In the middle of that uncertainty, I leaned into my side hustle, J. Alexander Jewelry & Ugly Glass, while substituting for the local school district and waiting for the next door to open. A position eventually came along at UMKC, but it never felt like the right fit. After about a year, I left and went to work full-time in my husband’s business as his right hand “man”, still searching for something that felt like mine while learning how to use all the power tools that gave me a whole new passion for building products.
Then in 2012, a door opened. This one led to the cutest little 700-square-foot storefront on the Independence Square. That space became Ugly Glass & Co., a permanent home where I could bring my jewelry out and into the light. From the beginning, I wanted it to be more than just my work and my husbands glasswork. I wanted it to be a place where other artists could land too, so we opened our doors to consignment and filled the shop with handmade home décor, meaningful gifts, and a mix of vintage finds.
What started as a small creative experiment quickly grew into something bigger. We outgrew that first space in less than a year and moved into another location on the Square that was twice the size. Before our second year was even finished, we took another leap and opened a booth in the West Bottoms. Experiencing that community, that energy, and that historic, industrial setting changed everything. I fell in love with the large wood timbers, the bricks and the creaky floors.
Moving to the West Bottoms allowed us to keep doing what we loved, but on a much bigger canvas. Today, Ugly Glass & Co. spans more than 10,000 square feet across two floors and is home to over 40 small businesses. What began as one woman trying to save herself became a creative collective, a marketplace, and a community under one roof.
Standing outside my store now, I think about the girl who was crying in the bathroom in 2010, terrified of what came next. I feel proud of her. She pulled her big-girl panties up, took the risk, and went looking for something that worked for her. She did it. She survived. And in the process, she built something beautiful out of uncertainty, just like we do every day with the materials and the makers inside our walls.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. The journey has been a roller coaster of exhilarating highs and gut-checking lows, filled with moments of celebration followed by seasons of doubt, exhaustion, and hard decisions. There were times when growth felt thrilling and times when it felt terrifying, but each twist and drop taught me something about resilience, adaptability, and trusting myself to stay on the ride even when I couldn’t see what was coming next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a multi-passionate maker by nature, so I’ve always created across many mediums, but painting is where my heart truly lives. While I enjoy exploring and making “all the things,” my paintings are what I’m most proud of because they feel like the purest expression of my voice and growth as an artist. What sets my work apart is its willingness to evolve, to experiment, and to embrace imperfection, much like the journey that brought me here.
How do you define success?
I don’t define success by money, titles, or what someone drives. To me, success is the ability to stay the course. It’s resilience. It’s getting back up after the setbacks, adapting when things fall apart, and continuing to show up for the work and the dream. Longevity and perseverance say far more about true success than any external symbol ever could.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://uglyglass.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uglyglassandco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UglyGlassCo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uglyglass-kansascitywestbo3176
