When John Falibota of Girard, Ohio, told his wife he was going to take a stained glass class, she couldn't stop laughing. John had a life-long fear of cut glass. If a glass broke in the house, he wouldn't go near it for fear of cutting himself.
But over time his fear subsided, and in 1984 he and his wife, Marlene, started attending craft shows and eventually opened their very own stained glass store in 1999. Their 1,200 sg. ft. store provided classes and supplies as well as fulfilled custom orders.
Seven years later, they moved to an even larger store (2,375 sq. ft.) and added imported blown glass and Russian glass animals to their inventory. Due to the tough economic climate, John and Marlene recently moved again to a smaller store (1,600 sq. ft.).
They dropped the imported glass and returned to their roots-teaching, supplies and custom work. They carry tools, glass and anything else one would need for stained glass art work. They also specialize in kitchen cabinet doors.
If you're interested in taking one of John's classes, book early. He limits his classes to three people, so it's a very personalized approach. Since he started teaching, John has taught close to 400 people.
Abstract Stained glass is located at 1057 Trumbull Ave., Unit N in Girard, Ohio. You can reach them at 330-759-2247 and they are open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. You can also visit them online at www.abstractstainedglass.com.
Dealer Spotlight: Abstract Stained Glass
