Our Mission
Creator’s Stained Glass is a company dedicated to finding innovative ways to make glassworking easier. We take pride in our products, as all of them are manufactured and inspected
individually before shipping. Maintaining quality glass cutting tools and integrity for the last 30
years has been the hallmark of this business. It is our goal to see hobbyists and professionals
alike find joy in the art of glassworking when using our products.
Our History
It started with one question: “How can I cut glass more easily?” This was the question Ray
Nicholas asked himself as he was using a standard pencil cutter for his stained glass work. He
started to tinker and experiment, eventually creating a prototype of a more intricately designed
tool, one that was ergonomic, weighted, and able to be used while sitting. This was the creation
of the Cutter’s Mate.
Ray took his lessons learned from a side hobby and took a leap to present his prototype in the
mid 1990s to Ed Hoy’s International. They were interested. From there, he took his crude
prototype and developed it into one of the most popular cutters now known worldwide.
Production began in his basement, after work and on the weekends. Eventually, it expanded into
the garage and then to a “mobile assembly unit,” a step van which he could drive to work so he
could assemble parts on his breaks as a crane oiler.
With advice to expand his product offerings to make Creator’s Stained Glass a long-term
business, Ray kept his wheels spinning, finding more ways to improve the art glass experience.
The Circle Pro, The Strip Pro, and the Beetle Bit System (named for the fun way the product
resembles a ladybug) were just a few that came about over the years. With the increase in
manufacturing came the need for more space. The company has moved into increasingly larger
buildings over the years, to the current location in Spring Grove, Illinois.
Through the years, Ray was able to employ both family and friends, with a work environment
that felt like family and the opportunity to collaborate on new inventions. Eventually, Ray and his
wife Debra were both able to retire from their full-time jobs to focus solely on Creators.
Through the years, Creators has been part of national and global trade shows, store front open
houses, and other promotional events. A fun opportunity for Ray was to be featured on HGTV’s
“Cool Tools” segment.
One of the most exciting comments for Ray was to hear how hobbyists had returned to their
craft because of the ease with which the tools allowed them to cut glass. Some had given it up
due to arthritis or injuries, but products like the Cutters Mate brought their hobby to life again.
Ray worked at Creators up until his very last day on earth. He passed unexpectedly, leaving a
gaping hole in the family and the business that he created with such incredible care and
dedication. You could say he died doing what he loved.
His passion, his integrity, and his innovation are preserved through the continuity of his
business, now run by his family. The Creators Family is fully committed to providing quality
products, excellent customer service, and continued innovations for your stained glass and
hobby needs.
