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 Creator's.

Through the years, Creator's 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 Creator's 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 Creator's Family is fully committed to providing quality products, excellent customer service, and continued innovations for your stained glass and hobby needs.