Local Stained Glass Artisan Specializes in Restoration and Repairs
for Sam Zordich, no project is too small or large – or beyond restoration and repair
Barbara Arnold, photos by Ma Vue
At age 27, Sam Zordich was a new mom living in Minneapolis when she received a gift: attendance to a stained glass course at Gaytee Stained Glass Studio, located in the city’s Arts District (now Gaytee-Palmer Stained Glass Studio). In 1918, Thomas J. Gaytee founded the Gaytee Studio after studying under New York’s Louis Comfort Tiffany – yes, that Tiffany (Tiffany & Co.) – known for stained glass, lamps, and more.
As a teenager, Sam was a self-described physics nerd, and was intrigued by holograms. "And this was before I saw Princess Leia as a hologram speaking to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars movie," she shared in an interview. "While I loved holograms – the light beams, they were grayish blue – with stained glass, I had every color of the rainbow. I went to my first class in stained glass, and I was hooked.
“Creating stained glass pieces is like an intricate puzzle, and I love puzzles,” she continued. “Plus, with the cutting of the glass and the melting, soldering of the metals – some 200 years old or more – stained glass becomes a very scientific art. Just two degrees temperature difference can mean I’ll succeed with the metals that form the framework, join the glass pieces together, and hold the glass securely in place. Or I’ll be left with a useless puddle of liquid.”
Sam continued to hone her craft while raising her family in Minneapolis, where she also owned an art gallery, creating, repairing, and restoring stained glass pieces that were shipped stateside and worldwide. She was mentored by masters in stained glass, and soon created a reputation in the stained glass field as an artisan who knew her stuff and could truly do great work.
In recent years – and after nearly four decades of experience in stained glass work and an incredibly successful career in business – Sam relocated to Eau Claire and unexpectedly found herself in the role of family caregiver. Yet, seemingly by chance, her career as a stained glass artisan would take center stage once again in 2024, a welcome release and respite from her caregiving role.
In January last year, Sam picked up a very old and very large (37-inch-by-54-inch, to be exact) stained glass window from Mary Seep, an area educator. Mary had bought the piece in May 2023 for $125 at an antique store in Cumberland. “The colors in the piece – rose, lavender, yellow, and tan – plus the pattern called to me,” Mary said in an interview. “Yet, it was missing some pieces of glass. I knew I wanted it restored but didn’t know how or who. A friend of mine referred me to Sam, who I had met socially, and I had no idea she was so talented in stained glass.”
Sam took one look at the piece and dubbed it “The Proud Dowager.” She estimated the glass and metal used was roughly 200 years old. Sam set out to source the same or similar glass, determine the compound of metal from that era, and ultimately restore it to its original glory – an extremely time-consuming process.
Three months later, in August 2024, Sam was finished. Mary’s husband, P.J., custom-built a wooden frame to hold it, and the piece took an honorary place in a dining room window in their home to the oohs and aahs of visiting family and friends. “My husband and I absolutely love it,” Mary said.
Sam also creates smaller pieces of stained glass in the form of sun catchers, panels, wands, and more, which are sold locally at Moon Bees, LLC, in Banbury Place. Co-owner Beryl Ouimette describes Sam as a “joy to work with,” and her pieces are popular sellers. “Everyone loves stained glass, especially unique pieces," Beryl said.
This past fall, Sam happened to visit Dell’s Architectural Antiques in Eau Claire, and struck up a conversation with owner Jeff Nelson about stained glass. He handed her a piece from a transom window and asked her to show him what she could do with it. Sam soon after came back with a beautiful repair. As a result, they now have a working relationship: Jeff finds pieces in need of repair and has Sam repair or restore them (some have been so large and heavy, Jeff needs to truck them to her home studio).
Now, Sam's stained glass business – Flight of Glass, LLC, officially established in 2024 – is soaring. To demonstrate her prowess, she built a website which shows fantastic before and after photos of several pieces.
Throughout Sam's home studio, pieces are in various stages of repair and restoration, and some that will solely be used as additional material due to their unique glass. Sam's soldering iron bench sits as if an altar, standing among the beauty of glass and metal in various stages of life.
Learn more about Sam Zordich's business, Flight of Glass, at flightofglass.com • Peruse Dell's Architectural Antiques (121 Maple St., Eau Claire) and Moon Bees, LLC (920 Galloway St., Suite 23, Eau Claire) in person or online