STAINED GLASS MAKER NEVER GETS BORED

This is Stratton's display wall in her home.

These stained glass stepping stones are just some of the many different applications for stained glass that Stratton has employed over the past 18 years.

Wilma Stratton has been making stained glass windows for 18 years and says she never gets bored.

She got into the making of stained glass windows when she and her husband, Earl, were building their home.

Earl decided that a stained glass window would look good in the door to their new home. Wilma found a book that taught the basics of making stained glass windows and she began practicing making them.

After some practice, she was ready to make the window for the door to their new home.

It is now 18 years later and countless stained glass windows later for the Strattons.

"My work is word of mouth, some people have come back four or five times," she said.

Wilma said that she does bring some of her works to arts and crafts shows, though.

Sometimes people will give her a picture or an idea of what they want in a window and other times people will call her up and just ask her to make them a window without giving her a description.

Stratton has made many windows in the past 18 years. She said her most challenging job was making windows for the First Christian Church in Sikeston.

"It was really challenging, after I got into it I thought what have I got myself into?" Stratton said, laughing.

That job turned out to be one of her most enjoyable jobs, she later acknowledged.

"The more the challenge, the better I like it," she added.

She has made stained glass windows for the Church of God in Cape Girardeau, Fisherman's Net Restaurant, and Ford and Sons Funeral Home. Not to mention the thousands of other customers she has made windows for.

Her latest work is stained glass stepping stones. She and her husband saw some in St. Louis and she knew she had to make some.

"Every time I see something new, I get real excited. I can't wait to try to make it," Stratton said.

Stratton said she prefers making the large windows, but she also enjoys making the smaller items like jewelry boxes.

"What I really love about it, is it never gets boring," Stratton said.