MEET KAREN

Karen's sparkling enthusiasm for stained glass touches each person that walks into the studio. Her incredible feel for the way stained glass colors and patterns should flow in a piece will help any student make the right choice for their individual project. Always innovative, Karen is the talk of the town with her beautiful stained glass valences. Be prepared for compliments when you install a custom made valence to accent any room in your house. Want to make a valence of your own - Karen will show you how! Call her at 218-327-7964

Set in the historic Old Central School in Grand Rapids Minnesota, Stained Glass With Class is unique! Owners Jim and Karen Liubakka have created a jewel within a jewel with their beautiful and original studio.

When Jim and Karen bought their first house in Minneapolis, they found wonderful stained glass and leaded windows as the focal point of the house. In 1977 they moved again, but their old farm house was missing something - the gorgeous windows. Karen set about fixing this problem. Enrolling in a stained glass class in Floodwood, Karen quickly learned the dynamics of building and designing stained glass windows. Jim and Karen began to create for that old farm house. A lamp from a kit was built for the dining area. A small window above the piano was built as an alternative - why add a new window when we can make our own!

Moving again, their house in Grand Rapids had a building in the backyard. Jim's dream,  a wood shop of his own! Karen and friends quickly saw something else. Once a week they began to create their own stained glass in the shop and along with their friends, windows and lamps now adorn more than just the Liubakka home.

Later, Karen was asked to teach the Community Education stained glass class in Grand Rapids and she agreed only if Jim could come in and assist with the classes. As much fun as they were having, it was becoming a huge chore to haul glass and tools to the classes. Students wanted more tools and the "perfect" color of glass. Quickly Karen would say sure, "I'll get it for you". She then had to order the glass and tools or drive to the cities to purchase them.

That’s when inspiration hit.

They realized that the area needed a stained glass supply store and a studio. They wanted to create a studio that would both inspire and excite future students while giving established artists what they needed. With its theme for teaching, The Old Central School was the perfect setting for their ideas. In 2001, they opened Stained Glass With Class. Their knowledge and experience of design work, repairs and teaching in stained glass have made them valuable members of their community.

The past several years have been a joy to Jim and Karen as they teach students in their studio, in a beautiful historical landmark. Karen feels so lucky to be a part of the Old Central School. Being a part of a group of women in business who want to give something to Grand Rapids that is so unique is very rewarding.