Wardell Publications Inc. was founded in 1983 by Randy Wardell. In 1977 Randy opened a full service stained glass studio offering everything from Suncatchers to Cathedral windows (well maybe church windows is a more apt description).

The studio also offered glass craft instruction and sold the related tools, glass & materials. The name of the company was Sandpiper Studios and it was (and still is) located in Belleville, a small city in eastern Ontario, Canada with a population of 38,000, so the axiom "anything [in glass] for a buck" wasn't too far off. Randy's students would often ask for the patterns of one the various custom designed lampshades on display in the showroom.

Encouraged by these requests he conducted a little market research that revealed a need for reliable, full-size pattern books. So in 1983 he formed Wardell Publications and released his first lampshade pattern book. Since then he has personally written 11 additional books and Wardell Publications Inc has released more than 50 products since it began.

In 1985 Wardell Publications released Introduction to Stained Glass, a teaching manual. We are proud that this title quickly became one of the stained glass industry's best selling books and since its release has started over a quarter of a million new crafters on their way to a rewarding experience in glass crafting.

In 1995 Carole Harris Wardell joined the publishing company offering her considerable skills as image and project editor and has since added acquisitions to her duties. In 1996 Wardell Publications released a collection of Carole's stained glass work titled 'Windows of Elegance' and in 2005 'Windows of Elegance II' , which she produced at her own art glass studio called Glass Reflections of Fort Lauderdale. Carole's studio is still active producing custom art glass. For more information on Carole's Studio visit her web site at www.glassreflections.com

Wardell Publications strives to provide the stained glass community with the highest quality books. Our growing company always has new titles under development. We are always on the lookout for the next great author/designer who is interested in developing their own glass book.

For more information on our publishing program and how you can get involved go to the "Get Published" section elsewhere on this site.