Art(i)Facts - The History of My Art

This page is designed to provide you with all the important information about stained glass and my process. Whether it's about the materials I use, the techniques I follow, or the inspiration behind my work, you'll find everything you need to know here.

If you still have any questions or would like more details, feel free to visit the Contact Me tab or click the button below to send me an email. I’m happy to assist and will get back to you as soon as possible!

Meet the Artist, Nicole Ripaldi!

Hello! I’m Nicky, and I’m delighted to welcome you to my world of stained glass artistry. Based in Manchester, NH, I create functional, small-batch stained glass items that celebrate both art and sustainability.

My journey began with a deep fascination for color and a lifelong love for rocks. Rocks, with their unique shapes and textures, have always captivated me, and their beauty and energy continue to inspire my work. This passion naturally evolved into stained glass, where I found a similar interplay of hues and light. Both rocks and stained glass shine brilliantly in the sunlight, and this shared brilliance connects the two mediums in my creations.

In my art, I blend stained glass with what I call "Skltns"—recyclable materials that embody the essence of discarded objects, giving them new life. The term "Skltns" reflects the bones of these materials, adding a unique character to each piece and underscoring my commitment to environmental responsibility.

Nature also plays a crucial role in my work. I incorporate natural elements such as mushrooms, bark, and pressed flowers collected from across New England. These elements bring a touch of the outdoors into my art, creating a harmonious blend of natural and crafted beauty. I also collect rocks and nature souvenirs during my travels and am happy to turn your own collected items into personalized pieces.

My collection features a variety of functional items, with stained glass earrings and planters being among the most popular. I also create a range of stone necklaces, each crafted with care and attention to detail. All designs are either handcrafted by me or inspired by coloring book pages, which provide a clear structure that translates well into stained glass. I strive to create original pieces and avoid copying others’ work, as I value artistic integrity and respect the creative process.

I am committed to sustainability by reducing, reusing, and recycling. I make my art functional to prevent it from ending up in landfills, and I create in small batches to minimize waste. This approach allows me to produce only 5-10 pieces of each design, giving my customers the opportunity to personalize and connect with their purchases.

I also have a deep appreciation for souvenirs and the memories they hold. I see rocks and natural elements as souvenirs from nature, and I love turning them into art that can be treasured forever. If you have your own collected items, I’d be thrilled to transform them into something special for you.

Thank you for exploring my art and learning about my journey. I hope my creations bring you the same joy and excitement that they bring me. As I always say, “Doing what I love and loving what I’m doing!” ~ Nicky ☺

~ Read below for the ART FACTS ~

FACTS About Stained Glass:

~ Solder and Came Contains LEAD: After handling any piece, please be sure to wash your hands and not touch food. Also keep children away as they might try to put it in their mouths.

~ The Solder Oxidizes (white spots on the metal): It’s sadly inevitable and the one thing I hate about stained glass. This can be buffed out by using a dry cotton cloth or microfiber towel that you don’t care about because it is most likely to stain it. Glass cleaner is weirdly not a good thing to use around solder so try to avoid it.

~ For General Upkeep: Once the shine has left the piece, you can try to buffer out the piece by gently using a microfiber cloth on the soldering lines and glass. Please be very careful about the amount of pressure applied, glass is fragile. If the shine is completely gone, you may use some stained glass polish to re-shine the piece and add a layer of protection to the glass. **Please be careful and try not to touch around mirror or painted areas, they have a mind of their own and can be erased!

How to apply wax: Apply a small sized amount of wax to your choice of cloth (listed in The Solder Oxidizes Section) and gently rub onto glass and solder lines. Move it around until wax is no longer visible. Repeat until all the whole piece has been waxed. Now take a clean section of the microfiber cloth and gently buffer out until there is a visible shine. This is where it’ll get messy. Feel free to use gloves and if not please WASH your hands!

This can be very very messy so if you’d like me to re-polish your piece send me a message and we’ll figure out the logistics! Most likely if it’s an easy piece to polish it, I’ll ask you to take care of shipping and send me $5 for the arthritis medication I’ll inevitably be paying for in the future haha

~ Suction Cups Added to Each Order: I can forget to add one (I’m human) but reach out and I’ll happily send you one for your piece. FYI they do fall at some point so if you can hang it from something sturdier please do, to avoid any damages. **I’m not responsible for these damages. Also clean the window before putting it up! Then you can add some liquid to the cup (yes, I do use saliva) that’s the best way I have found.

~ Restorations: If you have any stained glass pieces that needs a fixin’ message me! I’ll see if my Aunt (the Goddess that taught me) or I can fix it for you ☺

FACTS About Shipment:

~ Please Allow 5-7 Business Days for Items to ship: I tend to be quicker than this but in case there are any unexpected emergencies, I have extended the time frame.

~ Materials Used to Package Each Item Tend to be Recycled: I try to reuse any cardboard or paper I receive to reduce waste in the environment. This includes but is not limited to: used boxes (if in good shape), paper/tissue paper/newspaper, and bubble wrap.

~ Animal Hair Might Travel With The Art: I have a very curious doggo named Bowser that likes to help package the items with me so please be aware if you’re allergic to animal hair. He says Sorry in advance!