Amidst the lockdown of 2020, Wendell resident Melissa Taylor, like many other bored humans at that time, decided to pursue a new hobby. For years, she admired stained glass lamps, panels, windows, and chandeliers in antique malls and stores throughout North Carolina and other nearby states. With COVID-19 keeping everyone homebound, Melissa explored stained glass art making, using the web’s free resources to teach herself. What began as a fun curiosity bloomed into an exciting new passion. By the summer of 2021, Melissa made her first transom window. By Christmas that same year, she was selling small pieces of stained glass art at local winter markets as an official business called Chromatic Glass Designs. 

Today, Melissa makes pieces of all sizes, from those that fit in the palm of your hand to large custom windows. She also now offers stained glass repair and restoration work. With her family's help and creative input, the business is working to merge technology with tradition by using a laser cutter to add custom details to glass and incorporate wood elements to the art. New and exciting things are happening at Chromatic Glass Designs!