By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
Bev and Al Holden have called rural Warrenton their home for more than 40 years. They left the St. Louis suburbs for a quieter place to raise their three children.“Her dream has always been to be a full-time artist,” said Al Holden about his wife. “We live by her imagination.”For the past 12 years, the Holdens have operated a stained-glass studio in Truesdale called Glass Garden LLC. Located at 935 Market St., it can be easily overlooked. However, the couple believe that Truesdale has a bright future and hope to be right in the middle of the action.Al Holden retired from GE Emerson more than 13 years ago where he handled chemical sales. To keep busy after retirement, he worked at the Innsbrook Golf Course for a time.Four years ago, Al joined his wife full time in the stained-glass studio where he has taken over the glass etching projects.Bev has always been an artist. Her parents were artists and while she was raising young children, she took a three-year art correspondence course. She also enjoys painting, quilting, crocheting and gardening.Prior to opening her studio, Bev was a cake decorator at Mosers.Her green thumb has contributed to the colorful garden surrounding her studio and the name of her business.“I want to make beautiful things that draw people’s attention,” she said. “I concentrate on stained glass because of the colors. It’s all about the colors.”Bev began learning how to make stained-glass windows 15 years ago.“I’m self-taught,” she said. “We just put some plywood over the pool table and got started. I’m going to do this as long as I can.”The Holdens said they had a lot of new business in 2016. Part of that was due to the publicized robbery incidents on their studio grounds.“Some blessings came out of that,” she said, even though the thief was never caught.All of their work is custom-designed and includes small gift items, such as wind chimes and suncatchers or larger projects, including etched room dividers, windows, mosaics and lamps.Bev said much of her business includes specially designed memorial projects.The couple also repair and restore stained-glass pieces.Smith Creek United Methodist Church in rural Warrenton is a prime example of the work the couple can provide. Hail damaged large historic windows imported from Germany and the Holdens were able to match the design and replace the sentimental windows.Harmonie Church near Innsbrook was the recipient of 10 new custom stained-glass windows when members sponsored and designed each window with the help of Bev and Al. Many of the windows include birds and landscapes.Bev said one of the projects at Harmonie was particularly heartwarming when a husband had a window made for his wife who was terminally ill from cancer.“We were able to finish it before her death and take it to her home to show it to her,” said Bev.In addition to gift shop items, stained-glass classes are available, as are tours of the gardens and demonstrations in the shop.“We perform all glass processes, but glass blowing,” said Al. “What we want now are larger projects.”Glass Gardens is a juried studio and a member of the Best of Missouri Hands.The studio is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 636-456-0717 for more information or visit their Facebook site.Bev and Al Holden operate Glass Garden LLC in Truesdale. They provide a variety of stained glass gift items, custom designed windows, glass etching, repair and restoration. Record photo/Cindy Gladden.
