✧ The Sill Sitter Collection ✧
Small stained glass birds made from scrap glass - each with a name, a personality, and a habit of finding the right window. Each one is handmade and one-of-a-kind.
✧ New pieces are released in small batches every few weeks. ✧
✧ Where the Sill Sitters Came From ✧
The very first Sill Sitter arrived on March 10, 2016.
His name was Ned - although, truthfully, he named himself.
At the time I had accumulated boxes and boxes of stained glass scraps. I’ve never been good at throwing beautiful things away, even when they were mismatched, oddly shaped, or seemingly unusable. One day I was sorting through those remnants, playing more than working, when I noticed a small piece that looked unmistakably like a bird once I added a tiny beak. I laughed out loud.
That was all the encouragement I needed. I ground the glass, wrapped it in copper foil, soldered it together, and then - just to see if I could - fashioned little wire legs so he could stand on his own. Suddenly he wasn’t just scrap glass anymore.
He had posture... personality... presence. And Ned… well, he had opinions.
Scraps I couldn't throw away
The very first Sill Sitter - Ned, 2016
He went home with a friend, but I immediately made more. By the time ten birds were finished, the work table felt lively - almost noisy - as if a whole flock had suddenly gathered while I worked. Since then, Sill Sitters have perched in homes both near and far. Some live locally; others have migrated as far as Hawaii and New Zealand. One even found its way onto the local news, which still makes me laugh.
Each bird begins the same way Ned did: as an overlooked fragment, made into something cheerful, slightly silly, and unexpectedly comforting. They’re small, fun companions made from leftovers - proof that imperfect pieces can still carry a lot of personality. And they do seem remarkably good at finding the windows where they belong.
Over time, they became their own lineage.
They’re small friends made from leftovers -
cheerful, slightly silly, and generally low maintenance.
Collector Note:
Occasionally I revisit past birds or accommodate special requests when possible. If you have something in mind, you’re welcome to reach out. I’ll let you know what we can do.