September 2024

"Squirrel Feeder Picnic Bench"
 

The inspiration for this stained glass art project came from a picture I saw on social media of a squirrel sitting at a feeder designed to look like a picnic bench. It got me thinking—how could I have never considered that squirrels need a proper place to sit for their meals? I mean, seriously! How did it never cross my mind that they had no place to eat? hahaha!!! ;-)

 

Naturally, I knew I had to create one, but with a signature twist. To keep the food dry during the rainy season, I decided to add a custom glass design in the form of a stained glass umbrella!

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The umbrella features a floral motif of a Dahlia, measuring 10 inches in diameter, and is supported by a 1/4" brass rod. I used my glass cutting and DIY stained glass skills to shape each petal, and the glass soldering was done with care to bring out the beauty of the design. The bench itself is made from 112-year-old reclaimed lumber and measures 11" x 11" x 6". It’s finished with exterior deck stain for weather protection.

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This entire project, blending woodworking with stained glass, took over 35 hours from concept to completion, showcasing my passion for combining wood art with intricate glasswork.