Julie Kelly
Stained Glass,
LLC.

Julie Kelly's Stained Glass Birdfeeders

I have been creating stained glass art for over twenty-five years and birdfeeders for approximately sixteen years.  Originally, I designed and made large windows for churches, hospitals and private homes, and also taught stained glass classes for three school districts in my home studio.

One day as I worked on a large stained glass and brass window commission, squirrels decided to attack three plastic bird  feeders hanging outside my studio. I had already used  "decorative" duct tape to repair previous attacks -- I snapped! What can't they destroy?  They had even teethed their babies on old slimy wooden feeders which I had to throw out. Glancing around the studio in desperation I saw sheets of shiny copper.  I bet they can't chew on this, I thought with determination.  And I know they won't eat glass!

Work stopped on the commission. Using scrap glass, I designed and created a tear drop shaped stained glass and shiny copper birdfeeder with a plastic rod for two birds to perch on.  As I filled it in eager anticipation, the seed spilled out onto the floor from the feed holes.  Great,  the squirrels won't even need to get on it to eat all my seed!  Realizing my mistake I retrofitted my design with some more glass pieces (more fun to work with than duct tape, by the way).

As I prepared to try it out, Ginger, my teenage daughter, predicted, "That will scare away all the birds in the whole neighborhood."  Well, that first stained glass and copper birdfeeder was not very pretty, but it worked great.  A chickadee immediately came and then a goldfinch, and my squirrels were  wonderfully frustrated .

My friends liked it. I realized immediately that I was on to something. I refined my design and consulted a copyright lawyer. (My brother, Mike, is a lawyer and I was encouraged to "do it right".)  I registered my copyrights with the US copyright office. I register every new design also. That is why you see my copyright notice engraved on each birdfeeder I make.

My feeders were presented at an Audubon wild bird symposium in Michigan. It is very important to me that they are not just beautiful and functional, but safe for the birds. Each new design is field tested by myself or my mom and dad for the" beak of approval".

My copper and stained glass birdfeeders have received national acclaim and press.  They were in the Boston Globe in "What's Hot in Boston", in the Naples Ambiance section, In Washington Women for the Philadelphia Flower Show, The Minneapolis Star and Tribune for the Uptown Art show, Wausau Weekend in Wausau Wisconsin, the Show program for the Uptown art,  the Show program for Indianapolis Art Center, The Toledo Blade - Art in Bloom,  The Chanhassen Villager-Her Art Is For The Birds.

My stained glass and copper birdfeeders have even had their TV time: Live Artist Interview-Fargo,  Live artist interview-Indianapolis at the Broadripple Art Show, live artist interview-Louisville Kentucky at St James Court Art show to name a few.

But all this aside, I'm happy to know that thousands of people are enjoying my birdfeeders every day as they feed millions of wonderful little birds.

Happy bird feeding,

Julie