The Maker
Slow-crafted milestones of cognitive recovery
Every cut of glass and piece of wood represents a deliberate step forward in my journey of healing.
Rebuilding life with glass and cedar
Following a traumatic brain injury, the quiet rhythm of physical craft became my sanctuary. The structured steps of cutting glass and shaping wood provided a tangible framework for my cognitive rehabilitation.
In the workshop, there are no shortcuts. Each completed birdhouse and stained glass panel stands as a physical milestone of focus, patience, and the slow reclamation of creative purpose.
After retiring and surviving a life-altering motorcycle accident that resulted in a brain injury, I found healing in an unexpected place: the stained glass program at the Kamloops Brain Injury Association (KBIA). It didn't take long for me to realize I could combine this beautiful new craft with my lifelong passion for woodworking.
Today, Houses & Glass offers beautiful, fully functional birdhouses made from reclaimed, unused cedar scrap and vibrant art glass. They are safe for birds (sealed only on the outside with eco-friendly, water-based finishes), but pretty enough that many customers keep them inside as art!
I love taking on custom orders—from massive, 4-story houses with lighted cupolas to custom corporate shapes. Most importantly, a portion of every sale goes directly back to the KBIA to help support fellow brain injury survivors in their recovery. Thank you for being a part of my journey!
Rick, Maker
One deliberate cut at a time
Working with stained glass requires absolute presence. Wrapping each hand-cut piece in copper foil and soldering them together demands a level of physical focus that heals the mind as much as it challenges the hands.
Our birdhouses are built with the same intentional care. Crafted from local, salvaged cedar that would otherwise be destined for waste, they are designed to weather the seasons beautifully. They are not factory-perfect, but they are built to endure—carrying the honest, warm texture of the workshop.
Bring a milestone home
By welcoming a piece of stained glass or a cedar birdhouse into your space, you directly support an independent maker's ongoing rehabilitation and creative life.