I ran out of time in February to highlight some of the molds I used throughout the month, so I thought I’d circle back and start with the one that inspired several of the pieces I created. This mold first appeared in my January projects, and it quickly became one of my favorites. The design has such beautiful movement and texture, with sweeping lines that spiral toward the center. When the glass slumps into the mold, it captures every detail. In the photos you can see the mold itself alongside the finished piece. I chose a lovely transparent purple glass, which really allows the pattern to shine. The way the light moves through the glass highlights all the intricate textures created by the mold, giving the finished piece depth and elegance. I absolutely love how the transparency of the glass works with the design — it’s both delicate and dramatic at the same time.
The molds I used this month are part of a small collection. I tend to go a little overboard when I find something I love — and in this case, I ended up with four similar molds. Each one has a slightly different pattern, but they all share that same beautiful geometric texture that really comes alive when the glass is slumped into it. As you can see in the photos, the molds have intricate starburst and faceted designs that remind me of vintage pressed glass. When light hits those patterns through transparent or luminescent glass, the texture becomes even more dramatic. And speaking of glass, I paired these molds with some gorgeous luminescent glass in lovely colors. Luminescent glass works beautifully with molds like these because the light moves through the glass and highlights every ridge, angle, and detail. The result is pieces that sparkle, glow, and really showcase the complexity of the mold’s design.
For these pieces, I used one of the textured molds along with a simple square slumping mold to create a shallow dish. The first example uses a lovely blue luminescent glass. I full fused the glass first so the pattern could fully imprint, then slumped it into the dish mold. Because the texture is on the inside surface, it wouldn’t be ideal for food use, but it makes a beautiful decorative piece — perfect as a centerpiece or filled with potpourri. I repeated the same process using the same texture and slumping molds, but this time with a gorgeous amber luminescent glass. The result is completely different but equally stunning. As I mentioned before both pieces remind me of old pressed glass dishes you might find in antique stores — full of texture, depth, and sparkle when the light hits them.
Next up is this beautiful luminescent green piece. For this one, I used the same textured mold but slumped it using a softer, curved mold to give it those lovely organic edges. I really enjoy the contrast between the structured geometric texture created by the mold and the gentle flow of the softened edges. The luminescent green glass is especially stunning. The way it shimmers and reflects light across the raised patterns makes the entire piece sparkle. Every ridge and facet catches the light differently, creating a lot of visual movement. I absolutely love how this one turned out. The combination of the glowing green glass, the detailed texture, and the softly flowing edges makes it feel both elegant and a little bit whimsical at the same time.
For this mold, I continued my focus on using the different colors of luminescent glass in my collection. One version uses a rich dark aqua-blue luminescent glass, which really highlights the depth and texture created by the mold. The way the color pools and shifts across the raised pattern gives the finished dish a dramatic, almost jewel-like appearance. I also experimented with clear luminescent glass. It’s interesting how beautiful clear glass can be, especially when it has that subtle glimmer. Because the glass is transparent, the light moves through it and really emphasizes the intricate details of the mold. The texture becomes the star of the piece, and the soft shimmer adds just enough sparkle to make it feel elegant and refined. Both versions show how the same mold can produce completely different results depending on the glass you choose. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy working with molds so much — the possibilities are endless.
The last piece uses a gorgeous rainbow luminescent glass. If you look closely, you can see hints of silver, gold, and blue shimmering across the surface. The colors shift depending on the light and the angle you view it from, which makes the piece feel very dynamic and alive. When the glass slumped into the mold, the raised starburst pattern captured those colors beautifully. The texture catches the light at different angles, allowing each shade to appear and disappear as the dish moves. It’s one of those pieces that seems to change every time you look at it. It turned out to be a lovely piece and a perfect example of how luminescent glass and detailed molds can work together to create something truly special.
Working with these molds reminded me how much I enjoy experimenting with texture and light in fused glass. Each mold has its own personality, and when paired with different colors of luminescent glass, the results can be completely unique. Even when using the same mold and slumping form, simply changing the color of the glass can create an entirely different feel. From soft blues and greens to amber, clear, and rainbow tones, each piece captures the light in its own way. I especially love how the luminescent glass highlights every ridge and detail of the mold, giving the finished dishes that vintage pressed-glass look. Exploring molds like these keeps the creative process fresh and reminds me that there are always new possibilities waiting in the kiln.
If you would like to see more of my fused glass work please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my sites, Fused Glass by Karen, My Etsy store, my Art fire Store, my Pinterest, and Elegant Fused Glass by Karen youtube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month.
Keeping my Kiln warm,
Karen
