I also made these super fun little dishes—and I’m absolutely in love with how they turned out! The 3-inch and 4-inch sizes make them perfect as small accent pieces, but what really makes them shine is their artistic flair. Each one is bursting with color and personality! You’ll notice the difference between using a white background versus a clear one—it completely changes the feel of the piece. This first set was cast using small pieces of glass, which means no two are alike. Each dish is a unique, one-of-a-kind mini artwork, full of texture, color, and charm. They’re the kind of pieces that spark joy and start conversations!
These next six dishes were made using cut sheet glass, thoughtfully arranged to create simple yet eye-catching designs. The yellow striped 3-inch square dishes are a favorite—I picked up that gorgeous glass during my visit to the Glass Expo, so they feel extra special. The pink and purple ones, along with the deeper purple tones, are all 4-inch squares, and each has its own unique flair. They’re the perfect size for tea bags, rings, spoon rests, or just adding a pop of color to any space. I love how these little dishes blend everyday function with artistic expression!
These next four dishes are a little different and really showcase the beauty of texture and organic design. The top two were created by piecing together sheet glass with frit, then firing them over a textured mold. I love how the edges came out—flowing, irregular, and full of personality. The bottom two were made by fusing full sheets of glass over texture, which gives them a beautifully unique and natural feel. All four are perfect as soap dishes, candle holders, or simply as decorative accents. I wouldn’t recommend using them to serve food, though, since the clear glass is on the bottom rather than the top—but for everything else, they’re both functional and full of charm!
These next four pieces are pure fused glass art—each created using a different technique, and each with its own story. The first dish features a gorgeous blend of pink and purple frit with flowing vitrigraph elements. It’s a rare and radiant combination—did you know pink and purple glass are made using gold? That’s what makes them so special (and a little harder to find!). The second dish is just as unique, crafted with vitrigraph, frit, and sheet glass to create a design so luminous, it could be displayed upright to catch the light—almost like fused glass’s answer to stained glass. The bottom two are 3-inch square dishes with a more personal history. The one on the left is a screen-melt—an older piece of glass that, after years in my studio, finally decided what it wanted to become. The one on the right has a similar story. I’ve had that piece of glass for years, and it always reminded me of something I saw while traveling through Italy. I finally turned it into a little dish, and it turned out so beautifully that I decided to keep it for myself. I even have more of that glass tucked away and am already imagining what I might create with it next.
If you’ve been following my newsletter for a while, you already know two things about me: I LOVE screen printing on glass, and I’m a proud, retired member of the U.S. Air Force—which means I’m also deeply patriotic. That spirit comes through loud and clear in the top three dishes, each one screen printed with red, white, and blue pride. “God Bless America” and “Support Our Troops” aren’t just phrases—they’re values I hold close, and it brings me so much joy to express that through my art. The bottom two dishes were made with some of my absolute favorite glass—beautiful, earthy tones that remind me of the natural beauty in Westcliffe. These are definitely headed for our home there. In fact, I love this glass so much that I’ve already created several matching spoon rests and small accent dishes to use around the house.
These next four dishes are each a little different, and that’s what makes them so special. The first one has actually been sitting in my studio for quite some time—an older piece I never got around to slumping until now. Isn’t it beautiful? That decal is absolutely stunning, and I’m so glad I finally finished it. The small blue dish next to it also features a lovely decal—one of my favorites because it holds its color so well through the firing process. The bottom two are small but striking, made with gorgeous glass that really speaks for itself. No fuss, no extras—just clean, simple beauty. Sometimes, less truly is more
From bold screen prints and glowing textures to simple, elegant glasswork, creating these fused glass dishes has been such a joyful journey. Each one reflects a different mood, technique, or inspiration—from my love of country and handcrafted details to my connection with Westcliffe and the ever-evolving stories behind each piece of glass in my studio. Whether they’re destined for a customer’s home, a boutique hotel, or my own kitchen counter, these dishes remind me how much beauty there is in functional fused glass art. I hope they inspire you to find a little joy in the everyday—and maybe even collect a piece or two for yourself.
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 site and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you’d like to take a class, please check out the information on my site about my classes. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month.
Karen
