An old friend of mine, Denise, came to town recently, and she and her sister Teresa decided to take a fused glass class with me. It was such a treat to spend creative time together! As always, I had free gifts out for my students to choose from, including pocket hearts, crosses, magnets, patriotic pieces, and a fun assortment of pendants. And of course, before we got started, I had them fill out the standard liability forms—because when you’re working with glass, safety always comes first!
Before we got started, I gave Denise and Teresa a tour of my fused glass spaces. My studio isn’t just one room—it’s actually four separate rooms, each designed for a different part of the process, from cutting and finishing to displaying the completed artwork. I love showing students these spaces because it gives them a better understanding of how many possibilities fused glass offers. It’s always fun to see their eyes light up when they realize just how versatile and creative the glass can be. I always enjoy sharing my different fused glass spaces with students because each room plays its own special role in the creative process:
- The Finished Room – filled with a plethora of completed fused glass pieces available for sale.
- The Finishing and Inspiration Room – where I work on the final touches and surround myself with some of my favorite pieces that bring both joy and creative energy.
- The Gallery Area – a dedicated space where every piece is available for purchase and where students often find that spark of inspiration for their own projects.
- The Studio – the heart of it all, filled with equipment and supplies, with the main table right in the center where students bring their ideas to life and turn them into sparkling works of art.
Denise created a stunning fused glass heart that’s full of color and texture. She hand-cut the glass herself, then carefully ground the edges to make them perfectly smooth. For her design, she incorporated vitrigraph, frit, and a mix of cheerful murrine to add pops of detail throughout. Denise envisioned it as a standalone art piece, so we finished it with a display stand—and it looks beautiful. The combination of colors and textures gives it a vibrant, joyful energy that really shines.
Teresa chose to create something deeply meaningful a suncatcher as a reminder of someone very special to her. She decided on a cross design and poured her heart into every step of the process. To personalize it even further, we added two decals: a basketball and a broken heart. The combination makes it a truly touching piece, full of love and memory. It’s not just beautiful glasswork—it’s a keepsake that carries a powerful story behind it.
Just like in my previous classes, I offered Teresa and Denise a free bonus project where they could experiment with a fun fused glass decal technique. In the top row of the photos, you can see the variety of decals and cabochons they had to choose from—it’s always one of my favorite parts of the class to see what students gravitate toward. Denise created a striking red and green butterfly pendant that turned out beautifully. Teresa made a gorgeous magnet using a vibrant, colorful decal. These little projects are such a great way to let creativity run free and try out new techniques.
Having Denise and Teresa in the studio was such a joy. There’s something really special about sharing creativity with friends and family, especially when the projects hold so much personal meaning. Denise’s vibrant heart and Teresa’s touching cross, along with their playful bonus projects, made this class unforgettable. Moments like these remind me why I love teaching fused glass—it’s not just about the art, it’s about the memories we create along the way. It was wonderful seeing Denise again!
Before the class, Denise had also asked me to create a large fused glass cross for her. I ended up making two different designs so she could choose her favorite. Honestly, I liked both of them, but I absolutely loved the one she picked (top row). The colors—yellow, purple, and blue—came together perfectly, creating a piece that feels both vibrant and peaceful at the same time. It was so much fun designing something special just for her!
If you’d like to see more of my fused glass work, please visit my website: Elegant Fused Glass by Karen.
While you’re there, be sure to explore the full site — and don’t forget to check out my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube for even more inspiration! If you’d like to stay up-to-date with my latest projects, classes, and special offerings, you can also sign up for my monthly newsletter, published on the information on my site. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a private class, feel free to email me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com. I’d love to help you create something beautiful!
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
