I had the joy of hosting another wonderful, fused glass class with three familiar faces—Jim, Julie, and Cindy—and a brand-new student, Michelle! It’s always exciting to welcome someone new into the studio, and Michelle jumped right in with the same enthusiasm the others always bring. As is tradition, I set out a cheerful display of free fused glass gifts for everyone to choose from. There were pendants, Christmas ornaments, crosses, hearts, and of course, magnets (because honestly, who doesn’t love a good magnet?). Before we got our creative vibes flowing, we took care of the not-so-glamorous but very important part—liability forms—and then it was time to dive into the glassy fun!
Since Jim, Julie, and Cindy are seasoned pros in my studio, they didn’t need the grand tour this time—those three know their way around my glassy world pretty well by now! But for Michelle, who hadn’t visited before, I loved showing her around all three of my extra rooms, each one with its own purpose and personality.
- The Finished Room — A colorful space filled with completed fused glass pieces available for purchase. From elegant flowers to sparkling jewelry, it’s a fantastic way for students to see just how many directions this art form can go.
- The Finishing & Inspiration Room — This is where I add the final touches to my own creations, and it’s surrounded by some of my favorite pieces. It’s a cozy corner of pure inspiration, and I often catch students pausing here to soak in ideas before beginning their own projects.
- The Gallery Area — A curated display of finished fused glass art—every piece available for purchase. Many students tell me this is their favorite spot in the studio because they find endless ideas for color palettes, textures, styles, and techniques they want to try next.
Michelle jumped right in! For her very first project in my studio, she chose to create a beautiful fall nightlight, and it turned out absolutely adorable. 🍂✨ She started by confidently cutting her own glass—a big step for a brand-new student—and then moved on to the fun part: designing her autumn scene using Miliforie, murrine, frit, and more. Just look at those cheerful golden leaves and the sweet little birds tucked among the trees! The finished piece glows with warm fall color, and when it lights up at night, it brings that cozy “sweater weather” feeling into any room. For a first-time fused glass artist, Michelle did an amazing job, and I can’t wait to see what she creates next!
Jim jumped right into the new poinsettia ornament design with his usual enthusiasm and creative spark! In fact, he loved this style so much that he didn’t stop at just one—he made two stunning poinsettias, each with its own personality. ✨One of my favorite things about Jim as an artist is his fearless approach to color and pattern. He isn’t afraid to explore new combinations, mix cool palettes with warm accents, and truly make each piece his own. His creativity always shines, and it’s such a joy to see what he’ll dream up next. These beautiful poinsettia ornaments are going to look amazing hanging on his Christmas tree, catching the lights and adding that perfect touch of handmade Christmas cheer! 🎄
Julie was on a mission! She came to class with big creative energy and ended up making two casted ornaments and a poinsettia ornament—talk about ambition! What made it even more wonderful is that she had never casted before, yet she jumped in with confidence and did an amazing job. 🌟 Her Christmas tree cast needed a little extra care, so I refired it to make sure it came out just right, and it turned out absolutely perfect. And then there’s her poinsettia ornament—just look at that beauty! The colors, the balance, the detail… truly a stunning piece. Now the real question is: which ones will she keep, and which lucky friends or family members will receive one as a Christmas gift? 🎄 Handmade presents are the best, and whoever gets one of Julie’s ornaments is going to be thrilled!
The poinsettia and star ornaments are a little trickier when it comes to attaching bails, so I recommended that we drill holes for hanging instead. That meant both Julie and Jim got to learn a brand-new skill—drilling glass! 😄 They were both a tiny bit nervous at first (which is completely normal!), but once they got the feel for it, they did amazing. It’s always exciting watching students try something new and realize, “Hey, I can do this!” And truly—look at them go! Now they have another technique they can use for future projects, and their ornaments will hang beautifully on their Christmas trees. 🎄✨
Cindy decided to take on a seriously challenging project—and I love her for it! The first picture shows her progress so far (a friend of hers shared the pattern with her), and the next two images reveal her pieces. Every single section you see was hand-cut, carefully ground, and thoughtfully arranged on her base. This design requires a lot of precision and patience, but Cindy was completely up for the challenge. In fact, that’s one of the things I admire most about her—she is never intimidated by a complex project. She jumps in with confidence, creativity, and determination every single time. I already know this piece is going to be something truly special when it’s finished, and I can’t wait to share it with you. So, stay tuned—there will definitely be a follow-up showcasing her beautiful work! 🌟
I had such a great time watching Jim, Julie, Cindy, and Michelle work on their projects. One of the things I love most about teaching fused glass is that everyone gets to create something unique. I never require students to make the same project—that freedom to explore is a big part of the fun! It’s also one of the reasons I keep my classes small and personal, so each student gets the time, attention, and support they need to bring their own ideas to life. Thank you again to Jim, Julie, Cindy, and Michelle for making this such a joyful and creative class! I am always amazed by the talent, courage, and imagination that walk into my studio, and I feel incredibly lucky to share fused glass with such wonderful people.
If you’d like to explore more of my fused glass art, including jewelry, home décor, and my commercial/production work, I’d love for you to 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
