I’ve mentioned some of my advanced classes before, but this one is all about Christine and Kayla. They took classes with me a while back and loved fusing so much that they bought their own kiln! Recently, they reached out wanting to dive deeper into firing schedules and really understand the “why” behind the process. Since they’re experienced and now working in their own studios, I wanted to tailor this class a little differently. Instead of my usual fused glass gifts, I offered molds for purchase and gave each of them a small slumping mold to take home. It felt like the perfect way to support their next step in their fused glass journey. Here’s the table all set up for them, along with their liability forms, ready for a great day of learning.
As with my last advanced firing schedule class, we covered a lot. I showed them the test pieces, I made for the last class showing how frit, confetti, vitrigraph, and sheet glass behave at different temperatures — 1250°, 1300°, 1350°, 1400°, and 1450°. We also looked at some molds and how to slump in them. The majority of our time was spent walking through firing schedules — how to adjust them, why they matter, and how small changes can completely affect your outcome. We talked strategy, troubleshooting, and how to think through a firing instead of using a preprogrammed schedule. I also recommended two of my favorite e-books (Bob Leatherbarrow & Paul Tarlow) and sent them home with handouts so they could keep building their knowledge long after class ended. I truly think they walked away with a deeper understanding of firing schedules.
They also brought several pieces with them that they wanted to talk through, including a thicker piece of glass that had broken during the slumping process. My apologies—I was so focused on discussing each piece and working through solutions with them that I didn’t take many photos. We talked about how to refire it, along with other creative options—one of my favorites being turning it into a wind chime. From there, I set up the tile saw and walked her through how to safely cut the piece. It can definitely be a little intimidating at first, but she did a fabulous job and handled it like a pro. It was such a productive session, full of learning, problem-solving, and creativity—and their pieces turned out absolutely beautiful.
In addition to all of our discussions, they also wanted to learn more about using decals. I had them each choose five decals—four to pair with cabochons they selected themselves, and one to incorporate into their own glass work. We even applied one of the decal-and-cabochon combinations right there in the studio, which is always a fun part of the process. It gave them a chance to see how everything comes together and feel more confident using decals in their future projects.
Classes like this are especially rewarding for me. Watching students like Christine and Kayla continue to grow, ask deeper questions, and truly take ownership of their craft is what it’s all about. From troubleshooting challenges to learning new techniques like decals and refining their firing schedules, they embraced every part of the process. I’m so proud of how far they’ve come—and even more excited to see where their fused glass journey takes them next.
Christine is incredibly talented and so precise in her creations. In fact, she made the magnet below for me and even turned it into a beautiful card. It truly means so much to me to see my students succeed and grow—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
And Kayla—she completely touched my heart by purchasing three pieces from me. That kind of support means more than I can put into words. Knowing someone connects with my work enough to bring it into their home is the highest compliment I could receive.
If you’d like to see more of my fused glass creations, 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 channel for videos and inspiration! If you’d like to stay up-to-date with my latest projects, classes, and events, I also invite you to sign up for my monthly newsletter, published on the last day of each month. And if you’re interested in taking a class, you’ll find all the details about upcoming opportunities right on my website! If you have any questions about taking classes or would like to schedule one, feel free to email me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com. I’d love to help you create something amazing when you’re ready!
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
