One of the things I love most about owning a fused glass business is partnering with other small businesses, especially when they’re owned by wonderful people. FestiviTea, in Colorado Springs, is owned by my friend Margo, a fellow Air Force veteran with a true gift for creating welcoming spaces and teas. From the moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by shelves of beautiful teacups, specialty teas, unique gifts, and cozy little nooks that invite you to slow down and stay awhile. Margo has created much more than a tea shop—she’s built a community where friends gather, conversations linger, and every visit feels special. I always enjoy meeting friends there for tea, and it’s an honor to create handcrafted fused glass pieces that find a home in such a charming and inviting shop.
Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of creating countless fused glass tea bag holders and glass stirrers for FestiviTea. It’s been so much fun designing pieces that are not only beautiful but also practical for fellow tea lovers. The tea bag holders have become one of my favorite production items because each one combines colorful fused glass with whimsical tea-themed sayings, making them both functional and decorative. Alongside them, I’ve created dozens of colorful glass stirrers that add a little sparkle and personality to every cup of tea. There’s something incredibly rewarding about knowing my handcrafted pieces have become part of so many customers’ daily tea rituals, bringing a little extra beauty to those quiet moments of relaxation.
Recently, Margo approached me with an exciting new project. She asked if I would create miniature fused glass ice cream dishes for her Little London Tea Society subscription boxes. and I immediately fell in love with the idea. Each themed box is thoughtfully curated with specialty teas, tea accessories, recipes, delicious treats, Colorado-made products, and even a fun craft or activity. Adding a handcrafted fused glass dish felt like the perfect finishing touch—a keepsake members could continue using and enjoying long after the last cup of tea had been sipped. I always enjoy projects that bring creativity and collaboration together, and this one was especially meaningful because it allowed me to support another local small business while creating something truly unique for tea lovers.
Once the designs were planned, it was time to fill the kiln! I was able to fit 15 miniature ice cream dishes in each kiln load, creating 30 unique dishes to choose from. The first photo shows the initial kiln load with the colorful glass circles carefully arranged before firing. After the first firing, I added a variety of textures and patterns before returning them to the kiln. The remaining photos show both kiln loads after the glass had transformed into beautiful little dishes. Watching flat pieces of glass become tiny works of art is one of my favorite parts of fused glass. Rather than making every dish identical, I wanted each one to have its own personality. I used several different molds to create a variety of shapes and paired them with an assortment of vibrant colors and textures, so every dish would be a delightful surprise. Some are bright and playful, while others have softer, more elegant tones—but each one is completely unique.
After the full fuse, I was so excited to see the results that I completely forgot to take photos before removing them from the kiln! Thankfully, I managed to snap a few pictures before they moved on to the slumping molds. One of the things I love about these little dishes is how the textures peek through the glass. Some colors, especially the lighter blues, yellows, and greens, beautifully highlight every swirl, ridge, and pattern underneath. The darker colors, like the deep burgundy and black, are much more subtle, hiding many of the details until the light catches them just right. That unpredictability is one of the things I enjoy most about working with glass—every firing reveals its own little surprise, and no two pieces are ever exactly alike.
The final trip through the kiln was for slumping, where each dish settled into its mold and took on its final shape. This is always one of my favorite moments because it’s when all the planning, cutting, and firing finally come together. Looking into the kiln and seeing rows of colorful miniature dishes nestled in their molds was incredibly rewarding. Each mold created a different shape, giving the collection a wonderful variety of styles and personalities. The bottom photo shows both kiln loads filled with finished dishes, and I couldn’t help but smile seeing all 30 lined up together. It was hard to choose my favorite—and even harder to narrow them down to the 25 that would be included in the Little London Tea Society boxes!
Here is the first batch of miniature ice cream bowls after being slumped into their final shapes. I’m happy to say the vast majority turned out beautifully! As with any fused glass project, there are always a few pieces that need a little extra attention. Two of the bowls came out a bit too shallow, so they’re headed back into the kiln for another slumping cycle. Two others developed a couple of sharp points along the rim, so I carefully filed them smooth and will fire polish them to restore their glossy finish. That’s one of the things I love about fused glass—most little imperfections can be corrected with a bit of patience and another trip through the kiln. Hopefully, these last few bowls will turn out just as beautifully as the rest!
Next kiln full of dishes, more colorful little ice cream bowls, each one created in my ice cream bowl mold. I made them in a rainbow of colors—from bright sunshine yellow and deep cobalt blue to rich amber, aqua, smoky gray, and elegant dark purple. Although they all share the same basic shape, every bowl has its own unique personality thanks to the way the glass flows during firing. They may be small, but they’re perfect for serving ice cream, holding candy or nuts, or simply adding a cheerful pop of color to a table or tea party.
Before any of these little bowls could take shape, there was quite a bit of preparation behind the scenes. Every ceramic mold had to be carefully coated with kiln wash—the soft pink coating you see in the photos—which creates a protective barrier so the glass releases cleanly after firing. I also had a variety of texture molds to choose from, each one giving the glass its own unique pattern. First, I full fused the glass over the texture molds to capture the design, then each piece went back into the kiln for a second firing, where it was gently slumped into one of many different bowl molds. It takes multiple firings, plenty of patience, and a whole collection of molds, but watching each colorful bowl emerge with its own texture and shape makes the process so rewarding.
Margo asked me to make twenty-four little ice cream bowls, and I had so much fun creating them! I used a variety of colors, textures, and molds so no two were exactly alike. One of my favorite parts is flipping them over and admiring the bottoms—the textures show up beautifully as the light shines through the glass. They may be little, but they’re just the right size for a couple of scoops of ice cream or a favorite sweet treat. Sometimes it’s the smallest pieces that bring the biggest smiles.
Working with Margo and FestiviTea has been such a rewarding experience over the years. I truly appreciate the opportunity to create handcrafted fused glass pieces that become part of her customers’ tea traditions and special moments. Collaborating with another veteran-owned small business that values creativity, craftsmanship, and community make these projects even more meaningful. Whether it’s a tea bag holder, a glass stirrer, or one of these whimsical little ice cream dishes, every piece is made with care and gratitude. I look forward to many more collaborations with FestiviTea and can’t wait to see what creative idea Margo dreams up next.
If you’d like to see more of my fused glass creations, be sure to visit my website, Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. While you’re there, take a peek at the full site—and don’t miss my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube channel for videos and behind-the-scenes fun. Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter, published on the last day of each month, where I share updates, tips, and a closer look at my fused glass jewelry and projects.
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
