Aspens are one of my favorite art pieces I make in fused glass. Living in Colorado, I’m surrounded by these lovely trees, and I never get tired of their movement, their quiet beauty, or the way they change with the seasons. I also love incorporating the animals we’re lucky to see here—deer, bears, and foxes—because they feel so much a part of the landscape.
Recently, one of my longtime customers and wonderful supporters asked if I could make her another winter aspen sconces to replace one her husband accidentally broke. Of course, I said yes. My aspens like this always feel personal to me, and knowing I was replacing something meaningful made it even more special. She sent me a few photos of the broken sconce, and rather than trying to repair it, she asked me to create something new while keeping the spirit of the original but without the owl.
I made her a fused glass aspen sconce, and honestly, the glass did a lot of the talking. The blues came together beautifully, creating that soft, moody winter sky that I love so much. I tucked an iridized bear into the scene, along with hand-painted aspens, which gave the whole sconce depth and just a hint of quiet wildlife movement. Between the flowing glass, the shimmer of the bear, and the snowy details at the base, it truly feels like a peaceful winter moment captured in glass. Most importantly she loved it.
Of course, I never just make one of anything, so I also made two more winter tree sconces — one featuring a fox and the other with a deer. I love these big winter mantel sconces so much. They’re full of elegance and beauty, and every angle shows something a little different as the light passes through the glass. The flowing blues, snowy textures, and quiet woodland animals make each one feel peaceful and alive at the same time. These are the kinds of pieces that remind me why I love working with glass — it’s always changing, always moving, and always surprising me.
I also made two smaller sconces, one for fall and one for spring. They’re about half the size of the big winter sconces, but just as beautiful in their own way. The fall one is filled with aspens, rich warm colors, and that cozy feeling that autumn brings. The spring sconce is lighter and playful, with a little fox, lots of butterflies, and pops of flowers that make it feel fresh and alive. I love how each season has its own personality, and working smaller lets those details really stand out.
These aspen sconces truly capture what I love most about working in fused glass — movement, light, and the quiet beauty of nature. From the large winter scenes with deer, fox, and bear to the smaller spring and fall pieces filled with flowers, butterflies, and warm seasonal color, each one feels calm and alive in its own way. The winter wildlife sconces, along with the spring and fall versions, are currently available, and each is a one-of-a-kind piece that brings a soft, natural presence into any space.
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 would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month
Keeping my kiln warm,
Karen
