I’ve had the privilege of writing several blogs about my fused-glass classes with some truly special moms. These incredible women are part of the Labeled and Loved group here in Colorado Springs and every time they visit my studio, the creativity and love they bring fills the room. If you’re a mom of a special-needs child (or adult child), I highly encourage you to connect with this wonderful Labeled and Loved group . Their strength, support, friendship, and open-hearted spirit are inspiring, and you’ll find a community that understands and uplifts. In fact, we are trying to figure out different ways I can donate and support this spectacular cause.
For this class, I was lucky to have four amazing moms join me in the studio. Two of them — Christina and Adelaida — have created fused-glass pieces with me before, so it felt like welcoming old friends. Elizabeth and Heather were brand-new to fused glass, which always makes class extra exciting. As I do with every session, we started with a quick safety overview and liability forms — then came one of my favorite parts: gifts! Each mom got to choose a thank-you gift for being here, with options like magnets, pendants, pocket hearts & crosses, and even suncatchers. It’s my little way of saying how much I appreciate them spending their time with me and trusting me with their creativity.
Since Elizabeth and Heather were new to my classes, I gave them a little tour of my creative spaces before we got started.
- Our first stop was the Finished Room — shelves filled with colorful jewelry and glass pieces, many of which are available for purchase. It’s also where I take most of my photos, so it’s always bright, cheerful, and full of sparkle.
- Next, we headed into the Finishing & Inspiration Room. This is where I add those final little touches that make each piece special. It’s also one of my favorite places, filled with past projects and inspiration pieces that fuel new ideas.
- Finally, we visited the Gallery Area, where completed artwork waits patiently for new homes and future owners. Many students find their creative spark in this space, and it was wonderful watching each mom discover pieces that spoke to her.
Finally, we stepped into the heart of it all — the studio. Shelves line the walls, filled with tools, molds, and all the supplies a glass artist could dream of. In the center sits the worktable, the creative hub where imagination turns into art, one cut of glass at a time. Because this is my personal working studio, it’s a treasure trove of possibilities — sheets of glass, frit in every color, murrine and millefiori slices, flowing vitrigraph cane, and so much more. It’s hard not to feel inspired when you’re surrounded by so much color and texture! At each seat, tools and materials were ready and waiting, inviting everyone to roll up their sleeves and jump into the joy of creating. Watching that spark of excitement as students realize everything they need is right in front of them and the possibilities are endless.
First up was Christina. She jumped right into a gorgeous fall-themed scene filled with rich colors and details — tiny murrine pieces (yes, including pumpkins and a sweet little fox!), glow-in-the-dark glass Moon, vitrigraph, frit, and more. Her piece was full of personality and seasonal charm from the very start. One of the things I love about Christina is how thoughtful she is with her process. Since she planned to hang her artwork, she wanted to drill holes in the glass. Instead of diving right in, she practiced on a plain piece first to get comfortable with the motion and feel. The first few photos show her concentrating and learning drilling— and she did fantastic! Her piece turned out absolutely stunning and full of fall magic. 🍂🦊🎃
Next was Heather, who decided to create a beautiful hanging flower piece — and she jumped right into the challenge with confidence and a big smile. Just like Christina, she drilled her own hanging holes. She hand-cut all her flowers and added charming details with murrine, frit, and dots. Her artistic vision really came to life! 🌸 Because her piece was larger, drilling was a bit more challenging — but that didn’t stop her. With Christina cheerfully lending a hand, Heather drilled perfect holes and handled the process like a pro. One of my favorite moments was watching her place her finished piece into the kiln, full of pride and excitement for the final result. Her design was creative, cheerful, and absolutely filled with personality — such a joy to watch!
Adelaida chose a lovely fall-themed design as well — a bit smaller in size, but every bit as beautiful and full of detail. She worked with frit, murrine, powder wafers, and so many fun elements to create texture and depth. Her composition had such a warm, cozy autumn feel to it 🍁What made her piece extra special was her creative twist: instead of hanging it or slumping it, she wanted it framed — and not just in any frame. She chose one of my frame lined with washi paper I bought in Japan over 20 years ago. How amazing is that? It brought a touch of elegance and meaningful history to her artwork. Her final piece was both personal and uniquely charming — a beautiful blend of glass artistry and cultural texture.
The final project belonged to Elizabeth, who created a cheerful, spring-inspired flower vase design. Her piece was bursting with life — she incorporated flowing vitrigraph, layers of frit for texture, and a generous sprinkle of murrine and millefiori to bring each flower to life. 🌷✨ For her very first fused-glass class, she jumped in with so much creativity and confidence. Her design felt fresh, colorful, and full of joy — like a little garden blooming right in the studio. I absolutely loved watching it come together!
We had a little extra time — which meant we got to play with one of my favorite “bonus” activities: fused-glass decals! This is always such a fun creative treat, giving everyone a chance to make a small, personal piece like a pendant, magnet, or keychain. I set out decals and cabochons for everyone to explore, and it was so delightful watching them choose designs that spoke to them. Elizabeth created a sweet magnet, while Christina and Adelaida both made festive Halloween pendants. Each tiny piece was full of personality and charm — a perfect little finishing touch to an already inspiring class. 🎃✨
In preparation for this class, I spent time creating several fall-themed pieces of my own. I always like to make sample designs ahead of time — not only because it gives my students inspiration and ideas to build from, but also because it helps me try out new combinations of colors, textures, and techniques before class. From pumpkins and leaves to cozy autumn palettes, I had fun playing with frit, murrine, and vitrigraph to create different looks and styles. These samples become a jumping-off point for students, sparking their creativity while giving them the confidence to try something new. Each class is a fresh opportunity for me to learn too, and preparing these pieces is one of the ways I get excited for the magic that’s about to happen in the studio. 🍂✨
If you’d like to experience the magic of glass for yourself, reach out to schedule your own class by emailing me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com or visit my website at www.ElegantFusedGlassbyKaren.com. 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
