This month I had such a wonderful class with two new students, Ashley and Anita, along with a returning student, Glenda. I always love that mix — fresh excitement combined with growing confidence. We began the day the responsible way: reviewing studio safety and completing the required liability forms. Once the paperwork was handled, we moved on to one of my favorite parts — surprising each student with a free gift. They were able to choose from magnets, stirrers, pendants, pocket hearts and pocket crosses before diving into their projects. There’s something so fun about watching them pick out a little piece of glass art to take home before they’ve even started creating. It sets the tone for the whole class — relaxed, generous, and creative. Glenda has taken several classes with me, so after we wrapped up the forms and everyone selected their gift, she headed to the studio.
With Ashley and Anita visiting my studio for the first time, we started class a little differently. Before cutting glass or choosing colors, we explored my glass space together. I walked them through my specialty rooms, giving them a feel for how I work and just how wide the possibilities are with fused glass. I’ve found that beginning with a tour helps new students relax, get inspired, and feel comfortable before diving into their own projects. Glenda, of course, didn’t need the grand tour. She’s been here before and knows the layout well — so she headed straight into the studio and got started. I love that confidence.
- The Finished Room — is filled with completed fused glass artwork available for purchase. It gives students a real sense of how varied fused glass can be — from florals and landscapes to jewelry and functional pieces. It’s one thing to talk about possibilities, but it’s another to see them displayed in front of you.
- The Finishing & Inspiration Room —is where I spend time adding final details to my own work. It’s a relaxed, creative space, and students often linger here, gathering ideas and imagining what they might create during class. There’s always a little spark that happens in this room.
- The Gallery Area —showcases a curated collection of finished fused glass pieces, all available for purchase. This room tends to spark the most conversation. Students start noticing color palettes, textures, and techniques they’d love to try themselves — and suddenly the ideas start flowing.
By the time we make our way to the main studio, the nerves are gone, inspiration is high, and everyone is ready to create. The tables were laid out with an abundance of supplies — murrine, dots, transparent and opaque glass, vitrigraph, and plenty of frit — giving everyone more than enough options to explore. There’s something magical about that moment. Students walk up to the table, take it all in, and you can almost see the wheels turning. Hands hover over different colors. Questions start forming. That’s usually the exact point when creativity really takes off. I love watching that shift — when hesitation turns into excitement and ideas begin to take shape. That’s when the real fun begins.
First up was Ashley. She created a beautiful green and white fused glass plant stake — and it truly turned out absolutely lovely. There’s something so timeless about that color combination. The crisp white paired with the fresh green gave it such a clean, simplistic elegance. It didn’t need anything flashy. The design spoke for itself. Meg also got to use my flat lap grinder. That’s always a bit of a rite of passage in my studio. There’s something empowering about shaping and refining your own piece — smoothing the edges, really finishing it with intention. She handled it like a pro and wasn’t intimidated at all. Watching her confidence grow as she worked was one of my favorite moments of the day. From selecting her glass to grinding and refining the final piece, she truly owned the process. And that’s what makes a class so special — not just the finished project, but the experience of creating it.
Anita also chose to make a plant stake — but she decided to get a little adventurous. And by a little, I mean she went for it. She used the circle cutter, the grinder, and even the saw! That’s no small thing, especially in your first class. The circle cutter takes patience and a steady firm hand. The grinder requires confidence. And the saw? Well… that’s when you know someone is ready to level up. She did a fabulous job and created a beautiful flower plant stake with wonderful dimension and personality. You could see her excitement grow with each step — especially when the shapes started coming together exactly as she envisioned. There’s something so satisfying about watching a student realize, “I can do this.” By the end, she wasn’t just following instructions — she was creating with intention. And that flower plant stake? It’s absolutely lovely and completely her.
As I mentioned earlier, Glenda has taken many classes with me — and it shows. She came in with a plan. She’s heading to Italy soon and wanted to bring handmade dishes as gifts. I absolutely love that idea. There’s something so meaningful about giving a piece you created yourself, especially when it’s traveling across the world. She made six beautiful dishes, each with its own personality. The blue and white pieces were a nod to Colorado — a little piece of home to take abroad. She also created a stunning purple and green combination with rich color contrast and depth. And of course, she couldn’t resist making dishes in green, white, and red to represent the Italian flag. Thoughtful, intentional, and perfectly themed. Watching her work was such a joy. When someone has taken multiple classes, there’s a confidence in their movements — less hesitation, more decision-making, more trust in the process. She did a fabulous job, and these dishes are going to be such special gifts. I can just imagine someone in Italy unwrapping one and realizing it was handmade with care, all the way from Colorado.
Occasionally, I offer students the opportunity to create a smaller fused glass piece — a pendant, magnet, or keychain — using my cabochons and decals. It’s always a fun option because it allows them to experiment with imagery and layering in a different way. Ashley and Anita both took advantage of it and made some beautiful pendants. There’s something so satisfying about working on a smaller scale. You get to focus on detail, composition, and that little “pop” that makes a piece special. Watching them sort through the cabochons and decals, deciding what spoke to them, was just as fun as seeing the finished results. These smaller projects are perfect because they give students an extra piece to wear, gift, or keep as a reminder of their day in the studio. And honestly, they turned out absolutely beautifully.
We had such a wonderful day in the studio. From first-time tours and brave tool choices to thoughtful gifts heading all the way to Italy, this class was filled with creativity, laughter, and growth. I truly love watching new students gain confidence and seeing returning students continue to stretch their skills. Each class is different, but they all share one thing in common — the joy of creating something meaningful with your own hands. Ashley, Anita, and Glenda did a fantastic job, and I couldn’t be more proud of the beautiful pieces they brought to life.
If you’d like to explore more of my fused glass art, including jewelry and home décor 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
