Every now and then, an email pops into my inbox that I know will make my day — a custom production fused glass soap dish order from a small hotel I’ve worked with before. These are the projects that truly light me up. There’s something magical about knowing my fused glass pieces will become part of a traveler’s stay — a tiny handmade detail seen by guests from around the world. In previous orders, I created blue and green soap dishes to complement the hotel’s calming, coastal aesthetic, and I always love seeing how each new run evolves.
Here’s a peek inside the kiln during the first firing — the full fuse that transforms all those carefully cut pieces into solid, glossy soap dishes. On the left, you can see them before firing, neatly layered and ready to go. On the right, they’ve melted together into smooth, finished forms. Each dish is made with two layers of glass, and for this order I cut three separate pieces for every single one. Before anything goes into the kiln, every piece is washed to remove dust and oils, and after the fuse, they’re washed again. It’s a lot of steps, but that attention to detail is what makes each dish strong, clean, and ready for hospitality use.
After the fused sheets cool, each one is washed again before moving into the next stage — slumping. The left photo shows the soap dishes resting in their molds, ready to soften and settle into their final shape. On the right, you can see them after slumping, curved and complete. Once the kiln cools, every piece is washed yet again. From cutting to washing to firing and shaping, each soap dish passes through my hands multiple times. It’s a labor of care and precision, and I’m always grateful for these production opportunities and the chance to create functional art that will be enjoyed by guests around the world.
Normally, custom production orders are very uniform — all the same colors and designs. But this time, I wanted to keep the price as affordable as possible for the hotel, so I asked if I could get a little inventive with the glass. They’re only request was simple: make sure there’s blue in every soap dish. That gave me the perfect opportunity to use glass I already had on hand instead of ordering full sheets of new colors. For this order, I created 25 soap dishes in total, including special amber-and-blue pieces. The amber represents warm sand, and the blue, of course, represents the ocean. This combination quickly became one of my favorites. If you look closely, you can see the delicate reaction line where the blue and amber meet — one of those little fused glass surprises I never get tired of. And notice how the amber and blue pieces are cut in different sizes? Those small design choices make each dish feel playful, organic, and truly one of a kind. Aren’t they beautiful?
The next color combination I made was blue and green — a classic pairing that instantly brings to mind the shifting blues and greens of the ocean. In this glass combination, there isn’t a reaction line between the two colors, but I still love how clean, fresh, and calming they look together. Sometimes simplicity is just as beautiful as dramatic reactions. This pairing was such a favorite that I made ten soap dishes in this color combination for the order.
The final color combination in this order is blue and white — a timeless, elegant pairing. The white represents soft clouds in the sky, while the blue reflects the ocean below. Just like the green and blue pieces, there isn’t a reaction line between the ivory and blue glass, but the result is clean, classic, and beautifully serene. I created ten of these blue-and-white soap dishes, and I love how calm and coastal they feel — perfect for welcoming guests to their stay.
With every production order, I love including a complimentary fused glass gift — a small handmade thank-you for the businesses who place their trust in my work. For this order, the gift is a longer amenity dish created using all the colors from the soap dishes in this collection, tying the whole set together in one special piece. It’s a little surprise tucked into the box, and my way of sharing extra handmade joy and appreciation. I think it’s pretty cool, and I truly hope the hotel smiles when they unwrap it.
Fused glass amenity and soap dish pieces are more than functional — they’re an opportunity to bring artisan character into a guest experience. My production runs range from small boutique quantities to large-scale resort orders, and each piece is designed to be durable, non-porous, easy to sanitize, and resistant to heat and moisture. Whether it’s soap dishes for guest rooms, tasting plates for distilleries, or small serving ware for restaurants, I love helping hospitality spaces add thoughtful, handcrafted details that guests notice and remember.
If your hotel, spa, or restaurant is looking for custom amenity dishes, barware, plates, bowls, coasters, or boutique gift-shop pieces, I’d be delighted to talk about creating something that fits your space and brand beautifully.
📩 Contact: ElegantFusedGlass@gmail.com
🌐 Production & Commercial Orders: https://elegantfusedglassbykaren.com/production-and-commercial-orders/ Thank you again to all of the incredible businesses who trust my fused glass for their spaces. It is an honor every single time.
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 sites 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
