As you know, I absolutely love fused glass—and I love teaching it just as much! One of my students, Cindy, has been taking classes with me almost every month this year. She’s such a joy to have in class—always enthusiastic, creative, and eager to learn. Below are just a few of the beautiful pieces she’s made so far.
One of the things I love most about fused glass is if something you make and it doesn’t turn out you can make it into something new. It doesn’t happen often but sometimes this happens in class. A few months ago, Cindy made a vase, but it was top heavy and when I draped it stretched too much, and I thought it was better to remake it. Here are the pictures from her original vase.
We remade the vase, and it turned out beautifully! Ironically, I don’t have any photos of the finished piece by itself. Here’s one of Cindy carefully grinding the bottom to make sure it sat perfectly flat. After she left, I planned to glue the base on, but while I was doing a final touch-up grind, I pressed just a little too hard—and crack!—the vase broke.
I was so frustrated when it happened—after all that work, seeing the vase break was heartbreaking. But Cindy, being the positive and easygoing person she is, took it completely in stride. Instead of getting discouraged, she came back with her usual smile and turned those broken pieces into something brand new. She made another vase, and honestly, it turned out even better than the first one!
Cindy even made beautiful pendants for herself and her two daughters from the remaining pieces. Isn’t it amazing how versatile and resilient glass can be? What started as a broken vase turned into something even more meaningful—a reminder that in fused glass (and in life), a little creativity can turn any setback into something beautiful.
Most instructors probably wouldn’t write a blog about a piece that didn’t go perfectly, but I think it’s important to share that these moments happen—both in the kiln and during coldworking. What matters is how we adjust, learn, and overcome. A big thank-you to Cindy for being so patient and flexible throughout the process. I was so determined to get it right that I even made a few test vases to fine-tune my firing schedule! And that tiny vase you’ll see below? It was created from the pieces of her very first vase—a perfect example of turning a challenge into something beautiful.
If you’ve ever had a fused glass piece that didn’t turn out quite the way you hoped, don’t give up! Every kiln load teaches us something new, and sometimes the best creations are born from the unexpected. If you’d like to experience the joy (and surprises!) of fused glass for yourself, join one of my upcoming classes — you’ll learn, laugh, and maybe even discover your own happy accidents along the way.
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
