Most of my fused glass classes are held right here in my home studio, where I keep the classes small with a maximum of five students. I love teaching this way because everyone gets plenty of individual attention, time to explore the studio, and help creating a piece that is uniquely their own. I’ve also had the opportunity to take my classes on the road and teach at FestiviTea, which is always a lot of fun. But this time, I’m taking fused glass somewhere completely different—a local farm!
In August, I was given the opportunity to plan a very special fused glass class at a nearby farm that is home to miniature cows. Yes, miniature cows! On September 13 at 2:00 p.m., participants will get to create their own fused glass suncatcher and then spend part of the afternoon visiting and cuddling with the farm’s adorable mini cows. Seriously—how cool is that?
To register go to Cow Cuddles & Fused Glass Sun Catchers. ✨ Your afternoon includes:🐮 Cuddles with our friendly miniature cows🫶 Brushing, petting & up-close interaction🎨 Design your own fused glass sun catcher📸 Plenty of photo opportunities with your favorite mini cows🌞 A relaxing summer afternoon on the farm. This is the perfect outing for families, friends, date afternoons, or anyone who loves cows and creating something beautiful!
For the glass portion of the afternoon, everyone will have the opportunity to design their own fused glass suncatcher using colorful glass and lots of fun embellishments. I’ll bring all the glass, tools, and supplies needed, along with a large selection of glass decals—including plenty of farm-themed designs that will be perfect for our afternoon at the farm! Another thing that makes this class a little easier is that students don’t have to design around a predrilled hole. They can concentrate completely on arranging their glass and creating a design they love. After the suncatchers are fired, I’ll carefully drill the hanging holes in my studio. There is always some risk of glass breaking when it is drilled after firing.
The examples shown here are full-fused suncatchers, and I especially wanted to share them to show that decals don’t have to be placed on white glass. They can look beautiful against all sorts of colors, giving everyone even more freedom to create something uniquely their own. I’ll have numerous decals available so participants can choose the ones that best complement their glass design.
I’m also giving the option not to have decals and you can just create whatever you want. And you won’t need to worry about leaving space for a hanging hole while you’re designing. After the suncatchers are fired, I’ll carefully drill the holes back in my studio. Drilling glass after firing always carries a small risk of breakage, but it gives participants much more freedom to design without having to work around a predrilled hole. Once everything is fired, drilled, and finished, your creation will be ready to hang in a sunny window and enjoy!
And while we’re calling this a suncatcher class, that doesn’t mean everyone has to make a suncatcher! I love giving my students choices and encouraging them to create something they will actually enjoy using or displaying. If a suncatcher isn’t your thing, you can use your class time to create small fused glass art pieces instead. Students will also have the option of turning their creations into a nightlight or votive for a small additional fee to cover the hardware and supplies. These are especially fun projects because your fused glass takes on an entirely different look when it is illuminated. I’ll have examples available so you can see some of the possibilities before deciding what you’d like to make.
One of the things I enjoy most about teaching fused glass is getting to share it with people who may have never tried it before, and I’m especially excited to bring my little glass studio experience out to the farm for the day. An afternoon of creativity, fused glass, fresh air, and cuddling miniature cows sounds pretty perfect to me! I can’t wait to see what everyone creates—and I have a feeling I’m going to have a hard time concentrating on glass with all those cute little cows nearby! 🐮❤️Spend the afternoon cuddling our adorable miniature cows while creating your very own custom fused glass sun catcher! Whether you’re making one for yourself or as a gift, you’ll leave with wonderful memories and a beautiful handmade keepsake.
If you’d like to see more of my fused glass creations, be sure to visit my website, Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. While you’re there, take a peek at the full site—and don’t miss my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube channel for videos and behind-the-scenes fun. Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter, published on the last day of each month, where I share updates, tips, and a closer look at my fused glass jewelry and projects.
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
