Even though it’s only September, holiday spirit filled the studio when Jim and Julie had two ornaments they had bought in Italy years ago. They wanted to recreate them in class, and when Cindy saw the designs, she was eager to make some as well. Sadly, Julie wasn’t able to join us that day, but Jim and Cindy carried on with plenty of creative energy. With just the two of them, the safety briefing and free gift selection went quickly, leaving more time for making ornaments.
Since Jim and Cindy were seasoned students and already knew what they wanted to create, we skipped the full studio tour. But one stop is hard to resist—the Gallery Area. Even repeat students love looking through it, and it never fails to spark a little extra creativity before class begins.
- The Finished Room — a vibrant space brimming with completed fused glass pieces available for purchase, each one showcasing the variety and beauty of this art form.
- The Finishing & Inspiration Room — where I put the final touches on my own work, surrounded by some of my favorite pieces that bring joy and spark new creative energy.
- The Gallery Area — a curated display of finished glass art, with every piece available for purchase. It’s also a favorite spot for students, who often find endless inspiration for their own projects here.
My Studio — this is where the magic happens, the place where glass art begins and grows into something beautiful. Normally, students spread out across multiple tables, but since Kim’s lobster project was still in progress, I left it untouched. That meant we only had the big table to work on for this class, which made for a cozy setup. (I skipped pictures—it was a little too messy!)
The tree was easy—I’ve made that design many times before—but the star? That was a challenge! Here’s the truth: geometry and I don’t get along. I even bought a new gadget, tried graph paper, and still couldn’t get it perfect. So, I sketched a diamond shape and made a few samples. None turned out flawless, but I loved the little gap—it looked like a sand dollar to me. I forgot to snap photos of Jim and Cindy’s ornaments, but that’s okay, because I never copy pieces directly. I like to use them as inspiration instead, and that’s exactly what we did here.
Jim got right to work and ended up making two trees. The blue one was especially fun, decorated with dichroic glass and even glow-in-the-dark dots (though they’re tricky to see in pictures). He also tackled two stars, and somehow his came out fitting together perfectly. I laughed and asked him how he managed it, and he just shrugged and said, “I did what you told me to do.” His ornaments turned out absolutely lovely, with soft, calming colors that really made them shine. I think they are amazing.
Cindy decided to make both a star and a tree, and her choices couldn’t have been more perfect for the season. The star was luminous, catching the light in such a lovely way, and the tree had a soft charm that made it instantly festive. She admitted she struggled with the same challenge I did—getting the star points to line up neatly—but that’s part of the joy of fused glass. The little quirks and imperfections are what make handmade art so unique. Cindy’s ornaments came out beautiful, and I can already picture them sparkling on her Christmas tree.
The Christmas ornament class was such a delight. Watching Jim and Cindy bring their ideas to life reminded me why I enjoy teaching so much. I’ll admit I was a little envious of Jim’s perfect stars—mine still give me trouble!—but I’m also so proud of him, and of Cindy’s luminous star and tree. Fused glass is a balance of art and science, patience and play, and no two pieces ever turn out the same. That’s what makes it so special. If you’ve ever been curious about trying fused glass, I invite you to join me in the studio. My classes are welcoming, creative, and designed for all skill levels. Come make something beautiful and see where your imagination takes you.
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
