October brought another wonderful fused glass class to my studio, and this one was extra special because it was a family affair! Shana returned with her son, Jase, and this time Shana’s mom, Gayle, joined us too! Shana and Jase have taken several classes with me, and it’s always such a pleasure having them back. Jase is especially creative, full of imagination, and so much fun to have in the studio. I always look forward to seeing what unique ideas he’ll come up with next! One of the things I love most about teaching fused glass is watching families spend quality time together while creating something beautiful. As always, we started with a review of studio safety and completed the required liability forms. Then came one of my favorite traditions—choosing a free fused glass gift! I had a wonderful selection of magnets, patriotic pieces and pendants for everyone to browse through. Even my returning students enjoy checking out the latest additions! It’s such a simple way to start class, but I love seeing everyone pick out a little handmade treasure before we dive into creating our own glass masterpieces!
Since Shana and Jase have taken several fused glass classes with me, they’re becoming quite comfortable in the studio and know their way around! However, this was Gayle’s very first class. We didn’t visit all my rooms, but we did spend some time in the gallery area. I always enjoy introducing someone new to the fascinating world of fused glass, especially when they have experienced family members there to share in the excitement! Shana and Jase already have a good understanding of the process, and Jase never seems to run out of creative ideas. I love watching his imagination at work! As we explored the studio, we talked about different techniques, colors, textures, and possible projects. Before long, the creative ideas were flowing, and everyone was excited to get started. That’s one of my favorite things about teaching—whether it’s your first class or your fifth, there’s always something new to discover and another beautiful piece of glass waiting to be created!
- The Finished Room — is filled with completed fused glass artwork available for purchase, and it truly gives students a sense of just how versatile this art form can be. From art pieces to jewelry and functional glass, the variety always surprises them. It’s one thing for me to describe the possibilities—it’s another thing entirely to see them displayed right in front of you.
- The Finishing & Inspiration Room —is where I spend time adding those final touches to my own work. It’s a busy, creative space filled with ideas, experiments, and inspiration. There always seems to be a spark of creativity in this room, and students can feel that energy the moment they step inside.
- The Gallery Area — showcases a curated collection of finished fused glass pieces, all available for purchase. This space tends to spark the most conversation. Students begin pointing out color palettes they love, textures that catch their eye, and techniques they’re curious about trying. Before long, the creative wheels are turning and the possibilities feel endless.
One of the things I love about teaching fused glass is how differently everyone finds their inspiration! Shannon spent some time looking through my gallery and decided she wanted to create something with flowers. Gayle, attending her very first class, also enjoyed exploring the gallery, looking at the different pieces and discovering all the possibilities fused glass has to offer. And then there’s Jase! He doesn’t need to spend much time looking through the gallery because his inspiration comes straight from his incredible imagination! He’s so creative, and I never know what fun, unusual, or completely original idea he’ll come up with next. Knowing how much he loves experimenting, I made sure to stock up on lots of new and exciting glass supplies especially for him! The worktables were ready with colorful murrine, frit, dots, stringer, vitrigraph, transparent and opaque glass, and plenty of tools to bring everyone’s ideas to life. Before long, the tables were covered with colorful glass, projects were taking shape, and the studio was filled with conversation and laughter. I especially enjoyed watching three generations of one family approach their projects in completely different ways. That’s what makes fused glass so much fun—whether you’re inspired by something you see or something you dream up entirely on your own, the possibilities are endless, and no two creations are ever exactly alike!
Jase never disappoints when it comes to creativity! This time, he decided to create an underwater scene filled with colorful tropical fish, and I absolutely love it! He started with a beautiful blue glass background that looks just like ocean water, then carefully selected an assortment of fish murrine to bring his underwater world to life. He added little details along the bottom to create an ocean floor, complete with sea creatures and colorful accents. I especially love how he arranged the fish swimming in different directions, making the whole scene feel alive! Of course, Jase didn’t stop at just creating his masterpiece—he also got to help place his finished glass into the kiln. I love giving students the opportunity to see how their projects go from a collection of little pieces of glass to a finished work of art. Watching Jase carefully position his underwater scene in the kiln was such a fun moment! His imagination continues to amaze me, and I can’t wait to see how this colorful ocean adventure looks after firing!
Shannon decided to create a beautiful fused glass flower and a leaf, inspired by some of the pieces she saw in my gallery. Making a glass flower is actually a much more involved process than you might think! There are several steps that I need to complete myself, but I always try to involve my students in as much of the process as possible. After all, I want them to experience more than just cutting and arranging glass! Shannon got hands-on experience drilling a hole in her flower using my drill press, preparing the copper stem, and creating the center of her flower. These are all important steps in transforming a flat piece of glass into a beautiful garden decoration. She also had the opportunity to carefully place her projects into the kiln, which is always a fun part of the experience. I love teaching students how the different tools and techniques work together to create a finished piece. Even though I’ll complete some of the more technical steps after class, Shannon was able to participate in several stages of the process. I think there’s something extra special about creating a piece of art when you’ve had a hand in so many of the steps. I can’t wait to see her flower and leaf finished and ready to brighten up her garden!
Next up was Gayle, who was attending her very first fused glass class with me! After spending some time exploring the gallery and looking at different projects, she decided to create a beautiful pocket vase. I love these vases because they’re not only decorative but also functional, perfect for holding a few fresh flowers or greenery. Gayle chose a lovely green glass background and decorated it with colorful flowers, creating a cheerful little garden scene. Since this was her first experience working with fused glass, I wanted her to get a real feel for the process. She learned how to measure and cut glass, use the grinder to smooth and shape the edges, and carefully arrange the decorative glass pieces to bring her design to life. I especially enjoyed watching her work with the different tools and gain confidence as her project came together. Once everything was arranged, Gayle even got to carefully place her creation into the kiln for its first firing! Of course, there’s still another important step after the initial firing—slumping the glass into a mold to create that wonderful pocket shape. That’s when a flat piece of glass becomes a beautiful little vase! I love introducing first-time students to the magic of fused glass, and Gayle did a wonderful job creating something both beautiful and useful. What a lovely first project, and I hope it’s just the beginning of many more glass adventures for her!
What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in the studio! I absolutely loved having Shannon, Jase, and Gayle join me for this special family fused glass class. It was so much fun watching three generations create completely different projects, each reflecting their own personality and creativity. Jase continues to amaze me with his incredible imagination and colorful underwater adventures, Shannon challenged herself with a beautiful flower and leaf while learning some new techniques, and Gayle did a fantastic job creating her very first fused glass project, a lovely pocket vase! One of the things I treasure most about teaching is seeing families spend time together, learning something new, sharing laughs, and creating memories along with their artwork. Thank you, Shannon, Jase, and Gayle, for another wonderful class! I always enjoy having Shannon and Jase back, and I hope Gayle caught the fused glass bug too! After all, there’s always another project to try, another technique to explore, and another reason to fire up the kiln!
If you’ve ever thought about trying fused glass, this is your sign—come join a class and create something uniquely your own. 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
