April 2022 Newsletter

In this edition:

- Upcoming Events & Sales!

- Posts * Elegant fused glass

- Did you know ...

Glass and Gourds

In the DYK I wrote about my friend Merle and the class with her friends. I also wrote a post how Merle and I did traded glass for one of her beautiful gourds. She also took some glass dots to add to her gourds. Here are some pictures of my new gourd, isn't it beautiful. She also gave me a …

Layered Fused Glass

A few months ago, I made a couple fused coral or lace sconces. These "layered" fused glass sconces are a bit different, yet similar. I love this technique and think about make more. They look great with or without a candle behind them. I also put a little iridized in them. I also made this beautiful, fused glass dish. I …Read more.

Fused Glass Snaps

If you've ever been to one of my shows you know how much I love fused glass snap jewelry. I recently got several new snap bases. I really like the sun; it has a rainbow effect. I love the colors. I love how the snap bases can take various sizes of fused glass pieces. I like the ones below, mainly …Read more.

Fused Glass Made New Again

Recently two friends of mine bought a studio from the family of a wonderful artist who had passed away, Maxine. One friend chose the flamework supplies and one friend got the stained glass and fused glass supplies. My friend gave some of the unfinished stained-glass pieces to a stained-glass artist friend of hers (Kelly) and she finished them - aren't …

Butterflies, Dragonflies, and Hummingbird Plant Hangers

I don't know about y'all I'm so ready for spring. Recently I added some glass to some of metal plant hangers. I have three types of plant hangers: butterflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds. I'm not sure which ones I like best. Here are my Butterfly Plant hangers. I could add more glass, but I think they are beautiful just like they …Read more.

A Gift for Momma

I love making custom glass with photos on them. I've written numerous posts about the Photo Glass pieces I've made; I print the pictures and then bake them onto the glass. I've wanted to make this for momma this piece for about 3 years now. My mom is turning 85 this year and she's in a nursing home. So, I …Read more.

Cool New Fused Glass Dishes

I love it when I get a custom fused glass order that is a bit challenging. One of my restaurants consistently challenges me all the time with new dishes. This time he wanted a unique shaped dish. I love this mold and hand cut all of them to match the mold. Ironically when I fired a couple of my glass …Read more.

My Granddaughter

I had a business trip last month to LA and as it turned out it was only 15 mins from my son's house. I was able to see my son, my daughter-in-law, and of course my beautiful granddaughter. As I watched her play, I was mesmerized, she's so beautiful and funny and smart. I was love her so much. It …Read more.

Fused Glass Pressed Cane

Recently I watched a great tutorial by Mark Lauckner, regarding pressing cane. I enjoyed it very much and made a few pieces using the technique. I modified the technique a bit and I love the results. Here are some of my pendants. I also made some fused glass pressed cane snaps. I'm not going to lie to you I must …Read more.

Did you know ...

This section is used to answer any questions you may have or to pass on tidbits of information that add value and enhance knowledge regarding fused glass, metals, or jewelry in general. Let me know if you have anything you'd like me to include.

I Love Glass as a medium and I’ve taken classes in all of the glass techniques including mosaic, glassblowing, flamework, stained glass, and of course fused glass. As y'all know my favorite is fused glass.

I’ve taking classes from some of the most talented glass artists in the world including (not in any particular order); Tanya Veit, Bob Leatherbarrow, Craig Mitchel Smith, Laurie Spray, Amanda Taylor, Miriam Di Fiore, Coral, etc. to name just a few.

I’ve taught a few friends how to fuse glass including Lela and Gina. And of course, I had the international students over for a day of glass.

In February I taught Merle how to make fused glass Christmas trees and she convinced me to give a class to some of her friends. Since I enjoy sharing my love of glass I said yes.

Merle and I chose to make small, fused glass dishes. The reason we chose the little dishes are because they are so functional as tea caddies, ring dishes, spoon-rests, and so many other things as well as very beautiful. I make these all the time for my store in Denver, for hotels, restaurants, and for customers. I gave them 3 options of size and shape dishes (pictured) to make it easier I cut the base glass for them.

I also showed them several examples of what they could make (this is just a sample).

In addition to the little dishes, we were going to make fused glass stirrers. I think they go well with the little dishes.

Of course, that plan did not work out. Instead of making stirrers they all wanted to make an extra dish. I of course said absolutely and modified the price a bit.

Here is my studio. You can see it’s kind of tight but there was room for the ladies to spread out a bit. Each with a tray and all the tools (breakers, groozers, cutter, cutters, etc.) they needed.

I had safety glass, gloves, masks, and of course Band-Aids for everyone.

Here is a closer picture of the setup for each person.

In addition to the base glass, I had vitrigraph, transparent glass, opal glass, frit, stringer, does, cane, and so much more for them to use on their dishes.

I also had copper, cutouts, and fusible paper for them to try out.

This month I gave my first official class to 3 wonderful ladies. Here are just a few pictures from class. We had a lot of fun. I think I talked a bit much but it's only because I love glass and I enjoy sharing that love.

Here are the ladies putting their pieces in the kiln.

Here are some of the pieces they made. Merle made the 2 on the bottom of the picture on the left and the blue one in the picture on the right. The two Greens are Linda's and the blue and then the one with the spirals are Carols. The others are mine. I never like to fire the kiln without filling it.

Here are the fused glass dishes completely finished and slumped. I'm very happy with them and Merle, Carol, and Linda are as well.

I really enjoyed giving the class. I hope Carol, Linda, and Merle did too. I always try to learn from everything I do so. What did I do right?

• Having various samples for participants to look at

• Setting up the room in advance and having trays/tools for each person

• Having lots of choices in glass and accessories (I probably had too much)

• Being flexible with the options i.e., molds and 2 dishes vs 1 dish and a stirrer

• Let them put their piece in the kiln

What did I do wrong and can improve on?

• I think I talked too much - I will try to do better but I do love glass, so I like to share that love

• I should have a price "menu" printed so when people want to add something i.e., an extra dish have the price ready

• Remember to read my notes, I forgot to say a few things because I didn't use my notes.

• Keep 90 & 96 glass completely separate, I did ok right up until the last minute when adding frit

It's kind of funny after class I decided to make a few of my own. Here they are, you can see there are some similarities. I really enjoyed these talented ladies and had a great time. I hope to have another class soon.

Here’s my finishing room, I love this room so many beautiful pieces – some from classes, some that I just need finish, some I display for inspiration.

Here is my finished room where I typically keep my finished fused glass artwork.

I'm trying to update my website so I have all my glass out so I can take pictures of them and put them on my site. It's such a big undertaking, it's a bit daunting.

So, the real question is what other classes I should give. The Ladies mentioned casting.

The ladies also mentioned Jewelry. The problem with my fused glass jewelry is for the most part my jewelry isn't two pieces of glass fused together. I make ingots (slabs) and then I cut them, then grind them then, fuse them. That being said I have a couple of ideas. Please tell me what's your favorite fused glass pendants?

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In addition to my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen website and YouTube. You can also contact my via email: elegantfusedglass@gmail.com

All Fused Glass photos and posts as well as my flame are copyrighted 2022.