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I will teach the following classes in May. Additionally, if you'd like to schedule a private class let me know. There is a $20 deposit to reserve a spot per person for each class (the deposit is non-refundable if you cancel your reservation). |
• 3 May - Your Choice of Project Class 0900 am
• 3 May - Your Choice of Project Class 2:00 pm **Full - Private class**
• 4 May - Your Choice of Project Class 2:00 pm
• 16 May - Your Choice of Project Class 4:00 pm
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Last year, I shared a post highlighting some of the essential tools I use when creating my fused glass artwork. Just to name a few: scorers, breakers, Groziers, nippers, drills, saws, grinders—and of course, one of my kilns. With so many tools playing a role in the creative process, it’s no surprise that, over time, some of them need a …
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Not long ago, I accidentally broke one of my favorite fused glass vases. I was heartbroken—how could I throw away something so beautiful? Fused glass has a way of capturing not just light, but little pieces of your soul. So instead of mourning the break, I asked myself: What kind of magic could I create from the shards? I didn’t …Read more. |
One of the things I love most about working with fused glass is its flexibility. If a piece doesn’t turn out the way I envisioned—or if inspiration strikes after the kiln has cooled—I can simply re-fire it and transform it into something entirely new. That freedom is part of the magic. That’s exactly what happened with this tulip piece. I …Read more. |
In March, I had the opportunity to visit Suffolk, Virginia for work—and one of the highlights of my trip was touring the incredible USS Wisconsin. What a fabulous ship! You might not know this, but the Wisconsin proudly served in three wars: World War II, the Korean War, and even the Iraq War. Isn’t that amazing? Standing on its massive …Read more. |
This month, I received an order for 75 black amenity fused glass dishes. I love receiving custom production orders like these, especially for hotels and restaurants. But, believe it or not, black dishes can be a bit challenging. One time, when I made them, two dishes ended up with my fingerprints fused into the center! This time, two of them …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 discuss. This month's DYK is about my trip to the Glass Expo in Las Vegas! |
I’ve been creating fused glass for almost 20 years now, and there’s always been one event sitting at the very top of my bucket list: the Glass & Bead Expo in Las Vegas. This year, I decided to stop dreaming and finally make it happen! As a birthday gift to myself, I flew out to Vegas and met up with two of my amazing friends, Pam and Julie. We’ve been close for years, but we hadn’t taken a class together in seven years—so this trip felt like the perfect reunion and a creative adventure all rolled into one. From the moment we met up at the pool, the weekend was overflowing with creativity, inspiration, and pure glass magic. We dove into classes that reinforced our skills and sparked brand-new ideas. Whether we were working with float glass, playing with murrine, millefiori, sheet glass, and shaping techniques—we were in absolute glass heaven. The instructors were fantastic, the fellow artists were inspiring, and the energy of the Expo was electric. But the very best part? Sharing this experience with friends who love glass just as much as I do. We laughed, we learned, and we left with not just amazing new techniques, but beautiful memories I’ll treasure forever. |
For my trip, I stayed at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, where the Glass & Bead Expo is held. It’s a pretty nice hotel! I’m not a gambler, and I don’t love being around smoke, but , it wasn’t too bad. My room was comfortable, and the food was surprisingly good. The hotel has several restaurants, so there were plenty of options to choose from, we ate at several of them. |
Julie, Pam, and I arrived on Tuesday morning, and since our classes didn’t start until Wednesday, we took the opportunity to explore. We headed to the Bellagio for lunch, where we watched the iconic fountains dance in the sunlight. Afterward, we wandered through the stunning botanical gardens inside the hotel—an absolutely gorgeous display of colors and creativity. My favorite part? The delicate, vibrant hummingbirds, which added a magical touch to the whole experience. |
We did some serious walking and eventually found ourselves at the Venetian. I had never been there before, and it absolutely took my breath away. The intricate architecture, the canals, and the beautifully painted ceilings made it feel like we had stepped into a little slice of Italy. We were exhausted by that point, so we didn’t take a gondola ride, but just watching them glide through the water was a beautiful sight. |
All three of us took the class Make Your Own Sheet of Glass with Lisa Stirrett, and it was absolutely mind-blowing! The technique involves working with float glass and frit, and Lisa has some of the most stunning mica I’ve ever seen. We only had time to make one piece, and I didn’t use quite enough powder to achieve the effect I was hoping for. But the experience was so inspiring that I picked up some frit to experiment with at home. I also couldn’t resist buying a few of Lisa’s kits—now I can’t wait to play around with her techniques and see what else I can create! |
Our second class on Wednesday was Murrine Moth Magic with Tabitha Burrill. I absolutely love Tabitha’s murrine and millefiori and use them often in my fused glass artwork, so I was thrilled to take a class with her. She was incredibly friendly and helpful, making the learning process both fun and inspiring. I really enjoyed the class, but what made it even more special was sharing the experience with two of my good friends. There’s something so rewarding about taking a class alongside people who share the same passion for fused glass. |
On Thursday, I only had one class, but luckily, Julie took it too! We joined Barbara Cashman’s Creative Mold-Making – Torsos class, and I was so excited because I’ve always wanted to make a fused glass torso. I’ve made a couple of small ones before, but this one is going to be huge! The process was a bit messy, but I learned so much and can’t wait to create a few more pieces using this mold. Julie and I had a great time, and Barbara was a fantastic instructor—knowledgeable and patient. |
I like Tabitha and Jamaison so much that I decided to attend their meet and greet. I’m a bit socially shy, but I’m really glad I went—I ended up having a great time with two of my students that were there as well. We also received a few small gifts. |
Friday Pam and I had "Over The Edge" with Alysa Phiel. Which was all day long. |
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We also had a chance to go to the Glass Expo where I bought all kinds of supplies. What a blast. |
Saturday I only had one class (all by myself - without Pam or Julie) but it was fun. I'm not good at soldering and wanted to get a bit better. |
It’s kind of cool how we had two classes with all three of us, then one with just Pam and me, and another with Julie and me. I really enjoy those one-on-one moments with my good friends. They both mean so much to me. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since we last took a class together, but we’ve agreed not to wait another seven before we do it again. Hopefully, our next class will include our other good friend, Melinda. Friends are so important, and spending time with them really makes me realize how much I love them and enjoy being around them. I had a great time at the Glass & Bead Expo, but my favorite part by far was being with my besties. |
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest updates. To make sure you continue receiving my Fused Glass Newsletter, please add me to your contacts. Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who might enjoy it. Have a question? Don’t hesitate to hit the reply button—I’m happy to help!" In addition to my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen website and YouTube. You can contact me via email: elegantfusedglass@gmail.com All Fused Glass photos and posts as well as my flame are copyrighted 2025. Copyright Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. All rights Reserved.
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