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Upcoming -May Fused Glass Classes
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I have a lot going on in May, so I’m only able to schedule three classes this month (one of which is a private, full class). I will be offering the following fused glass classes in May — and I'd love for you to join me! If you’re interested in scheduling a private class, please feel free to email me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com. A $20 deposit per person is required to reserve your spot for each class — and just a reminder, the deposit is non-refundable if you cancel your reservation. I can't wait to create something beautiful with you! |
• 3 May - Your Choice of Project Class 0900 am *3 seats remaining
• 3 May - Your Choice of Project Class 2:00 pm **Full - Private class**
• 4 May - Your Choice of Project Class 2:00 pm *2 seats remaining
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For this post, I’m combining two classes into one, simply because I didn’t have enough photos from each individual class, too busy teaching. The first class included Brenda and Cindy — their liability forms and free gifts are shown in the top row of photos. Since Brenda doesn’t wear jewelry, I made sure to set out a selection of fused …Read more. |
In addition to my regularly scheduled open classes, where individuals or pairs can sign up, I also offer private fused glass classes for groups — usually up to five people. What this means is that you and two to four of your friends can schedule a special private session at a time that works best for you (this particular class …Read more. |
One of my wonderful students, Cindy, who has taken a few classes with me before, came to me with a big idea — she wanted to create a large, fused glass flower! This was a major project — not just because of its size, but also because of the many individual sections we had to carefully prepare and assemble. To …Read more. |
Yes, another amazing and fun fused glass class — but this one was extra special! I had been asked to teach a parent and child class, something I had been a little nervous about for quite some time. Because glass can cut, I’ve always been very cautious about teaching children. Safety is my top priority, and I wanted to make sure …Read more. |
This special fused glass class took place at the end of March and is one of my favorite formats — a “choose your project” class, where students get to pick the project that speaks to them most! As always, I had my liability forms ready at sign-in. (After all, it’s important to remind everyone — even in a creative space …Read more. |
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 this glass-filled adventure, I stated at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, which is also where the Glass & Bead Expo was held. It turned out to be a great choice! Now, I'm not much of a gambler, and I'm definitely not a fan of cigarette smoke, but honestly, it wasn't too bad. My room was clean, quiet, and very comfortable, perfect for unwinding after a full day of classes. One of the best surprises? The food! South Point had several restaurants right on site, and we tried quite a few of them. From Casual bites to sit-down meals, there were plenty of tasty options and it was so convenient not to have to leave the hotel after a long day. All in all it was a solid stay, and being able to walk right from my room to the Expo each day made everything super easy. |
Julie, Pam, and I arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, and since our classes at the Glass & Bead Expo didn’t begin until Wednesday, we had a full day to explore—and we made the most of it!
We headed to the Bellagio for lunch and were treated to a spectacular show as the iconic fountains danced in the sunlight. It was the perfect Vegas welcome!
After lunch, we strolled through the Bellagio’s breathtaking botanical gardens. The display was absolutely stunning—an explosion of color, texture, and creativity that left us all in awe. My favorite part? The delicate, vibrant hummingbirds woven into the scene. They added such a magical touch, flitting among the flowers like they were straight out of a dream.
It was the perfect way to kick off our glass-filled adventure—surrounded by beauty, inspiration, and dear friends. |
After plenty of exploring (and some serious walking), we eventually made our way to the Venetian—and wow, was it worth every step! I had never been there before, and it lovely and reminded me of Venice.
The architecture, the winding canal, the beautifully painted ceilings… it truly felt like we’d stepped right into a little slice of Italy. Every detail was so thoughtfully crafted—it was easy to forget we were still in the middle of the Las Vegas desert! |
One of my favorite classes was Make Your Own Sheet of Glass with the incredibly talented Lisa Stirrett. What made it even better was all three of us took it together: And let me just say—it was mind-blowing!
The techniques focused on using float glass and frit, but what really made it special were Lisa’s amazing mica powders. Seriously—some of the most stunning, shimmery colors I’ve ever seen.
We only had time to create one piece, and while I didn’t use quite enough powder to get the exact effect I was hoping for, the process was so fun and inspiring. I left the class absolutely buzzing with ideas. In fact, I picked up some frit to keep experimenting at home—and yes, I definitely treated myself to a few of Lisa’s kits too.
I can’t wait to dive in and explore more of her techniques in my own studio. Stay tuned—I have a feeling some beautiful things are on the way! |
Our second class on Wednesday was Murrine Moth Magic with the amazing Tabitha Burrill—and it was such a treat! I’ve been a fan of Tabitha’s gorgeous murrine and millefiori for a long time and often use them in my own fused glass creations, so getting the chance to learn from her in person was a dream come true.
Tabitha was incredibly friendly, approachable, and so generous with her knowledge. She made the whole experience fun, inspiring, and easy to follow—whether you were new to murrine or a seasoned fan like me.
But what really made the class unforgettable was sharing it with my two good friends, Pam and Julie. There’s just something so special about creating and learning alongside my friends. It turns a great class into a truly magical memory. |
Thursday brought a slower pace with just one class—but it was a big one, literally! Julie and I signed up for Creative Mold-Making – Torsos with the incredibly talented Barbara Cashman, and I was beyond excited. I’ve made a couple of small glass torsos before, but I’ve always dreamed of creating a larger, more dramatic piece. This class gave me the chance to do exactly that by creating an actual mold!
The process was definitely a bit messy (as mold-making tends to be), but it was totally worth it. I learned so much—from shaping SilkeMat and using rigidizer properly—and I’m already itching to make a fused glass torso with my handmade mold.
Barbara was a fantastic instructor—so knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. And sharing the experience with Julie made it even better. We had so much fun learning together and cheering each other on through the whole process. |
One of the highlights of the Expo—outside of all the amazing classes—was the meet and greet with Tabitha Burrill and Jamaison Schuler. I really admire both of them, so I decided to step a little outside my comfort zone and attend. I’m a bit socially shy, but I’m so glad I went!
I was able to attend with two of my own students —and we had a fun time together. It turned out to be a really relaxed and enjoyable evening filled with laughs, conversation, and good company. To top it all off, we even received a few thoughtful little gifts—such a sweet touch. |
On Friday, Pam and I wrapped up our Glass & Bead Expo experience with an all-day class called "Over The Edge" taught by the amazing Alysa Phiel.
We were in class all day, but it flew by because we were learning so much and having an absolute blast. I’ve done on-edge work before, but Alysa’s instruction opened up so many new ideas and refinements. She’s a fabulous teacher—clear, encouraging, and full of creative energy.
The other students were also incredibly inspiring. There’s just something special about being in a room full of passionate artists all exploring the same technique in their own unique ways.
Here’s the front and back of my finished piece—I’m so happy with how it turned out!
And Pam, thank you for sharing this class with me. I LOVED every moment. |
Shopping the Expo – A Little Too Much Fun! The Expo floor didn’t officially open until Friday—and of course, I had class all day—but I still managed to squeeze in some shopping on both Friday and Saturday. And let’s just say… it’s probably a good thing I only had a day and a half to shop! I visited some of my absolute favorite artists and vendors, including Tabitha Burrill, Jamaison Schuler, Margo Clark, Lisa Stirrett, Paula McCoy, and so much more. Every single booth was overflowing with inspiration, gorgeous materials, and tools I didn’t even know I needed—but clearly did. Here are just a few of the treasures I picked up. (Let’s pretend I showed some restraint!)
I can’t wait to start creating with all these new goodies—stay tuned to see how I put them to use! |
Some of the fabulous fusing supplies I picked up at the Glass and Bead Expo!
One of my favorite parts of going to the Glass and Bead Expo (besides the amazing classes and meeting incredible artists) is shopping!
Just look at all this glassy goodness! And let’s be honest—there’s no such thing as too many glass supplies, right? I can't wait to start using all these goodies in my upcoming fused glass projects.
And believe it or not, this isn’t even everything I bought. Who else loves stocking up on art supplies? |
Another unforgettable highlight of the Glass & Bead Expo was the absolutely stunning glass art exhibition! It featured an incredible range of talent—from passionate amateurs to world-class professionals—and let me tell you, I was completely blown away by the creativity, imagination, and craftsmanship on display. As I always remind my students, there are five main types of glass art: fused, blown, flamework (or lampwork), stained glass, and mosaics. This exhibition beautifully showcased them all, each in its own magical way. Every piece told a story, bursting with heart, skill, and a deep love for the glass medium. It was a powerful reminder of just how versatile, expressive, and breathtaking glass art can be. |
At the Glass & Bead Expo exhibition, one piece completely stole my heart—Susan McGarry’s glass reproduction of her own studio. Just look at it!
The level of detail was absolutely mind-blowing. From the tiniest tools to the intricate shelves and supplies, she perfectly captured the spirit of a working artist’s studio—in miniature—and entirely out of glass!
It’s not just a beautiful piece of art; it’s a true tribute to the joy, chaos, creativity, and passion that fills every glass artist’s space.
Out of everything I saw at the exhibition, Susan’s piece was hands-down my favorite. It felt like peeking into a dream studio—lovingly crafted with heart, humor, and insane attention to every tiny detail. I absolutely adore it!
Have you ever seen a glass miniature like this? It truly blew me away! |
Saturday was my final day at the Glass & Bead Expo, and I had just one class—all by myself (without Pam or Julie this time). But even solo, it turned out to be a really fun and rewarding experience! I stepped outside of my usual fused glass comfort zone and took a stained glass class, where I made a beautiful rectangular box. I’ve never felt super confident with soldering, so I signed up hoping to improve—and I definitely did! There were two instructors, and they were both incredibly helpful and patient. I learned so much throughout the class, and I’m really proud of how my piece turned out. It was a great way to finish the week—trying something new, building skills, and creating something lovely to take home. |
Pam and Julie are two incredible women, are not only talented and creative, but also kind, generous, and full of heart.
I learned so much from them during our time together at the Glass & Bead Expo—not just about glass, but about friendship, support, and embracing joy in every single moment. They inspire me, challenge me, and encourage me in ways that truly make me a better person.
I’m incredibly grateful to have shared this unforgettable experience with them. It wasn’t just about the classes or the techniques—it was about the laughter, the deep conversations, and the strong bond we’ve built over so many years of friendship and creativity.
It’s kind of cool how the week played out: we had two classes with all three of us, one with just Pam and me, and another with just Julie and me. I really treasure those one-on-one moments—they reminded me just how much these two women mean to me. It’s hard to believe it had been seven years since our last class together, but we’ve made a pact not to let that much time pass again.
Friends are everything. Spending this kind of quality time together reminded me just how much I love them—and how lucky I am to have them in my life.
I had a wonderful time at the Glass & Bead Expo, but without a doubt, the best part of the entire experience was being with my besties.
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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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