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 — that glass, while beautiful, can also be sharp!) It’s part of making sure every student is informed and safe right from the very beginning. And because I love to add a little extra fun to my classes, every student received a free gift for attending! This time, I offered a selection of fused glass treasures — including earrings, drink stirrers, Easter pendants, and colorful drilled pendants. It’s my way of saying thank you for sharing your creativity with me!
Because I had a few new students in this class, I started with a quick tour of my studio spaces to help spark a little inspiration before we got creating! The first stop was my Finished Room — filled with a wide variety of fused glass pieces available for sale. It’s a great place for students to see the possibilities and start imagining what they might want to create. Next, we visited my Finishing and Inspiration Room. This is where I work on the final touches of my pieces — and it’s also home to some of my favorite glass treasures that bring me joy and creative energy. Finally, we stopped by my Gallery Area, where every piece is for sale and also carefully arranged to inspire new ideas for my students. Whether it’s a special technique, a color combination, or a unique shape, there’s always something there to spark creativity! I love sharing these spaces because they help students feel connected to the full journey of creating with glass — from inspiration, to process, to finished art.
In my studio, I can comfortably host up to five students at a time. I’ve found that smaller class sizes create a more personal, relaxed atmosphere — and allow me to give each student plenty of one-on-one attention. Before each class, I always try to find out ahead of time what projects my students are interested in making. That way, I can have the right supplies and tools ready for them, helping everything run smoothly and making sure they have exactly what they need to bring their ideas to life! A little preparation goes a long way in helping students feel confident, inspired, and excited to dive into their creations!
The first student to dive into her project was Laurie. Laurie’s Project: Fused Glass Pocket Crosses
We had communicated quite a bit before the class, and she had a clear vision — she wanted to create fused glass pocket crosses. There are actually several different techniques you can use to create fused glass crosses, so to give her plenty of inspiration, I prepared three different styles ahead of time.
I encouraged Laurie to try making at least one of each style — and she was ambitious, aiming to create six crosses in total! Below shows a few of the sample crosses I made to guide her. Laurie had a particular color palette in mind — she loved blues and greens — so I made sure to have a beautiful variety of glass options in those shades ready for her to work with.
Here are the stunning fused glass pocket crosses that Laurie created! As you can see, there were two techniques she really connected with and enjoyed more than the third — and that’s absolutely perfect.
I always encourage my students to follow their instincts and create pieces that truly speak to them. I just love how her crosses turned out — the colors, the textures, and the care she put into each one are so beautiful and meaningful. It was such a joy to watch Laurie’s excitement as she carefully chose her colors and brought each cross to life. Moments like these are exactly why I love sharing fused glass with others!
Here is one of Laurie’s beautiful, finished pocket crosses, along with a special card that shares the meaning behind a fused glass pocket cross. The card encourages the holder to keep it close throughout the day as a reminder of God’s love and that He is always with you. It’s such a beautiful, personal touch that adds even more meaning to the crosses Laurie created with so much care and love. I truly love seeing how each student brings their own heart and creativity into their projects — and Laurie’s crosses are a perfect example of that spirit shining through!
Laurie’s friend, Cathy, also attended the class. At first, Cathy wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to create — which can definitely be part of the fun (and sometimes a little bit of a challenge)! I showed her several options to help spark some ideas, including casted pendants and earrings. After thinking it over, she decided to create a pair of earrings and a casted fused glass paw pendant. Here are pictures of Cathy’s beautiful fused glass pieces! Even though her paw wasn’t technically a “pocket paw” (she chose to turn it into a pendant), I still gave her a special card that shares the meaning behind a fused glass paw print — a touching reminder of how our furry friends wrap their paws around our hearts. One thing to know about making casted paws — they can be a bit tricky! Cathy used one of my finished paws as inspiration for her piece, but because a little extra powder settled under the murrine in hers, I gifted her the original paw she had admired. It’s so important to me that my students not only learn and create but also leave happy with something they truly love.
Our third student, Sylvia, wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to create at first either — and that’s completely okay! With so many options to choose from, I always encourage students to explore different ideas until something truly speaks to them. After looking around and getting inspired, Sylvia decided to create a special Free-Form Hanging Glass Sculpture. This beautiful piece was crafted using an organic openwork fusing technique, where layers of glass are carefully arranged to create movement, lightness, and texture. After the initialing fusing the piece flat, I shaped the piece to add even more dynamic flow, allowing it to hang beautifully and catch the light from every angle. Sylvia’s sculpture turned out absolutely stunning — a perfect example of how creativity can blossom once you find the project that feels just right! In addition to her fused glass work, Sylvia is also an incredibly talented mosaic glass artist. She shared some photos of her mosaics with me during class, and her work is absolutely lovely — full of color, detail, and heart!
The final student in this class was Cindy, who had a very special project in mind — she wanted to create a fused glass flower! Because making a flower like this is a more involved and detailed process, I’ll be sharing a separate post soon that walks through her entire creative journey. But for now, I wanted to give you a little glimpse of where her beautiful flower began — the first steps toward what is going to be a truly stunning piece! Stay tuned to see how her project unfolded you can read the post about her flower here!
Occasionally, I like to offer my students a free bonus fused glass technique to add even more creativity and flair to their projects. In the first row of photos below, you’ll see some of the decals available, along with fused glass cabochons that can be used with the decals to create unique and personalized designs. Decals add a special look and feel to fused glass artwork, offering students a fun way to experiment, personalize, and truly make their pieces one-of-a-kind. For this class, Laurie, Cathy, and Sylvia all took me up on the offer — and each of them created beautiful, decaled pieces! Here’s a look at their gorgeous creations, showing how even a simple technique like adding a decal can elevate and transform a fused glass project.
I absolutely love sharing the joy of fused glass with my students — whether they come with a clear vision or discover their creativity along the way. Each class is a chance to learn, explore new techniques, and create something truly personal and meaningful. If you’re feeling inspired and would like to join one of my upcoming classes, I’d love to create with you! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, there’s always something new to learn and exciting to try. You can find more information about my classes — on my website, Elegant Fused Glass by Karen or email me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com.
If you’d like to see more of my fused glass work, please 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
