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 happened to be after work on a weekday). This class was a wonderful private session, organized by Kim, who brought three of her good friends along for a special creative evening together! As always, I had everything prepared ahead of time — including their free fused glass gifts (earrings and pendants) and their liability forms ready to go. (Although, ironically, I was so busy getting everything set up that I completely forgot to take a picture of the table this time.)
Since Kim was the only one in the group who had taken a class with me before, I started — as I always do — with a quick tour of my studio spaces to help spark some inspiration! As a reminder, my studio includes three main areas (not including the studio itself):
- The Finished Room — filled with a wide variety of fused glass pieces available for sale.
- The Finishing and Inspiration Room — where I work on final touches and display some of my favorite pieces that bring me joy and creative energy.
- And finally, the Gallery Area — where every piece is also available for purchase, and students can find even more inspiration for their own projects.
The tour turned out to be especially helpful — after seeing all the possibilities, Kim changed her mind about what she wanted to create! That’s the beauty of having so much fused glass inspiration all around — sometimes the perfect project finds you!
I had my studio all set up with a workspace ready for each person, filled with plenty of supplies and tools to make their projects special. Kim had originally planned to make a plant stake, but after seeing all the options during the studio tour, she decided to transition to a nightlight — and it was such an easy and fun shift! Taby chose to create casted hearts, using beautiful glass and molds to bring her vision to life.
Janet and Brenda both decided on fused glass puppy paws — a sweet and meaningful project that’s always a favorite, especially for animal lovers!
First, let’s focus on Kim’s project! She created a beautiful Aspen nightlight, drawing inspiration from one of my own Aspen nightlights that I had on display. Kim did a wonderful job interpreting the design in her own way, using murrine and millefiori to add intricate details and a touch of whimsy — capturing the graceful lines and natural beauty of the trees while making the piece uniquely hers. It’s always so rewarding to see students find inspiration in the studio and then put their personal spin on their creations! Her finished nightlight turned out absolutely stunning — a perfect little piece of Colorado’s beauty captured in glass.
Taby decided to make casted pocket hearts, and I had several examples ready for her to explore — you can see them in the first row of photos. She chose her colors and styles thoughtfully, creating a collection of beautiful casted fused glass hearts that were full of color, warmth, and love. The bottom two rows show the gorgeous hearts Taby made — aren’t they stunning? Each one is unique and filled with personality!
Since these were pocket hearts, I also gave Taby special cards to accompany them — cards that explain the purpose and sentiment behind a pocket heart: “Keep it safe in your pocket, so you know you are always in my thoughts.” It’s always wonderful to see students not only create something beautiful but also something meaningful that they can carry or gift with love.
Janet originally wanted to create casted fused glass puppy paws, but after seeing all the beautiful heart examples, she decided to make one paw and one heart! Of course, I had plenty of samples of both paws and hearts available for inspiration, so she could pick the styles and colors she loved most.
For her puppy paw, Janet had a special idea — she wanted it to become a keychain! You’ll see photos showing the before and after — from the finished paw to it being transformed into a beautiful, meaningful keychain she can carry with her everywhere.
It’s always such a joy when students bring their own ideas to a project — and Janet’s creativity made her pieces extra special. Did you spot the little snowman hiding in her heart? It’s those fun, personal touches that make every piece truly one-of-a-kind!
Ironically, Brenda also decided to make one paw and one heart — just like Janet! And just like Janet, she wanted her puppy paw to be turned into a keychain as well. Her paw turned out absolutely stunning — such a brilliant, vibrant red, and I just love the tiny heart detail she included inside the paw! For her heart, Brenda added beautiful pieces of dichroic glass, giving it a magical shimmer and sparkle that catches the light so beautifully. It’s always so much fun to see how, even when students choose similar projects, each one brings their own creative flair, making their pieces truly unique and personal.
I absolutely love how Brenda’s creations turned out — full of color, personality, and meaning.
Both her keychain and her heart became perfect little keepsakes, ready to be treasured and enjoyed for years to come.
I truly love teaching private classes — there’s something so special about the energy when friends or family come together to create. The laughter, the patience, the inside jokes — it all makes for such a fun, relaxed, and memorable experience. This group was no exception! Everyone was so patient (especially while waiting for Taby to finish so they could do their hearts together), and the entire class was filled with kindness, encouragement, and plenty of laughter. It’s days like this that remind me why I love sharing fused glass — it’s not just about the pieces we create, but about the connections we build along the way.
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, giving students a fun way to experiment, personalize, and truly make their pieces one-of-a-kind. For this class, Taby decided to make magnets using decals and fused glass cabochons. Since Kim had already made a magnet in a previous class, she generously let Taby make a second one instead.
Aren’t they adorable? These small projects are such a fun way to add a little extra creativity — and they make wonderful keepsakes or heartfelt gifts!
A Wonderful Day of Friendship and Creativity. It was truly a joy to host this private class for such a wonderful group of friends. The laughter, encouragement, creativity, and kindness that filled the studio made it a day I won’t soon forget. One of the things I love most about private classes is seeing friends (or family) come together — sharing not just the experience of creating but also building lasting memories along the way. If you’re interested in scheduling your own private fused glass class — whether with friends, family, or even a special event — I would love to create something beautiful with you too!
Feel free to reach out and let’s make some memories in glass!
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
