Aventurine Skies & Golden Roots: A Fused Glass Journey

While I’ve already shared the fun we had in my private classes with Amber and Sandi this month, the very first private class I hosted was actually with Cindy—one of my returning students who’s taken several fused glass classes with this year. Normally, I teach using 96 COE (Coefficient of Expansion) glass, but this class was a little different. Cindy had a photo of a nightlight she loved from one of my past projects, and it happened to be made with 90 COE glass.

Because Cindy was the only student that day—and because she’s so familiar with the process—I decided to do something special and tailor the class to her request using 90 COE glass. This was no small decision! As many glass artists know, 90 COE and 96 COE glass are not compatible. Even a small mix of the two in the same piece can result in cracking or even complete breakage after firing due to the differing rates of expansion and contraction. That’s why I always store and label them separately and why I don’t mix them in my classes. But for Cindy, I made an exception—and I’m so glad I did!

Since hers was the first of my three private classes this month, I also had my tray of free goodies out—just a little thank-you gift for taking the class. She had her pick of pendants, pocket hearts and crosses, magnets, and stirrers. And of course, I had my trusty liability form on hand—because glass is gorgeous, but it can still bite!

Since Cindy has taken many classes with me, she didn’t need the usual tour of my studio spaces—she already knows her way around! Most new students get the full walkthrough, including my finished room, finishing room, and gallery area to help spark ideas and show the creative possibilities of fused glass. But with Cindy, we were able to jump right in and focus on her project, which made the day feel like working with an old friend in the studio.

As I mentioned earlier, 90 and 96 COE glass are incompatible, so for Cindy’s class I made sure to have the specific 90 COE glass she requested ready, along with a selection of accessory glass—just in case she changed her mind or got inspired to try something new. Below is a photo of her workstation, complete with some sample pieces I laid out to help spark ideas.

I absolutely love working with 90 COE glass—it’s vibrant and offers beautiful results—but it does come with a few challenges. It’s generally more expensive, harder to cut, and more prone to devitrification (a cloudy, rough surface that can occur during firing). Plus, my selection of 90 COE murrine is more limited compared to what I have in 96.

That said, I’m excited to share that I’m considering offering private 90 COE fused glass classes in the future—exclusively for returning students who have taken at least three classes with me and are confident working with glass. Because 90 COE glass behaves differently than 96 COE, it’s important to understand the nuances before diving in—but it also opens up a beautiful new palette for creative exploration. Whether you’ve seen a piece made with 90 COE that you’d love to recreate, or you’re curious about working with a new type of glass, this could be a wonderful opportunity. If you’re one of my returning students and you’re interested in scheduling a private 90 COE class, I’d love to hear from you! Just remember, everyone in the group will need to use 90 COE glass for compatibility, but—just like always—you can each create totally different projects. Below are just a few photos of fused glass artwork I’ve created using 90 COE glass!

Cindy came to class with a clear vision—she had a photo of one of my nightlights that she was excited to recreate. Can you guess which one it was? If you guessed the blue aventurine Tree of Life, you’re spot on! I absolutely love this design—it’s rich, elegant, and the blue aventurine glass has such a magical sparkle to it. To give Cindy a bit of creative freedom, I offered her several Tree of Life decals to choose from, including black, white, white with gold, and black with gold. Because she was using that deep, shimmering blue aventurine as her base, I recommended going with either white or white and gold—both of which pop beautifully against the darker glass. Cindy chose the white and gold decal, and it was a perfect match. It really stands out and gives the piece an elegant, glowing finish!

As I mentioned, Cindy has taken several classes with me—and it’s been such a joy watching her creativity grow with each one. She’s made five beautiful pieces so far, including four nightlights, each with its own unique charm and style. One of her projects was something extra special—a large fused glass flower that turned out absolutely stunning. It’s always exciting to see what she’ll come up with next, and I truly appreciate her adventurous spirit and eye for design!

Since Cindy planned to add a decal to her nightlight, I wanted her to get comfortable with the process before working on her final piece. So, we did something a little different—we started the class by making a separate decal project. Normally, I offer this as a free bonus piece at the end of class, but this time, we flipped the script and made it first. For those who might not be familiar, fused glass decals are special images—like designs, words, or patterns—printed with glass-compatible materials that fuse permanently onto the surface of the glass during firing. They’re a beautiful way to add detail and personality, but they require careful handling, placement, and firing to turn out just right. Making the decal piece first gave Cindy a chance to see how the decal behaves in the kiln and how different base colors affect the final result. It was the perfect warm-up before diving into her main nightlight project!

Next, we moved on to cutting the glass to the correct size and shape for her nightlight. Cindy also used the grinder to smooth the edges and refine the fit—she’s gotten quite comfortable with the tools over her past classes! Once her base was ready, she began creating her nightlight design using accessory glass to add color, texture, and dimension. Since this was a private one-on-one class—and I normally require a minimum of three students—Cindy had the opportunity to make two nightlights instead of just one. It was a great way for her to explore different designs and make the most of our creative time together!

Here’s a look at Cindy’s two finished nightlights—and aren’t they absolutely stunning? She chose a striking blue aventurine glass as the base for both pieces, creating a flowing, layered effect that evokes the feeling of mountains or rolling waves. Each design features a white and gold Tree of Life decal, which adds not only a touch of elegance but also a sense of meaning and grounding to the overall composition.

In one of the pieces, she added a brilliant glass sun and a border of white frit to give the impression of snow or stones—adding both texture and depth. The second nightlight features a more minimalist version of the design, allowing the rich color and decal to take center stage. The sparkle from the aventurine, the contrast of the gold, and the thoughtful details make both nightlights feel peaceful yet powerful. They truly shine—both literally and artistically—even before they’re plugged in!

The Tree of Life decal Cindy used is a high-fire decal, which requires a very specific firing schedule to keep the design crisp, bright, and vibrant. I hadn’t made anything with this particular decal in a while, so I took the opportunity to test and refine the firing schedule. To make sure everything came out just right, I created a couple of my own pieces for inventory—and I’m thrilled with the results! As you can see from Cindy’s nightlights and my own samples, the decal fired beautifully. I also prepped two smaller pieces that turned out so pretty I haven’t yet decided what to do with them—maybe a decal, maybe a screen print. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see which direction I go. Sometimes the glass speaks to you… it just takes a little time to listen.

It was such a pleasure spending the day creating with Cindy—her creativity, attention to detail, and willingness to try new things always make her classes a joy. Whether you’re a returning student like Cindy or brand new to fused glass, I love helping people bring their visions to life. Every class is relaxed, fun, and tailored to each student’s style and experience. If you’d like to schedule a private class—especially if you’re interested in working with 90 COE glass—I’d love to hear from you! Just send me an email at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com or visit www.ElegantFusedGlassbyKaren.com to learn more and get inspired. Let’s make something beautiful together!

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