From Votives to Spoon Rests: A Private Class Full of Heart

This month has been packed with creative energy—and one of the highlights was a private class hosted by the lovely Sandi, who brought her fabulous friends Tonda, Tony, and Natalie for an afternoon of fused glass fun! There’s just something magical about friends getting together, laughing, and trying something totally new. As always, I had a spread of fused glass goodies ready to go—magnets, pendants, hearts, drilled pieces, and stirrers in a myriad of color and technique. And of course, my trusty stack of liability forms was nearby… because while glass art is tons of fun, safety always comes first—even when the studio is full of laughter and creativity.

Since all four students were brand new to fused glass, I kicked things off with a little tour of my creative spaces to help spark some inspiration! My studio isn’t just one room—it’s a haven of creativity with three separate areas (not including the main studio itself). Each space is designed to support different parts of the process from finishing to showing the finished artwork. I find that showing students where the magic happens helps them better understand the tools, the possibilities, and the care that goes into each piece of glass art.

• The Gallery Area — where every piece is available for purchase, and students can find even more inspiration for their projects.
• The Finished Room — filled with a plethora 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.

Here’s a panoramic view of my studio—a peek at where all the fused glass magic comes to life! You can spot some of my equipment and supplies throughout the space, and right in the center is the main table where students turn their ideas into sparkling works of art. I’ve designed the studio to be both welcoming and well-equipped, so every student feels comfortable, inspired, and supported as they dive into their own creative glass journey.

First up is Sandi, who created a beautiful aspen-themed votive using a vibrant mix of red, yellow, orange, and green glass—capturing the warm colors of fall with a splash of spring! She added adorable finishing touches with an owl and a ladybug, giving her piece so much personality. I just love how it turned out! You can see her in action—cutting, grinding, and thoughtfully placing each element. It’s always such a joy to watch someone bring their vision to life, especially on their very first try!

Next up is Tonda! I have to mention—some of the photos I took of her ended up a bit blurry (oops! I must’ve had my camera on the wrong setting), but luckily, I still captured a few great moments. In one, you can see her grinding her glass base, and in another she’s watching Tony work on his project—such a supportive and fun group! Tonda chose one of my heart designs, but instead of turning it into a hanging piece like mine, she made it into a votive—and it turned out absolutely beautiful. She incorporated a sunflower, leaf, vitrigraph, and even a little bumblebee. I have a soft spot for sunflowers too (they were part of my original heart design), and I just love how she made the piece uniquely her own!

Natalie also chose to make an aspen-themed votive, using a warm and vibrant mix of red, yellow, and orange frit. She added a sweet bird and a few hearts, giving her piece a touch of whimsy that I just love. The colors were stunning and full of life! She used both of my grinders to shape her glass just right, and I even caught a photo of her placing her finished design into the kiln. With her long nails, she accidentally spilled a bit of frit during the transfer—but she didn’t miss a beat! She carefully picked every bit back up, and her finished piece turned out absolutely lovely.

Last but not least was Tony! He took on a more advanced project by choosing to make a spoon rest—definitely a bit more challenging, but he was up for it. We started by finding a mold he liked, then picked out the perfect glass and got to work cutting it. Spoon rests require two layers of glass to give them the right weight and sturdiness, and cutting those gentle curves can be tricky—but Tony did a fantastic job. He added vitrigraph and murrine for some stylish flair, and I absolutely love how it turned out. Just like with Tonda’s photos, most of Tony’s ended up a bit blurry (camera trouble strikes again!), but thankfully I managed to get a few good shots to show off his hard work.

I truly enjoy teaching private classes—especially when they’re filled with good friends like Sandi, Natalie, Tonda, and Tony. The laughter, encouragement, and creativity they brought into the studio made this class such a joy! It’s always inspiring to see how each person’s unique style shines through in their work. Here are a couple of group photos capturing just a bit of the fun we had together!

Just like my previous class, I offered Sandi’s group a free bonus project using a fun fused glass decal technique! The top row in the photos shows the variety of decals and cabochons they had to choose from—so many playful and unique options to spark their creativity. What made it even more special was how they all finished their main projects around the same time, so they helped each other with the decals—cheering one another on and sharing ideas. Each piece turned out perfectly, and it was such a joy to see their teamwork and creativity in action!

It’s always such a joy to share my love of fused glass with others—especially when it brings friends together for a day filled with creativity, laughter, and beautiful art. Watching Sandi, Tonda, Tony, and Natalie dive into their projects (below) and support each other along the way was truly heartwarming. Whether you’re a total beginner or have some experience, my classes are designed to be fun, relaxed, and inspiring. If you’d like to try something new, create something special, and make lasting memories, I’d love for you to join me in the studio! Reach out to schedule your own fused glass class by emailing me at elegantfusedglass@gmail.com or visit my website at www.ElegantFusedGlassbyKaren.com. I can’t wait to create with you!

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