Fused glass is a type of kiln-fired glass that has been cut, arranged, layered, and heated in a kiln until the pieces fuse together. The heat softens the glass enough for separate pieces to bond, creating a single piece of glass.

Fused glass can be shaped, textured, layered, and combined in countless ways through controlled kiln firing. Different firing temperatures and schedules can produce different effects, from a simple fused piece to glass that has been slumped, draped, or otherwise shaped into a new form.

I use this process to make colourful, whimsical, and sometimes downright weird little works of art in my Montreal studio.

First and foremost, it’s important that the glass being fused has the same coefficient of expansion (COE), which describes how much the glass expands and contracts as its temperature changes. If glass with different COEs is fused together, the resulting stress can cause the piece to crack or shatter.

I also try to anticipate how the glass will change in the kiln. This means thinking about the overall effect of different layers, colours, and textures, and how they’ll interact with one another. Glass can look very different after firing than it does before firing, so there’s a fair bit of planning and testing involved.

With that in mind, I carefully select, cut, and arrange my glass elements into a design. The pieces are then placed in a kiln and heated according to a specific firing schedule. As the temperature rises, the glass softens and the individual pieces fuse together.

A single piece will often undergo at least two firings, and sometimes many more. Additional firings can be used to add shape, texture, or details, with each firing changing the glass in its own way.

Nope! They both rely on glass as a base material, but they’re made differently.

Fused glass is a type of “hot work” made by heating pieces of glass in a kiln until they bond together.

Stained glass is a type of “cold work” made by cutting sheet glass and joining the pieces using techniques such as copper foil or lead came and solder.

I make both fused and stained glass, and sometimes even incorporate fused-glass pieces into my stained-glass work. But my fused-glass pieces are created through kiln firing rather than by soldering the pieces together.

Absolutely! Fused glass is perfect for making tiny, colourful wearables.

I love to make pendants, earrings, pins, brooches, and other little glassy treasures, playing with colour, pattern, texture, and whatever strange idea has wandered into my brain that day. Each piece is individually designed and kiln-fired, so every one has its own little personality.

Fused glass is still glass, so it can break if dropped or hit hard. Properly fired pieces are solid and durable enough for normal, careful use, but they’re not indestructible.

To keep your pieces looking their best, I recommend hand washing them and avoiding the dishwasher and microwave.

Because glass has a mind of its own. Or, as I jokingly say, “Glass is gonna glass.”

Small bubbles and variations in colour, texture, and shape can happen during the firing process. Some are intentional, and some are simply part of the adventure.

For handmade fused glass, these little differences are a feature, not a bug.

Yes! I love turning strange ideas into glass.

If you have an idea for a custom fused-glass piece, get in touch and tell me what you’re imagining. I’ll let you know what’s possible with glass, my kiln, and the laws of physics.