It’s called the hot shop for precisely the reason you might suspect; it’s hot. About 2100 sizzling Fahrenheit degrees hot.
Regardless of what we’re about to make, our process begins the same way, with the glassblower (aka gaffer) diving into the furnace – (imagine collecting 2000 degree molten honey at the end of a five-foot steel pipe) to collect that very first gather of clear liquid glass.
Using wood and metal hand tools, precision and a discerning eye for detail, the gaffer shapes the seemingly uncontrollable mass into a finely crafted piece of glass; as varied in its purpose as the most mundane item of utilitarian service to the finest example of Italian stemware.
The hot shop is a collection of shared victories and heartbreak.
It usually takes at least one assistant, if not a team of glassworkers, to provide the gaffer with the skilled support necessary for the endeavor to be successful. Back and forth between the re-heating chamber and the bench, the glassblower makes subtle but significant changes to the glass before the object takes its final form. Once this stage is completed, the glass piece is put into the glass annealer for its final stages of curing, slowly cooling from its elastic state (about 900 degrees F) to room temperature. Without this last process, the final product will be inherently unstable and will inevitably break due to its internal stresses.
Beginner Hot Shop / Glassblowing Classes
One-Hour Blow-Your-Own Projects:
Pick which project you want to make, and we’ll help you through the process. It’s a perfect time for a small group of people who want a taste of what glassblowing is like.
Paperweight
$125 per person
Cactus
$225 per person
Floppy Bowl
$150 per person
Flower
$100 per person
Sucky Bowl
$125 per person
Tumbler
$150 per person
Vase
$225 per person
Already a glass artist?
Contact us as we’ll work with you to find, or create, the class that’s just right for your level of expertise. Our artists will meet you where you’re at so you can learn exactly what you want. Or, take a look at the upcoming Master Classes.
Some Safety Stuff
To keep you and our place from burning down, please read our class policies before you sign up.
Let Us Know When You Want to Make Something (or if you have a question).
Fill out the form below, and we’ll get back with you within one hour during business hours.