Price: $80 per student (All glass and tools included)
Student Requirements: Age 18+, Closed-toe shoes, Natural fiber clothing, Humility
Our glassblowing classes are designed for those aged 18+. Those who show up for class and are not of age, forfeit payment.
This quick beginner-friendly class will introduce you to the basics of glass bead making—no prior experience needed. Using a torch, you’ll learn how to melt and shape glass onto a mandrel (steel rod) to make beads, and explore surface decoration techniques to add pattern and texture.
This class is designed with two kinds of students in mind – for those just interested in getting a taste of what it’s like to make something with molten glass – as well as for students who may be interested in pursuing glass bead making as a personal practice or hobby, but aren’t sure if they should invest in taking our 3-hour foundations class just yet.
Our 1-hour class starts with a quick safety orientation, before jumping straight into an instructor demonstration on making a basic bead shape. Students then jump in and make a bead with guidance, followed by the second demo which adds more techniques, followed by student practice.
The number of beads each student ends up with depends on many factors, but is typically around 1-4 total. These factors include how accepting the student is of imperfections, the complexity of their design goals, the ease with which they pick up these niche skills, and to some degree, even luck. Some amount of completely failed beads should be expected, especially if this is your first class. You’ll likely have a good class if your focus isn’t so much on productivity, but on the quality of your learning experience and in gaining a deeper appreciation for this craft. If you walk away with lots of cool shiny things you can show off, that’s the icing on the cake.
Since beads must cool overnight in the kiln, your instructor will take care of the finishing process for you, and your completed glass beads will be ready for pickup the following business day, typically after 2pm.
Classes in the flameshop are not BYOB and cannot offer catering due to limited space and constant attention required by the participant at their individual workstation. If you have long hair, please bring a hair tie or clip.