Have you Ever Tried Glass Blowing?

Yesterday we went to the Glass Art Studio to try creating a glass ball. First the metal rod goes into the oven that contains the molten glass to scoop up a hunk.

Which is then dipped in glass pieces the colors I’ve selected, which you can see on the table to our right – in this case, orange, yellow and white, then taken to a metal table to roll them into the hot glass.

Then to another very hot oven to melt the glass pieces, all the while turning the rod to keep the molten glass as round as possible.

And to another table where the tip is cut off, because the tip is clear glass, no color, no spiraling, continuing to turn the rod (this is obviously a two-person job, especially for those of us who are hopelessly inexperienced).

After the glass is reheated one more time, tweezers come into play. The object was to nip into the hot glass very gently and twist = spiral. I nipped too deeply and my spirals left a bit to be desired.

To cool the glass a bit and help shape it, it’s put into a wooden dipper that has been dipped into water. All the while turning, turning.

The oven – again. The glass cools as it’s being worked on and must be reheated frequently. This is the final heating prior to blowing it to the size I want in a round shape.

I blow, gently, gently at first, then harder, as he squeezes to create the round shape.

Done now and the glass must cool for 18 hours before we can take it home, so we went outside to take photos – perhaps to help remember where we would have to come to the next day (today), do you think? We are no longer spring chickens with forever memories, you know.

Today we picked up our creations.

Not so good, but hey! I did it, it’s mine! Next year maybe a bowl – in greens and blues, I think.