We’ve visited Holdman Studios to make cute Christmas Tree ornaments out of stained glass, so when we heard about their Blown Glass Class, we knew we had to try it. This class is totally different from our first class. Instead of using stained glass, we used liquid glass to create beautiful pumpkins. This glass blowing pumpkin experience is perfect for a date, or for that teen who loves unique art activities.
Safety
First of all, the glass blowing experience is completely safe. We had a master teacher who has spent thousands of hours blowing glass supervising, instructing, and assisting every step of the way. She made sure that we were successful with our pumpkins. This was important because the glass was heated to a temperature of 2100 degrees! You do need to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and pull your long hair back for safety reasons.
Glass Blowing Experience
When we first arrived, we chose the color for our pumpkins. We choose natural pumpkin colors, but there were close to 50 choices including just about anything you can imagine. Of course we chose a color for the body of the pumpkin, and a second color for the stem.
Next, we put on protective gear. We had already worn closed-toe shoes and long pants. Then, we put on thick gloves and sleeves over our exposed arms. These helped protect us from the heat.
We created our pumpkins one at a time. So our instructor took liquid hot glass from the oven and we rolled it in our chosen colors. Then it was reheated, and we shaped it carefully. This was done with a small ladle-shaped tool aswe rolled the hot glass into shape.
After the glass was heated again, we shaped it in a mold, and then gently blew it up like a balloon. It was very exciting to gently puff on the tube and watch the pumpkin grow. Finally, we flattened the bottom. The only thing left to do was add a stem, which really finished the project nicely. This last step was mostly done by our instructor, but we did get to shape and angle the stem. The pumpkins have to cool for 24 hours, so you will need to go back and pick up your project.
We loved our glass blowing experience. It was hands-on, but very guided, so we felt safe and confident. After we finished, we could hardly wait for the next day when we could pick up our finished project. Now our pumpkins sit atop our piano each Fall. They are great decorations. There are other glass blowing classes including flowers, vases, and more. Check out all of the glass classes on their website: Holdman Studios.
