I’m dreaming of opening a hot shop with some glassblowing friends. We’re still feeling out feasibility (and ignoring the money question until we get more serious).

My biggest question I have right now is about space. How much space do we need for a “basic” studio with 2 benches, kiln, 1-2 annealers, etc.?

I’d love to see some example floor plans / layouts if folks are willing to share. Thanks!

Hi! I know little to nothing about glassblowing, but I started dating this guy who is really into it and I want to get him something special for Christmas.

I figured this place would be a start, if anyone could help me or recommend an artist that would be able to accommodate me that would be awesome

He is also really into D&D so Im trying to commission an artist into making a dice tower out of glass (preferably aventurine glass but I heard that was difficult to work with so if not possible im open to suggestions, like I said I know almost nothing but im willing to learn!)

Thank you so much

For the last several months I've been trying to practice reticello. The first piece I made was with a regular enamel white and I wasn't happy with how the white color smushed and expanded in the final piece so I got some of the Bullseye Marco Blanco white. I am having a really hard time effectively pulling cane with this stuff! Ideally I want a pretty thin core of color to get nice thin lines on the final piece but I can't seem to pull it effectively. Either it's not hot enough when I go for the pull and all the cane is thicker than I want or it's so hot that it pulls away from the post and the pull goes to crap as a result. At this point it feels like I have to pull cane 5 times or more to get 1 effective pull with usable cane which has been super frustrating.

I've been picking up about an inch and a half of color on a stepdown (figuring the smaller tip will result in a thinner core color), marvering it to a thin rod, covering it in two gathers, using mostly paper to keep the color close to the end of the tip, and then marvering in a slight taper while soaking in heat and periodically cooling the tip before attaching the post and pulling. At the start I use tweezers to pull the color onto the pipe and have never had issues with it pulling away from the original pipe, it's always the post that it pulls away from. It feels like a struggle to get it into a nice taper while keeping the color out all the way to the tip often resulting in a small layer of clear that is invariably hotter/more viscous then the duro and ends up pulling away from the post. I've been trying to keep the tip cool through a combination of smashing it upright on the marver and dipping it in water.

I know it's hard to diagnose problems without seeing things in action but figured I would ask in case there are some nuggets of cane pulling wisdom that could be shared.

Does anyone have good instructions on how to do a color fade. Basic cylinder with darkest color at bottom?

My shop doesn’t have a powder booth but I’m wanting to sift powder on top of some of my pieces. Could we use good quality respirators safely instead of a booth? Or would it be too risky still since there might not be a perfect seal on the mask?

Heavy. White interior. Multifleure is stretching in other areas. Smooth bottom. Not sure if Murano. Large bubbles rough exterior in spots. Looking for possible maker and date range. Thank you!!!

We've just started learning more about different glass colors, and it seems like there are several different types of whites. What are their differences? I know duro is stiff and can be stretched, which is good for cane, but what about opaline, enamel, or lead free whites? What are some example applications where you'd prefer one over the others? Is there one that's easier for beginners to work with for overlays?

I'm considering on doing a glass blowing workshop in Murano, the two best options seem to be:

https://www.visitmuranoglassfactory.com/workshops/murano-glass-blowing-class-in-furnace-venice-beginner-course.html €360

Or

https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/wavemuranoglass/items/503451/calendar/2024/11/?flow=1066901&full-items=yes €245

I'm not sure which one to choose, I have some experience with glass, but not glass blowing. I'd love to make a small sculpture of some sort. Which class would you guys recommend?

I have been trying to find a way to memorialize my two cats. Best Boy Tango left us Monday and tomorrow his littermate is joining him. They gave us 14 years of love and companionship. My heart is shattered.

I have been looking into glass memorials that utilize ashes for remembrance. All I have been able to find are single cat sculptures made from a mold. The thing is, my boys were heavily bonded and I would like a single piece that incorporates both their ashes so they can be together. I have not been able to find anyone who has two cats sleeping cuddled up.

We live in the greater Seattle area. There must be glass artists around here that can create a unique piece.

So, I would love a recommendation on who I could contact to inquire about creating this piece. Or any guidance on how to find a glass maker who may be able to help us.

Thanks in advanced

Design was from Anthropologie, but they discontinued it. Hoping for a quote. Thank you.

Long time, avid glass collector here. I’d love to get into glassblowing, but the only way to do it near me is by spending like a million dollars an hour to use a studio. Slightly exaggerating obv. Is there an easier, less expensive way or is it just an expensive hobby?

So I'm getting back into glassblowing after about a 5+ year hiatus. I always liked using newspaper to shape vessels and whatnot. Having a hard time finding any newspaper. What are all of you using nowadays? Just the graphite pads or?

Ik it’s a big ask I’m happy to pay abit im only 17 so I don’t have a lot of money but my grandma had these glass ball balls over the years they have all shattered and she said today that she really misses them and I’m looking to see if anyone would be able to make them I’m not soo sure how hard they are to make but yk i found some on Amazon but they were so much and I really can’t afford it I want some like the ones I have circulef and some that are just plain the ones she had kind of had a rainbow flash it that makes scence they were really special to her if anyone would be willing to make me some I would be so grateful I feel really embarrassed to ask but yk

As my semester comes to an end I need to make a glass mixed media project. I’ve always loved customizing and modding watches. Any ideas on how I can mix these different worlds?

I know I can order one from Olympic/hot glass/east bay, but does anyone know another solution for a blowhose adapter? I'm thinking there's gotta be something at the hardware store that'll work in a pinch. Mine disintegrated today and I need something to use for a big ornament production day tomorrow