Design With Fire

Took a Sunday «Glass blowing» class here on a Groupon whim. The owners thoroughly exemplify why salty and sweet go better together…
Patrick (the salty) is an addicted artist, a molten-​glass Merlin, with an encyclopedic knowledge of every aspect of glasswork, a dry wit and juuust enough patience to deal with inane questions from the occasional retired hippie biologist who annoys all of the other students.
Linnea (I hope that is her name, I am awful with names) is one of those genuinely NICE, encouraging people who could praise your achievement of blowing your own nose, and you would honestly believe her, and be proud of yourself. I have no idea how she manages that, but it’s a pretty amazing quality in a person, none the less a teacher like she is.
Pay no attention to the fact that you have to drive through «the get-​toe» to get to the industrial warehouse park where this studio is located, once you get there, even on a weekend when everyone else was gone, it seemed like a very safe place to park and walk around.
My only, even minor critique is just semantics, we technically didn’t get to do any glass «blowing,» what we did was shape some molten glass, I know, that’s just picky.
I would have liked the six person class be smaller, and I would have liked it to be longer (it was about three hours?) and would like to have liked to have built 3 – 4 things instead of 2, but I guess that is why they offer the $ 400 Two-​and-​a-​half-​day full-​bore glassblowing class as a follow up.
I would absolutely recommend this Glassblowing class, and I am very tempted to take either the fusing or beading one just to see more of what they do, and if I come across $ 400 that doesn’t mean much to me, I would take the 2.5 day class in a heartbeat as well.

I found out about this place through Groupon and although I was a bit skeptical when I saw where it was located, I ended up loving my time there.
For 38 bucks I did the intro to glass fusing, where you get to make two small sushi plates. What’s great about this place is that the owner just teaches you the basics and lets you create whatever your mind desires. This place is great for all you DIY/​artsy people, maybe not so much for people who just throw random pieces on. I’d definitely recommend trying it out however, regardless of your creative skill! It’s a great way to spend 3 hours on a Saturday AND you can come back and use their studio!

I originally found Design with Fire from buying a Groupon. Took the bead-​making class last July, and couldn’t believe how much fun it was. For such a small price, I had a 2-​hour class and left with five beads that I was really proud of. This week I have relatives visiting, and Linnea went way out of her way to accommodate their schedule. Took the class again last night, and we had a great time! I’ll be going again in May with another friend.
This is a GREAT class, and Linnea is a terrific teacher. They do bead making, glass fusion and glass blowing. I would definitely recommend them!

This place is awesome! You can design all kinds of things out of glass here. There are classes offered for the novice. Glass blowing is also offered. This is actually what got my attention. I have always wanted to learn this skill.
I took my daughter here for a girls day out. Such a cool bonding experience it was indeed. We made some cool pieces. Will definitely go back to try out and make more things.

I’ve been there 3 times now for the beginner glass blowing and glass fusing classes. I’m hooked! They offer so much, it’s difficult to choose where to start! Linea and Patrick are extremely knowledgable and eager to share their knowledge and skill with glass. Next step for me? The 3 day class where I will progress from making paper weights to actual glass blowing.

This is me on Sunday morning: «Christy you’re an R-​tard. What kind of person buys a Groupon for a GLASS BLOWING CLASS, and then schedules it first thing in the morning on a SUNDAY… on the same day as Daylight Savings time!!! What were you thinking? This is going to SUCK.»
This is me on Sunday afternoon: «Christy, you rock. You’re a glass blowing Jedi. Good call on the class, now you’re even smarter and MORE talented that you thought. Glass kicks ass.»
Who knew that standing in a cold warehouse early on a Sunday would be so much fun? The instructors were knowledgeable and funny, and gave demos and hands-​on instruction in the art of molten glass. Even science nerds like me can ask questions about chemistry and get good answers. And art nerds can name-​drop artists and styles and pretend to be cool. And for everyone in between, you can make a cool art piece to take home (though not right away, even when «cooled» they are too hot to touch. Plan to come back several days later to retrieve your handmade treasure). After the pieces were made, the instructors did a demo: a hand blown pilsner glass. Wow. It was amazing to watch the artists at work! I’ll never look at glass the same again!