Vetro Glassblowing Studio offers a variety of art glass classes that are exciting, challenging and comprehensive. Whether you are looking to have a little bit of fun on the side, picking up a new hobby or starting a glassblowing career, we have the right classes for you! These classes also make excellent gifts for your friends and loved ones.
Bead Making
Beginner (Level I)
Students of this semi-private beginner’s class definitely leave fired-up about the art of glass bead making, and are amazed at the number and types of glass beads they have created in just one, four-hour experience. Safety in working with an open flame and molten glass, bead making demonstrations, and one-on-one coaching of students through this creative art form are the focus of this class. Students learn to use tools to shape beads, how to embellish bead surfaces with chips and narrow canes of glass, as well as how to use some of the practical “science” techniques involved with hot glasswork. At least two hours or more of this class are devoted to making glass beads. No previous experience in glass bead making is required. This class is a great follow-up to the Introduction to Glass Bead Making class, or for those who want a more in-depth glass bead making learning experience.
- Instructors: Scott Young / Katy Fenley / Tim Gottleber
- Cost (one 4-hour workshop): $275 per person (max of 2 per workshop)
- Next available beginner level workshops:
- Workshop schedule varies. Please call 817.251.1668 for availability and/or to register.
Intermediate (Level II)
This private class is the second in a series of 3 beadmaking workshops. It follows the Level I class. Students will spend more time on the torch learning how to create exciting and beautiful beads. One of the major areas this class covers is making fancy embellishments like fancy twisties, filliagrana, ribbon cane, and frit. Students experiment with many decorative techniques like raking, feathering, poking, and advanced shaping. This class also expands on the embellishment techniques from Level I giving the students experience in raised dots, twisted dots, stacked dots, and fancy dots. The students will learn two encasement techniques as well. Since this class follows the Level I class, students are expected to have spent some time at the torch practicing their Level I skills before they attend Level II. This class covers a great deal of ground, and the students will spend the majority of their time working on beads.
- Instructors: Scott Young / Katy Fenley
- Cost: (one 4-hour workshop): $275 per person (max of 2 per workshop
- Next available intermediate level workshops:
- Workshop schedule varies. Please call 817.251.1668 for availability and/or to register.
Beginning Soft Glass Off Mandrel Pendant Workshop
Come join Vetro for an introduction to Soft Glass Pendants. During this 4 hour course, your instructor will demonstrate techniques, such as gathers, stringers, cane and punties, required to make both basic and intermediate level pendants including tear drops, loops, swirls, encasements and reversals. Included in this course is plenty of "practice" time on the torch, shop safety, basic tool/equipment operation, and open dialog with the instructor.
- Instructors: Scott Young
- Cost:(one 4-hour workshop): $330 per person (max of 2 per workshop)
- Next available beginning borosilicate level workshops:
- Workshop schedule varies. Please call 817.251.1668 for availability and/or to register.
Sign Up
Call us at 817.251.1668 to register for your workshop! Once we have received your information and payment over the phone, we will reserve your place in the workshop. Be sure to review below what items you need to bring/wear to your class.
Reservations
Only paid reservations are guaranteed!
Cancellation
In case you need to cancel or reschedule a class, a full refund can only be issued if you provide 24-hours notice prior to your class time.
What to bring/wear to class (Important)
- All clothing must be 100% natural fiber; cotton Is preferred
- Long pants with no cuffs are required (NO SHORTS WILL BE ALLOWED)
- Closed-tipped shoes that cover your whole foot (i.e. tennis shoes)
- Shirt should have a high neckline with no pockets and no cuffs
- Bring a hat or headband
- Long hair should be pulled back securely
- Optional to bring: Long-sleeved cotton shirt with tight, non-billowy sleeves
- Beverages without caffeine (water and/or sports drinks are recommended)
- Please eat a well-balanced meal before arriving to your class. Water and sports drinks are recommended; caffeinated beverages are not.
Flame Working
Borosilicate Off Mandrel Pendant Workshop
Come join Vetro for an introduction to borosilicate pendants. During this private 4 hour course, your instructor will demonstrate techniques, such as gathers, stringers, cane and punties, required to make both basic and/or intermediate level borosilicate pendants including tear drops, loops, swirls, encasements and reversals. Included in this course is plenty of "practice" time on the torch, shop safety, basic tool/equipment operation, and open dialog with the instructor.
- Cost:(one 4-hour workshop): $330 per person (max of 2 per workshop)
- Next available Beginner/Intermediate Borosilicate level workshops:
- Workshop schedule varies. Please call 817.251.1668 for availability and/or to register.
Intro to Art Glass Marbles
Come join Scott Young for a fun-filled workshop of marvelous marbles. You will experience the processes involved in creating art glass marbles. This course involves plenty of "practice/play" time and covers various decorative techniques such as dots, stripes, raking, ribbons, pulling stringers, and encasement. The student will learn the basic techniques involved in gathering, shaping and finishing marbles. In addition, topics such as shop safety/setup, equipment and tools used, etc. will be covered.
- Instructors: Scott Young
- Cost:(one 4-hour workshop): $275 per person (max of 2 per workshop)
- Next available Glass Marble workshops:
- Workshop schedule varies. Please call 817.251.1668 for availability and/or to register.
Paper Weight
Beginner Paperweight Workshops
- An introduction to techniques and skills such as gathering, centering, blocking, and marvering
- An introduction to glassblowing machines, tools of the trade and proper shop etiquette
- Basic color application using powders and frits
- Create and keep two (2) paperweights: one clear and one with color (results may vary)
- The creation of two (2) paperweights typically takes between one (1) and two (2) hours (per person participating in the workshop)
- One instructor per two (2) students…allows for constant hands-on experience
- Cost per student: $175.00
- Schedule: Workshops are offered on Thursdays evenings beginning at 6pm (Please call if this does not fit your schedule)
- Prerequisite to the Intermediate Paperweight Workshop and the Glassblowing Class
- No prior experience needed!
Intermediate Paperweight Workshops
- Prerequisite: Must be able to successfully create two (2) paperweights in the Beginner Paperweight Class (see above)
- Further practice of glassblowing techniques such as gathering, marvering, jacking, flashing, centering and breaking off finished products for annealing
- More advanced color application such as finger bits and threadwraps
- Create and keep two (2) paperweights with color (results may vary)
- The creation of two (2) paperweights typically takes between one (1) and two (2) hours (per person participating in the workshop)
- One instructor per two students…allows for constant hands-on experience
- Cost per student: $175.00
- Schedule: Workshops are offered on Thursday evenings beginning at 6pm (Please call 817.251.1668 if this does not fit your schedule)
- Prerequisite to the Glassblowing Class
Glass Blowing
THE GLASSBLOWING CLASS:
- Sharpen and advance the skills you acquired in your prerequisite Paperweight Classes (click here more Prerequisite information)
- Four (4) sessions; Each session is four (4) hours long for two students or two (2) hours long for one student
- One session per week
- Glassblowing classes are held on Thursday evenings beginning at 6pm
- One instructor per two students…individualized attention promotes quick advancement
- Cost per student: $750.00 ($804.38 w/ tax)
1) SESSION ONE
- Assessment of current skill level
- Explanation of blowing processes, tools and review of proper shop etiquette
- Advancement of basic techniques: gathering, centering, marvering, blocking, flashing and jacking
- Creating the starter bubble!
- Detailed, step by step demonstration of how to blow a piece
2) SESSION TWO
- Review of topics covered in Session One
- Advancement of basic techniques and starter bubbles
- Creating the initial small tumbler! (i.e.toothpick holder, shot glass)
3) SESSION THREE
- Review of topics covered in Session Two
- Advancement of basic techniques, starter bubbles and small tumblers
- Creating the Roman vase!
4) SESSION FOUR
- Review of topics covered in Session Three
- Advancement of basic techniques, starter bubbles, small tumblers and vases
- Applying all techniques learned in multiple glassblown vessels!
Prerequisites For The Glassblowing Class
You must be able to complete the following tasks before taking the Glassblowing Class. These skills may be acquired in Vetro’s Beginner & Intermediate Paperweight Classes.
- Take a clean gather of glass from the furnace
- Marver or newspaper
- Jack the piece
- Flash
- Work with no gloves
- Center the piece on the pipe
- Break off the piece from the pipe
Torch Time Rental & Other Lampworking Info
Demos by Renowned Lampworkers
Vetro is quickly becoming a hub and gathering place for some of the nation’s leading lampworking artists! These artists visit Vetro often and perform live demonstrations before a captivated audience, usually at no admission cost! A few of these well-known artists are listed here:
- National:
- James Albertson
- Avery Gross
- Craig Lewis
- Christian Luginger
- Wil Menzies
- John Olson
- Jacob Luken Sheafe
- Pati Walton
- Local:
- Katy Fenley
- Amber French
- Tim Gottleber
- Ginny Hampton
- Jama Holmes
- Denice Malone
- Darla Nehez
- Scott Young
View the Events section of this site often to see when you can catch a glimpse of these amazing artists!
Independent/Supervised Torch Time
If you have experience with beadmaking and/or lampworking but are looking for a better opportunity to practice your skills, we invite you to come visit our studio and use our facility under a supervised setting. You supply all of your own glass, and we will supply your torch, gas and tools.
Torch Time Rental
- By Appointment Only
- $20/hr for Minor Burner
- $25/hr for Midrange
- Supervised torch time rental is available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 6:00pm and 10:00pm. You must schedule your slot ahead of time, and your skill level must be pre-approved. Please call 817.251.1668 to reserve your time.
Please note that even though a supervisor will be present, independent torch time is not a workshop or class.
Grapevine Bead Making Society
The Grapevine Bead Making Society has decided to make Vetro Glassblowing Studio its new home for their bi-monthly meetings. Vetro welcomes the Society with open arms! If you are interested in joining the Society or learning more about it, please call 817.251.1668 and ask for Jama.
