Dallas Morning News... Blow your "Glass" heart out

David Gappa likes it hot. He’s the gifted artist who owns Vetro Glassblowing

Studio & Gallery in Grapevine, and on a recent Saturday, he wore a T-shirt covered by a long-sleeved flannel shirt. “It’s cold,” he exclaimed when I commented on his warm attire.

OK, it was 55 degrees outside, and to be fair, he did have the studio door open. This is a guy who’s used to working with glass that starts out in a white-hot furnace, in a glowing molten pool that’s about 2,100 degrees. The glass heats up to 2,400 degrees in the “glory,” or reheating furnace, and the final pieces then get transferred into a “cooling area.” Yeah, cool: a mere 850 to 900degrees.

Gappa, 39, who started his career as an architect and has been a glass blower for 12 years, says road trips with his wife are awful. “She likes it about 70 to72 degrees. I need more like 85 to 90,” he says with a laugh.I got a taste of the blaze last weekend, when I attended a heart- and flower-making event for Valentine’s Day, which the studio will also offer Feb. 11-12.For $25 (flowers) or $39 (hearts), visitors can choose from pink, purple, red or multicolored glass chips to color their delicate baubles.You also get to try your own hand at glass work — Gappa teaches attendees how to smoothly turn the rod holding a blob of red-hot glass, then press it gently into the bowls of colored glass chips. He and other glass blowers take it from there, shaping the blob into a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind piece of art as you watch.

Jennifer Farrar, her mom, Dorie, and daughter Reese, 6, were in town from Abilene and stopped in. Reese, who chose red and pink for her glass heart, is clearly a big fan of the romantic symbol — her blouse was covered with multicolored hearts, and she says they’re one of her favorite things to draw. Roxanne Carder of Dallas was making a trio of hearts in red, pink and purple, for Christmas presents. “It’s something so different and unique,” she says.Jennifer, Roxanne and I can all now legitimately say we’re glass blowers — I got to blow for about five seconds on my personal blob.Gappa says the studio offers events like this during all three big gift-giving seasons: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day (bowls and flowers) and Christmas (ornaments). For those who really get into it, classes are available in glass blowing and in making glass jewelry and paperweights.For Valentine’s Day, the studio is also encouraging “hot dates,” with couples events on Feb. 13-14 that include making hearts and flowers, wine and horsd’oeuvres.

The studio is at 701 S. Main St. at Cotton Belt Depot in historic downtown Grapevine.

The hearts-and-flowers event will take place Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to6 p.m. and Feb. 12 from noon to5 p.m. (although the studio is usually closed on Sundays).

No reservations are taken; it’s first-come, first-served, but you should call ahead for parties of 15 or more. All ages welcome; must be accompanied by an adult if under 18. The “Hot Date Night” events are Feb. 13-14 from5 to 10 p.m. (expect to stay about an hour), and reservations are required(online only). $125 per couple; must be 18 or older to participate and at least21 to drink. Glass objects can be picked up after cooling, or the studio will FedEx them to participants for an extra fee. 817-251-1668. vetroartglass.com.