Although I felt a bit apprehensive before the class started, our instructor, Stephania, quickly set us at ease. She was excellent at teaching us the whole process of creating a simple piece to take home, and she was right there making sure we were okay with each step of the process. She took over briefly for some of the steps that required more skill, such as drawing up the correct amount of molten glass to work with and doing the initial blow to start the bubble inside it. Then she quickly returned the work to us to continue the job. She instructs kids as young as middle school age in this craft, so she is patient and attentive. The whole staff was welcoming. There were small lockers available in which to store our belongings. I gained an appreciation for the fabrication of Murano glass and enjoyed learning, by feel, some of the properties of molten glass. The furnaces are incredibly hot, and we instinctually kept a safe distance from them. It was fun to be on the production floor along with the skilled workers as they were going about their daily activities. A very unusual experience that I highly recommend.

This was amazing! We started by watching a Master Glassblower with more 40 years of experience. Our guide, Ana, explained safety protocols and everything we’d be doing. We started with a cool furnace with water to get the general idea, then made a practice piece in the hot furnace before picking what we actually wanted to make and the colors. She talked us through each upcoming step, helped when needed and also guided us verbally during each step with “turn a little faster” or “get the xxx ready.” She made sure we were happy with our pieces and if not, we heated them back up to make adjustments. I can’t wait to see my piece once it’s cooled down. I highly recommend this and the glass shop.