We've had people contacting us for some time to see if we offer "classes", and we've always had to turn them down. Individual glassblowers often have different areas of interest and expertise. I (Bob), for instance, have enjoyed the hands-on process of blowing glass, and just prefer that to guiding other people through the process. The result is a gallery with a wider range of products than we'd otherwise have for display, but at the cost of not accommodating the experiential ambitions of many of our visitors.
That's changed, as we've introduced a new glassblower to our shop, Amanda Williams. Amanda has provided glassblowing experiences for years at one of the area shops that it now, unfortunately, closed. Amanda has a very personal, caring style of guiding a person through the process, and has gained quite the following because of it.
We're currently in the process of establishing the details for these experiences. There is a fair amount of background work in setting up a program like this, and we want to make sure it provides a great experience for everyone involved.
One of the things I want to clarify here is just what is being offered. There are lots of terms thrown around for this - "blow your own", "classes", "lessons", "experiences", etc. While one could argue that they all mean basically the same thing, I feel that it's important to use correct terminology for what we're actually offering.
As a glassblower myself, "classes" and "lessons" have always meant sessions in which a person is taught all the individual steps of how to blow glass, with the ultimate goal of being able to make something absolutely independently, from start to finish. For instance, when I started, it was with the goal of having the "experience" of blowing glass. I had seen it done a few times, and was fascinated by it. Once experienced, it didn't take long to want to do more, and want to do it independently. Fortunately, I had an instructor that was willing to accommodate me by providing "lessons".
Thinking back 15-20 years, the term I first heard to describe these programs was "blow your own float". Floats have been big around here for a long time, and it made sense to focus on blowing a float. That quickly evolved to blowing other things, and became known, then, simply as "blow your own". This is closer to the truth than "classes" or "lessons", but still seems to imply that you'll be working on your own - with some shops even promising that you'll "leave as a glassblower". This actually had the effect of minimizing the perception of the skill level required for blowing glass, with some visitors actually coming into our shop and not understanding why I wouldn't just let them blow a piece of their own - on their own!
What I personally am most comfortable with is the term "Experience". As with an "Introductory" or "Discovery" flight in a small airplane, there is no assumption that you could handle it on your own. Since the main goal is to NOT risk life and limb trying something new, there must be limitations on what a newbie is allowed to do, and must be a responsible instructor close by to keep that newbie from doing something dangerous. Anything more has to be after some development of a knowledge base that allows for an understanding of the process.
So, what we offer is to be along for the ride. You are in the pilot seat / on the blowpipe. You get to feel the unexpected G-forces / unbelievable heat. You get to have the joy of leaving earth's gravitational binds / making a piece of glass art out of a molten blob. You get to have an experience that few people on earth ever have, and one that you'll always cherish.
So keep your eyes on the website, there will be more information soon!
We have decided to scale back to in-store sales only. We certainly appreciate the people that have placed orders with us here - and hopefully we have met their expectations.
Everything that goes into selling items online involves more time and effort than people every realize. Just maintaining current - and decent quality - product photos is a challenge. But the software used is evolving quickly - both in terms of new offerings and in frequent updates. And the shipping itself is complex, involving multiple shippers and constantly changing plans and prices offered.
We do still operate our physical gallery, though. The only real change is that the website will be modified to serve more of an informational purpose. We will continue to offer Gift Cards for sale on the site, though.
All this will take some time to re-organize, so please have patience with it.
We thank you for your support, and feel free to Contact Us if you have any comments or questions.
Bob
USPS is the ONLY service that will ship cremation ashes.
They have 3 main requirements:
USPS does supply kits now for this shipping, and they do not charge anything for them. They're available at the USPS Postal Store.
They offer 3 options:
Again, please note that there is NO CHARGE for any of these items, and there is NO CHARGE for them to ship these to you.
ALSO, be aware that you can ONLY get them ONLINE from the USPS Postal Store - they state they DO NOT handle them at local Post Offices.
Of course, they DO handle the shipping of them at the local Post Office. There will be a Tracking # assigned to your package.
You can read more on this in the USPS FAQ on Shipping Cremated Remains and Ashes, or in USPS Publication #139.
We always include any leftover ashes when we ship the completed Memorial Orb(s) to you, and will label and ship the box the same way. We also add the "Signature Required" service for all Orbs.
Please call us if you still have any questions.
Sometimes it seems like folly trying to sell blown glass pieces on the internet. Not only is it a substantial challenge to try to convey the look and feel of the glass via mere photos, it's simply impossible to fully re-create pieces that we show here. Of course, if you've been to our shop, seen the variation of pieces, and watched the glassblowing - you'll fully understand this. If not, it may require a leap of faith to order something here.
As far as the photos here, I do my best to make sure that they are accurate representations of the pieces in them. Glass is not something you can simply take snapshots of. For instance, the "color temperatures" are influenced not only by what kind of light bulb is illuminating a lamp shade, but what kind of lighting in the gallery (including indirect sunlight) is reflecting off the glass - and whether or not some degree of flash is being used.
Another aspect that you may not realize is the variation in colors that your computer monitor or phone will be giving you. I have one specific monitor that I keep calibrated (there's a sensor that you hang over the monitor to do this), and am often disappointed at how the colors appear on other monitors.
Also, keep in mind that ALL photos you see here are of pieces we've had in the past, and NOT items that we have on hand to send you. If you think about the logistics, there's just no way to take pictures of every single item, upload each specific picture to the website for each item you might get, and then delete it from the website once the item is sold - that would involve far more time than it takes to make the items!
Also, since blown glass is 3-dimensional, I'd need to have either multiple images or those fancy rotating images to accurately display them. I am trying to include multiple images, but they'll all be from different pieces.
Beyond the photos, there are a number of other variables. The colors I use will always be in some degree of different proportions, have varying degrees of overlap, and varying degrees of density - depending on the current color mix I'm using, how hot the glass is when I add the color, and how long I allow the color to contact the clear glass as I'm adding it. And beyond that, the colors themselves change over time, batch by batch - just like paint, yarn, and most anything else involving color.
Then, there's the shape of the piece. Where there's one goal for the Floats (round), there's some degree of variation with any other item. Keep in mind that NO MOLDS are used for shaping anything (other than the Orbs), which means that they're shaped totally free-hand. Think of it as whittling wood rather than using a table saw with guides - there is going to be some variation.
The degree of variation varies by item. I don't include Bowls on the website, or most Vases, since there's no common look to any of them (again, it's not practical to sell most pieces one by one on a website). I feel confident having Floats on the website, as well as Shades - though I may need to make 4-5 Shades to get a set of 3, for instance, to get them reasonably similar.
The bottom line is that the one thing we CAN guarantee is that each blown piece I make will look different to some degree. Fortunately, most people embrace that variation, seeing it as one of the qualities that makes blown glass special.
Of course, there are also people that have a specific image of what they want, and really need to know that what they get will fit that image. If that's you, you'd certainly be better off coming in and seeing the items "live", if at all possible.
If you are not aware, I have been making Memorial Orbs from cremation ashes for about 16 years now. In this past year, I've encounter a few sets of "ashes" that have reacted quite differently to the process, and we started investigating it. There is apparently a somewhat new process for cremation that eliminates the burning - instead, a strong Lye solution is used to dissolve the tissue. It's called "Aquamation". I'm trying to learn all I can about it, but DO know from personal experience that the process is NOT compatible with making Memorial Orbs with the resulting product.
With Aquamation, there is no burning of anything. It's touted as a "gentle process that uses water rather than flame" - which sound benign. But it's not just plain water - it's a strong aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (i.e., lye) that does the work by simply dissolving all the non-bone parts. Also, I've seen mention of a follow-up addition of acid to neutralize the resulting product if necessary. There do seem to be some potential advantages to the approach, and it sounds like this process is growing in popularity. Obviously, I can offer no opinion on Aquamation vs flame cremation vs burial or anything else - that choice is up to you and your families. I'm not even sure yet which method I'd prefer for myself. However...
I CAN tell you from personal, extremely unpleasant, experience that Aquamation "ashes" are HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, and RELEASE A HORRIBLE-SMELLING and POTENTIALLY NOXIOUS SMOKE. Being created using strong acids and bases, I hate to think of what might be in that smoke! But these "ashes" are NOT SUITED for our Memorial Orbs, and I will not be making any more Orbs with them.
I've done 4-5 of them now, and I could tell that something was vastly different about these "ashes". The "ash" bursts into flame as soon as contacted with molten glass, and a huge plume of incredibly foul-smelling smoke bellows out of it. In addition, there are burn marks that remain on the aluminum scoop.
1. We will be asking everyone about the process used for their cremains.
2. If you have "ashes" from the Aquamation process, please don't ask us to make a Memorial Orb with them.
3. If you have brought in or sent us "ashes" from the Aquamation process, it will be evident as soon as the molten glass touches it. I will stop the process immediately, and pack your ashes back up for return to you. We will refund 50% of the Orb cost - the other 50% will be considered a handling/exposure charge. The shipping charge will be applied to returning your "ashes"). .
I can't emphasize enough how much of a "game-changer" this is in my world. I've always felt the Orbs were something special, having started doing them with a family member of my own. But I think it's apparent that dealing with these "ashes" actually constitutes significant health risks for me and anyone else nearby. I want to make it clear that I do NOT feel that the "ashes" themselves are toxic - I simply don't know. But I do know that when you heat anything to 2,000 degrees, you change it in ways you can't immediately predict.
If there is someone out there that can fill me in on some of these details, I'd welcome it. What does the "ash" actually consist of? What is it that burns so readily in the "ash"? What exactly is released in the smoke when the "ashes" burn? Is the process regulated in any way, and are there any specific standards in how the process is to be performed? I'd like to see some scientific, detailed, non-biased information.
Anyway, I have to even consider the possibility of not making Memorial Orbs anymore. Of the half-dozen or so sets of these "ashes" I've handled, not once has it been mentioned that these are NOT standard cremation ashes! My impression is that the Aquamation people focus on the "green" and "gentle" aspects of the process, and not on any of the concerns I have to consider. I feel that if they were really being as altruistic as they try to sound, they'd also be warning clients of things that SHOULD NOT be done with the "ashes".
Lastly, if you DO have "ashes" from the Aquamation process, you might want to consider our Memorial Floats as an alternative to the Orbs. The "ashes" are not subjected to higher temperatures at all with the Floats.
Bob
