When we got to the shop, there was a family taking classes, making beautiful glass-blown bowls. Wanting for our kids to have the experience, and eager to try for ourselves, as well, we signed up for a class that we could all participate in. We would make two paperweights, each with three flowers the colors of our choosing. The kids each chose their favorite color, the placement of the three colors determining who went first. Randy, Caden, Shelby, and Tyson went first, while Keilie and Brennon waited in the viewing area. I got to play photographer. Our instructor (called a Gaffer) was Chris, a college student that has been blowing glass since he was 14 years old. His job was to tell us how things needed to be done, with very little assistance other than promptings and encouragement. Occasionally he would take over, shaping our product as only a professional knows how, but for the most part, it was all us.
He first pulled some molten glass from the oven, all the while twisting it on the stake to keep it as center as possible. Immediately he handed the stake to Randy, telling him that he wanted him to practice for just a second before walking it across the room to the Glory Hole— a large open oven that glowed red-hot— never stopping the twisting motion. Once Randy was certain that he had a handle on the twisting, he walked over, and with the guidance of our Gaffer, he proceeded to twist the molten glass in the fire. A few words were spoken by Chris, instructing him here or there, but for the most part, Randy was in control of the project. Once ready, Chris had Randy bring the stake over to the table where our kids had laid out their colored glass for their flower. He had him drop the molten glass onto each circle of color, all the while making sure that he did it quick enough to keep it from cooling too much, or falling off of the stake. Again, he had Randy take it to the fire. Each time the glass was placed in the fire, it took on a red-hot hue. After a few minutes, he had Randy take it out, bringing it to a special table that had the Master’s tools placed just-so, all-the-while twisting and moving it to keep it on center.
A poker was used by each child to poke the center of their colored glass, to make the stem of the flower. Later, Randy used needle-nosed pliers to twist and open each “stem,” circling the colors around for a prettier look.
At this stage, our creation was cooled enough to collect the rest of our glass, the clear outer surface that would enclose and enhance our flowers. He placed our small ball of cooled color directly into the molten glass chamber, circling and collecting the right amount needed to finish our project. Again, Randy was put in charge of spinning, making sure our liquid, taffy-like glass stayed as close to the center of the stake as possible. He had Randy bring the stake back to his tools table, where he took over for just a moment to show Randy what needed to be done. A wooden rounding bowl was used to help shape it into a more round ball. With all that is going through your head as you twist and twist, never having done it, not knowing if you are doing it right, wanting it to turn out perfect, I can understand how Randy didn’t hear him say he needed to be gentle. Randy took that bowl in his hands, and like everything he does, he attacked it with a determined, perfectionist’s hand. After a moment, Chris took over, saying that there might be some imperfections to the glass because of Randy’s determined fervor.
After the final preparations were complete, Chris took our globe to the furnace where it would be kept severely hot for 14 hours, cooling as time drew to it’s end. We had to wait until the next day, anticipating our final product, hoping it would be as beautiful as we had imagined. And, oh what joy and happiness we felt when we got to see and hold our creations!
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