c/glassblowers

Started warming my jacks in the kiln before use

I used to just grab my jacks off the bench when I needed them. Lately I've been putting them in the kiln to warm up first, and it seems to help with sticking less to the glass. Is this a common practice, or am I just wasting time?

Breathing through the nerves got me a steady pull on a thin vase

I used to get really nervous when working with thin glass, and my hands would shake a bit. It made pulls uneven and messed up my shapes. Last week, I started taking a moment to just breathe before I heat up the glass. Just a few deep breaths, nothing fancy. Yesterday, I was pulling a tall, thin vase neck, and I felt calm the whole time. My hands stayed still, and the neck came out straight without any wobbles. It's a small thing, but it felt like a big step for me. Maybe it's just me, but that little pause helped a lot. Idk, thought I'd share since we all deal with stress in the shop.

The quality of batch glass these days just isn't what it used to be...

I remember when batch glass had consistent color and clarity. Now, I get uneven melts and have to adjust my whole process.

I stick to borosilicate for its strength, but a lot of folks are making beautiful things with softer glass. Which camp are you in?

Why does nobody talk about breath control when shaping glass?

I was always getting shaky, uneven pulls on my vessels. Paying attention to my breathing pattern changed that completely. A steady exhale keeps my hands calm and the glass smooth.

Spring craft market showed a jump in glassblowing stalls.

I visited the spring craft market and counted five glassblowing stalls, up from two last year. This makes me wonder if there's a growing interest in handmade glass goods. What factors do you think are helping glassblowing gain more ground locally?

Can we talk about the surge in bubble traps in functional pieces?

They look cool but make cleaning a nightmare.

Our glass shop switched to piece rate pay and it's causing drama

Some of my coworkers love the new system because they can make more cash by working quicker. Others hate it, saying the rush hurts the detail in our glass pieces. I've seen more bubbles and weak spots in recent work. How do you all set up pay in your studios?

I finally figured out a stretch that saves my back in the hot shop

I used to jump straight into working with the glass. My lower back would be killing me by lunchtime. Another blower taught me a quick twist stretch for my spine. Now I do it before every session and the pain is gone. It's made my time at the torch so much better.

Using a softer glass batch stopped stress marks in my vases

Now they come out clear and strong every time.

My date thought glassblowing meant fixing old church windows

I was on a first date and told him I blow glass. He got super excited and asked if I could repair his church's stained glass window! I had to say that I work with hot, soft glass, not the kind in windows. We laughed a lot, but he still brought a broken piece to our next meet-up, hoping I could do something with it.