Glass Blowing at Glen Echo Park

While at Glen Echo Park this evening we went to the Glass Blowing Studio and watched Paul make a martini glass. It was really cool! It was a 3 step process - for the 'drink holder' part, the stem, and the base.

Getting the molten glass to start

Rolling the molten glass

He put the molten glass into a mold to develop the ridges, then he blew into the glass to make it roundish in shape, and is now working to shape it 

Continuously heating the piece in the furnace. You can't let it get cold, especially while he was working on the other parts on other rods before he attached it to the first part (the 'drink holder')

Attaching the stem to the drink holder

Attaching the stem to the drink holder

Rollings and shaping the piece

Attaching the third part (base) to the piece.

Making it a base

Using a blow torch, before he is ready to transfer this to another rod so he can open up the drink holder part

Attaching the piece to another rod

Heating the glass before he open the drink holder part

Starting to open up the drink holder

Opening the drink holder

Opening it more

Almost there

Just about ready

Finished Glass. Paul said it was the first time he had ever made a glass like this all by himself. He usually needs someone else to help him. He said all the other ones in the studio he has made with someone else helping him