Art by Fire Gallery and Glass Blowing School

My company hosted a going away party for a couple people at our office here last year. We did the blown glass stuff and had a cater bring in food. The experience was great. We had fun choosing what to make and the staff was wonderful. I really loved their dog who is able to wander around all sorts of glass on display with a long, fluffy tail and not knock anything over. I am worried that I will knock stuff over and I don’t even have much of a rump, let alone a tail.
There seemed to be a little confusion as to some of the items people in group made. It didn’t match up. Nevertheless, it was a great work outing.

I’m a fan of glass art, so I can honestly tell you that walking into this store makes me a happy girl — good selection of glasswork of various types, everything from smaller fused glass pendants to larger, blown glass monstrosities that I want desperately, despite having no room to display them.
I’m also a lampworker (that’s the glass bead with a torch for those who don’t know) and this is one of my favorite shops to buy cane (glass rods) and various other tools. One year for Christmas my parents, God love them, decided they wanted to get me some supplies and tools for glasswork and they… well, they don’t know much about the ins and outs of lampworking. They knew I wanted some basic tools (since I’m still getting things set up) and some frit (which they didn’t really understand), and with that knowledge alone, they managed to walk away with a couple of tools and a box filled with various sizes and colors of frit, thanks to the extremely kind, thorough help they were offered by the staff there.
I just wish this place was larger.

Dale Chihuly isn’t the only glass artist in town, as the jaw dropping gorgeous pieces here prove. There’s something so primal and sensual in glass and the things here just make you want to whisper «wow». Actually, that’s exactly what I did. They exhibit and sell here, and they also teach classes. I’m planning on taking the glass beads class. Full blown glass blowing seems a bit much for me, but they teach that as well. The colors are extraordinary and the artistry makes this a place worth visiting.