Flame Run

Because there isn’t a glass blowing place in Lexington, I took the the trip up to Louisville from Lexington. Actually met up with a group of about 20 people. Our appointment time was at 1:30 and we were there pretty much all day. We were already aware of that, so we all brought along drinks and snacks. There’s also a café attached, but it was closed while we were there.
Parking was a bit of an issue here, as it is with any downtown Louisville experience. There is a parking lot very close, and it is $ 6.00. We lucked out and scored a curbside, metered spot and it was free on the weekend.
We entered through the blazing studio area and then walked up the stairs and paid in the gallery area. There were many items to purchase, including glass blown Christmas ornaments starting at $ 20… or you can spend $ 45 and blow your own ornament. Most of us in the group made a wine glass and or an ornament. The wine glass was $ 65 and to do both, it was $ 100. My daughter did both an ornament and a glass, for a package deal for $ 100. You choose your color options before you pay, they have the colors hanging behind the counter, so that you can see them to make your decision. The price is a bit steep, but I’m sure that the facility, equipment and overall overhead is costly, especially in the prime downtown location.
The ornament process was much faster than the wine glass blowing process. I thought that the neat thing with the ornament is that it’s a permanent keepsake with her actual breathe in it… that beats all of those handmade ornaments that we add to the tree every year. Yes, I’m sentimental like that. You can choose three colors if you choose the ornament.
During the fall and winter are perfect times to go here, because I’ve heard that it gets toasty in the summer or warmer weather. There are several blazing ovens, that I’m sure has a different name other than ovens, but I don’t know the terminology. The day that I was there, there were three different glass artists, one lady helping and one man guiding those of us waiting our turn.
The actual glass blowing is indescribable, well it’s just one of those things that you have to do at least once. Watching the artist create the glass was amazing and like I said, it was way more involved than the ornament process.
All of the artists were nice, but one of them asked me one of the strangest questions ever… and then at the end, he pointed out the tip jar. I felt horrible because I hadn’t brought cash or even considered that I would need to tip. We almost dropped $ 300 for the three of us and gratuity never crossed my mind. So whether or not you’re on a budget, keep the tipping part in mind.

I had been to GlassWorks several years ago so I was kind of confused when we got to the building and realized it was part GlassWorks, part Flame Run. It doesn’t help when the website is under GlassWorks and mentions the walk-​in workshops. Not a biggie; we figured it out.
I wanted to make a project for my 40^th birthday, and the woman there let us come peruse all of the options. Basically, the cost of the item depends on the side. I decided on a tray that started out about 12×4 but will eventually have 3 shallow «dips» in it. With shipping to Indianapolis, the total cost was $ 65.
We were given a lesson on how to cut the glass but, thankfully, they had bins of odds and ends sorted by color gamily, as well as other accessory glass, like pieces that looked like spaghetti, confetti and glitter.
While my design was more, ahem, abstract, it was neat to see the other projects waiting to be fired. Some where downright impressive! Most pieces are ready in 2 weeks but, if you need your item shipped, she said to allow at least another week.
We were there on a Monday afternoon and had the studio to ourselves. It was a lot easier than I expected and I can’t wait to receive my tray!

we had a private after hours glass blowing party. We had a very good time. the staff is awsome. We looked throught the gallery and at the peices already made available for purchase. Then we chose the colors for blowing our own oranaments ($ 40), or you can blow a vase ($ 100) or bowl ($ 60). Everyone had a good time. They let you bring in your own refreshments. So we had snacks and blew our oranments. they looked so beautiful. Its very hot in the room were the furnace is that you do the glass blowing. I have freinds that saw our post on facebook and now want to do a glass blowing party. i would love to do this again. We found out they even offer classes on glass blowing.

Located in the Glassworks building.
Open for about a year, Flame Run is the new glass blowing gallery located inside the Glassworks building. It is a slightly confusing because Glassworks still owns a small glass shop on the left entrance, however Flame Run now controls all the glass ovens and has their own gallery and shop on the right of the entrance. The good news is that you get two glass shops for one location.
I always find the staff helpful and overly talented at their job. Tiffany, one of the mangers of Flame Run was even featured in the Leo!
My boyfriend has done small group classes to learn glass blowing and because we live in the apartments upstairs they always allow me to watch. Great group of people and worth the unique experience of checking out glass blown art and maybe a chance to blow some glass yourself!
The shop itself is always open for the Downtown Friday Trolley Hop.

They made us an ornament while sharing the details of the process with us. We got to actually blow the ornament into a ball shape. They had a great inventory of pre made glass in the gallery! Great artist! Keep up the great work!