Lauren Wingert - Backyard Glassblowing: Making It Work

A backyard hot shop is a big commitment. Having the idea to blow glass and actually building a glass shop are miles apart. To blow glass, there must be a facility of some sort. A facility must be designed and built, and much equipment needs gathering. The glass hot shop must have the appropriate utility services. Plus, you have to have available time. Glassblowing involves shop time for the actual glassblowing. Once pieces are created, more work is usually needed to finish them. Finishing work is called cold working. Cold working is grinding, polishing, and signing the glass. Once pieces are fully completed, then more time is needed for the marketing and sales effort.

I was a glass collector for seven or eight years before even getting the idea to try to blow glass. What bridges the idea to blow glass to actually doing it and creating your own glass hot shop is your love and passion for glass!

My fascination with glass began innocently enough, a long time ago. I had a bit of spending money in my back pocket and I decided to pick out something from the local antique mall for my home. I was not looking for anything in particular. After browsing the mall for a while, I selected a fairly large orange and black vase. Something about it was very appealing. I was captivated. This colors in the vase swirled about and the contrast was striking. It was calling to me. I discovered that I really liked colored glass and I began to look for more.

The hunt was on! Flea markets and antique malls became my new favorite places. Collecting glass was a super fun hobby for me. I liked to walk my dogs at flea markets. Sometimes I would go with one of my kids. Collecting glass was an enjoyable weekend activity. Los Angeles has a great network of giant flea markets. A big flea market occurred every week. And I mean really big. It was flea market heaven in LA and I went to them all.

The variety of glass available is astounding. The colors, shapes, sizes, and textures draw me in. I collected colorful glass pieces. Over several years, I had collected over 300 pieces. I loved how it filled my house with color. I put up shelves and a display cabinet for the smaller pieces.

When my house was out of display space, I bought and sold in antique malls and had fun being a glass dealer.

My passion for glass is deep. I named some of my favorite glass pieces. Theres a cased lime colored Italian glass piece called Key Lime Pie. The yellow bohemian piece with brown trails down the side is Chocolate Sauce The first piece I bought I call Monarch for its resemblance to a monarch butterfly and it is the queen as it started my collection.

I dont do much collecting any more due to the focus on my own glassmaking. But my passion for collecting and dealing remains strong. I still love treasure hunting. I love to find a piece that is worth flipping on Ebay for a profit. I will still buy a piece of glass if it is a must have for my house.

Do you have passion for glass? Yes, glassblowing in the studio is fun. But the finishing cold working and the marketing and selling effort is not as much fun. The actual glassblowing shop time is only a small part of the time needed. If you are serious about your own glass studio, be sure your passion for glass is strong. It will keep you going when difficulties are encountered .