Flameworking 101

Some of you have requested a photo of just what one makes at a one hour flameworking "drop- in session" at the Toledo Museum of Art.*


It's a swizzle stick - I made the bird on top. I started with a glass rod and then used a blowtorch and another glass rod to sculpt the body, tail, beak, and (trickiest part) wings. When you touch one rod of glass to another under intense heat they melt into each other and then you can kind stretch them (forming the beginnings of a beak or wings) and then - when you have the shape you want - "cut" them apart under the heat. You can also use tweezers and pliers to shape things, though with more traditional instruments you have to act fast because glass hardens quickly after you remove it from heat. It's probably easier (and more fun) than it sounds.

* A little background: Toledo not only has a great art museum - it also has a great collection of glass art. Also known as the Glass City, Toledo is/was headquarters for several glass-related businesses, many of which supplied parts to the auto industry. This led to a focus on glass art and the recent opening of the Glass Pavilion (made out of glass and containing glass) across from the main art museum. They do great glass blowing demos.