I made this in the same pumpkin making workshop I made the glass pumpkin in. I forgot to use the optics mold, so it turned into an apple instead of a pumpkin. Since it was going to be a different kind of fruit, I made a dimple in the bottom, and asked for a green-hued bit. Used the leaf press instead of the optics mold. I really like this.

The first one-day workshop I took this fall was for making glass pumpkins. It was billed as a beginner workshop, which was a mistake, as these are tricky to make. Some people weren’t able to make any. I was out of practice, so I made it easier for myself by doing one that was clear. I love the way the optics mold gave the vine those lines.

I quite like how the colors came out on this one. The yellow frit is opaque, but the cobalt blue is transparent, so wherever the blue overlaps the yellow looks translucent green. Very pretty. I got three colors in one.

This is one of the more successful ornaments I made at the workshop eariler this month. One of the changes they’d made at the MAC glass studio since I’d been there the last time is that the frit is in larger pieces. It makes it harder to pick up, but the colors can be more intense.  I used small white frit on the first pass, and then used larger frit with the second pass, for a nice textural effect. I also spun it a little so that I’d have some movement. The only drawback to this one is a sharp ridge near the loop.

I took another of the glass blowing one day workshops at the Mesa Art Center in early December. I do so love playing in the hotshop, but it’s frustrating that the only one day workshops were available as and listed as “no experience required.” On one hand, I like that people have a chance to learn glassblowing without so much commitment. On the other hand, it’s frustrating to listen to the same introductory lecture for the first 45 minutes of every too-short class when I really want to be playing with molten glass.

My first ball exploded when my assistant, new to glassblowing, blew too hard and popped it like a bubble. This was her second try, and I managed to stop her in time. This looks a little oblong, and it’s a little topheavy, but it has character.