Geoff and Lisa introduced us to Glassworks Studio and Gallery, one of their favorite shops in the town of Estes Park. We loved it too.
We enjoyed watching the creative process happening right before our eyes as the craftsman worked at the furnace.
There was only chicken wire between the "audience" and the artist, so he was able to talk to people and answer questions. He's working in very hot conditions!
Hard to pick a favorite.
But, for a change, we actually got out of our usual window-shopping mode and bought a glass bowl with colors that will be perfect in our Florida cottage. A practical and beautiful souvenir that will remind us of Colorado and the great times we've had there!
This stop on our recent roadtrip is linked to the blogging communities at Mary's MOSAIC MONDAY and to OUR WORLD TUESDAY -- with thanks to Sandy and the rest of the OW team (Sandy, Sylvia, Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, and Jennifer).
There's quite a bit about glass art in the book The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards. I think you'd like the book anyway.
Posted by: Nan | July 30, 2013 at 09:42 AM
I have kept your post open for a few days now. I am in awe of this gorgeous glass! I've never seen anything like it and would love to see it in person! Enjoy your evening my friend!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | July 21, 2013 at 04:52 PM
Wow, what amazing and colourful glass art! Loved seing the photos :)
Posted by: Hilde | July 20, 2013 at 03:22 PM
Living in a colourful world.
Posted by: Rainfield (雨田 Malaysia） | July 18, 2013 at 07:24 AM
How glorious!
Posted by: Jenn Jilks | July 17, 2013 at 04:20 PM
Fantastic photos, beautiful work, fantastic reportage :) Regards
Posted by: ZielonaMila | July 17, 2013 at 08:28 AM
Gorgeous stuff! We saw a lot of contemporary glass work during our recent trip to Tacoma. I'll be blogging about it, too. It's an amazing experience to watch these people at work. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Clair Z. | July 17, 2013 at 04:58 AM
This is so interesting, I would love to take the tour someday. The glass pieces are all exquisite, no wonder so much of hard work goes in its making. Your souvenir is lovely and a great way indeed to keep all the wonderful memories alive.
Posted by: Arti | July 17, 2013 at 01:10 AM
It is amazing to watch glass blowers. These are beautiful pieces and we can hopefully see your new bowl in the future.
Posted by: Penny | July 16, 2013 at 08:22 AM
These people are artists! I've seen glass-blowers before and they're always great fun to watch as they mold their creations!
I posted some glass on our Images blog a day or two ago...http://images-amomentintime.blogspot.com.
Hope you're having fun!
Posted by: Lowell | July 16, 2013 at 07:15 AM
What beautiful glasswork! It's amazing to see what comes out of the molten glass, isn't it? We've been to a couple of places like to this to watch the skilled craftsmen work and I can't believe how they make it look so easy to shape the wet, hot mass into something fantastic!
Thanks for the book recommendation on my post! Sounds good and I'll add it to my list. Oh, and BTW, I brought about 100 paperbacks with me on the road, weight be damned! LOL
Posted by: Pat | July 16, 2013 at 06:58 AM
That's interesting to see, I saw it in Venice !
Posted by: Gattina | July 16, 2013 at 12:46 AM
Dearest Salie,
Oh, I've only seen on TV how the craftsman work with them. It sure must be wonderful to see how the glass changes shapes and colors with high temperature☆☆☆ I would collect glass work if I had space in my housep;)
I'm really happy for your wonderful trip to Colorad, my dear friend♪
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: orchid miyako | July 15, 2013 at 10:32 PM
Wow! It s glorious to see men create amazing artifacts!
Posted by: Kusum | July 15, 2013 at 07:04 PM
Oh yes, definitely glorious! Great photos Sallie :)
Posted by: Denise | July 15, 2013 at 06:26 PM
its all fab!!! I would have a hard time making a choice...which one did you get?
Posted by: Sondra | July 15, 2013 at 05:51 PM
It's been many years since I've been to Estes Park, but I'll have to visit that store if I'm there again.
Posted by: Al | July 15, 2013 at 05:01 PM
That glass blower seems very talented looking at all that beautiful glasswork on show. Now you will always remember the experience everytime you look at your special piece of glassware.
Posted by: Fun60 | July 15, 2013 at 02:11 PM
I see a piece I would love to buy. The one that´s looking like an eye in the center. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep Photo | July 15, 2013 at 01:19 PM
The glass work is very colorful and beatuful. I would have spent too much money there:) Interesting to learn that the columbine flowers are the official State flower of Colorado:) Thanks for telling me.
Posted by: Jannibele | July 15, 2013 at 01:11 PM
Beautiful captures of the art-glass! The colors of the objects are so rich!
Posted by: Randi, Sweden | July 15, 2013 at 12:25 PM
What a great post for the day!! I, too, love glass work! Wonderful place to spend some time -- an money, too, I'm sure!!! Have a great week!!
Posted by: sylviakirk | July 15, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Great post. I love glass work and this looks like someplace I'd enjoy.
Posted by: Carver | July 15, 2013 at 12:14 PM
How very delicate and exquisit! Thank you for sharing these beautiful objects to us! It must have been delightful to see the artist at work.
Posted by: Reader Wil | July 15, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Beautiful creations. This is a wonderful experience.
Posted by: Rajesh | July 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Wow! Such beauty. Great photos of it all!
There is a fantastic annual summer long art festival going on in our area right now. It's called the Sawdust Festival and takes place in Laguna Beach (in Laguna Canyon). They have several glass artists represented and it's a good place for them to sell their work. Have you ever gone to it when you are down here?
Posted by: Pat | July 15, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Oh my, what beautiful glassware. I have watched programs on TV featuring glass blowers, and they are quite fantastic. It would be wonderful to watch in person.
Posted by: Hildred | July 15, 2013 at 08:39 AM
What a fascinating and exciting process,
with such incredible results.
Posted by: Lisa Hermanson | July 15, 2013 at 08:29 AM
What a a treat to see! So beautiful !
Posted by: Debra @ Homespun | July 15, 2013 at 08:16 AM
A beautiful and difficult job !
Posted by: Annie | July 15, 2013 at 07:47 AM
Fun post!
Posted by: Sharon Wagner | July 15, 2013 at 07:19 AM
What beautiful pieces of art!
Posted by: Lady Fi | July 15, 2013 at 07:14 AM
I had a friend at college who did a lot of work with glass - we lost touch - and this makes me wonder what he is doing these days.
Cheers - Stewart M
Posted by: Stewart M | July 15, 2013 at 01:53 AM
The stuff there is beautiful. I could watch them for hours blowing glass. The one you have chosen is neat.
Posted by: diane | July 14, 2013 at 11:54 PM
What lovely work-and photos. My favourite is on the top, right photo!
Posted by: Hazel | July 14, 2013 at 11:48 PM
What a great shop - our nephew and family are visiting us this week and will head to Estes afterwards. I'm going to give him the heads up. Great photos, too, Sallie.
Posted by: Barb | July 14, 2013 at 09:36 PM
I love watching glass workers - such skill and dedication to work in the hot conditions. Beautiful mosaic of the glass pieces.
Posted by: Lorrie | July 14, 2013 at 08:26 PM
I love the bowl
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | July 14, 2013 at 07:53 PM
Glad you enjoyed that stop!
I love seeing Dad get so intense when he's watching craftsmen at work. You can tell he's just absorbing their techniques, and thinking about building his own glass oven in the backyard.
That business is open year round, and it's a very nice place to visit in winter -- Estes gets downright chilly, even by Colorado standards, and to walk down main street and finish up in that warm studio is fun.
Posted by: Geoff | July 14, 2013 at 07:46 PM
A beautiful treasure from your trip. They look so pretty.
Posted by: A Garden of Threads | July 14, 2013 at 06:00 PM
they've really got to love what they do to stand in front of that furnace! beautiful creations!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | July 14, 2013 at 04:09 PM
Awe, this makes me happy/sad... My neighbor worked for Glassworks here in KY for 9 years and they recently had to shut down after many years in business. I loved going there so much. Estes Park is a place that we enjoy visiting, and so just maybe now, one day soon, maybe next year, we can visit there. Thank you so much for sharing this~
Posted by: Mary Howell Cromer | July 14, 2013 at 03:40 PM
you make me feel like I'm traveling with you. beautiful works! can't wait to see what you have chosen for Florida.
Posted by: patty hartley | July 14, 2013 at 03:15 PM
What a neat shop, cool to be able to watch the artist at work. I love all the pretty colorful glass pieces. It is wonderful to bring home a memory from your trip! Have a happy week, Sallie!
Posted by: Eileen | July 14, 2013 at 02:44 PM