I was so lucky to visit my very first GLASS PUMPKIN Patch! Every item is so unique and beautifully crafted. I was getting delighted, each time you though a pumpkin was gorgeous and held it in the sun it changed to even deeper or brighter colors, it was just stunning. There are many shapes, standard round pumpkin, lay down pumpkin, gourd shapes were my favorite, mushrooms, starfish and ornaments. Normally this is a Tacoma Washington shop BUT this was their ninth season in f holding the glass pumpkin patch in Lincoln City. I can't wait to go to their shop and make something. Glass pumpkin patch! Patrick Cahill, co-owner of Area 253 Glassblowing was happy to pose for a quick photo shoot. I love the yellow pumpkin I am holding, it looked like a lemony dream, exuding happiness and warmth, just waiting to come home and spend the holidays with me. read more

A fantastic event for team building! The whole team had fun, tried something new and gets to take home a token and lasting memory! No one was bored, everyone was fascinated! Thank you so much from the Hill Valley Team! I am recommending to other leaders in the area! read more

What a fun outing this was ! My work did a team building activity here where we all made a item out of glass. Most of the people in my group blew their own bowls but I went a different route and made a paper weight. With assistance of course by the folks that run Area 253! You can pick from a variety of colors as to what you want your glass piece to look like. Paperweights they usually go with two colors while with bowls it can be up to three. I went with a light blue and a bright green for my paperweight and went with the organic option that I was given (as opposed to the spiral design which you can also have inside the paperweight). The result of the colors I picked and the blister bubbles that were captured gave my paperweight a turbulent oceanic look which I absolutely loved! I would love to come back here again to make more paperweights and try out different colors and maybe the spiral option. I have a small group of friends I'm going to try to get to go... they would really enjoy it! Awesome place and now I think I'm addicted to glass blowing places like Area 253! read more

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**happy 250th review to me!** I've been holding onto this review for some time, since I wanted to do a good write-up. But it's time. Heh. My friends and I attended the 'float' workshop on a Saturday in December. The workshop was $50ea and was for 4hrs down in their Tacoma Studio. It's in an industrial location in Tacoma next to the Self Storage (which you can see from the freeway). We were lucky with our parking, but a gal from SS did come out to demand why we parked where we did because they needed the spot. Um, the spot isn't marked with your business so we're staying! :P They had a glass sale just before class, which explained the parking shortage. But that gave us time to look over their wares. There were ornaments, cups, votives, and creepy/cool baby head glasses. Class attendance was about 25-30ppl and the reason why the workshop was 4hrs is that you're waiting for your turn to make your float. You may think that's a lot of time, but it actually goes pretty quick. It gave my friends and I time to chat and catch up on things while browsing their studio space and the glass on display, giving us ideas on what colors and patterns we hoped our floats would be. There were three guys running the show, Joe, Oliver, and Connor. They were very nice and patient because they've been repeating the same stuff to everyone when they had their turn! But not once did I sense any annoyance, just lots of patience. The glass is hot, like molten honey and when it came to be my turn I forgot all I had observed for the past couple hours. Heh. But it went okay! I dipped my colors, spun it a few times in the kiln, smoothed it into a round shape and blew air into it to make it larger. It ends with you stamping your initials into the glass and it going into a holding chamber for a few days. The whole process takes about 15-20mins or so, it goes so fast. You can pick up your piece a couple days later. A great experience and conversation starter! I'm seriously considering their other workshops too and this makes a great gift for any occasion. PS: Check my profile pics for more photos during this workshop! read more

My wife got me a spot at an intro to glass-blowing 1 day class here as a birthday gift and I just made use of it. The class was great and the instructors seemed like really cool people and they made it easy to get started working with glass. I'd been wanting to try glass blowing for about 10 years now and this was a great place to try it out. I'm even considering coming back for one of the multi-week courses because it was so fun. read more

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A real gem of a place, and the personality of Patrick is wonderful. Took my team there to make an ornament for Christmas, and it was a memorable experience. If you get a chance, well worth it. And the results were outstanding! read more

Area 253 Glass Blowing - Marc with Patrick working the glass - Glass Blowing Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Found some gorgeous mushrooms yesterday at Maris Farms!! The artist helped my husband to choose some glass mushrooms for me. I can't wait to see what's in store for next year!! read more

Area 253 Glass Blowing - Glass Blowing Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Area253 Glassblowing in Tacoma today. What a great experience. Excellent staff, patient and knowledgeable and you can tell they love what they do. Huge space with plenty of ventilation and masks worn at all times. read more

M-SPACE! I am a stay-at-home Mom ... Now I only say that to express how LITTLE I get out and do things that are more adult (with the exception of Babysitters and dates with my husband!) -- but especially things for MYSELF that revive the creative side that gets lost in diapers, snot and crayons. I did the one day Pumpkin blowing in October -- and had such a wonderful time. I have made a pledge with myself (and husband has offered to watch kiddos!) to get here more often this year and invest in that part of me that seems so far away at times. M-Space is not only inspiring, but I loved that (though I knew nothing of glassblowing) the instructors were totally cool. They didn't make me feel stupid and seemed to actually ENJOY their jobs -- and explaining everything to me. If you can (and enjoy creative outlets) -- you really need to take one of these classes!!! read more

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Customer service was great! Prompt returned phone call, great experience with everything explained well. When items were ready, I got an immediate text. Would recommend for a unique activity. read more

I bought 2 Groupons for my husband and I to take a three hour beginning glass beading class. The location is in an area that is all old warehouses and it's very close to the freeway. We unfortunately turned right on the street instead of left, so when we parked we were looking around for the building and couldn't find it. Once we realized what we did I saw the sign and it's hard to miss. I took a picture of it and posted it. It's really hard to miss. So we re-parked the car, and entered the building. The class was all the way in the back and not hard to miss. We passed by two glass blowing stations, which was pretty neat. One of them was being used by a couple of gentlemen. We walked into a smaller room at the back of the warehouse where there was a very large metal table with 5 torches set up. Two on each side and 1 at the head for the teacher. When we arrived, we were introduced to our teacher who was a younger man, probably early twenties - great demeanor and very helpful - by an employee of Area 253. The class consisted of myself, my husband and two other women. After meeting the teacher, were told to grab some glass rods (I took a picture) and sit down. Over the course of 3 hours, we made between 6 and 8 beads. The teacher would show us how to make the bead and then we would try to make it. While making the bead, he would slowly walk around the room and help us out. There wasn't a time during the class that I felt overwhelmed. One of my beads started to melt away from the mandrill (you'll have to take a class) and the teacher was right there to save the day. It was awesome. All in all I had a fantastic time and I would suggest this for anyone interested in glass beads or glass art. We were told we could pick up our beads the next day before noon, or any following weekend, or for 6 dollars he would mail them to you. read more

Area 253 Glass Blowing - Sign outside building - Glass Blowing Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Highly recommend the glassblowing experience here. Patrick is super responsive and communicative not only in setting up your appointment and experience, but he's incredibly personable and a delight once you're there. He made the entire experience an absolute joy. It was worry-free, fun, and something my family and I would repeat in a heartbeat. My dad was a skeptic going in, thinking glassblowing would be a "total chick experience," and he ended up talking motorcycle shop talk with Patrick most of the time and raved about the experience even more than my mom and me. Definitely visit. You won't regret it! read more

What a great experience! Had a part of our Ferguson Architecture office party here. VERY fun and professional staff. Great space, lots of choices of what to make. Couldn't be happier! Thank you Area 253 Glass! We will be back. read more

the best place to blow glass on the puget sound. the best equipment and best space. the folks here are really tuned into helping you make the best glass you can make. Joe miller is well known around the world for making glassblowing equipment. he made all the equipment for the corning museum floating glass shops. the glassblowers who work there are also well known throughout the world much less washington and the puget sound. all the various techniques of glassblowing can be seen depending on what day you decide to visit. classes are also available and one day workshops are just a blast. if you have any interest in glassblowing or are looking for that unique gift give them a call read more

A friend gave me a 253 glass blowing Christmas present and it was fun as hell. If you like being creative, this is great fun. Did a basic beginner class for bead making and there is a lot to learn. I definitely will take some other classes there and the instructors are very cool people and let you experiment and have fun. Wear warm cloths if it is cold out, it can have some cold winds in there? Prices on website and can be rented, also? 4 or 5 people to classes. read more