Michaela Can: Glass blowing

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) - The technique has been around for centuries and for one Newport shop, they pride themselves on continuing the tradition.

"Everything is made completely by hand. We don't use any molds so all the pieces are completely different,” said Adrian Buechner, co owner of Thames Glass. She started the business back in 1981 with her husband.

Home to breathtaking glass figures, Thames Glass gives customers the opportunity of a lifetime.

"We're the only shop in the area where you can come and make your own glass with lots of help from a skilled glass blower. You can make your own ornament or paperweight,” said Buechner.

Assistance is crucial especially when the melted glass is around 2,300 degrees!

"Clear, molten glass; it's kind of like a honey consistency and we have all different ways to add colors to it, ad we have different molds, all different kinds of tools and tricks to give it different patterns,” said Mike O'Donnell, a glass blower for 15 years.

Guests have the option of creating three different pieces.

"You can make an ornament which takes about 10 minutes, or a paperweight which takes about 20 minutes, or even a vase which takes about 45 minutes. And then it takes two days to cool, you can come back and pick it up or you can arrange for us to ship it to you,” Buechner said.

Michaela made an ornament by first selecting three colors for the piece. She had assistance from Shane, another glass blower. When blowing glass, a blow pipe is used to create the piece. The pipe is a hollow steel rod. Dip the blow pipe into the furnace full of melted glass. Roll into the selected colors and melt them down. Be sure to always keep the pipe moving.

If you stop turning the pipe, the hot glass will drip.

Shane evened out the glass by rolling it on a marver and then it's time for the power! Shane said it takes a lot of pressure to force a bubble into the glass, but once it's in there it becomes easier. Once formed, jacks are used to squeeze the top, but the work isn’t over. More force is used to blow the glass larger.

A hook it made for hanging and it goes into a 900 degree over to cool.

"If we cool it down faster the glass will cool at different rates and it is likely to crack,” Buechner said.

The team is able to produce hundreds of glass pieces daily. It is suggested that appointments be made for glass blowing, but walk-ins are accepted as well. Thames Glass ships all over the U.S. Head to  http://thamesglass.com/ to find out more about the unique process.