We had my party at a real glassblowing studio. A busy, working studio in West Horsley called Adam Aaronson Glass Studio. When we walked in, it was warm, and everything was glowing orange from the furnaces. It felt like stepping inside a dragon’s kitchen.
There were 10 of my friends, and at first we were all whispering because it seemed like a serious place. Then Adam, the master glass artist, came over and smiled and suddenly it felt way less so. He explained that glassblowing is part art, part science.
First, we put on safety gear. Goggles on. Hair tied back. Sleeves rolled down. We looked like a squad of extremely stylish lab assistants.
Adam showed us how glass starts as this glowing blob at the end of a long metal rod. It honestly looked like honey mixed with lava. He spun it slowly and said, “Glass is always moving", which sounded very wise and mysterious. Then came the best part: WE got to have a go. Not the super dangerous stuff, obviously, but real techniques! Adam helped each of us:
· Turning the rod so the glass wouldn’t droop
· Blowing gently into the pipe to make bubbles
· Adding colours by rolling the hot glass in tiny bits that looked like sprinkles
· Shaping with special wooden and metal tools.
We each got to choose what to make. There were three options:
🐦 A glass bird
🪼 A jellyfish paperweight
🎃 A glass pumpkin
Choosing was difficult because everything sounded amazing. I picked a jellyfish because it looked magical, like something from an underwater fairy kingdom. Some of my friends chose birds, and a few picked pumpkins, even though it’s not Halloween (they just liked how swirly they looked).
Watching the glass change shape was wild. One second, it was a blob; then Adam would help us spin and stretch and snip, and suddenly — boom — wings! Or tentacles! Or pumpkin ridges!
The studio itself was so interesting. The furnaces roared like they were alive. Tools clinked. It was noisy, bright, and exciting. The hardest thing? Waiting. Because you can’t take hot glass home. It has to cool down slowly in a special oven so it doesn’t crack. We celebrated with cake afterwards in the studio.When I finally picked up my jellyfish a few days later, it was even prettier than I remembered.
Swirly blues and purples with curly tentacles frozen in glass forever.
Best birthday ever. 🔥✨
