Marvering
Marvering is one of the first essential skills a new glassblower must learn—and it can feel a bit intimidating at first. Using a flat steel surface (called a marver), you shape and cool the molten glass by gently rolling it, guiding it into form.
At first, it feels like trying to control lava with a butter knife—but with practice, you start to feel the rhythm, the timing, the subtle resistance of the glass. Over time, marvering becomes second nature, a quiet moment of control in the fast, fiery dance of glassblowing.
Gathering
Gathering is one of the first hurdles in glassblowing—a deceptively simple step that takes real finesse to master. It’s the act of collecting molten glass from the furnace on the end of a blowpipe or rod, and while it might look easy, it’s all about timing, rotation, and confidence. Too fast or too slow, and the glass doesn’t gather evenly.
Early on, it can feel overwhelming—like you’re dipping a stick into the sun. But with repetition, your movements get smoother, more intuitive, and gathering becomes the satisfying first step in bringing your ideas to life.
Second Gathers
Second gathers are a big milestone for beginner glassblowers—both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. After the first gather, going in for a second means handling more weight, more heat, and more complexity. The challenge is keeping the glass centered and controlled while dipping back into the furnace without losing your shape or rotation.
It can feel like trying to balance molten honey on a stick—twice. But with practice, it starts to click, and second gathers open the door to working larger, layering color, and creating more complex forms.