Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI)

It was great working with Kelly today. I love her passion and fun personality. I was nervous at first but she made the process go so smoothly and easy. She also easily directed me on the process and throughout the process on what to do. I really enjoyed creating my pumpkin. 🎃 (I can't wait to pick it up later this week.)

We LOVE BAGI!! It's a place where you can let your creativity bloom while learning from some of the best instructors in a safe environment. It's our second time here for the vase class with Stephen and Kyle. Our first glass fusion dish class was with Mel. All three instructors were amazingly kind, patient and helpful for beginners like my sister and I. BAGI class tends to sell out very quickly. I highly recommend you follow them on social media such as Instagram for updates on their super popular classes. BAGI is located next to History Park on Phelan Ave. BAGI has its own gated spacious parking lot. Once you sign up, you'll receive an email with the gate's passcode. Drive through the gate, park, enter through the building labeled BAGI and enjoy your time here! The institute is divided into 2 parts: the front receptionist area with product displays (for sale) and the workshop for classes such as glass fusion and the "hot" shop for any glass blowing classes. Safety is a priority here as you'll see signs of "Eyeball" (meaning you need to wear safety glasses) everywhere around the studio. We felt like a kid in a candy store and were eager to explore all the creativity options around us. Don't let those cool shaped glass products intimidate you! You can do anything, especially with the help of their helpful instructors! Overall, we had a blast here! True the price is not cheap but considering the amount of work it takes to maintain this institute and the value of the lesson you'll receive, it's totally worth it in my opinion. Tips: they have Groupon for their glass fusion dish class and occasionally have seasonal sale :)

Such a fun and informative experience! We had multiple instructors for the fuse team and the hot glass bowl options and all were very helpful. Jerry (or Jarod?) was amazing and so patient with us and we really appreciated everyone’s hard work. Jeanette was also so kind and considerate on accommodating our tough schedule. Highly recommend 10/10 🤗

What a fun experience! We did the pumpkin making class and our instructor John was fantastic. Lots of fun and great date night, can't wait to pick up our pieces!

Did a class with Wounded Warrior Project here recently, they have glass blowing and glass fusing which groups can try out, and we did glass fusing and made Christmas ornaments. You can pay to belong or join other classes, and you can also come watch them blow glass (there's bleachers) and buy some of the goodies people make. Really great institution, surprised I didn't know it was there! One of our party is planning to use it as a birthday venue for an adult group of friends. The people there are super nice.

Our beginner lawn ornament class was fantastic for all ages ranges from 14 to 83. The instructors were super helpful and kind and let us do cool things.

We had a team event at BAGI this week and had an amazing time! The instructors were super friendly and helpful and we each had a chance to make our own bowl with lots of color/shape options! It was definitely a new experience for all of us and we all enjoyed our time at BAGI. Would highly recommend if you’re looking for something fun and different to do with your team or friends!

My mother & I had the most amazing time! We did the bubble bowl experience and Christian did a fantastic job making it a remarkable and memorable experience for us. Highly recommend BAGI. We look forward to doing another class in the future, hoping to do the vase next. Thank you so much.

I had a really good time making these square shaped glass art. The instructor was really nice and patient. Facility is clean and had some cool art pieces for sale as well. The class took about two hours long and we were able to pickup the fused artwork after a week.

We LOVE BAGI!! It's a place where you can let your creativity bloom while learning from some of the best instructors in a safe environment. It's our second time here for the vase class with Stephen and Kyle. Our first glass fusion dish class was with Mel. All three instructors were amazingly kind, patient and helpful for beginners like my sister and I. BAGI class tends to sell out very quickly. I highly recommend you follow them on social media such as Instagram for updates on their super popular classes. BAGI is located next to History Park on Phelan Ave. BAGI has its own gated spacious parking lot. Once you sign up, you'll receive an email with the gate's passcode. Drive through the gate, park, enter through the building labeled BAGI and enjoy your time here! The institute is divided into 2 parts: the front receptionist area with product displays (for sale) and the workshop for classes such as glass fusion and the "hot" shop for any glass blowing classes. Safety is a priority here as you'll see signs of "Eyeball" (meaning you need to wear safety glasses) everywhere around the studio. We felt like a kid in a candy store and were eager to explore all the creativity options around us. Don't let those cool shaped glass products intimidate you! You can do anything, especially with the help of their helpful instructors! Overall, we had a blast here! True the price is not cheap but considering the amount of work it takes to maintain this institute and the value of the lesson you'll receive, it's totally worth it in my opinion. Tips: they have Groupon for their glass fusion dish class and occasionally have seasonal sale :)

I purchased a Groupon for the glass fusing class. The value was worth it! They have a private parking lot with a lot of spaces. Read and sign the waiver so you can prepare yourself for the class. Lucy was our instructor and she was great! She gave us directions and helped us if we needed anything. She is informative! Safety glasses are provided and must be worn the whole time. If you have your regular glasses, that would work. Be very careful with tiny glass pieces when you break off or glass you cut. You can easily cut yourself. I constantly swiped the pieces and never let my hand or arm rest on the table. I will definitely take this class again! It was fun and therapeutic!

I treated my family for glass blowing experience and they had a great time. We visited Seattle couple months ago and I was fascinated to have visited Chihuly's Garden/ museum of glass arts. It's amazing to how a simple glass can for I to something magical and wonderful.

Took a glassblowing class on a Sunday to make a Christmas ornament and had such a fun time. Facility is spacious, clean, and well organized. Stephen was so fun and interesting, showing us what to do and talking generally about glassblowing. Would absolutely return for another class; would be a great group activity as well!

I found BAGI through Groupon - so glad I did! Val was our instructor and really was amazing. She took time to walk us through the process, the tools and safety. I also really appreciated that she came around during the class to motivate, appreciate and provide some important tips that helped us make the most of our art. This is a wonderful creative space. There is opportunity to sign up for other classes, but also to sign up for time to just create. Support our local arts!

We had so much fun taking the glass fusing class. The instructor was fantastic, the supplies we had access to was complete and the selection of glass to use was huge! The safety and 'how to' information was very clear. The hands on support from the instructor was exceptional. It was a great experience!

My very first glass workshop ever! I was fortunate enough to be able to book the glass bowl session which is approximately 1.5-2 hours long with total of 8 people. It's split into two groups with two different instructors that will work with you one-on-one. You pick your desired colors (1-2 color combination) and the desired bowl shape. My instructor is Christian and he is very friendly, helping me along every step and guiding me. Bowl will take 1 week to fully cool off and ready to be picked up. I highly recommend any glass experience here and definitely will be back for future workshop! I'm looking forward to learn on how to make a glass flower~

They have great Groupon deals for some of their classes. So far we have been to the Glass Fusing Experience and we just finished the Shape a Bowl class. Both are great classes, but the Shape. Bowl was above and beyond! Here is a breakdown of each class. Glass Fusing: - You get to take the glass provided and use it as a whole piece or have the instructor cut it in 4 or in 3 strips. I hand the instructor cut it in 4 small squares and made them into coasters. - You mostly get to work on your own - You sketch out what you want then pick glass pieces and cut to the size and shape you want - Use a specific glue to attach the glass pieces - When you are done, the instructor takes your project and saves it for later when they fire up the process they use to fuse the glass together. - They have a certain date you can pick up your project. Shape a Bowl: - The instructors are super fun! - They walk you through the process at the beginning and then each instructor takes on a student to assist with the process step by step. - If you go with a friend, they encourage you to have one go first so the other can take photos. - The instructor has you pick the colors you want and then take you through each step. They handle a lot of the process for you which we were afraid to do initially until we saw they handled the hard parts! Whew! - Just like the Glass Fusing you have to go back to pick up your project. We had an awesome time and we highly recommend them! We will definitely be back!

Great experience making ornaments. Stephen was very funny! The instructors explained the process well, and then were very patient and calm while we stressed about making a beautiful ornament.

The instructors were AMAZING! My friends had a great time chatting & cracking jokes with them throughout the experience. They do a really good job of explaining different steps of the process and helping you make your custom piece. We got to choose one out of three types of bowls/centerpiece/marg glasses (whatever you want to use it as). Please be aware that it gets hot in the room because you are working with 1000+ deg temp. They give you a sleeve & glove to protect your working arm, but your body does feel the blast of heat every time the furnace is cracked open. They have a beautiful display of more intricate pieces created by different professionals for sale. We had a fun time looking at the different designs. note: you do have to come back after a week to pick up your piece :)

We choose the Private Survey event - two hour personal instruction for my wife and I. This is the first time either of us have worked with glass. After some instructions and picking colors, Jared and Christian worked one-on-one with us to each make a glass flower. Then they helped my wife blow a glass vase and me blow a matching glass bowl. Christian and Jared handled all the dangerous or difficult stuff, like getting molten glass from the furnace and attached the bottom. He literally held my hand, guided my tools, and constantly gave words of encouragement and guidance. When I was a bit slow (you have to work *fast* with cooling molten glass), he joined in and made it a success. We love our pieces and the colors they helped us choose. Everyone at BAGI was very friendly and helpful. It was well worth the extra to have such accomplished glass workers teach us, show us, and guide us to making beautiful pieces. Please note that your glass pieces have to be annealed (be very slowly cooled) for two or three DAYS before you take them home. Fortunately we made our items on the second day of our vacation to the Bay Area and picked them up before we left.

Super super fun date idea. Found the Make a Bowl class on Groupon, and decided to surprise my boyfriend with it as he's never done a class like this before. The instructors were so patient and fun to talk to. I would think they'd be tired of hosting these classes every week for people who have no idea how to handle the process, but all they wanted was to make sure we were having a great time and for that, I am immensely grateful. Directions weren't too hard to find the place, and there is plenty of parking. They checked our Groupon code, checked us in, and started the class by demonstrating what we'd be doing today. Afterwards, we all got to make our own bowl. It was super cool and my boyfriend enjoyed it a lot. PPE was given and instructors wore masks, so we felt safe during the whole process. A week later, we stopped by again and got our bowls (they need to cool down and be wrapped, etc.). Love them! Would definitely come again, and recommend.

This is an underrated spot for hanging out with your pals! My gang and I customized blank glass tiles, and we had a blast. We had a very thorough instructor (need to get her hairstylist's number, stat!), and got to take a peek at glassblowers through windows in the shop. Very cool location and great people.

Such a wonderful place if you love to create. They take you step by step as they guide you to blowing your own glass piece. Today my husband and I tried it out and it was a fantastic morning weekend date. Can't wait to pick up my items. They are A+++ . I highly recommend this place if you like hands on creativity.

My partner and I took a class here for introductory glassblowing. My instructor was Jarrod and my partner's instructor was Kevin. We had a really great time learning about glassblowing techniques. Both instructors were so patient and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend this place!

Had a ton of fun at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) with some friends! I was asked to join a co-worker for a one-session, two-hour glass class. We booked online on the BAGI website. Our specific class was for us to make a glass "Mother's Day" flower. We booked for the Saturday before Mother's Day. (05/12/18) BAGI is located within Kelly Park on Phelan (drive into Phelan towards the residential neighborhood, and BAGI will be on the left). It's hidden between large colorful shipping containers turned into a workshop. For our specific class, we paid $59 a ticket, which included the class and whatever we make that we get to take home. Here's the process: 1. Check in and sign a liability waiver 2. Watch demonstration on what we will be creating 3. Two-by-two, each person is walked through the process 4. You're done! Our two-hour class was actually 15-20 minutes of actual activity, but the rest of the time is spent waiting for your turn. The three of us didn't realize that it takes more than a couple of days for our glass creation to be set, so we weren't able to surprise our respective moms with them on Mother's Day. Boo! Still, the experience was fun and informative. Our take-home creations turned out beautiful and made for great gifts for our moms! I'd definitely want to try another project at BAGI... maybe a paper weight or beer glass!

If you want to use your creative skills and take a cool item home, I highly recommend this place. We found this place through Groupon, And it wasn't cheap but it was definitely one of a kind experience. We got to make glass vases in the shape and colors that you wanted! You can definitely make art pieces or make functional vases That you got to take home with you. Our instructors are very helpful and they go through a full demo on how to make your own glass blown vase. This place is a very hot and it can be very dangerous so you'll have a one on one instructor guide you throughout the whole process after the demo. A couple of things to note., It does get very hot so the best time to go take this class is during winter time or full time. Also they gave you the equipment needed for the heat but keep in mind that your arm can get very hot during the glass molding process. Everyone had a great time and I highly recommend this experience.

I came here with a group for an introductory glass blowing class and it was great! The staff was super nice and helpful and they made the experience fun. It was my first interaction with glass blowing and it was really interesting to see how these gorgeous glass items are created. The place can be a bit hard to find as it's in the back of an empty looking parking lot so keep your eyes pealed. Make sure you don't wear any flammable clothes and closed toed shoes, I also recommend long sleeve shirts if you're sensitive to heat as your arms can get a bit warm when you are doing certain activities.

My inner 13 year old was rearing to get out! I mean this place uses terms like "glory hole" "blow hard" and "blow pipe" it's tough not to giggle!! Glass pumpkin making is so much fun! And the instructors are great! They are helpful, knowledgeable and funny. The process can appear to be intimidating, but the instructions put you at ease. I definitely recommend this experience to anyone!

I'm more of a hands-on guy and I find painting pictures on canvas or plates just ain't my thing. So when my gf saw this come up on Groupon, we were excited bc I've always had a fascinating with glass blowing. BAGI is located on the south edge of the Japanese Friendship Garden. It is tucked inside and not visible from the street. Like everyone says, it's HOT as balls there and although they have large fans blowing, it is impossible to keep the place at a reasonable temperature so don't go on a hot day. I find it ironic that they ask you to wear long pants for safety yet all the instructors are in shorts. Hey do as I say not as I do! The 2-hr class begins with a quick demonstration of the process steps and the equipment used during this time. When it came time to make your bowl, I was a bit disappointed on how little freedom we were given. I prefer to not have as much hand-holding as this was supposed to be US making it. With the exception of you blowing the glass--and even then they tell you how hard and how long to blow you are kinda there to assist. You pick the two colors you want and the instructor is the one that's dipping the molten glass into the frits. It starts looking more like a bowl after the glass is re-softened in the glory hole (No i didn't make that name up). The final flare was totally done by the instructor which I found to be the most unsatisfying because I want to control the design but it's hard to do that from the sidelines. Maybe I'm within the 3 sigma of the population, but I would love it if I was given that choice. Still, I think it was lots of fun and a great introduction into the art and if interested, people can rent the facility during the week. Don't go expecting to yield a beautiful work of art, but as the experience. Your creation must be slowly cooled to cure the glass which means the agonizing 3 days before you can pick it up.

We just finish our first "bowl making discovery" class at BAGI (purchased through Groupon). Our instructor was kind, patient and so knowledgeable. He explained each step to us since it was our first time and was so patient. My husband and I had an amazing time and will be back!

Took a Glass Fusion class the other day with my sister - what a great experience for beginner! It was also really exciting to cut the glass, round the edges all by ourselves, fully emerging in the process! Tim, who was our supervisor and teacher, demonstrated all possible techniques and was very patient and helpful throughout the practice. At the same time, he didn't do all by himself and didn't limit our creativity, allowed his assistance with any complex idea each of us had in mind, didn't discourage with "you won't make it in a given time". Totally recommend for adults and kids to go to BAGI.

Good job. My friends like this place and they all want to come here again. I would imagine myself taking my kids here.

Instead of the normal dinner and a movie, my wife and I came here for our date night. It was a lot of fun. There were 7 people in our class and we were divided into two groups. So, the student to teacher ratio was great. Instructor Treg and Assistant Esteban were very experienced artists themselves. They were hands-on and patient with us newbies. Safety is highly important here. I could definitely feel the heat from that furnace. 3000F? 5000F? I don't care. It's HOT. Keep your safety glasses on and make sure you wear closed-toe shoes. We each got to choose our colors for the glass flowers and eggs that we were about to make. No clue what the mixtures would turn out. We took turns to sit on the bench and started pulling and spinning that crazy molten hot blob. It was incredible how compliant glass could be. Woohoo, there went our masterpieces into the kiln and we couldn't see them until days later. The suspense was a torture :) When the time had arrived for us to pick up our finished products, we opened the bags and were immediately blown away. Did we really make these things? The artistically challenged us? Our beautiful sculptures have been sitting on our mantel since. Thanks BAGI!

J and I bought an online deal for a 2-hour glassblowing class where you make a bowl. We would not have done it without the deal because it's somewhat pricey, but with the deal it sounded like a fun thing to try. I liked coming away from the class with a bowl (as opposed to items that I'd be less likely to use, like a decorative pumpkin or a paperweight). Dean was our instructor, and he was really great. The class included a brief tour of the facility & Dean showed us examples of the different kinds of glasswork that can be done here. Then he got to the good stuff: making glass bowls! Dean helped each of us (there were 4 people in the class) one at a time. He was really patient and helpful, explaining each step in advance and helping us as needed so that our bowls would turn out perfect. It was cool because we were able to pick the type of bowl we wanted to make (either flat/normal or floppy/wavy) and the color (clear, 1 color, or 2 colors). The bowls aren't very huge, but they're gorgeous - maybe about 6" in diameter in the actual bowl part (the part that can hold objects/food) and flaring up to 10" diameter at the top, about 8" total height. Each bowl is a little different, so don't go by my exact measurements. The class ran over the allotted 2 hours, but as soon as you're done making your bowl you can leave - so some people left after 1.5 hours. Our bowls will be ready for pick-up 2 days after the class is over. I'm looking forward to seeing our finished products!

Been taking classes at BAGI for 4 years. Always a wonderful experience, excellent instructors and amazing opportunities to improve my glass skills. As a beginner, I value the opportunity to learn and grow with each experience. Yes, I started as a Groupon person to find my niche. The glass blowing experience is for one person only, stated on the Groupon site very clearly. The fusing class is for two people and was amazing, My hubby produced a beautiful hummingbird plate, as beginners, it is nice to be able to take home a finished product that can be displayed and not tossed out. Yes, your items need the kiln and will not be ready for 1 week. Open your mind, unleash your creative side and (please be kind--it's free) and try an experience at BAGI for our fun and enjoyment.

My wife and I bought a Groupon for BAGI for two people to do a glass blowing class. This was for my brother in laws 50th birthday. He and his wife wanted to do a class here together, so we got them this gift. They showed up and were told - despite a paid in advance coupon for two people - that it was only good for one person. My brother in law was told he could pay another $180 for his wife to participate. They declined and she ended up standing aside and "watched" him do the entire class from afar. Terrible experience for them (they drove down from Sacramento specifically for this class) and embarrassing for us as this was a 50th Birthday gift for them to enjoy together. We'll also be making complaint with Groupon, but this is a highly unethical way to run a business. Some business owners just don't get it. Caveat emptor!!

Found this through Groupon. Made reservation online, and the instructions were clear regarding the parking. Glass blowing was fun. The instructor was friendly and was clear about the procedure. Its a one-on-one class. Points to remember: -Wear cotton full sleeves clothes to bear the heat coming from the glass. You might get a rash since the heat is unbearable after a certain point. -Wear your sunglasses/spectacles inside. They provide glasses but its better to wear your own since they fit better. -Wear closed toe shoes. They help you make the glass bowl in every step. It feels intimidating but you will be fine. It takes time for the bowl to cool down. Can't wait to see my bowl.

I had a FABULOUS time shaping a floppy bowl. I love the way my bowl turned out and it makes a beautiful art piece/candy bowl in my office. I love showing it off! I plan to come back to make a pumpkin AND some glass beads (and maybe some heart paperweights). Thanks BAGI! You all are AWESOME!

I recently got a Groupon for a class. I had so much fun making my bowl. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn how to blow glass. This class is an amazing introduction to glass blowing. The instructors were very helpful and knowledgeable. They made the whole process lots of fun.

Such a fun activity! And very professional instructors that made it even more fun! Great for a team building event, family fun, or an activity to do with your friends or clients.

My friend Jeannie and I took the "Glass Experience" class at BAGI last month, thanks to the magic of Groupon. We were lucky and had a small class - only one other person was there with us. This meant we got a ton of attention from our instructor, and it was a ton of fun. For those of you nervous about handling hot glass - don't worry! The instructor does most of the dangerous work in this beginner's class. He is the one who actually heats the glass, adds the color and when you are done, the instructor also finalizes the project. It's really quite safe, as long as you don't do something stupid like grab hot glass with your bare hands. The first project we did was creating a glass flower. That was pretty cool. You took some huge tweezers and pulled on the glass to shape petals and make an elegant, colorful flower. (That's the goal, anyway. My flower was a little weird looking, but I like how the colors turned out!) At first I was nervous, because dude it's HOT GLASS but once you start pulling on the glass, with the instructor making suggestions as you go to improve your efforts, it's not so scary. The second project was a little more involved. When you make the paperweight - a little round dome roughly the size of a softball - you have to be a little more aware of what you're doing because each nip, tuck, or twist will affect the appearance of the final result - but it's much harder to predict. I wanted to have little air bubbles and a sea anemone-like shape in the center of my paperweight, but my effort looked more like some sort of creepy zombie hand. However, when I went back to collect my glass a few days later, the ugly zombie-like glass had cooled into something I found quite beautiful! (I've posted photos of my projects; you may or may not agree.) Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Part of me wishes the class was a little more hands-on, and that as students we did more of the work with heating the glass. I can totally understand why the class is structured the way it is, though - it is an introduction, after all! They gave us coupons to take more classes, but even with discounts the Glassblowing 1A class is $400+. talk about an expensive hobby!

I went to a recent Visiting Artist series here on Thursday night. This particular Thursday featured the adorable glass pumpkins that you may have seen at various Farmers Markets and at the Palo Alto Art Center "pumpkin patch" event. I've been in love with those pumpkins ever since I first saw one and I'm definitely not the only one! The event was packed with people ordering custom pumpkins and watching the demonstrations. I'm glad, as this event was a fundraiser for BAGI and I would hate to see these artists lose their space. The demonstrations were awesome and I totally want to get in there myself and try it so I'm considering taking some classes. What could be more fun than playin' with fire? I encourage everyone to check them out. Everyone there is really nice, down to earth and has a great sense of humor. It was the most fun I've had in a while.

Great family experience! I was looking for something safe and fun to do with my family and BAGI is a good COVID19-safe solution. They require face masks, there's not much to touch and the plastic glasses you get to use, plus gloves etc, are sanitized. Jared was our instructor. It is clear he has done it many times,and he knows how to show you the ropes. We each got our turn, Jared was with us at every step and we were all happy with the results.

Glass blowing is fun. Not to mention rewarding. By the end of your class, you will have a beautiful piece of art to show - one that you help created with your own hands (and mouth). I took a seasonal pumpkin discover class at BAGI and I couldn't be more happy with the result. The instructors gave us a group demonstration, an individual step by step instruction, then guided us through the entire process. I do wish I get to work more on my own but I also understand it is probably not the best idea for first timer to do so given the potential danger. Working with high heat and having to handle all those strange equipments could be intimidating but instructors at BAGI kept the whole experience friendly and safe.

My husband and I had a class with Jarrod and have nothing but good things to say about the experience. It was a blast making the glass and a breeze picking it up days later. Jarrod was informative about the process and walked us through everything so we felt comfortable with the new medium. I cannot recommend this place enough, it's well worth the cost! Not only is it a fun and unique experience but you also get beautiful piece of glass artwork in the end!

Note: It takes about 30 hours for the glass bowl to fully cool down, so expect to came back in 2 days to pick up your art piece. Wear proper clothing--thin long sleeves since the working area can be hot but you want to protect your arms. I don't recommend this class for children under 16, but I don't know what BAGI's regulations are. Yay for non-profit organizations! Come by and support this business! We purchased a Groupon deal (great deal--otherwise, this would be a bit pricey!) and came here to make our floppy bowls! It was very intriguing and a wonderful experience. I have always wanted to try out a glass blowing class, and this was my first time. The staff was great and very knowledgable. Unfortunately, I have forgotten their names. I highly recommend coming here if you would like to give glass blowing a try.

I took the seasonal Pumpkin Discovery Class last weekend, and it was fantastic! The morning began with a tour of the facilities, and a brief overview of the glass art techniques offered at the studio. Back in the hot room, the instructors gave a demo of the entire pumpkinlicious process and then it was time to get down to business! For the hands on portion of the class, each student was able to work 1-on-1 with an instructor for the creation of their piece. I could not be more pleased with how my pumpkin turned out! Our instructors (John and Matt maybe?) were fabulously helpful, friendly and entertaining. My only regret is not bringing my mom or hubby along too, because I think they would have really enjoyed it as well. Next time!

Great experience, lots of fun. The instructors were very helpful and friendly. They adjusted their level of involvement to each individual making the experience very positive for everyone. Our family signed up for the 2 hour bowl making class. The instructors started by explaining the whole process to the group (8 students, two instructors). They then proceeded to give a demo of the different steps. Then each student got to create his/her own bowl with assistant from the instructors. Safety gear (glasses, gloves) were provided. You get to chose from three different bowl styles. Once done, the bowls were placed in an oven to stabilize. They will be available in 7 days. Had great fun and am considering coming back to make paper weights. I would do this much more often if not for the cost. With Groupon, it is $80/person.

These guys are worth every penny! It is an experience of a lifetime that my little boy will never forget. He went with his dad for a private class. They each made two gorgeous pieces of art that we are still talking about :)

I got the Yelp deal for this place and took the Glass Experience class this weekend. It was fun and they show you the basics of tweaking hot glass. You don't actually get to do glass blowing in this class though (that is in the "Blow a Float" class and later classes I think). But I took the glass experience class since you get to make two items - a flower and a paperweight. It was easy enough and they guide you through the whole process. To be honest, they do most of the work but that's because they can't have you gathering the glass in the oven your first time out. You can do that in the later classes though. The instructors were very friendly and knowledgable. If you can afford to take a class here, I would definitely recommend it because it was an interesting experience and you make something you can keep or gift to someone else :) I'm glad they had a Yelp deal because otherwise I probably never would have done it. If they have another deal anytime soon I will sign up and do the second course! I posted photos of the flower & paperweight I made. They came out pretty nice I think :)

A friend got the groupon for Glass Experience for four. We went last night and had an awesome time! The class was really chill and unstructured. Our group of 4 and another group of 4 was just simply instructed to go ahead and create a design for our glass fusing experience. We used scraps of different colored glass to make then design and then glued them onto a clear piece of square glass (we could cut, grind, etc to manipulate the shards into whatever shapes we wanted). They fire the pieces and then we can pick them up! I must say, while I had a great time, I was kind of disappointed we didn't get to do the paperweight and the flower like previous groupon users had described in their yelp reviews! Oh well, my boyfriend and I now have matching coasters and trivet!

I bought a 2 hour glass blowing workshop from Groupon for my husband and I. Tony and Jared were the instructors for this workshop. They were very friendly and approachable and the workshop was started right on time. My husband made a flower bowl and I made a spherical bowl. We both worked with Tony. He was super patient and encouraging and made the workshop really fun. He knew a lot about glass making and answered all our questions. Great place and very good staff.

I have taken the glass pumpkin class three years in a row with almost the same group of friends each time. The instructors are great! They fully explain the process, answer questions and walk you through the process very well. You pick between opaque and translucent colors, combining them to create a beautiful pumpkin. This class has been fun every time!

I really like glass and therefore wanted to take a class on how to make a glass bowl. The price is extremely steep if you don't have any coupons. Regular class is $180 for an individual glass bowl making class. With Groupon or other Local Deals, it's about $90. They mentioned that it's a two hour class and ask that you wear shoes that cover your feet fully. I was about to park in their lot but it said it was "Staff and Volunteers" only so $6 was paid to the lot down the street. They also didn't pickup the phone. It was only after I reached the place and brought up about parking did they mention that the sign was misleading: You can park in the lot. Thanks. Anyway, the class said it's suppose to be two hours. We waited a bit for others to show up and toured the small gift shop area with prices as follows: bowl for $40, paper weight $20, pumpkin and flower stem, both of which I forgot the prices. The structures all look the same and that should have been my first clue. Oh since I did this during the hot San Jose summer, in jeans and long-sleeved shirt, I was radiating. The instructors wore t-shirts and shorts and that would have made things significantly cooler for me but I preferred extra marginal protection instead. I also double protected my eyes by wearing two sets of glasses. To say I'm risk adverse might be an understatement. There were actually 2 instructors, one spoke most of the time and did the demonstrations and the other acted in place of the student, so we'd know what to expect on our part. They seem extremely knowledgeable about the glass-making process with years of experience, one had 8, the other 12. Safety is their first priority so a good bit was spend on what signs to watch out for and what not to do. While there are several varied steps, even if you forget the instructions, they will let you know as you shape the glass so I didn't feel like I had stress over memorization. The glass making location seems very compacted, I feel the heat constantly and was sweating like I was in a sauna. They do have fans around the working stations but it's just not enough. When I was making the glasses, it felt almost unbearable at times and the feeling lingered for a bit. It didn't leave any damages, but just know that it helps to have long arms. So the experience is great for first-timers but I felt like I didn't make anything at all. The instructors handle all the glass and fire melting. I took part in about 5% of the glass making process where my biggest impact was the shape of the bowl and the colors. There are three shapes: bowl, bell out, and floppy. And about 12 colors to choose from, half of which are transparent, and the other opaque. The hardest part after color picking is glass blowing. You need to seal it and blow very hard. I tried about two or three times when the instructor gave up and did it himself. I'm not sure if the pipes are washed in between uses. I wouldn't tell people that I made it if I only did 5% of the work. My bowl probably looks exactly like everyone else's except in color. I wished my instructor was more attentive,slower, and play more of a guidance role than hand holding me through the process. Since the class was for 2 hours, and we only had 5 participants, the entire class finished well under an hour with about 15 minutes per student. And I probably did about 2 minutes of work. So that means they had over an hour of free time when we could have taken things slower, when more attention could be paid for the hands-on activities, and just more glass shaping experiences. I felt the other instructor was more attuned to student participation whereas mine was more task and time focused. I wish that I could have put more thought into what I wanted and asked for more hands-on experience than let the instructor lead. I felt that in general, for these types of how-to classes, I tend to follow instructions since I don't know what I'm doing. But that means I won't initiate or ask for what I wanted. I'll need to make these experiences my own as oppose follow what otherwise would be masterly produced commercial products. I also wanted to review this before I go and pick up my product since I'll know it'll turn out beautifully and I'll most likely change my tune. Beauty does affect my judgement. But pickup is in a few days as they store the items to cool closed so The instructor mentioned that the focus was on aesthetically pleasing products. I realized that I wanted something more unique, with faults and all so I could be like, " yeah, see how it looks asymmetrical and so ugly right there, yah, I did that."

Found out about BAGI through groupon and purchased a glass fusing class for two. Easily made a reservation online. Had to book it a couple months out as their weekend classes were pretty full. We received a reminder email about the class a couple days before with some tips to wear closed toed shoes and long sleeve shirts. There is a parking lot and we parked there when we took the class and to pick up the pieces, however there was a sign that warned not to park there. I didn't see that the lot was full so I took a chance and parked there anyway. It was fine for me! If you don't want to gamble, you'll have to park outside of the lot on the street. Class was a lot of fun. The instructor gave clear and simple instructions. Glass fusing is pretty easy in that you just have to put together your piece. It took some time for me to figure out what I wanted to do, but I ended up putting together something super simple. The bf made a Golden State Warriors inspired piece as it was the finals around the time we took the class. The possibilities are limitless! If you're planning to attend, note that you will do some breaking and scoring of thin pieces of glass and there will be lots of little pieces that you can easily hurt yourself with if you're not careful! After you're done putting together your piece you're given some glue to keep the pieces in place for baking/curing. It takes a few days for them to cure the pieces and they notify you if there is a delay. Good for a date with the significant other or girlfriends!

I received a class for a gift at Bay Area Glass, Today went to the bowl making class and I chose the floppy top style bowl. I was nervous about the class since I have bad arthritis in my hands but JARROD was SO helpful. HE WAS GREAT...very helpful and made the class fun. I would take another class with him instructing.

So after a couple of "date night" single classes at BAGI for bowls with heavy help from the staff, we knew we wanted to pursue glass blowing as at least a serious hobby. So we signed up for the three main classes offered from this Institute; Introduction to glass, glass advanced and color. We had half of our first class today (8 hours in studio). WOW!!! First of all, you need to see which classes Jared is teaching. He is EXACTLY the instructor you want to work with. Patient, positive, and pointed towards the high side of your experience. You will not master this trade for quite a while, but learning it from Jared will make the experience all that much better. You will be pulling glass from the furnace, working it at the bench, heating it at the glory hole, reshaping it at the bench, learning about jacks and tweezers, pulling, bending, shaping glass from flowers to Christmas ornaments to caterpillars, he's the man with the plan! Go on line, sign up for anything they offer, you will not be disappointed! Great fun with great instruction. BAGI has it all. Ask for Jared.