Art in the Shop: Continuation
Featured: Continuation by Potekglass
The father of one of our recent clients was a prolific stained glass hobbyist, and one of his many pieces was a pool table chandelier made of stained glass panels. Our client asked for a new window design that would utilize these panels, since the chandelier was being removed from the house, and they wanted to continue displaying the artwork in a newly renovated bathroom at their cabin. I envisioned a window panel that would highlight the designs of the father’s work and create a contemporary design that would move the viewer around the work, as well as serve as a discreet screen for the bathroom. After the individual pieces were laid out, I selected a color scheme that would match the cabin remodel to make a strong arrangement. I was very pleased with the end result—as was our client.
Art in the World: Aja Vaz
Aja Vaz is a glass flameworker based out of Massachusetts whose work centers around the creation of hollow, soda-lime beads. While Aja’s earlier work focused on on-mandrel beadmaking, the majority of her current work is off-mandrel, created using a mini blowpipe and finished with tumble etching to remove shine.
About her work, Aja says, “Discovering how much I loved etching the glass helped shape my aesthetic of abstract organic. My inspiration and color ways are influenced by the many places we lived while hubby was active duty and all the weathered parts of nature. Rust, lichen, rocks, bark, and those odd and easily missed spaces between catch my gaze and find their way into my work.” (Quoted from Aja’s Website)
Another element that influences Aja’s work is recurring shapes, particularly ‘U’ and ‘X’ shapes. Aja muses in Glass Bead Evolution (ISGB Newsletter) that perhaps she likes making these shapes so much because the ‘U’ shape became a U-turn, associated with the way she and her husband moved around for his military service. The ‘X’ shape, Aja says, has been there for a long time; it marks the spot. Both shapes are related by their connection with maps and directional things, and both can be seen across her work.
See Aja and her upcoming work:
- Online bead show (October 17-18) in the Facebook Group ’Artisans Open Market’
- Puffy mandrel hollow bead course at Glass Craft & Bead Expo in 2026.
- Aja is currently developing an online course for the ISGB Education website for 2026.
Find more of Aja’s work here:
- Website: https://www.ajavazglass.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajavaz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049130436283
Images and information sourced from "Glass Bead Evolution", International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), Volume 13, Issue 3, 2025. https://www.isgb.org/.
Holiday Gift Shop: Call for Art
Starting this holiday season, we're hoping to fill our newly renovated gift shop (i.e., the front checkout area of our studio) with all different forms of glass gifts. Our goal is to support our members and many local glass makers by providing a professional space to showcase work.
Are you in? Contact us for more information.
Upcoming Classes at Potekglass
Fall Special: Colorful Falling Leaves
$150.00
Learn Techniques and Tricks to Striking Boro Color!
Thursday, November 13 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
As the atmosphere changes and the leaves transform in color, so too does the striking palate of this American hardglass Borosilicate. Create a pile of one-of-a-kind leaf pendants using striking & reactive glass! Focus will be on the flame's atmosphere and gas mix to achieve beautiful colors with boroscilicate glass. We will go over sculpting skills as we hand press with patterned molds to create lines and stunning pressed glass leaves. Then we will create movement in the glass by reading the heat in a body of glass to achieve a flowing "falling leaf" effect.
Intermediate Class - Prior Torchwork Experience Required
Try-iT! Kiln Class: Fusing and Slumping
$95.00
Create Stunning Kiln-Formed Glass!
Thursday, November 20 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Explore the art of fusing and slumping glass in this beginner-friendly kiln class. Over three hours, you’ll learn the fundamentals of glass shaping and kilnwork while designing your own 5" x 5" glass tile, which will be slumped into a functional catch-all dish.
Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required
Fused Glass Candle Holders
$150.00
Expand Your Fusing Knowledge this Holiday Season!
Thursday, December 4 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for this intermediate fusing class–perfect for the glass artist looking to expand their existing fusing knowledge.
In this one-day class, you'll explore glass fusing and slumping techniques to create one-of-a-kind kiln-formed candle holders. Strengthen your technical skills, expand your design capabilities, and experiment with accessory glass to produce your own handmade 8" x 8" glass tile. The glass tile will then be slumped into a functional candle holder for you to pick up within the next week. Join us at Potekglass this winter to create a beautiful hand-crafted holiday present for yourself or your loved ones!
Intermediate Class - Some Prior Fusing Experience Required
Try-iT! Icicles, Dewdrops, and Pine Trees
$95.00
Create Your Own Handmade Glass Ornaments!
Saturday, December 6 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Discover the sculptural potential of Borosilicate glass, an American hard glass infused with boron for added strength and versatility. In this beginner-friendly torchwork class, you'll learn essential techniques to gather, bend, and shape molten glass while creating your own unique pieces. Students will work with clear and colored glass in this class. Perfect as seasonal decorations or handmade gifts this holiday season!
Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required
Santa’s Workshop: Holiday Fused Ornament-Making Class
$95.00
Celebrate the Season with Creativity at Potekglass’s Santa’s Workshop!
Saturday, December 6 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
This festive class is perfect for crafting unique, handmade ornaments that will bring joy to you, your family, and friends! In this 3-hour class, you’ll learn how to create fun ornament designs. Our instructors will guide you through the ornament-making process, making it easy and fun for beginners. After the initial hour of instruction, it's time for the elves to get to work to create as many additional ornaments as possible with the remaining class time. With our spacious studio and large, beautiful kilns, Santa’s Workshop is a rare and special offering to celebrate the holidays creatively!
Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required
Holiday Special: Fused Snowflake Ornament
$95.00
Create Your Own Fused Snowflake this Holiday Season!
Thursday, December 11 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Join us for this intermediate fusing class–perfect for the glass artist looking to expand their existing fusing knowledge.
In this one-day class, you'll explore glass fusing and slumping techniques to create beautiful, handmade snowflakes. Strengthen your cutting skills, learn how to use geometry to create a design, and experiment with accessory glass to produce your own uniquely crafted 5 inch glass snowflake. Once completed, the glass snowflake will then be fused in the kiln for you to pick up within the next week. Join us at Potekglass this winter to create a stunning hand-crafted holiday present for yourself or your loved ones!
Intermediate Class - Prior Fusing Experience Required
Holiday Special: Stained Glass Snowflake
$95.00
Create a One-of-a-Kind Stained Glass Snowflake!
Saturday, December 20 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
In this 3-hour, intermediate level class you will be guided through all of the steps to create your own Stained Glass Snowflake! You will get a refresher on accurately cutting glass, grinding, & foiling. Using the Copper Foil Method students will learn edge soldering and 3D project construction. Break out of the world of 2D construction & assemble a multi-planed snowflake this holiday season at Potekglass!
Intermediate Class - Prior Stained Glass Experience Required
Holiday Special: Stained Glass Poinsettia
$115.00
Create Your Own Stained Glass Poinsettia!
Day 1: Thursday, December 18 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Day 2: Saturday, December 20 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
In this 2-session, intermediate level class you will be guided through all of the steps to create your own Stained Glass Poinsettia! You will get a refresher on accurately cutting glass, grinding, & foiling. Using the Copper Foil Method students will learn decorative and edge soldering, along with 3D project construction. Break out of the world of 2D construction & assemble a multi-planed poinsettia this holiday season at Potekglass!
Intermediate Class - Prior Stained Glass Experience Required
Sheet of the Week Playlist
October Review
At Potekglass, we invite you to join us on an artistic journey that unfolds each week as we hand-select a sheet of glass. Each selection is paired with a thoughtfully chosen song that resonates with the unique essence of the glass. Each week, we offer a 15% discount on this exquisite piece, providing an excellent opportunity to enhance your collection. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates.
Here is our review of last month's selections:
- "The Fuse" by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans | Miscellaneous Bullseye
- "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell | Youghiogheny Y CROHS
- "Saudosismo" by Gal Costa | Kokomo KO 86
- "Are You a Hypnotist" by The Flaming Lips | Miscellaneous Bullseye
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October 2025 Newsletter