Decorative glass techniques are essential when learning to handle glass as a medium. Often, glass items are produced for their beauty and charm, especially around the holidays. This beginner to intermediate class will focus on these techniques to produce objects of beauty that are simple, quick, and reproducible. No glass blowing experience is necessary, but it’s helpful. Students will start with marbles and paperweights, focusing on handling solid glass, tool manipulation, as well as color applications. Next, the class will move on to blown ornaments and other hanging objects, playing with different bubble types and decorations, as well as learning how to create good, sturdy loops for hanging. Chad will continue by demonstrating hot sculpting of solid flowers, bird paperweights, and penholders. This will give the students a chance to manipulate the solid glass with tweezers and crimps to achieve a desired texture. Finally, students will make blown pumpkins, building on techniques from earlier in the week to combine glass blowing with hot sculpting. Most of the objects are quick and designed as production items, which are common throughout the hot glass world. Participants will have ample time to develop skills with practice and repetition, as well as learn to work on a glass blowing team. Expect to go home not only with a variety of decorative objects, but also with skills that are fundamental to good glass blowing.