6 replies to this topic

[epdreamer]

I've been wanting to write something here but hadn't gotten it done. The favorite shop topic has finally gotten me going.

My favorite shop to spend a little time in is the Glassworks. It may give some of us parents potential heart attacks (I have an 8 and a 6 year old) due to all of the breakables but the kids can come in and have a good time watching one of the pieces being created right before their eyes. The owner is Garth Mudge and he is great talking with everyone (kids and adults) explaining how he does what he does and answering all your questions. He has his little glass shop set up with seats surrounding it and you can watch him create his works of art. I would suggest coming during the day since this is when you are most likely to see him but just ask in the shop and they'll probably know when he will be working. It's a truly amazing experience as you watch him melt, mix, blow, stretch and swirl the glass to make paperweights, vases, ornaments and other items. Even though I'm male and having knick knacks around goes against my very nature, I still think its cool that he can create these dust collectors.

If you like what you see be sure to buy something because you know that even though he may make a number of items that are similar, you are still walking away with a gift/souvenir that hasn't been mass produced and is fairly unique. His shop and home are right in front of Performance Park (I guess they really built Performance Park in his back yard) on the West End of Elkhorn.

If your interested in seeing some of his work, check out the web site:

http://www.garthsglassworks.com/

But by all means go in and see him work. I hear he works for peanuts (at least the M&M variety).

[epdreamer]

Seeing the bump on the favorite shops in EP/Grand Lake, I thought I would update this post after our July visit this year. We again went in and our kid's spent 1-2 hours on a couple of days watching items be made. There was another glass artist working on the first evening (Jerry Richardson was his name, I think, originally from Cedar Rapids, IA and also has an interest in micro-brews and will talk about what he feels are the best in the region) and they watched him work on an "experiment" for an hour. We went back two days later and spoke with him about the piece and it turned out he was disappointed in how it turned out. The kids still thought it was beautiful especially since they got to see him create it. Both artists are very interactive with the people watching and are happy to answer any questions while they work. When you have a 7 and 9 year old asking to go back and watch the process again, it must be fairly entertaining/interesting. (Usually this amount of interest is reserved for the Estes Ark or the "Big Slide".)

On a third day we were back in and Garth was working. While we were there a young boy was watching him work and commented on the glass animals he had made. He expressed an interest in having a glass snake made (these were something Garth hadn't made previously) and the two of them talked it over and Garth negotiated a price with him based on the boy spending his own money or the money coming from his parents. Turned out to be very reasonable for a specially made/first hand observed souveneir.

I still whole-heartedly suggest you stop in and see them work. Just watching doesn't cost anything and I have seen their work sold at other stores around town with additional mark-ups. Jerry had some hummingbird feeders in a shop down in the storefronts by Ed's Cantina/Estes Park Coffee that were $5-10 less at the Glassworks (I guess everyone needs their mark-up).

[JB]

I know how you feel about seeing things made right before your eyes! I have recently started to make things by hand myself due to high prices in stores when I can make it for cheaper myself. It is kind of cool when you make something yourself. Now all I need is alot of really cool tools to play with and make stuff. Yeah! Yeah!

JB

[Rita Johnston]

I have to agree with the Glassworks. Garth and his crew do an excellent job! I go to RMNP at least 3x per year, and every day of every visit I go here to watch them work their magic. I love going there to watch them! It is really relaxing after a day spent on the trails! My kids love it also, they're more of the reason that we go so often.

[Mtnlvr53]

I still whole-heartedly suggest you stop in and see them work.  Just watching doesn't cost anything and I have seen  their work sold at other stores around town with additional mark-ups.  Jerry had some hummingbird feeders in a shop down in the storefronts by Ed's Cantina/Estes Park Coffee that were $5-10 less at the Glassworks (I guess everyone needs their mark-up).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, for Garth! Another interesting plus is that repeat buyers get a discount.
He is GREAT with kids! The above kids are my niece and nephew: my son, now 20, loved to watch him 10+ year ago.

[epdreamer]

Hey Mtnlvr53, another Quad Citian (or former QC person) on the list. Welcome. I grew up and lived in East Moline, Moline and Rock Island for 36 years prior to moving 1 hour to the west about 6 years ago. (One hour closer to Colorado.) Small world to have someone find an item about a glass snake being made in a shop in Estes Park on the web. We were in EP the week of July 4th so I know that it was Friday July 8th when we were in Glassworks for the snake making. If it was you with your neice and nephew we were sitting/standing right next to you with our 7 and 9 year old son and daughter. My son was very jealous of the snake and wanted one as well. Later in the year his grandpa was in EP (he is a Glassworks regular as well) and had Garth make a snake for him to fulfill his wish. Garth did it at a later time, so he shipped it to my Dad and when it arrived there wasn't one but two snakes in the box. Turned out that Garth wasn't completely happy with the first so he made a second and shipped both. Grandpa, who collects glass paperweights, kept the second so he got something as well. How many places would give you two items for the price of one?

[Mtnlvr53]

  Hey Mtnlvr53, another Quad Citian (or former QC person) on the list.  Welcome. 

I know! It's me, your slow-to-join sister. I can't really post much since you know all my best info!

Janet