ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF FLO GLASSBLOWING AND THE CREATION OF A NEW GLASSBLOWING COOPERATIVE IN OTTAWA:

Announcement

Effective July 1st 2019, Flo Glassblowing will cease operations and the facilities will be closed over the summer months.  Our studio’s gallery hours, classes, and rentals will be running as scheduled until June 15th, 2019.  The Studio will be closed for the months of July and August to allow for a new non-profit cooperative, currently titled the Ottawa Glassblowing Cooperative, to incorporate.  This new cooperative will offer Glassblowing to the Ottawa community commencing September 1, 2019 through a membership structure.

Personal note from Melody

Creating and running Flo Glassblowing has been one of the most rewarding endeavours that I could have ever imagined.  You have all supported Flo and have helped fulfill a childhood dream that I had when I first saw the creative magic this art form has to offer to so many.

However life is change and my personal life has now changed so much with the demands of marriage and motherhood. I know it is the right time to let go of this career as a solo Glassblowing business so that I can devote more time to my family and return to the creative fulfilment of being an artist. Running a business is both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.

In discussing my need for more personal time away from the business of operating a Glassblowing Studio several key and experienced supporters of Flo Glassblowing have stepped forward with the idea of creating a non-profit cooperative to take over the assets and operations of Flo Glassblowing along the lines of the very successful model in Vancouver called Terminal City.

If you have any questions and want to be kept informed on this new initiative please contact [email protected].

I look forward to being a member with you in this exciting new project.

– Melody Jewitt

 

What does this mean to Flo Glassblowing and you?

1. From now until June 15th all regularly scheduled classes and rental time slots will be running as usual.
2. Between now and July 1st you will have an opportunity to purchase a membership in the new Ottawa Glassblowing Cooperative.  Initial discussions with the Steering Committee suggest there will be two or three tiers of membership based upon the highly successful Vancouver Glass blowing Cooperative model:
   1. Regular Membership
   2. Teacher membership
   3. Founding or supporting membership
3. Memberships in the new Cooperative purchased this founding year of the Cooperative will be guaranteed to remain at the initial purchase price for as long as you maintain your membership.  The prices will be finalized by the new Board of the Cooperative over the next few weeks, but will be based on a non-profit cooperative accounting basis and therefore the best and most reasonable rates possible.
4. All Flo Glassblowing gift certificates will expire with the closure of Flo Glassblowing on July 1st 2019.   You may however use your gift certificate to purchase something from our shop or register into a class.

To register into a class with a gift certificate:

-email us at

-please include the following information: the date and time of the class you’d like to attend, your email and phone number, the first and last names of the attendees, and the gift certificate voucher #.

How long do we hold class items?

We currently hold items made in class for 90 days. At this point, we will ask students to pick up their class items as soon as possible, and no later than the end of May, 2019. As we get closer to the closure date we will be letting students know in class when they can pick up their finished items.

How long will we hold rental items?

We ask all renters who have items in the shop to come and pick them up as soon as possible and no later than the end of May, 2019. There will come a point as we clean up the shop that we will not be able to store items and if they are not picked up we may unfortunately have to get rid of them. We don’t want to do that so please pick them up!

When must Flo Print kits be returned by?

In order to receive your finished Flo Print, please return your kit to Flo by May 15th, 2019.

More details will unfold as we have them but in the meantime we appreciate your patience with us during these last months of operation.  

Thank you,

The Flo Team

This month’s glassblowing demo night falls on World Down Syndrome Day and we are taking this opportunity to raise funds for a local Ottawa charity called Dragonfly! Dragonfly is non-profit organization that works exclusively with children with Down Syndrome.  Flo will be collecting donations from now until March 21st to help go directly towards local families who need the assistance most.

Click here to donate online!

Please come out to show your support and to bring awareness to the cause.
Also, be sure to rock some mismatched socks on the 21st!  Worn on this day to show how different is also beautiful!

There’s no need to register, just drop in at any time between 5pm-8pm at our studio in Ottawa at 957C Gladstone Ave. This event is free but there is a suggested Door Donation of $5 or more.  The event will be kid-friendly and there is free parking available.

Items made during the demo will be auctioned on our Facebook page with 50% of the proceeds going to Dragonfly.

Down Syndrome Awareness Products
We also have two special edition Down Syndrome Awareness items for sale online, 50% of the proceeds from the sale of these items are going to Dragonfly: Down Syndrome Awareness Hearts and Birds. Please click through to our online shop to purchase.

Who is Dragonfly?
Dragonfly is a program that runs out of the Ottawa School of Dance. From Dragonfly:

DragonFly®

Our Programme for Learners with
Down syndrome

DragonFly® develops critical skills needed by learners with Down syndrome.  Based on international research and practice, our programmes instill confidence and independence in movement, reading, math and social interactions. At DragonFly we believe that young people with Down syndrome can be independent, thoughtful contributors to society, capable of setting and achieving their own goals.

 

Please support DragonFly. We need your help.

 

Now 14 years old, DragonFly is a programme of The School of Dance, a 40 year old, registered, non-profit charitable, educational organization in Ottawa, Canada. Registration #119253391RR0001

Your support will help kids with DS in our community access the Dragonfly program!

Emmalynn (photo credit: Laura Marrongelli)

Marc and Hazel (photo credit: Laura Marrongelli)

Owain (photo credit: Laura Marrongelli)

Rohan (photo credit: Rachael Allan)

Tue February 19 – Tue February 19

957C Gladstone Ave.

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Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Ultimate Choice for Two!

In this hour long session, bring a friend and assist the instructor in making 4 items.
Choose 1 or 2 forms from the list below:

-Ornament
-Sculpted Flower
-Blown Apple
-Paperweight
-Oil Lamp
-Pumpkin
-Terrarium

This is a beginner-level class, no experience required!
How to register: register yourself online and come to the class by yourself or with one other person.
The cost is $195.00 for the full hour, and includes the four items total that will be made in the hour.

Max 2 students/class (1 sign up spot)
Prerequisite: None
Minimum age: 15
Cost: $195 +hst

Register

Fri March 8 – Fri March 8

957C Gladstone Ave.

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Map and Directions | Register

Description:

In this hands-on beginners class, learn the fundamentals of glassblowing as you lead in making your own unique paperweight from start to finish.
Students will learn how to gather glass from the furnace, marver it across a steel tabletop, apply colour (chosen by you) and finally shape the piece at the bench with wooden blocks and traditional hand tools.  We polish the final product and you take it home the next day!
An amazing first experience for anyone who’s ever wanted to try glassblowing!

Max 6 students/class
Prerequisite: None
Minimum age: 15

Register

NEW Flo Prints In the Sand
Cast a memory in glass to keep forever!
The perfect gift for newborns, fur-friends and small children!

Create individually cast glass impressions of your dearest young ones feet and hands, and even paw prints of your favourite fur friends! Your print can be made into treasured keepsakes to last a lifetime.

Click here to purchase your Flo Print online!

How it works:

1. Place your order for a small or medium sized flo-prints casting online.
2. With every purchase, a confirmation email will be sent which also includes an instructional video outlining how to create your clay imprinted mould from home.
Note: Local Ottawa orders are also welcome to come in to the studio to grab their complementary pre-made ‘casting kit’.
3. Once the imprinted mould is dry (could take up to 10 days) deliver safely back to Flo Glassblowing’s studio where it is used to press into a fresh bed of sand.
4. Hot molten glass is then poured directly onto the impression using a technique called Sandcasting!
5. The glass tiles cool in a kiln overnight.
6. Once the glass is cooled in full, the unique artwork is all done and ready for pickup!  Delivery is also available upon request.

Unlike ink or clay prints, these glass impressions are mess free and will never break down. Illuminated in the light, they stand upright and showcase beautifully as an art piece with extra special sentiment.  Perfect in front of the window or on any mantel, they also make for lovely bookends, or window tiles. Most importantly, each finished item is solid and extremely durable so that it can be cherished forever in the home for generations to come.

Please allow 4-6 weeks to produce your Flo Print after we have received your completed imprint at the studio.

Please note: 

Small size of Flo Prints = maximum imprint diameter of 2.75″, suitable for very small newborns (preemies) and small pets.

Medium size Flo Prints = maximum imprint diameter of 4.75″, suitable for children (newborn to age three) as well as larger pets

We are able to respond to correspondence during our office hours which run Thursday-Saturday.

Celebrate our 7 year Anniversary with us and help to benefit a charity that is close to our hearts, the Canadian Down Syndrome Society!

Open to the public all day from 10am-5pm.  Come watch us play with molten glass!  The morning we’ll be offering free Blow Your Own Ornament sessions to families with Down Syndrome.  The afternoon will be all about exciting demonstrations for all the public to enjoy in both glassblowing and flameworking.

Our Annual 2nds Sale will also be on outside this day!  With 50% of the proceeds going toward the CDSS charity.

Lastly, we will also be holding an Online Auction on our Flo Facebook Event Page selling several high end glass goods.  Some of these items will be made and promoted early on, some of the auctioned items will be made during the event itself.  100% of the proceeds from the Auction will be going towards the chairty.  Winners of the auction will be announced on World Down Syndrome Awareness Day -March 21, 2018

If you are a family with an extra special family member who just happens to have down syndrome and you would like to participate in our morning Blow Your Own Ornament Session please email us at [email protected]

We hope to see you all there!!

Wed January 17 – Wed January 17

957C Gladstone Ave.

;uihih

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Tumblers for Two!

Come by yourself or with a loved one to assist the instructor in making two drinking glasses.

In this beginner-level class you will learn how glassblowing is done first hand while helping a glassblower to create a unique set of tumblers.

You will pick your colours, choose between one of two shapes, blow air into the cup, and flatten the bottom to shape the final piece.
An amazing first experience for anyone who’s ever wanted to try glassblowing!

Max 2 students/class
Prerequisite: None
Minimum age: 15

Cost: $195 +hst

Register

We’re holding a two day promotion between July 27-29th! Find Flo on Facebook and register to WIN a FREE 4 person private party to make your own Terrariums!
We draw the lucky winner Saturday July 29th at NOON!

Flo’s got a great new video out all about our terrarium classes!

It’s the perfect time of year to make your own mini glass garden container to be hung or sat on your table top! This is a no experience necessary class where students come in to assist, blow, turn, swing and even try out the torch if they wish to make the hole for their vessel.

All terrariums come in clear as the colours added on the surface can burn out when using such a strong torch. But the design that goes within it is all up to you!

Upcoming Summer Terrarium Classes include:
– Saturday July 29th – 11:15am – FULL
– Wednesday Aug 9th – 7:45pm
– Friday Aug 11th – 7:45pm
– Sunday Aug 13th – 12:15pm
– Thursday Aug 17th – 7:30pm
– Sunday Aug 20th – 12:15pm
– Saturday Aug 26th – 12:15pm
– Sunday Aug 27th – 4:15pm
Sign up online today!!