Wimberley Glassworks hosted their annual Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Patch event on Saturday, featuring live Halloween-themed glassblowing demonstrations, a scavenger hunt and a free drawing for a large glass pumpkin.
The Gourdgeous Pumpkin Patch has been going on for ten years, said owner Tim de Jong, who started Wimberly Glassworks in 1992. The event, scheduled to mark the coming of the fall season, has been popular with customers, who often purchase the works they watch being made, although these works have to cool overnight before they can take them home.
“We make pumpkins that look like jewels,” said de Jong said. “They’re fun to make and they never rot.” In addition to pumpkins, glassblowers made a ghost and a witch’s hat, showing off each step as de Jong explained the process to audiences gathered for the demonstrations.
Glassblowing production manager Wes Sweetser said unbalanced objects like a witch’s hat can be difficult to make. “Glass wants to be round like a bubble. So the less round you’re making it, the harder it is. Cutting into it changes the heat, so the spots where we have to poke through are extra hot … and they start moving more than the rest of the piece.”
Wimberley Glassworks have special works planned for the Christmas season, Sweetser said. “We’ve always have our limited edition ornaments, one specific color pattern every year, and we do a different one each year.” They also make small Christmas trees, Santa hats and snowmen, he said.
Wimberley Glassworks is a family-friendly destination with lower and upper parking lots, handicap accessibility and a dog-friendly atmosphere. Since 1992, Wimberley Glassworks has been creating original hand-blown glass vases, sculptures, lighting, glassware, and gifts for collectors and designers across the country.
Located at 6469 Ranch Rd 12 in San Marcos, the Wimberley Glassworks gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with weekly live glassblowing.
