ROTORUA WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
Hot Glass, Small Object: Craft a Personal Paperweight in Rotorua
A hands-on studio workshop where one-on-one instruction guides you through designing and making a glass paperweight—this guide explains what to expect and how to prepare.
Hot Glass, Small Object: Craft a Personal Paperweight in Rotorua.
Step into Amokura Glass’s hot shop in Rotorua and watch molten glass become a compact, jewel-like object under the guidance of an expert instructor. In this intimate workshop you choose from six designs and a palette of seventeen colours, learn fundamental glass-making techniques, and shape your own paperweight using sculpting and shaping tools—an immediate, tangible lesson in the ancient craft of glassblowing.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
One-on-one hot-glass instruction
Hot shop experiences at Amokura Glass are taught one-on-one, so you get direct attention from the glass artist as you learn tool use, shaping and finishing while you make your paperweight.
Choose your form and colour
Participants select from six paperweight designs and can combine colours—up to three in some techniques—drawing from seventeen available hues to create a unique piece.
A cooled, collectible object
Your finished paperweight requires controlled cooling and will be available to collect the following day or can be posted to you, ensuring the piece has cooled safely after the hot shop process.
What the day feels like
What the workshop feels like
The session opens with a concise introduction to the tools and equipment of the hot shop, followed by a brief design consultation. You then spend most of the session working one-on-one with the glass artist—about twenty minutes of hands-on shaping in the hot shop—watching hot glass respond to tools and gravity as you form your paperweight.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this workshop suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The workshop program lists a 45-minute duration for the experience; the hands-on portion includes roughly twenty minutes working directly with the glass artist.
Wear close-toed shoes and long pants made of natural fibres (cotton, wool or linen). Avoid yoga or biking pants. Dress so you can move comfortably around the hot shop.
Book at least a day in advance. Finished pieces need approximately 16 hours to cool and will be available to collect the following day or can be posted to you.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the workshop last?
The published duration for the workshop is 45 minutes; the hands-on making portion is about twenty minutes within that session.
What age is required to participate?
Participants must be 14 years of age or older to take part in the hot glass workshop.
Can my finished paperweight be taken home the same day?
No: hot glass requires roughly sixteen hours to cool safely; your piece will be available to collect the following day or can be posted to you.
How many people are taught at once?
Hot shop experiences are taught one-on-one—one person per time slot.
Are there restrictions on clothing or footwear?
Yes. You must wear close-toed shoes and long pants made of natural fibres such as cotton, wool or linen; avoid yoga and biking pants.
Are there animals in the studio?
Yes. The hot shop is cat-friendly and two cats supervise the workspace; if you have cat allergies, keep this in mind before booking.