AMBER

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end blew off. Still spinning and heating the vessel, I suddenly realized how the bowl was taking shape. As the teacher spun the pipe, the sides became fluid and wavy. Chris poured a little molten glass into a circular form (about the size of a biscuit cutter) to create a base for the bowl, and then he transferred the bowl to the molten glass.

Voila! A beautiful glass bowl emerged before us on a stainless steel table, but it was more a piece of art than a bowl. I could visualize it sitting in the middle of our dining room table.

“What will we put in my bowl?” Gene asked.

“I don’t know, but that bowl is gorgeous,” I said, and I meant it.

Then it was my turn. I made a lovely turquoise vase. It wasn’t as pretty as Gene’s wavy bowl with swirling colors that reminded me of a sunrise, but still, I am proud of my creation.

And that’s how we marked Gene’s 61st year — together, in front of fire and flame, with our own hands and breath, coaxing glass into life. We shared a journey of discovery that afternoon and have mementoes from the day. We will admire our colorful, one-of-a-kind creations for years to come and talk about the day we visited the glass studio and, through stunning transformations, turned gobs of molten glass into showpieces that will catch the sunlight and cast beauty throughout our home for years to come.