Tesuque Glassworks
Call us at: 505-988-2165
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your hours and where are you located?
We are open from 9AM-5PM, seven days a week. We are located at 1510 Bishop's Lodge Road in Tesuque. Just drive North from the Santa Fe Plaza on Bishop's Lodge Road for about five miles. We'll be on your left. Look for a neon green cast metal sculpture.
I want to watch glass blowing, how can I do that?
At Tesuque Glassworks, we usually blow glass seven days a week from 9AM until 4:30PM. However, even though our gallery is open every day, sometimes one or more of our artists are not in the studio and no one is blowing glass. If you want to see glass blowing, give us a call before you stop by and we'll make sure that someone is working in the studio.
Can you make me a custom piece of glass?
That depends. If you see something that we already have in our gallery and you want another, sometimes we can accommodate you. For example, it is often possible to place tumbler and wine glass orders, because these are items that our artists make regularly. However, we usually cannot make something that you've designed yourself. That doesn't mean you shouldn't contact us though. Sometimes we have an artist who is willing to make something you request, or we can point you to someone else who can, or we may already have a similar piece in stock. Because we are a group of independent artists, it's hard to say what someone might be willing to make without asking them first.
Can I blow glass at your studio?
The short answer is maybe. We have an apprentice program for people who are serious about blowing glass. Whether you already know how or you want to learn, everyone who wants to work in our studio starts out as an apprentice. People who enter our apprentice program must be willing to invest at least three months working with us. We work like a co-op, so the more work you do for the business, the more time you will get to blow glass. This can include working on Charlie Miner's castings, cleaning, sorting glass, packing and shipping, working in the gallery, etc. In return, once you develop your glass blowing skills, you will be able to sell your pieces in our gallery. In other words, you work for the studio, and are paid in studio time. There is no charge to you, and we do not pay you. However, if you decide to sell your work in our gallery, you will receive a consignment check each month. If you are serious about glass blowing, send us your resume, a few pictures of your artwork (not necessarily glass, and if you don't make art, let us know a little bit about what you do) and a letter of interest. Openings depend on our schedule and the number of artists we currently have working for us. If you want to apprentice with us, we expect a commitment. Once you contact us, we can schedule a time to talk to you about the opportunities at Tesuque Glassworks, and whether working with us is right for you.
Depending on our schedule and the availability of teachers, we occasionally offer lamp working or group paper weight classes. These classes are a one time event and don't require a long term commitment, but we do charge a fee, and require advance notice.
Can my class or tour group come to your studio?
Yes. We happily accommodate tours and school groups. You are welcome to stop in any time, however, we recommend that you give us a call 1-2 weeks in advance. With advance notice, we can insure that someone will be working in the studio and that we will be available to answer any questions, meet any special needs, or give you a tour. We love to teach people about glass, and will be happy to work with you to make your visit enjoyable. Please keep in mind that our studio is connected to our glass gallery, so all children must be supervised.
We also offer group lamp working or paper weight lessons (for a fee) with advance notice.
How do I buy something from you if I can't come in to the gallery?
We will gladly fill a phone or email order. Just let us know what you're looking for. Once you contact us and tell us what you want, we can email you some photos of pieces that fit your criteria. From there, we can complete your order over the phone or by email. We accept credit cards (over the phone) or checks. Once we receive payment we'll ship your order to you.
Do you have any seconds or sale items that I can purchase? Tell me about your Holiday Open House and Second Sale.
Generally we don't sell seconds in our gallery during the year. Occasionally a piece will be marked down by the artist, and this will be indicated with a * on the price tag. However, every year we have a big Holiday Open House and Second Sale. This occurs on the first Sunday in December every year. At this sale, hundreds of pieces are marked down about 50%-75%.
Usually we send out notifications about our party a month beforehand. If you would like to be reminded about the date, give us a call or send us an email with your mailing address and we'll make sure to put you on our mailing list. Don't worry, we don't ever send out unsolicited mailings or emails.
What are your cats' names? What other information can you tell me about your cats? What other animals do you have?
We have two male shop cats at Tesuque Glassworks. Their names are Winston and Roger. Both are about 15 years old, but no one knows for sure. We think Roger is part Siamese, but again, we aren't sure. They've lived at our studio for about 10 years. They rarely break any pieces of glass. Roger loves people and enjoys being petted, Winston sometimes likes people and occasionally tolerates being petted. Both are generally full of dust because they like to roll around in the dirt outside. If you aren't a cat person/ don't want to risk being scratched, ask us before you pet either of the cats and we'll tell you which one he is, and if he's in a good mood.
We also have three peacocks on the property. They make a strange, funny noise. Don't worry, they're harmless. In addition we have several chickens in a coop out back. They are kept for eggs, and are pretty happy and healthy.
I own a gallery, can I make a wholesale purchase from your studio?
At Tesuque Glassworks, all of our artists are independent contractors. That means that if you like an item made by an artist, it's up to them whether or not they are willing to make you a large order for your gallery. Although it is possible for someone to make you a large order, it is unlikely that they will be able to. Since each artist works independently, it may be hard for them to make a large order unless they are given a relatively large time frame. Additionally, it is up to each individual artist to negotiate the cost of their pieces and the time it will take to produce them. However, please feel free to ask about any pieces that you might like, as some pieces do not take long to make, or may be easier to make in large quantities than others. It's really up to the artist what they are willing and able to do for a large order.
