We carry an assortment of totally unique glass pieces at each of our locations and this month we are highlighting local vendors that we think are kickin’ glass! Last week we interviewed Street Kitty glass, and this week we’re excited to tell you all about Local Blend! You can get 10% off Local Blend glass between Aug 20 to Sept 2nd at Dockside’s Ballard, or SODO locations. Please note that Local Blend Glass is not currently available at our Green Lake store.
Follow Local Blend on Instagram for updates and photos!
Check out this photo of the owner, Scott, in the place where he makes all the magic happen! Cool, right? Learn more by reading the interview with him below:
How did you get started? Where did you get your training?
I had a friend who owned a glass shop in downtown Mount Vernon, WA. Him and his wife had a small one bench studio in the storefront window where my training began. From there started lots of different spots to blow glass, often visiting fellow glass shops and friends to learn techniques.
When do you work? Who else is part of your business?
In the summer time I generally try to get out into the shop by 6am at the latest in order to beat the heat! Especially when making bigger pieces. Winter is a totally different story. I prefer to wait until 9am or so in order to get the shop warmed up with the kilns and heater since our ventilation pulls so much air out. It’s almost impossible to heat/cool the shop while operating!
Where do your ideas come from?
Most of my ideas come from simply bending, melting, and shaping the glass around in different fun directions! Not all of which come out as masterpieces, of course.
What tools do you use?
Our tools consist of graphite in the form of paddles, reamers, bowl pushes and tweezers for shaping. And then the most important is a desk mounted torch, specifically made for glass blowing, which runs off propane and refined oxygen. In addition to a large array of hand torches, and shaping tools.
How has your practice changed over time?
Other than the years of constant growth of knowledge and ability, I’d say the biggest change overall was the investment of our glass lathe used to assist in the production of larger bongs and vessels such as steam rollers and larger oil rigs.
What is your output like? How long does it take you to make a pipe? A bong? A rig?
Some of the basic pipes, bongs and rigs can take as little as 20-30 minutes. Although it’s not out of the question that I’ll occasionally spend as much as 8-10 hours on something heady!
What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?
The best book I’ve read in the past year would be History of The Universe by David H. Lyth.
Which other artists are you inspired by?
My biggest inspiration for becoming a glass artist is my good friend Gordon Anderson. We refer to him as “Uncle Gordon.” One of the coolest 70-year-olds I’ve ever met! I first saw Gordon blowing glass in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, WA when I was 8 years old. It was at that moment I knew what I wanted to do! To this day, Gordon and I will get together, talk glass, blow glass, and maybe even occasionally “use” glass.
Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what’s been on regular rotation lately?
I am a music feen! I like just about every type of music. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Sturgill Simpson, Whiskey Meyers, Necro, Dub FX, Seth Sentry, Animals, Pantera, the list goes on and on!
What else inspires you?
My wife and 2 kids are my main inspiration. Also, thinking of all those amazing individuals who have chosen one of our pieces to take home and enjoy as their very own makes me feel so incredibly grateful and truly inspires me to keep going!
What do you do in your free time?
I like going dirt biking, wakeboarding, hiking, camping, snowboarding, BBQing with friends, pretty much anything outdoors, I’m in!
What’s your spirit animal and/or a superpower you’d love to have?
Never thought about a spirit animal. But as a superpower, hands down I’d like to be able to fly! No wings, no jets, or props. Just straight levitation! Hahaha!
Do you do custom commissions?
In the past I’ve done all sorts of custom work for our amazing customers. Although, in the past year or so we’ve had to stop in order to keep up with our production line.
What’s the craziest piece you’ve ever worked on?
That would have to be the spirits serving station I made or Terramar Brewing and Distilling in Edison Washington. It’s not for smoking of course, but functional and amazing all the same!!! 2nd would be a 5 pound full color octopus pipe.
Do you ever offer workshops?
I don’t offer workshops since insurance would be so expensive and we simply don’t have the time to allocate.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this industry?
I’d say the same as for any industry you want to be successful in, and thats “get ready to work, and work hard!!!”
What’s your relationship with cannabis?
I like to smoke when I’m out in nature, or at night curled up watching a movie! But really, anytime’s a good time with the appropriate company!
What’s your favorite piece(s) we have in our stores at the moment? (pic)
That would have to be the Slumpy tube(T-110) because they’re really fun to make, and work great as a bong or a rig!
