The phrase “if I had a nickel…” certainly applies to this question for me. Since glass blowing IS a unique way to spend your day it makes sense that folks who wander into my studio often ask!
Honestly? I had fallen in LOVE with beads made from Borosilicate glass and 20 years ago they were super expensive! They still aren’t cheap but back then when they were new, artists would post a set of 5-7 beads on Ebay and the bids would often go well over $100 and much higher.
So quite a number of years ago I signed up for a glass bead making class at the now defunct Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee (sob! more about that in a future blog) with Doug Remschneider – was SO hooked. Went home from the 2 day class with a torch, kiln and $100’s of $$$ in glass rods which I promptly turned into very organic looking blobs and ugly bits. Because of the need for ventilation that I didn’t have, I worked outside on my front porch into early winter…space heater aimed at my feet (Wisconsin gets COLD). Closing in on 20 years later I can still turn glass into blobs and ugly bits…but thankfully all that practice has helped.
It was a great thrill for me many years after taking that first class for me to become an instructor at the show where I learned. I can’t express how much pleasure it gave me to teach my students the craft that I love so very much.
A Touch of Glass Town & Country 
You are so talented – I think you learned glass blowing from the masters in Venice? Have a restful day – M