Holdman Studios and Glass Art Institute — Attraction in Lehi

My fiancé and I went here yesterday to make the blown ornament - we want to grow a collection through our marriage full of Holdman Studios Ornaments. The place was really beautiful. I'm a sucker for stained glass art. It was a little tricky to find the check in desk as it's not right at the front door, it's around the corner. The staff wasn't rude but they were jumpy, very clearly behind schedule. The Ornament takes 15 min to make and they want you to be there 10-15 min early to watch a safety video, pick your design and color. When booking our appointment, there was a 3:00pm time and 3:05pm... and the ornament takes 15 min to make so there's their conflict. This was a new experience for the both of us and I felt very rushed. They give you a walk through demo of how you'll help make the ornament, one in particular is that you'll blow through a hose to expand the sphere ornament. I didn't think anything of it as they kept going through the demo. When we finally got to that part I was blowing through it outside my mouth and the lady grabbed it and said "no, all the way in your mouth" and put it inside my mouth. I was visibly uncomfortable about this towards my fiancé as I didn't know if they cleaned it. There are parts that they do for you as a safety precaution... that's probably a part only they should be doing. We watched after we were done for them to clean it before the next group went in but they never did. We confronted the receptionists about it and they looked concerned and told us it's supposed to be cleaned in-between each group. I would advise that when they're going through the demo with you, that they clean it as you're watching. "You're going to then blow into this, fully in your mouth" clean clean clean. But for me personally, that's not even enough. It should be prepared the same as at the dentist... or again, that's a part only the 1 employee should be doing... I woke up with a canker sore this morning... We pick up our ornament on Monday. And I still intend to go back every year to grow our collection, but I will not be putting my mouth on that piece ever again. It was really cool to be able to make our own ornament, but this canker sore takes aaaaaallllllll those stars...

Holdman Studios has been located on the Thanksgiving point campus since 2005. The building is made up of offices in the front, an art gallery and glass hot shop in the middle, and a stained-glass shop in the back. Public restrooms are available on the south side (front) including a drinking fountain. The studio specializes in stained glass projects for both commercial and residential clients, and their work is on display in LDS Temples worldwide. The UVU Roots of Knowledge project permanently on display at the UVU Orem Campus Library is their largest continuous stained-glass project to date featuring the history of mankind in 80 windowpanes spanning a length of 200 feet. The studio offers a variety of classes and experiences. The most popular option has been the hot shop experience in which you can participate in making your own hot glass blown flower. You get to select the colors, then help pull the glass with tongs as the instructor handles the more dangerous aspects of molten glass. For those interested in learning the craft of stained glass, a five-week course is offered to teach you the basics of the art. At the end of five weeks, you will have a personally made window to take home with you, and the skills to break out on your own if you find you like the hobby. Tours are available for both small and large groups. Tours need to be scheduled in advance. Holdman Studios is a hidden Utah County gem and well worth a visit with friends or family. I worked here for a number of years and still find it interesting to stop by and see what new projects are...

We made our reservations online and the location was fairly easy to find. Though we weren't really sure where to go when we got inside. Some signage might be in order to help with that.

When we did find what we assumed was the check-in desk, no one was at it, and no one was near it. We waited there for a few minutes and someone finally did show up. We had to sign paper waivers (if the reservation is made online, it makes sense to do the waiver online too).

We enjoyed looking at the exhibits around the showroom while we waited for the class to start. The class was relaxed and enjoyable. I thought the project was not too easy and not too hard. Just right for beginners.

I wished for some clearer instruction on how to best lay the corners of the copper foil tape, but I just kept going since I felt like I was behind. The instructor went off to work on something else a few times and I wished she was right there for questions like that. Not a big deal though.

The whole process was fun. I really enjoyed the soldering portion. My biggest recommendation is that you have students choose the glass next to a full-spectrum light that they can hold the pieces up to. My project ended up looking totally different once I held it up to the light, because I didn't realize how each piece looked with light coming through it when I chose them.

Overall a fun experience. The price point was fair, but I'll probably only do it once. If it was a bit cheaper, I would do it again and even give it as a gift to others who I know...