It's been way too long since I updated this review. My husband and I have returned to Thames Glass every year around Christmas to make new ornaments and other things. We have 4 pumpkins, a vase, a plate, and a while collection of amazing ornaments. I can't say enough how much fun this is, and how special all these items are because we made them and they are truly unique. The glass crafts-people have always been knowledgeable and great to chat with. Don't pass up this experience! Is well worth the reasonable prices, even to ship it home. read more

Thames Glass - 2024's ornament by our friend who joined us this year - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

We visited as a group of 8, four adults and four kids. Each person made a glass ball. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we each got an item to take home! The employees were very patient and helpful throughout the process. I loved that each person's creation was so unique! This was the perfect activity to do during our visit in the colder months. read more

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Great experience! Matt was a wonderful instructor and you really do participate in making an object. They mailed my finished pumpkin within days. read more

Always a fun experience. You can choose to make something and they have a retail shop for you to purchase a variety of hand blown items. read more

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This place is great experience for a family outing! Joe and his staff where top notch! My family was here a vacation and called to make an appointment for the one of the classes that are offered on the website, all classes were booked however Joe called in another glass blower to teach us! Very accommodating and would highly recommend to anyone for a fun family activity! -Angie from New Jersey read more

Thames Glass - Color glass to make your ornament - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Glass blowing class is really fun! We made an ornament with John and had a great time.

We did the glass blowing and it was super fun. Our instructor was very helpful, informative, and you could tell he loved his job. It was a wonderful experience! read more

My granddaughter and I had a great time taking the ornament class. Great activity to make cherished memories. The staff is very friendly, helpful and patient. read more

Thames Glass - Glass blowing lesson. - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Great experience making our own ornaments for Christmas! I would HIGHLY recommend! We spent our Christmas holiday 2017 in Newport seeing all the fancy mansions and this was a great mid week break of something different. We had elderly parents with us and they got along fine, there were places for them to sit while all of us took turns making out ornaments. They turned out so beautifully! read more

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Fabulous glass. I have vases and Xmas ornaments that I treasure My glass fish hang in my kitchen window and all my veggies are on display on the dining room table read more

I was visiting Newport for two days with my friend and decided to book a glassblowing lesson here. We both decided to make pumpkins. Cameron gave the lesson and she was awesome! It was very laid back and overall a great addition to our trip. Highly recommend if you're looking for a unique experience for your Newport trip. read more

We've had two lessons now--one from Max, and one from the owner Matt. Both were laid-back, very instructive, and tons of fun. All the other staff are very kind, welcoming, and have a great sense of humor. The quality of the pieces for sale is excellent, and the prices are very fair. Get a lesson and get some glass, on a sunny or rainy day. You won't regret it. read more

My daughter and I took a spur of the moment trio to Newport, booking a glass blowing class at the last minute. I called 2 days before ( best way to reach them) and we were given an afternoon slot on a thursdsy which worked perfectly. We arrived, looked around at some beautiful glass pieces and at our appointed time, were taken to the glassblowing area. Shane, was our instructor and was very friendly, patient and knowledgeable. He explained the process, guided and assisted us as we each made a beautiful ornament and was very professional. Options are an ornament , paperweight or bowl/ base. Initially I thought I'd love a vase but opted to do an ornament to start! The finished product is mailed unless you are staying in Newport. We can't wait to see how it looks once cooled down . I'd definitely suggest this activity for a fun keepsake from Newport! read more

Tiny shop but full of a large selection of very creative glass pieces. They're in the $30-100+ price range, but that's understandable since they are handcrafted, gorgeous, and unique. I brought my kids here to try glass-blowing. It was a 10-15 minute lesson, and they got to make their own ornaments. What an awesome opportunity! The employees were fantastic with my kids, both during the lesson and while we spent a good amount of time shopping in the store. Not once was I chided for allowing my kids to touch the glassware. read more

Are you on a date? Looking to impress someone special? Or just want to learn a skill that you've never done before? Then Thames Glass has the experience for you. I've never tried glass blowing before, but after hearing this, off-hand, of course, I knew I had to try it out. There are multiple levels of glass blowing, with the end product including ornaments, paper weight, or even vases. The cost certainly escalades based on the complexity, but don't forget that if you're going on a date (especially in Newport), your wallet is going to take a big beating. Our instructor was a very nice gentleman, who walked us through all of the steps of making the ornaments, and had very hands-on guidance to ensure that we made the products in a desirable fashion. I would have liked to play with the tools myself, but I completely understand the unrealistic nature of swinging a super-heated hot rod with melted glass, unsupervised. I opted for the $35 ornament with future pickup, because it allowed my girlfriend and I to do something different, learn a new skill, and plan for a repeat Newport trip during restaurant week. Overall, I really liked the experience, and while short and expensive, I'd still recommend it to all of my friends. This would be a great Groupon idea/promotion. read more

This place was great, I really enjoyed my experience blowing glass. I made my very own floppy bowl which is gorgeous. They were very patient and friendly with me during the lesson. It was pretty pricey, but worth it. I've found a new respect for the art. I would recommend them to my friends. read more

I love this place! Everything is made by hand, so each piece is unique. They have hundreds of ornaments, paperweights, vases, fish, snowmen, fruits & vegetables (the peppers are my favorite) and lots of glass beads! I perfect place to pick up a one-of-a-kind piece for yourself or someone special! The BEST part about Thames Glass is that you can make your own ornament, paperweight, or vase! I took my nieces here for their birthday (age 10)...one made an ornament, the other a paperweight. They each got to pick out their own colors and (with help from a master glassblower) actually put the melted glass in the furnace, shaped, and cooled the piece. They LOVED it! They wanted to do it again the same day!!! It has now become their go-to present for Christmas, birthdays, end-of-school year (I think they made that one up just so that they could do it again!). It's a perfect activity for anyone (I would say age 7-8 and up) and a truly unique experience. And after it cools (2 or 3 days I think), you have a BEAUTIFUL piece of art! read more

We participated in making an ornament as part of an artisan package through Admiral Fitzroy's Inn. We were not sure how it would be. The artisans who gave us our lesson and helped us with the process were knowledgeable, patient and made us feel comfortable with the process from start to finish. We learned a lot about glass blowing, and are more appreciative of the art. We had great fun, and would do it again. We are already planning on bringing our grandchildren so they can give it a try. read more

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Wow. My girlfriend and I dropped by Newport for the weekend and were looking for things to do when we saw an add for Thames Glass. We decided to drop by and take a try at blowing glass for ourselves! The staff was very pleasant and patient and seemed to really enjoy showing off their work. Although being in the workshop with the molten glass and open flames was a little intimidating, the actual process was super easy and a ton of fun. You get to pick up to three colors for your ornament, and it takes about 10 minutes to be walked through the process of twirling, blowing, and clamping the glass. Although we had to leave before the items will be done (it takes about two days), you can have your masterpiece shipped to your home. There is shop full of beautiful glassware, as well, and we walked out with a glass pumpkin for the season. Overall, a unique experience and a great time. read more

So you're looking for something to do in Rhode Island, huh? Well, head on down to Newport where all the tourists go! And by tourists I mean the native Rhode Islanders from Providence. Newport as many of you know is a beautiful section of Rhode Island that is right on the water and packed full of little activities, scenic venues and restaurants that you can participate in. You can easiy spend an entire weekend down here just exploring the town. One such activity is glass blowing. Ever wonder how the professionals get all the fancy colors and intricate shapes? Now you can try it yourself! These couple hour classes are quick and are not so much classes as they are an "experience". These are very popular so book ahead by calling! You can make things like ornaments, paper weights and vases (varying prices depending on how many people and which of the objects you want to make) and during the fall time you can make glass pumpkins! (This was extremely worth it... I did it myself =) YI believe they are only offered during the summer mainly because Newport is pretty dead during the winter time. Along with their glass studio they have a little store full of art from local glass blowers. Easy parking on the street and you can always try your luck at walking in and seeing if they have times available for you to partake in the glass blowing. It's a little further outside of the actual downtown restaurants but still walkable. read more

We were on a cruise that included a day in Newport, so I started researching early on things to do. We like to buy an ornament from each place that we visit but Thames Glass took this ten steps further - we got to make our own ornaments! I called a week before we'd be in town and made an appointment. I wish I could remember the names, but from the nice lady that I spoke to when booking our spot, to the glassblowing expert that helped us make our ornaments, everyone was so nice. You can choose to make an ornament (the round ball type), paperweight or vase. You can pick up to three colors and the instructor walks you through each step. Very cool experience for all ages. Since we're not local, and it takes 2 days for the glass to cool, they will ship your item to you for a reasonable charge. Our ornaments arrived with our names and the year written on them discreetly and they had been packaged very carefully. Definitely recommend! read more

Beautiful store on Thames, very friendly staff. We watched the people doing the glass blowing through the window and will try it ourselves in the future. The prices are reasonable for the classes. Parking is also easier on this part of Thames so it is accessible. read more

Hands on glass blowing is amazing and approachable. Surely a great gift but if not feeling creative there are slews of options to buy and go. I've never done anything like this but find it daunting many others artists haven't opened up their studio to allow this. The end results are once in a lifetime results in many ways! read more

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Bought a groupon, took a quick class. Bought more in the shop! A great variety of items! Lots of colors! Great way to take something home and support a local business! Staff is knowledgeable and polite. read more

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I'm so happy that my friends found this place. We went for a birthday and were able to make reservations (there were six of us, I'm not sure if there is a limit). We chose to do the $30 a person ornament glass blowing and had an amazing time! Thames Glass is a perfect little gem. The people there are wonderful, the store is filed with everything from beautiful trinkets to classic vases, and the glass blowing is so much fun. Of course first, you sign your life away. But then a master artisan takes you into the room and shows you the ropes. You do everything, with help of course, from dipping the glass into the fire, to picking your colors and dipping the glass in there, to actually blowing up the ornament. It takes some time for the ornaments to set so we chose to have them ship them to one of our houses. I'm hoping to get it sometime this week. I cannot wait to show it off! There is also a viewing window so if you have a large group, or just want to pop by to watch, people can. read more

This was the highlight of our trip! What an experience. We made a vase & ornament. The guy teaching us was so patient & nice. It's amazing how this is done. Beautiful stuff in the store to buy as we'll. read more

Great experience with Joe when my husband and I dropped in to pick up a souvenir ornament for our Christmas tree. Friendly service, beautiful products and reasonable prices. What else can you ask for? They offer classes and quick tutorials as well! read more

The other reviews mention the details which matched our experience there today, perfectly. I made an ornament and Hubby made a paperweight. Fun, fun! We found a gift for friends in the gift shop and they added it to our shipping order for just a few bucks more...worth it since we live 1500 miles away. The employees were happy and helpful and I could've hung out there for a lot longer. But I would've bought out the store... read more

We booked the vase making experience by phone with Barbara & Shane helped us make it. What a great choice. Friendly, down to earth people and we loved the hands-on experience of selecting the colors & shape of our vase before making it. We originally considered making an ornament (which takes about 10- 15 minutes) but are really glad we booked the vase. The entire experience took about an hour & we'll have a special memory tied to our vase every time we use it. Highly recommend Thames Glass for anyone looking for a unique keepsake. read more

I had experienced the most blatantly rude customer service at Thames glass last summer, by what appeared to be the owner nonetheless. Me and my family had found glass blowing online, we were excited to check it out as a fun thing to do on vacation, and possibly make an ornament. We were greeted by the woman (who seemed to be the owner) with something along the lines of, "are you guys looking to buy anything" in an extremely anxious tone. It made us feel as if we weren't going to spend any money in her establishment than we had to leave. After ignoring the initial acrimony I asked the woman if I can blow a the regular small size glass ornament. She responded with well why don't you blow a pumpkin, or a vase since you can blow for a longer amount of time. She seemed completely unenthusiastic and disinterested in my excitement in blowing what was most likely their flagship ornament that most tourists probably choose to blow. Mind you those items are on the order of hundreds of dollars, an expense I was not willing to indulge in after already feeling such animosity from the woman. And finally, the best part of it all. When she was wrapping up the ornament for me and my family while we were preparing to pay to pay and leave, she asked us "so how did you like it?!" Before I could even finish my sentence she cut me off with, "well you must not have liked it that much since you only blew one ornament!!". At this point my father turned around in shock along with everyone else in reaction to what just came out of her mouth. I had never experienced such poor and outrageously rude customer service, from what seemed to be the owner nonetheless!! It felt like she only cares about getting as much money out of our pockets and literally nothing else. I highly recommend you do not choose to perform glass blowing here. I believe there is another place were you can go to blow glass closer to the ocean side off of Thames street, I am sure that you would not experience such awful service if you choose to blow glass there. read more

Wow! What an incredible experience we had with Will! So looking forward to picking up my beautiful creation tomorrow! This is a wonderful and memorable activity for anyone visiting the Newport area. While my friends grandkids were old pro's and made paperweights this go-around, this was my first experience....I made a beautiful ornament of my favorite colors. We called ahead for a reservation and I highly recommend this be added to your to-do-list in Newport! read more

Such an awesome addition to our Newport trip. Our teacher was very helpful and fun. An incredible keepsake from our weekend away.

Now, this is my 2nd time here, but it's still just as great as I remember! This time around my hubby and I brought a large group with us and we had a great time! The entire experience is only a few minutes per person, but it's awesome and you can pick up the finished product in about 24-48 hours! We made paperweights and ornaments and they came out beautiful! $30 to make an ornament and $55 to make a paperweight. If you're looking to blow, do the ornament, the paperweight uses a different process, so you won't get to blow glass with that one [insert inappropriate comment here]. read more

Walked in the new 2nd location and was instantly greeted by Joe. We had a great informative talk about their pieces and the process as well as where some of their pieces can be seen. We were having such a good time and then Joe walked me through making a glass bead..what skill it takes to make all these beautiful ornaments, glasses and keepsake. Generous and fun, Joe gave me the the bead along with the leather to put it on. I bought some gorgeous blue bowls that now have a memorable story. A must to stop in, show, take a glass blowing class or just look at the effort and skill it takes. read more

We love Thames Glass. Every summer when we visit Newport, we make sure to stop in for a glass blowing lesson. We've made ornaments, pumpkins and paper weights and each time we create a beautiful unique piece of art. read more

Glassblowing class is way overpriced for a 10-15 minute experience (though it is a unique/fun experience and the ornaments we made came out nicely). Very kind staff also. It's just not long enough a class to warrant the price. read more

Who would have thought it would be possible to play with a burning ball of molten glass in Newport, famous for tennis, mansions, and general fustiness? Pop in to Thames Glass on a slow afternoon and this singular experience can be yours in a thirty dollar, fifteen minute glass-blowing lesson. Paperweight and vase-blowing lessons are pricier but yield more impressive and useful results. After you're done, you might gingerly peruse the fragile contents of the gallery up front, where a panoply of objects crafted by Thames' artists are displayed for sale. Return two days after the lesson and your glass creation will be cool enough to take home. Carefully. read more

Looking for something a little different to do on your trip to Newport? Four of us NYers went here on a recent Saturday and made paperweights and ornaments, and loved every minute of it along with our souvenirs that we picked up 2 days later to take home with us. The staff is very nice & patient, teaching you how to form your glass and helping you along every step of the way. It was pretty quick, I'd say about 15 minutes for each person to pick their colors, get the glob of molten glass, fashion it to desired look, and put in oven to cool for 2 days. Ornament is about the same time, only you get to blow the glass (very cool!). Our items came out gorgeous, and it was such a different & interesting thing to do on our vacation. Highly recommend! read more

Terrific place to visit and buy hand crafted blown glass. Shipping is a plus...you don't have to carry your things back on the plane if you don't want to. Very friendly and informative staff. Prices will vary. You can get smaller things at less cost. Larger more complex items are more expensive. I've always bought my wife and daughter gifts during trips to Newport from Thames Glass. read more

Great idea great stuff...pricy but what do you expect it's hand made