Entry No. 35 — the Anchorage file — filed under: hands-on
The Stranded Starfish
A handmade-goods shop and teaching studio where the marquee class walks you all the way through a stained glass panel: pick a pattern, then cut, grind, copper-foil, and solder the glass into a finished piece over about four hours. They also run a 21-and-up couples session capped at four people where you can bring a snack or a drink, plus shorter mini-classes for garden stakes and glass mountains. Stained glass here is genuinely physical work, so they note you should be able to stand and have decent hand strength for the session.
The story
Tucked onto 76th Avenue in South Anchorage, The Stranded Starfish isn't the sort of delicate shop where you lightly brush paint onto a pre-made canvas. After running an Anchorage art studio for ten years that shuttered following the pandemic, the owner built a space focused on tactile, hard-edged crafts—ranging from clay work and mosaic kits to genuine hot-tool glass making.
The centerpiece here is a four-hour plunge into classic stained glass fabrication. You start by selecting a pattern, but from there, you do all the heavy lifting: scoring raw glass sheets, snapping them along score lines, smoothing rough edges on a wet grinding wheel, wrapping every seam in thin copper foil, and melting solder along the joints. It is a noisy, wet, physical process that demands decent grip strength and several continuous hours on your feet.
For something quieter, keep an eye out for their small-scale evening slots. They run a 21-and-up couples workshop capped at just four people total. That means two pairs in the entire studio, hot irons in hand, with space to set down drinks and snacks while learning how to fuse glass paneling side-by-side.
What it's like
Expect a real workbench setup rather than a pristine lounge. You will spend up to four hours standing over grinding wheels and soldering stations, so wear close-toed shoes you don't mind getting dusty or wet. If you are booked for the four-person BYOB night class, bring a favorite drink and a quick bite—you will need the stamina after an afternoon of glass cutting.
The move: Cut and solder your own glass panel side by side in the small adults-only evening class, drinks in hand.
📍 Before you go Couples/evening classes are scheduled in advance and cap at four people; must be 21+ for the BYOB session.
- 📍 South Anchorage
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1131 E 76th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99518
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Alaska Wholesale Flower Market — Located practically next door on 76th Avenue, you can trade raw glass cutting tools for fresh commercial stems in another hands-on studio.
- Snow Blossom Acupuncture — Float Tank — Half a mile away, you can soak your sore hands and back in 1,200 pounds of Epsom salts immediately after four hours of standing over a soldering iron.
- Putters Wild — Swap your workbench goggles for 3D glasses half a mile down the road to play blacklight mini golf surrounded by glowing sea creatures.
Good to know
Do I need prior experience for the stained glass class?
No prior experience is necessary. The beginner panel workshop walks you through pattern selection, glass cutting, grinding, copper-foiling, and soldering from scratch.
What physical abilities are required for the workshops?
Stained glass work is physically demanding. You must be able to stand at a workbench for up to four hours and have sufficient hand strength to score and break glass.
Are there shorter project options available?
Yes. Beyond the marquee four-hour panel class, they host shorter mini-workshops for smaller pieces like glass mountains and garden stakes.
How does the BYOB couples class work?
The 21+ evening sessions are strictly capped at four participants, allowing two couples to bring their own drinks and snacks for a quiet, small-group soldering session.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-06-23